Call it a case of mistaken identity. When it comes to camouflage chameleons get all the attention. But the often-overlooked cuttlefish is the real master of disguise. Cousins of the squid and octopus cuttlefish are among the most unusual animals on our planet. These shape-shifting creatures can hypnotize their prey impersonate the opposite sex and even kill with lightning-fast speed. More accomplished masters of disguise than any chameleon they have an incredible ability to morph their skin color even their shape to blend into most any background. Cuttlefish also have one of the largest brain-to-body ratios among the invertebrates. With stunning underwater footage and in-depth expert interviews NOVA gets up close and personal with this astonishing brainy bunch.Special DVD features include: materials and activities for educators; a link to the NOVA Web site; scene selections; closed captions; and described video for the visually impaired.
Who would have predicted that a hot spot left over from the Big Bang would eventually lead to our galaxy the solar system the Earth -- and to us? Origins explore how the universe and our planet began amid chaos and eventually gave birth to the first stirrings of life.Join cutting edge scientists on a voyage deep into the Earth with a space probe designed to capture the earliest observable snapshot of the Big Bang. Then watch as astronomers test an ingenious new way to detect distant planets that may harbor life and discover that every atom in our bodies and practically every bit of matter in the earth was made in the heart of stars.Hosted by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson (shown) Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History Origins Presents Starling new findings that attempt to explain just how Earth life and the universe all began.System Requirements:
Wild Down Under is a BBC nature documentary series exploring the natural history of the Australasian continent, first transmitted in the UK on BBC2 in September 2003. It was broadcast in Australia under the title Wild Australasia in February 2004. Each of the six episodes showcases a particular environment and, using a combination of sweeping aerial photography and wildlife footage, reveals how physical forces and human activity have transformed Australia from a lush green wilderness into a thriving nation increasingly plagued by drought and desertification. Wild Down Under was co-produced by the BBC Natural History Unit, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Animal Planet. The series producer for the BBC was Neil Nightingale, the music was composed by Adrian Johnston and the English-language narrator was Matt Day.
The Private Life of Plants, Episode I, II, III, IV, V & VI
The Private Life of Plants is a BBC nature documentary series written and presented by David Attenborough. A study of the growth, movement, reproduction and survival of plants, it was the second of Attenborough's specialised surveys following his major trilogy that began with Life on Earth. Each of the six 50-minute episodes discusses the aspects of a plant's life-cycle, using examples from around the world. The series was produced in conjunction with Turner Broadcasting. The executive producer was Mike Salisbury and the music was composed by Richard Grassby-Lewis. In 1995, it won a George Foster Peabody Award in the category "Television".
Accompanying the major six-part BBC television series, Living Britain, is a celebration of the rich and varied landscapes and wildlife that have survived in Britain to the end of the 20th century. Month by month, Living Britain chronicles the wildlife year, tracking the way the lives of native plants and animals change with the cycle of the seasons and react to the contemporary British way of life--both urban and rural. From the wild highlands of Scotland in the grip of deepest winter to the modern heart of London in high summer, this book presents a wildlife diary of a typical year up and down the country. Interspersed with this unfolding portrait of living Britain are informative special features. Focusing on subjects of topical interest such as the return of the otter, the precarious future of the badger and the demise of many songbirds, these features show how native plants, birds and animals respond to Britain's ever-changing landscape.
Wild China is a six-part nature documentary series co-produced by the BBC Natural History Unit and China Central Television (CCTV) and filmed in high definition. It was screened in the UK on BBC Two beginning on 11 May 2008. The series is the culmination of the Natural History Unit's "Continents" strand and was preceded by Wild Caribbean in 2007.
Profile of the beautiful hotel heiress who became so famous so fast that a new term -"celebutante"- had to be coined to describe her. We look at how Paris danced, partied, and dated her way to fame while sitting atop a financial empire that boasts clothing and perfume lines. Includes the story of the widely distributed video tape showing Paris making love to ex-boyfriend Rick Salomon and highlights from her hit reality TV series, The Simple Life.
What if the Nazis had held out and the war in Europe lasted until 1946? We'll review the remarkable aircraft that Germany had in development at war's end, such as manned supersonic aircraft, manned V-2s, 100-ton intercontinental bombers, stealth bombers, and a fighter designed to shoot down B-29s at high altitude.
Michael Wood's approachable (but highly informed) manner is a gift for TV presentation of a diverse selection of subjects, ranging from archaeology to foreign countries to Shakespeare, and as the book to accompany the epic BBC history series The Story of India comprehensively proves, those attributes transfer smoothly to the printed page. In this sumptuously illustrated volume, Wood tells a fascinating, turbulent story -- nothing less than the 10,000 year history of India. Over a fifth of the world's population is crammed into a subcontinent which was the initial progenitor of one of the most significant civilisations on the planet. And in a period when India becomes a global economic force to be reckoned with, it is the perfect time for Wood to show us how this massively achieving country relates to the demands of the modern world, while celebrating the awe-inspiring riches of the country's past.