12 of 19 results for "evolution"
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Octopus Evolution: A Separate Path on the Tree of Life

In Octopus Evolution: A Separate Path on the Tree of Life, ecologist David Scheel describes the journey through the unique evolutionary history of octopuses, showing how these incredible creatures took a completely separate path from other life forms. In his class at Alaska Pacific University, he explains how, over half a billion years ago, octopuses and humans might have shared a common ancestor — but since then, octopuses developed their own specialized brain, heart, and eyes! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Natural World: The Octopus in My House, a remarkable series about a professor and the extraordinary relationship he develops with an octopus when he invites it to live in his home.

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Earth's Epic Comebacks
In Earth's Epic Comebacks, geologist Iain Stewart explores how Earth's history of disasters has shaped life and sparked evolution. From dinosaurs thriving after a mass extinction to bacteria surviving an ice age, Earth has always found a balance between stability and chaos. Now, humans are changing the climate and marking a new era called the Anthropocene. The question is: can we protect the planet that makes life so incredible? This video is excerpted from BBC’s Earth: The Power of the Planet, a documentary series in which Dr. Iain Stewart discovers how Earth's forces can shape nature, species, and even the climate.
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Escudo Island: The Pygmy Sloth's Search for a Mate
In Escudo Island: The Pygmy Sloth's Search for a Mate, learn about the unique challenges faced by pygmy sloths on Escudo de Veraguas Island. Although the island offers food and safety, it also creates isolation that makes it difficult for male pygmy sloths to find a mate. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth II, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
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Breathing Life Into Earth
In Breathing Life Into Earth, geologist Iain Stewart explains how oxygen left the ocean and filled the atmosphere, creating a huge turning point in the story of life on Earth. This oxygen helped form the ozone layer, which acts like a protective shield, blocking harmful radiation from the Sun and allowing life to thrive. Without oxygen, Earth wouldn’t have been able to support all the amazing life forms we know. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Earth: The Power of the Planet, a documentary series in which Dr. Iain Stewart discovers how Earth's forces can shape nature, species, and even the climate.
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The Carbon Connection: Why CO₂ is Crucial for Our Planet's Survival
In The Carbon Connection: Why CO₂ Is Crucial for Our Planet's Survival, Dr. Iain Stewart explains how carbon dioxide is essential for life on Earth. Without enough, planets like Mars are freezing cold, while Venus is scorching hot because it has too much. Early volcanoes released carbon dioxide that helped keep the planet warm enough for life to evolve. Yet, scientists have discovered evidence of a catastrophic "Snowball Earth" event 700 million years ago, where the planet may have been completely frozen, as shown by mysterious drop stones found in Namibia. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Earth: The Power of the Planet, a documentary series in which Dr. Iain Stewart discovers how Earth's forces can shape nature, species, and even the climate.
Student Article
Animals Evolve Larger Limbs to Adapt to Rising Temperatures
The article "Animals evolve larger limbs to adapt to rising temperatures" from BBC Science Focus discusses how climate change is prompting warm-blooded animals to develop larger appendages, such as ears, beaks, and limbs, to better regulate body heat.
Student Article
Seven Surprising Facts We Now Know About Neanderthals
The article "Seven Surprising Facts We Now Know About Neanderthals" from BBC's HistoryExtra is a fascinating look at the evolution and legacy of Neanderthals. Archaeologist Rebecca Wragg Sykes explains how these ancient humans were intelligent, adaptable, and left a genetic mark on billions of people today. The piece debunks old myths and highlights seven groundbreaking facts about Neanderthal life and culture.
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Jane Goodall: Redefining Humanity Through Chimpanzees

In Jane Goodall: Redefining Humanity Through Chimpanzees, host Dermot O'Leary explores the groundbreaking work of a young woman who transformed our understanding of animal behavior and human origins. Jane Goodall’s determination and pioneering spirit took her from a typist in Bournemouth to a world-renowned primatologist. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, a documentary series celebrating the achievements of the most influential figures of the era.

Student Article
Why Your Brain Thinks This Puppy Is Cuter Than a Baby!
The article "Why your brain thinks this puppy is cuter than a baby!" from BBC Science Focus explains why our brains react so strongly to cuteness and why baby animals often seem cuter than human infants. Using brain scans, scientists reveal how features like big eyes and round faces activate our emotional centers, triggering care instincts — even for animals and cartoons.
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The Role of One Rudimentary Battery in Transforming the World
In The Role of One Rudimentary Battery in Transforming the World, narrator Michael Mosley uncovers the story of the first battery. It begins with a letter in 1800 with simple instructions from Italian scientist Alessandro Volta on how to make an artificial torpedo fish, and ends in a classroom where Hans Christian Oersted took it one step further, noticing how the battery current created magnetic fields. The electric telegraph and using steam power weren’t far behind, transforming the world as we knew it. This video is excerpted from BBC's The Story of Science, in which Michael Mosley takes an informative and ambitious journey exploring how the evolution of scientific understanding is intimately interwoven with society's historical path.
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Continental Drift in Action
In Continental Drift in Action, narrator Michael Mosley discovers that over millions of years, ongoing continental drift has transformed our planet. Today, the gap between North America and Eurasia is getting wider as the currents in the mantle of the earth drive the plates apart. Scientists like Pete LaFemina are able to measure and monitor this movement using GPS. This video is excerpted from BBC's The Story of Science, in which Michael Mosley takes an informative and ambitious journey exploring how the evolution of scientific understanding is intimately interwoven with society's historical path.
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The Theory of a Supercontinent and the Cold War Discovery That Proved It
In The Theory of a Supercontinent and the Cold War Discovery That Proved It, narrator Michael Mosley shares how German meteorologist Alfred Wegener proposed a radical new theory — that all of the continents had once fit together as one supercontinent that he called Pangaea. It wasn’t until the Cold War that the oceans were mapped, and scientists discovered the interlocking plates of the seafloor that could provide evidence for Wegener’s theory. This video is excerpted from BBC's The Story of Science, in which Michael Mosley takes an informative and ambitious journey exploring how the evolution of scientific understanding is intimately interwoven with society's historical path.