The Mystery of Matter: Search for the Elements is an exciting PBS series about one of the great adventures in the history of science: the long (and continuing) quest to understand what the world is made of—to identify, understand and organize the basic building blocks of matter. Three hour-long episodes introduce viewers to some of history's most extraordinary scientists: Joseph Priestley and Antoine Lavoisier, whose discovery of oxygen—and radical interpretation of it—led to the modern science of chemistry; Humphry Davy, who made electricity a powerful new tool in the search for elements; Dmitri Mendeleev, whose Periodic Table brought order to the growing gaggle of elements; Marie Curie, whose groundbreaking research on radioactivity cracked open a window into the atom; Harry Moseley, whose discovery of atomic number redefined the Periodic Table; and Glenn Seaborg, whose discovery of plutonium opened up a whole new realm of elements, still being explored today.

Two-part documentary in which Jonathan Meades makes the case for 20th-century concrete Brutalist architecture in an homage to a style that he sees a brave, bold and bloodyminded. Tracing its precursors to the once-hated Victorian edifices described as Modern Gothic and before that to the unapologetic baroque visions created by John Vanbrugh, as well as the martial architecture of World War II, Meades celebrates the emergence of the Brutalist spirit in his usual provocative and incisive style. Never pulling his punches, Meades praises a moment in architecture he considers sublime and decries its detractors.

Beneath our feet, under trillions of tons of rock, lurk astonishing and deadly secrets. Earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions are all driven by hidden forces deep inside our planet. Now, using the latest scientific data from sensors and surface scans, we can x-ray the earth to reveal the dangers locked inside our planet. Using thousands of sensors and state-of-the-art surface scan information, we can create x-rays of the deep interior of our planet for the first time. From the churning interior to the oceans and life on land, view the world as it's never been seen before. Cutting-edge tools offer an inside look at Earth as it breathes, heals, and flexes its muscles in X-Ray Earth.

A new breed of explorer has taken space travel beyond the moon to unlock and reveal first-ever views of alien worlds and cosmic bodies far beyond anyone's imagination. Space's Deepest Secrets shares stories of the men and women who pushed their ingenuity and curiosity to uncover some of the most groundbreaking findings in the history of space exploration. Hourlong episodes cover NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto, the Hubble Telescope, the twin Voyager explorations, and other past, current and future missions and projects.

The Aztecs ruled one of the most powerful empires in history. Lost Pyramids of the Aztecs is an immersive investigation into the vanished world of this remarkable civilisation.

Simon Schama explores the life and times of William Shakespeare to shed a new and fascinating light on some of the greatest plays ever written. He asks the question: "What came first, Englishness, or Shakespeare's idea of it?" and produces a persuasive argument in favour of the latter.

For more than a thousand years Vienna was the pivotal city in Europe. From the age of the Romans until WWII, its strategic position on the River Danube made it witness to war, intrigue, deceit and struggles for power.In this new three-part series, writer and broadcaster Simon Sebag Montefiore tells the story of an extraordinary city, through the Habsburgs who ruled it - and through those who tried to take it from them.Home to the Holy Roman Emperors and the target of Ottoman aggression, Vienna is a city that nurtured Gothic architecture and Baroque music. This is a story in which Napoleon, Hitler, Mozart, Strauss, Freud, Stalin and Klimt all played their part.

A privileged view into the lives of a cast of Hebridean animals.

Professor of physics Jim Al-Khalili investigates the most accurate and yet perplexing scientific theory ever - quantum physics.

Stand-up comedian Mark Steel gives satirical and educational lectures on some of history's greatest thinkers.

Dr. Adam Rutherford explores the consequences of one of the biggest scientific projects of all time - the decoding of the entire human genome.

BBC Four presenter Alok Jha charts the history of weather forecasting from its origins in the early 19th century. From the first use of forecasting - to help save lives at sea, the vital role it played in military strategies in WW1 and D-Day and the transformation it underwent to become a crucial part of our modern day culture and world economy.

What is a sound? Dr. Helen Czerski investigates the extraordinary science behind the ones we're familiar with, and those we can't normally hear.

This ground-breaking two-part series takes us inside two of the most amazing structures in the natural world: our hands and feet.

Liz McIvor looks at who built the nation's canal network, who funded it, those who worked on it and how they were regenerated following WWII.

Dr. Jago Cooper travels through Peru and Ecuador to reassess the origins, accomplishments and nature of one of the greatest empires the world has ever seen.

Series which follows Martha Kearney's bee-keeping year and explores the science, art and culture of the honeybee, the most ingenious insect known to humankind.

Rembrandt's art is much loved and admired, but his remarkable life is less well known. In this anniversary year, marking 350 years since his death, his surprising story is told from an unusual perspective - his own.This three-part series sets out to reveal the answers behind the mysteries and shadows still lurking in Rembrandt's personal life.Actor Toby Jones assumes the voice of the artist to explore how this explosive talent, in his youth the darling of Dutch high society, end up in a lowly rented grave. How could an artist made rich by the patronage of Amsterdam's wealthiest elite come to declare bankruptcy? And why did he fall out of favour at a time when he was painting his greatest masterpieces?

Series in which Steve Backshall looks at some of the world's most iconic ecosystems.

Grammy award-winning soul and jazz star Gregory Porter takes viewers on a 100 year celebration through the mystery, joy and pain that lies behind some of the greatest voices in modern music.In each of the three episodes Gregory traces the musical journey of three distinct styles of singing - the crooning voice, the truth-telling growl and the show-stopping, virtuosic voice – revealing the surprising pathways each of these classic vocal styles have taken through popular music history, and featuring encounters with some of Gregory's all-time favourite singers.

Renowned zoologist Nigel Marven plunges into the prehistoric deep to face some of the largest and most fearsome sea predators that ever existed – creatures so awesome, they make the great white shark look like a goldfish. Scour the depths of seven different prehistoric seas with Nigel as your guide – and marvel at the computer animation techniques that bring each aquatic world to life. Get up close and personal with creatures like the vicious sea scorpions of 450 million years ago, the armor-plated fish of the Devonian Period and a whale-chomping shark called Megalodon. Finally, wade out into the deadliest sea of all time – "Hell's Aquarium" of the late Cretaceous, an ominous body of prehistoric water that gets its name from its elevated water temperatures and the devilish creatures that call it home.

Series in which architectural historian David Heathcote explores four of the best examples of Art Deco in Britain.

Professor Richard Fortey travels across the globe to find the survivors of mass extinction events.

Over the last century scientists have devised many ingenious methods to unlock the secrets of the mind. In this three-part series, Michael Mosley goes in search of these bizarre, brilliant and the unorthodox experiments that have led to scientific discovery. From the shocking story of John B Watson's experiments on a five-month-old baby to CIA mind control projects, electric shock therapy to psychopharmacology, Michael exposes the extraordinary experiments that have taken place, all in the name of science. He subjects himself to some revealing tests and witnesses some cutting edge investigations that are challenging the way we think about ourselves.

Michael Wood argues that the most important and influential British kings were a father, son and grandson who lived over a thousand years ago during the age of the Vikings.

Dr. Hannah Fry explores the mystery of maths. Is it invented like a language or is it discovered and part of the fabric of the universe?

These unorthodox military innovations were not developed by chance, each was constructed to solve a tactical or strategic problem, such as overcoming Nazi defenses on D-Day, mounting a surprise attack over water, or safely moving an agent back and forth across enemy lines. The US smart bomb piloted by live pigeons, a jet pack used by flying soldiers, an incendiary bombing program that used bats released from aircraft, and a giant Catherine Wheel are all covered in this fascinating series. World's Weirdest Weapons explores never before seen weapons and introduces viewers to the extraordinary people that invented these ingenious devices.

Evolutionary biologist and master skeleton builder Ben Garrod presents a six-part series looking at how bones have enabled vertebrates to colonise and dominate practically every habitat on Earth.

This is the thrilling story of how we were all made, from the moment of conception to the moment of birth 280 days later. The film takes viewers through the gestation process, perhaps the most exquisite biological choreography in all nature.

Featuring groundbreaking new science, experiments and leading scientists from a variety of disciplines, the series unravels the natural history of the body's largest organ.

Fusing biography, art and the history of fashion, Amber Butchart explores the lives of historical figures through the clothes they wore.

In this TV programme Professor Iain Stewart journeys from the spectacular caves of Vietnam to the remote deserts of Africa and sees how plants first harnessed light from the sun and created our life-giving atmosphere. He describes how the plant kingdom has transformed a lifeless planet into our living world.

A mysterious code underpins the world. But what does it mean and what can we learn from it? Marcus du Sautoy takes us on an odyssey to uncover the code and reveal its meaning

Power Trip: The Story of Energy uncovers the hidden energy that is embedded in our modern way of life, revealed as the underlying force behind WATER, FOOD, WEALTH, CITIES, TRANSPORTATION, and WAR. Filmed around the world, the six part documentary series takes viewers on a journey through the past, present and future of energy.

The Pacific Ocean covers one third of the Earth's surface. It is larger than all Earth's land combined, holds half of our world's water, and hides the deepest place on our planet. It is a place where huge and iconic, rare and dazzling creatures live – and where creatures yet to be discovered lurk. The Pacific sees the most violent storms, creates the most powerful waves, and is powered by the strongest currents. It boasts the largest coral reefs and the richest kelp forests. Its submarine landscape plummets from sea grass prairies to the ultimate abyss, and its tropical seamounts starkly contrast with its massive ice floes. Over five cinematic episodes, Big Pacific breaks the boundaries between land and sea, moving throughout the Pacific Ocean to present a broad range of locations, species, natural phenomena and behaviors. Four of the episodes focus on an iconic characteristic of the Pacific: Passionate, Voracious, Violent, and Mysterious, to weave stories from across the Pacific that illustrate the multi-faceted character of this ocean.

This two-part scientific detective tale tells the story of a remarkable group of pioneers who wanted to reach the ultimate extreme: absolute zero, a place so cold that the physical world as we know it doesn't exist, electricity flows without resistance, fluids defy gravity and the speed of light can be reduced to 38 miles per hour. Each film features a strange cast of eccentric characters, including: Clarence Birds Eye; Frederic 'Ice King' Tudor, who founded an empire harvesting ice; and James Dewar, who almost drove himself crazy by trying to liquefy hydrogen. Absolute zero became the Holy Grail of temperature physicists and is considered the gateway to many new technologies, such as nano-construction, neurological networks and quantum computing. The possibilities, it seems, are limitless.

Professor Jim Al-Khalili investigates the important concepts of energy and information.

Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore traces the sacred history of Istanbul. The Turkish capital was once described as the 'city of the world's desire', having been the focus of three faiths - Paganism, Christianity and Islam - and the stage for some of the fiercest political and religious conflicts over the past 2,500 years.

Dr. Jago Cooper explores the rise and fall of the forgotten civilisations of Central America.

Archaeologist Dr. Jago Cooper reveals the extraordinary history of some of South America's ancient civilisations.

British art historian Dr. Gus Casely-Hayford explores the pre-colonial history of some of Africa's most important kingdoms.

Helen Czerski uncovers what colour is, how it works and how it has written the story of our planet. She seeks out the colours that turned the Earth multicoloured.

Documentary series about Albert Kahn's photographic Archive of the Planet.

Writer and broadcaster Stephen Smith finds out what it took to survive and prosper in the most artistic, decadent and dangerous royal courts in history.

Have you ever wondered what's going on inside the machines you use every day? How does an escalator haul hundreds of people up a slope as steep as Mount Fuji? How can a simple shopping cart carry a load six times its own weight? How does a car wash scrub dirty vehicles clean without leaving a scratch? Using CGI animation, Machines: How They Work dives deep inside ordinary machines to reveal their extraordinary inner workings.Each episode of Machines: How They Work explores the secret workings of three different machines of all shapes and sizes; from parking meters and coffee machines to 3D printers and padlocks. Immersive footage shot inside the factories where these objects are built and tested, reveals their ingenious mechanics alongside the larger than life characters who design and construct them.

200,000 years ago we took our first steps on the African savanna. Today there are 7 billion of us living across planet Earth.How did our ancestors beat the odds and spread from continent to continent? What was the secret to their success?This is a global detective story, featuring new fossil finds and the latest genetic research. It's a story that revolves around a shocking revelation. In prehistoric times, we met and mated with other types of human – like Neanderthals, Denisovans and Homo erectus. This mixing of genes helped us survive - and ultimately thrive.Scientists are beginning to realize that ours is not a pedigree species, but a patchwork. We are all hybrids.

From the Saxon shield-wall to the discovery of gunpowder and the invention of the machine gun, Dr. Sam Willis traces the history of the weapons that have shaped Britain.

Professor Richard Fortey travels to some of the greatest fossil sites on earth to discover more about the distant past.

Marcus du Sautoy, Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford, escorts you through the most important of all intellectual disciplines. Mathematics is the Empress of the Sciences. Without her, there would be no physics, nor chemistry, nor cosmology. Any field of study depending on statistics, geometry, or any kind of calculation would simply cease to be. And then, there are the practical applications: without maths there's no architecture. No commerce. No accurate maps, or time-keeping: therefore no navigation, nor aviation, nor astronomy. She is all-powerful: and she rules ruthlessly. Imperious and unyielding, mathematics brooks no dissent and tolerates no error. In an age of uncertainty, mathematics is the only discipline that generates knowledge that's immutably, incontestably, and eternally true. In this landmark series of films for BBC Four.

Series showing how new camera technology is revealing the inner workings of the Earth's most spectacular natural wonders.

Multiple cameras follow serious crime investigations in real time, revealing the crucial role cutting-edge forensic science now plays in bringing criminals to justice.

In this landmark series, the BBC Natural History Unit explores a vast ocean that stretches nearly 10,000 miles, from Arctic to Antarctic and from sun-drenched tropical reefs to crushing abyssal depths. Over three programmes it reveals the amazing, surprising and resilient inhabitants of the Atlantic, both animals and people, as they pit themselves against the world's wildest ocean.

Marking the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth in 1770, a documentary series that focuses on the real, complex and often difficult man behind the great composer.

Tones, Drones and Arpeggios: The Magic of Minimalism is a series in which Charles Hazlewood explores the four great American minimalist composers who rebooted classical music in the 20th century.

Documentary series looking at maps in incredible detail to highlight their artistic attributions and reveal the stories that they tell.

Series combining human stories, expert interviews, book illustrations and historic archive to reveal the beauty of books.

Dr. Adam Rutherford tells the amazing story of the links between discoveries in anatomy and great works of art, from the Romans and da Vinci to Gray's famous book.

Series in which mathematician Marcus du Sautoy explores the stories behind some of the most familiar scientific diagrams.

Oscar®-winning filmmaker Oliver Stone was granted unprecedented access to Russian president Vladimir Putin during more than a dozen interviews over two years, with no topic off-limits. This remarkable four-part documentary series provides intimate insight into Putin's personal and professional lives, from his childhood under communism, to his rise to power, his relations with four U.S. presidents, and his surprising takes on U.S.-Russian relations today. Witness the most detailed portrait of Putin ever granted to a Western interviewer.

dupe of https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/41965/breakthrough-the-ideas-that-changed-the-world

Take a mind-blowing journey through human history, told through six iconic objects that modern people take for granted, and see how science, invention and technology built on one another to change everything. These are the secrets of how we got to our modern world.

Viruses have shaped our health and our history, and, despite all the tools of modern medicine, they continue to kill millions of people every year. Influenza, smallpox, and Ebola are among the three most lethal viruses ever to have plagued mankind. Each has taken a devastatingly large toll on the human population. Smallpox killed more people than all the wars in human history, and we are just one test tube away from biomedical warfare. The flu spreads like wildfire across the globe every year, killing the young and the old alike, and Ebola shocks and terrifies the world each time it emerges. The ferocity of these viruses is anything but an event of the past; according to recent reports from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the 2017-2018 flu season is one of the worst in years. Smallpox, eradicated in the wild, is a top bioterrorism threat. And the next Ebola outbreak always lurks just out of sight.Three years in the making, Discovery's three-part series Invisible Killers takes viewers around the world to understand how viruses have shaped our health and history, the biological and social impact they have on our global society, and the incredible work being done to combat them. In the ongoing battle between humans and viruses, Invisible Killers asks: Are we winning? And, when the next pandemic comes, will we be ready?

Two-part documentary which deals with two of the deepest questions there are - what is everything, and what is nothing? In two epic, surreal and mind-expanding films, Professor Jim Al-Khalili searches for an answer to these questions as he explores the true size and shape of the universe and delves into the amazing science behind apparent nothingness.

Dr. Jago Cooper explores the extraordinary and resilient culture of the American Northwest, revealing one the most inspiring stories in human history.

Professor Marcus du Sautoy explores why we are driven to measure and quantify the world around us and why we have reduced the universe to just a handful of fundamental units of measurement.

Documentary series looking at the history of 20th century farming in Britain.

In 2009, NASA celebrates the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing. This documentary series offers audiences a unique chance to glimpse an astronaut's view of space flight. It is an epic story of heroes and their breathtaking successes as they further humanity's innate desire to explore. To land a human being on another celestial body is the first step to living beyond our planet. The breathless pace and daring of the Apollo program sees NASA master previously unimagined tasks in an attempt to achieve the most incredible accomplishment in the history of human endeavour.

Dr. James Fox tells the story of three cities in three exceptional years - cities whose artists and thinkers, writers and musicians set the world on a new course.

One off docu, so not allowed

Across the Earth, there are traces of a mysterious long-lost world. From seashells 8000 meters above sea-level to species that seem to have jumped thousands of miles of ocean there are tantalising clues out there to the existence of a land unlike anything we see today. As they are pieced together The Rise of the continents will reveal the incredible story of how our world came to be and the nature of the land that came before. This four part series investigates clues that tell a story of a land that no longer exists.

Three-part series looking at the history of pottery in Britain.

Series which looks at important thinkers through the TV and radio broadcasts they made for the BBC. Includes rare and never-seen archive of Freud, Jung and Bertrand Russell.

Series in which Jim Al-Khalili traces the story of how the elements, the building blocks that make up our entire world, were discovered and mapped.

This five-part series, tells the story of design, focusing on inventions – such as the ring pull and the fitted kitchen, from the Industrial Revolution through 20s modernism, the swinging 60s, the designer 80s and up to the present day.Features interviews with star designers like Philippe Starck and creatives from Apple and Ford; as well as design fans like Stephen Fry.

Surgeon Gabriel Weston has spent many years studying the workings of the human body. In this new series she introduces us to people from across the globe, individuals with the world's most unique bodies.Using the latest technology and with the help of leading scientists, Dr Weston uncovers the secrets of their bodies and reveals what makes them unique. By studying the rarest of cases, scientists hope to develop the treatments and even cures of the future.

Japanese inventions are used and loved around the world. Through interviews and reenactments, go behind the scenes and discover how Japanese craftsmanship brought these top inventions into being.

The great cities of the Maya stand like sentinels within the vast jungles of central America. But despite more than a century of intrepid archaeology, most of the ancient Maya world has remained unseen and unexplored. Now that's all about to change. A massive research project is creating an extraordinary "treasure map" of the Maya world from the air, and what it reveals is astounding archaeologists, because it seems that the Maya not only created spectacular cities, but managed and manipulated their landscape on an almost industrial scale to supply food and water for urban populations far bigger than anyone had ever imagined. It all adds up to a complete rethinking of the sheer scale and sophistication of one of the world's most mysterious ancient civilisations.

An immersive, action-packed series follows international teams of Egyptologists as they unearth the world's richest seam of ancient archaeology — Lost Treasures of Egypt. Through excavations and unprecedented access to the teams on the front line of archaeology, we follow these modern-day explorers as they battle searing heat and inhospitable terrain to make the discoveries of a lifetime.

The World from Above is a unique continuing series of aerial programmes offering an entirely different view of the world. From 3,000m down to just one metre, the stabilised high definition aerial camera seeks out the beautiful, as well as the dramatic, on journeys across many parts of the world including Europe, Africa and the USA.

See the ultimate guide to the Solar System from the dedicated people who sent spacecraft to explore the sun and the planets, and witness their astonishing tales of discovery as they reveal wonders never seen before.

A third of Britain's bee species have declined since 1980 – an alarming trend that threatens the collapse of entire ecosystems, and the viability of agriculture which relies on natural pollination.In Jimmy's Big Bee Rescue, Jimmy Doherty attempts to show the declines are not inevitable. Focusing on areas around the city of Peterborough, he will attempt – over the course of one year – to measurably increase the number of bees and related insects. He will demonstrate how farmers, businesses and local government can all help to solve the problem. And he will also show viewers of the series how they too can play their part. 

Going a step further from our previous series BEGIN Japanology, host Peter Barakan visits experts in various fields to show Japanese culture from a new perspective.

Earth, air, water and fire are essential elements in life. But what happens when these natural elements turn on humanity? Apocalypse Earth will examine the catastrophic threat natural phenomena can pose to the US and around the world.

The broadcaster and journalist examines the stories behind famous works of art.

The latest archaeology and genetics answer the biggest questions about cats and dogs. Where did they come from? How did they end up living with us? Why do we love them?

Adam Curtis explores the origins of our contemporary idea of freedom.

A series of three documentaries about the use of fear for political gain.

Europe from Above takes to the air over Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the UK to showcase Europe's finest cultural and geographical landmarks as you've never seen them before. Stunning aerial hyper-lapse photography allows us to visualise the changes of a season in seconds, as tulip fields in the Netherlands magically burst into colour and waterfalls in the Dolomites turn to ice. We reveal how tradition, engineering and natural wonders have shaped this epic continent - a vibrant portrait of these regions and the people who keep their traditions alive.

Archaeologist Allan Maca leads a team of intrepid experts on an epic adventure to solve mysteries, explore secrets and reveal amazing wonders of Ancient China like never before. Guided by images from space, cutting-edge technology on the ground, and the very latest excavations of Chinese archaeologists, they will reveal palaces and tombs, incredible megastructures and even entire long-lost cities.

A spectacular aerial journey across Egypt reveals how the River Nile was the key to the ancients' empire and why it is still important today.

(Un)Well takes a deep dive into the lucrative wellness industry, which touts health and healing. But do these wellness trends live up to their promises?

Mutant Planet is a breath-taking, blue-chip documentary series that explores the unusual, the unexpected... and the downright bizarre. This series reveals incredible habitats where nature has allowed mutant animals, extraordinary adaptations, and curious patterns of behaviour to flourish through the miracle of natural selection and the wonder of evolution.

Secret History is a long-running documentary series that originally ran on British television. Using a combination of interviews and archival footage, the show re-examines key historical moments of international events, often utilizing little-known and previously suppressed information. In 1992, the show won the Royal Television Society award for Best Documentary Series.

A World of Calm combines mesmeric imagery with narration by A-list stars to bring relaxation to the audience. The soothing imagery and tranquil narration will provide audiences of all ages a respite from the stress and chaos of everyday life right now. A timely antidote for our modern lives, each half-hour episode takes audiences on an immersive visual journey into another world. Each story is brought to life by a different iconic voice and will take viewers on a journey everywhere from a noodle maker's kitchen in Seattle, to the forests of Latvia, and beyond our solar system to the outer stretches of the universe.

The lives and deaths of the heroes and villains who have shaped our world. History is peppered with men and women who changed the world, only to become more controversial in death than they were in life. The Last Days of... examines six giants of history who suffered bloody and brutal deaths, retelling their stories, which are packed with unexpected twists and turns. Each episode features a panel of writers, thinkers and historians who set about exploring the downfall and legacy of these characters. This is history as it should be - compelling, dramatic and highly contested. It makes us question everything we thought we knew about the lives and deaths of the heroes and villains who have shaped our world.

The end of the Second World War in Europe, and the aftermath: war criminals to be brought to trial, stolen art treasures to be returned to their rightful owners.

Series explores beyond the Bible, building new biographies of the Apostles from 2,000 years of history strewn across the globe, including the latest discoveries, controversies and insights.

Each episode of Big History will begin with an iconic topic from the pages of traditional history such as the Great Pyramids, The Titanic or the American Revolution but then will spin into surprising journeys through other fields, weaving together insights and evidence from various disciplines such as astronomy, physics, chemistry, biology, anthropology, history and economics. Spanning 13.7 billion years, Big History will ultimately pull together the puzzle pieces from all 16 half-hour episodes into an epic two-hour finale, creating one grand narrative and revealing the unifying link among all events.

Australia's Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest living structure and one of the richest and most complex natural ecosystems on Earth. To some, this place is full of mystery and hardship, an alien world full of bizarre, beautiful and deadly creatures. To others, however, it's home. Over the course of a year, Life on the Reef follows those who live in one of the most extraordinary places on the planet.Along the 1500 miles of coastline, rangers and marine park officers work together with traditional owners, search and rescue crews, scientists and tourism operators to safeguard the reef and protect the millions of residents, tourists, divers and fishermen that visit each year. It's a monumental task — the reef covers an area bigger than the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Holland combined. Violent cyclonic weather, catastrophic crown of thorns starfish infestations, illegal commercial fishing and protecting endangered sea turtles are just some of the challenges they face.Set against a backdrop of extraordinary marine habitats, ranging from coral reefs to tropical islands, shallow estuaries to deep oceanic waters — the series takes the audience above and beneath the waters as nature adapts to the changing seasons throughout the year. This is the blue frontier ... where man meets wild and nature calls the shots.

Stephen Hawking's Science of the Future investigates the very latest game changing innovations.Each episode takes one area of progress and sends five top scientists out to actively test the inventions and breakthroughs that are driving it.The team explore human upgrades, the virtual world, bio-mimicry, high-tech emergency responses, and more.Featuring a wide range of examples, from advanced robotics and breathtaking digital actors, to cutting edge smart homes and electronic brain stimulation, the series reveals how science is delivering astonishing improvements to all our lives.Using the evidence they gather, the team reveals the year when each innovation will be rolled out for us all to benefit from, and Hawking then draws out his own uniquely insightful predictions about what our world will be like in the years to come.