Terrifying... Destructive… Mesmerizing … Tornadoes are among Mother Nature's most devastating storms. Those who fall in its path usually take cover or run … But there are those who track and chase these beasts for sport. Eccentric, wild and just plain crazy … Meet the Twister Chasers. Peggy Willenberg and Melanie Metz have been dubbed the Twister Sisters. For two months out of every year, they put their lives on hold to chase tornados across the American Midwest. These two track tornado-producing storms through Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. In May 2004, they were first on the scene after a tornado hit a rural community near Hallam, Nebraska. While Melanie called 911, Peggy helped pull three teenagers from a collapsed house. We also meet Roger Hill, a veteran storm chaser who holds the Guinness World record for seeing the most tornadoes in a single season. Every spring, his tour service Silver Lining Tours delivers paying customers to the doorstep of Mother Nature's most powerful and unpredictable storms. Roger's passion for severe weather often forces him to the push the boundaries of safety. We'll watch him brave an intense hailstorm, challenge dangerous tornadic winds and dodge imminent lightening strikes. Scientists and researchers - a separate breed of Twister Chasers who pursue tornadoes for data are interviewed. Driving trucks affixed with weather radars, they get as close as they can to devastating twisters. Their goal: To unlock the mysteries of how twisters are formed and ultimately save lives by increasing tornado warning time. Follow along for a wild ride from the perspective of tornado chasers as they criss-cross the American Midwest hunting Mother Nature's most violent and unpredictable storms. From the point of view of amateurs, professional guides, and scientists you'll see why chasers become obsessed with the oddly magnificent storms that plague "Tornado Alley". It is heart-racing and unbelievable footage of twisters up close, a
Imagine living every minute of your life with someone who looks like you, talks like you, thinks like you, dresses and even acts like you. Walk a set of identical twins down a typical street and heads will turn, necks will crane - twins are a source of constant fascination. Extreme Twins reveals extraordinary, captivating and intimate tales of different pairs of identical twins. Thirty-eight year-old twins who still dress the same and share the same bed; twins who marry twins; twins who share psychic powers; twins where one has had a sex change; twins who refuse to be separated and who talk in unison; and twins who have married other twins. We also meet the plastic surgeon who has operated on several sets of twins to help them regain their similarity as age and lifestyle has made their faces drift apart.
The aftermath of the earthquake and ongoing tremors in China once again reminds us of the devastating power and unpredictability of earthquakes. Anatomy of an Earthquake examines what would happen if the 'Big One' were to strike North America, something scientists predict will happen soon. Through riveting stories from eyewitnesses, Anatomy of an Earthquake relives the infamous 1994 California earthquake that released more than five megatons of explosive force in the Los Angeles region. It explores the latest technology and structural testing that will hopefully prepare citizens for the next "big one". This fascinating documentary uses science and CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) to uncover the likely impact on Los Angeles if a major earthquake occurs.
Ever thought of quitting your job to follow your dreams? Wished you never had to do that commute or sit behind that desk again? After five years of trying, Guy Grieve finally gave it a go. He swapped the comforts of his office in Edinburgh to build a log cabin in the wild, bear invested forests of Alaska. He traded in his car for a team of savage huskies, almost losing his hand the first time he tried to run them. And he gave up home cooking for the beaver caught from a freezing lake. Causing much debate at home, Guy headed off to this harsh, but beautiful wilderness without his wife and 2 young boys. But can the family deal with their dream becoming a reality? Will Guy survive the winter and get back home?
An extraordinary documentary on the brainpower of Daniel T, the young Englishman who could be the world's greatest mental athlete. Daniel is not just a calculating wizard, but also a memory champion and super linguist. He speaks nine languages. Daniel, the oldest of seven children, has been able to do amazing calculations after an epileptic seizure when he was 3 years old. He was even able to remember over 22,000 numbers in a public display of his ability. But how does he do it? Leading scientists explore the extraordinary world of this real-life Rainman. Daniel's psychological make-up is explored by Cambridge University autism expert Professor Simon Baron Cohen who delves into his childhood experiences in an effort to explain his remarkable abilities. In America Daniel meets other extraordinary people like himself, known as "savants" --- including Kim Peek, whose story was the basis of the movie "Rainman". Brain scientists at the Salk Institute in San Diego, including Professor V S Ramachandra, are astounded at his skills and discover the key to Daniel's ability is his visual imagery which his brain "sees" when he hears a number, this condition is known as synaesthesia. To show it's not just numbers Daniel can remember -- he also learns one of the world's hardest languages, Icelandic, in just one week --- and gets interviewed on Icelandic TV after only 7 days of learning to speak it.
With almost one in two marriages ending in divorce and 60% of couples having affairs, people are looking for an alternative to monogamy. For some, an option is Polyamory; multiple, long-term, stable relationships. For many it's a taboo, for others a fantasy, but is there such a thing responsible non-monogamy? This film follows two poly-families at different stages in their relationships, and explores how the lifestyle actually works. Take Jerome - he is married to Francisca and has two children. The couple has a live-in lover, Angel and recently introduced Linda, into the family. Will the newcomer upset the balance? And then there is Terisa and her live-in lovers Scott and Larry, who all claim that there is no jealousy between them. But what happens when Scott wants to bring another woman into the relationship? This film unlocks the door on an unusual way of managing personal relationships. It examines the possibility, and even desirability, of polyamory and ask is this really the future of relationships?
It is a mystery that scientists are determined to solve. Why do some people survive exposure, predators, starvation and trauma, while others succumb? We explore the incredible and dramatic real life mysteries of three people struggling to survive against all odds. Pablo Valencia is left stranded in the searing heat of the desert for days without water; hiker David Boomhower is lost and alone for more than two weeks and Charles Horton shatters his leg while skiing in a remote part of Colorado and battles freezing temperatures, sleep deprivation and starvation for days on end. Ultimately, only two of these men survive. We follow their individual stories throughout their respective ordeals, seeing how different responses to the situations either help survival or spell potential disaster. And, we'll reconstruct some of the key scenes in which they made these fateful choices. Luck plays a major part in determining who will survive a sinking ship or a killer hurricane. But scientists have long suspected that some people are better at controlling the body's reaction to trauma…and that survival of the fittest cam sometimes mean the fittest mind. Using CGI, we look at the human body and its defenses in great detail, including its reactions to heat, cold, starvation, and dehydration. We also review the science of our skin. Plus, what causes our minds to have strange thoughts or bouts of negative and positive feelings in such extreme conditions. Mysteries of survival follows these three men as they battle with pain, madness and hallucinations to prove that psychological strength and will to live can be as vital as physiological strength and stamina when the human body is put to the ultimate test.
Thousands of dog owners are becoming victims of the UK's latest crime wave: Dognapping. Their family pets are stolen from locked cars, secure gardens and even from their own houses - all for the sake of a few quid, or in the most sinister cases, for ransoms that can run into thousands of pounds. The police have other priorities, but one woman has quickly risen to become Britain's top expert in the new field of pet detection. Her name is Jane Hayes, and she'll do anything to re-unite the victims of dog theft with their pets - even as her marriage crumbles around her.
The road to being a stand-up comic is a difficult one and it takes a certain kind of toughness to submit to unforgiving and cruel comedy club audiences. In her late thirties, and well established in the bureaucracy of the Nova Scotia government, Candy Palmater is an unlikely newcomer to the comedy world. But Candy is afraid of no one. She's a Mi'kmaq from Northern New Brunswick who grew up in a family of bikers. Always a fighter, she once took on Tim Horton's in a union drive. Losing that battle taught her some lessons about justice and power and propelled her to law school, where she earned the honor of being class valedictorian. Today, however, this "recovered lawyer" as she calls herself, is a civil servant who does training in Aboriginal and diversity issues. Candy Palmater is an activist who's decided that comedy is a better way to deliver some uncomfortable truths. Besides, being a stand-up comic suits her bigger than life personality. The Candy Show follows her progress through the course of a year, beginning with a performance at one of the smaller venues in the Halifax Comedy Festival. She hopes that one year later she'll be invited to the festival's main stage. But as Candy tries to launch a new career she embarks on an emotional roller coaster, both on stage and off.
It is the one of the most fearsome natural phenomena on earth. It affects almost everyone on the planet. Every time it appears it causes death, destruction and disease. It has even changed the course of history. It is El Nino. El Nino was first recognized hundreds of years ago by Peruvian fishermen who saw that every few years the fish they depended on disappeared. Because this strange event often happened at Christmas time they called it El Nino - the Christ Child. But for years it seemed like it was just a Peruvian problem, something to do with the local ocean currents. But over the last hundred years a dramatic scientific detective story has revealed that El Nino is actually a global phenomenon - affecting the oceans and the weather from Europe to Antarctica. In Australia it leads to drought, in California to freak storms, in Europe it can cause bitter winters - it can even stop the Indian monsoon. When El Nino strikes, there's almost nowhere on earth that escapes. Once they realized the power of El Nino, historians began to search for evidence of its destructive force in the past. From the sinking of the Titanic to the death of ancient civilizations, El Nino has been blamed for many great events in history. Now some scientists say that El Nino could be about to get worse, and unleash even greater destruction. What's worse, we humans may be to blame. Global warming could turn El Nino into something even more fearsome.
Ryan Horwood is a security guard. Geoff Hendry works for a 24-hour crisis support center. Saad Kiyani is a bank manager. Sandra Battaglini works for a marketing consultant. Jack Dani is a plumber. They all have one thing in common – they want to be stand up comics. So they've entered a contest to see who will be the funniest person with a day job. In comedy's answer to "Canadian Idol", wannabe comics who dream of giving up their day jobs for a life on the stage compete for a chance to perform in the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal. The "Funniest Person with a Day Job" contest is an annual event put on by the Laugh Resort comedy club in Toronto. About thirty contestants enter the first round, where every week for six weeks, six of them perform for a panel of judges. The winners go on to compete in a second round. There is a lot at stake for these amateur comedians, because winning the contest could be the breakthrough that launches a career. Who Wants to be a Comic? follows several of the contestants through both rounds of the contest and also goes behind the scenes to reveal the real people behind the performances. We discover that what drives people to think they can be comics is as diverse as the contestants themselves and is often surprising.
Clayoquot Sound has been described as a showplace of environmental elegance and biological diversity. Although it has been damaged by logging, much of Clayoquot's temperate coastal rain forest is still intact. John and Janet Foster explore this vanishing ecosystem on Canada's west coast, and illustrate its beauty and diversity by showing how the rain forest was created, and how the Pacific ocean influences and nourishes the forest. This is a land of steep hills and mountains, salt-water inlets, salmon streams, sand beaches, and volcanic rocky shores. Whales swim offshore, while black bears and huge flocks of shorebirds roam the beaches and tidal flat, and seabird colonies and sea lions thrive among scattered islands. Tourism has become a major player in the preservation of Clayoquot Sound. Thousands of visitors travel here, filling lodges and hotels, and visiting Pacific Rim National Park. Yet in spite of Clayoquot's unique qualities and its popularity with tourists, the forest is still threatened by more government sanctioned logging. Clayoquot Sound: The Sound of Wonder, also illustrates the impacts of logging in an ecosystem that takes thousands of years to create. Clayoquot is an ecological jewel on Vancouver Island's west coast – a priceless example of B.C's original rain forest.
The Whaleback lies in the southwest corner of Alberta, north and west of Pincher Creek and bordered on the south by the legendary Oldman River. The area was called "Whaleback" due to the contours of the rolling hills that resemble the back of a surfacing whale. About ten years ago, the Alberta government protected the Whaleback from oil and gas development by setting it aside as the "Bob Creek Wildland". The Whaleback is a rare montane ecosystem - one of the largest remaining in western Canada. It covers roughly 340 square kilometers and is a mix of prairie grasslands with foothills cloaked in aspen, Douglas fir and limber pines. It's the douglas fir and the limber pine that characterize montane landscapes and some of those in the Whaleback are between 4-500 years old. There are plant series found here that grow only in montane regions. The whaleback is also home to wintering herds of wild elk. Black bears, grizzly, and cougar use and pass through this important corridor that links grasslands to the Rocky Mountains. More important, there are no roads running through this rare montane landscape, just rough trails used by hikers and a small group of neighbouring ranchers who hold traditional summer grazing leases fro their cattle. Journeys in the Whaleback explores the Whaleback in three seasons, as we travel by horse drawn sleigh, wagon, and on foot to experience the wildlife and natural beauty of the region. And from a few experts we'll learn why it was so worthy of protection.
For John and Janet Foster, and thousands of others, Ontario's 7000 square kilometer Algonquin Park is a kind of spiritual home -- a nearby, accessible wilderness area that offers superb canoeing, snowshoeing, hiking, and opportunities for nature photography. In 1969, John and Janet spent part of their honeymoon traveling by canoe and portage into the park's interior. Since that time, Algonquin has been special to their lives, and they have always carried their cameras on journeys into the park. This program shows the nature of Algonquin from a personal viewpoint, and reveals the enduring qualities of a park that survives in spite of being within a day's drive of millions of North Americans, and threatened by the usual political and environmental pressures.
This is a program about seven polar journeys, at both ends of the earth – the highlights, the encounters with wildlife, the incredible landscapes, and the spectacle of giant icebergs carved into elegant designs and floating in cold oceans. And it's about where people live, and explorers were lost, and what is happening to these regions as out planet becomes warmer. The journeys take place on an expedition cruise ship, the Akademik Ioffe, built as an acoustical research ship by the Russian Academy of Science, and now carrying modest numbers of tourists to some extraordinary destinations. The crew is Russian and the ship is under charter to Australian and Canadian companies specializing in nature tours, with highly qualified guides who are experts in polar science. John and Janet Foster were on board for five arctic journeys and two voyages to the Antarctic. They carried cameras and recorded adventures and wildlife encounters in remote places that relatively few people have seen. These encounters include polar bears and sea birds in the Canadian arctic, giant icebergs and glaciers in Greenland, and friendly minke whales, seals, and penguins among the mountains and islands of rock and ice in the Antarctic Peninsula. The ship also crosses the notorious Drake Passage, the feared and stormy sea that combines the waters of three oceans and circles the planet between South America and Antarctica. These are true expedition cruises, following itineraries that will change daily with the weather, with wildlife sightings, and the chance to explore new channels and make landings by rubber Zodiacs on shore at every opportunity.
Some of the highest tides on this planet sweep into the Bay of Fundy twice every day, creating tidal rips and tidal bores, emptying and refilling harbours, making rivers run backwards, and nourishing incredible life on vast mud flats. The Bay of Fundy is like a giant bathtub sloshing 100 billion tons of tidal water back and forth, literally shaping the coastline of two Provinces and affecting all life along their shores. At Hall's Harbour, in New Brunswick, the tides must funnel into a narrow channel. With a time-lapse camera we see boats floating high against the wharf, and then sitting on the mud six hours later. And at the north end of the Bay of Fundy the Shubenacadie River reverses itself as a powerful tidal bore from the ocean marches up river at high tide. Around the shores of Grand Manan Island, fishermen use the tides to catch herring inside simple and traditional weirs. John and Janet Foster explore all of these phenomena, and witness the extraordinary mating rituals of the endangered Northern Right Whales - animals that depend on the rich ocean pastures created by the upwelling nutrients in Fundy's tides. And with help from a mud scientist they witness the mass flights of thousands of migrating shorebirds that come down from the arctic to feed and refuel on tiny shrimps in the tidal mud flats, before continuing non-stop to South America. Their flights are aerial ballets of precision turns and synchronous formation flying. Fundy's tides are a powerful biological engine, an irresistible force of nature.
Although technology continues to evolve, a group of die-hard gamers refuses to abandon the classic arcade games of yesteryear. The 80's live on for these enthusiasts, who compete against each other and history to record the world's highest scores. Portland gamer Bill Carlton is one of the most brazen, fearlessly taking on some of the toughest records on the books. HIGH SCORE follows Bill as he attempts to take down the Atari classic Missle Command and its twenty year-old record. To get the 80 million points he'll have to play the game on one quarter for over two days straight. There is no pause button. There will be no sleep. There can be only one victor in this classic story of Man versus Missle Command.
It's a cutthroat world where the difference between first and second place can be as little as a hair's breadth. From the creator of Cane Toads comes this delightful look at the trials and triumphs from America's animal competitions, Standard Of Perfection. This week, the humble cow is the focus of our attentions as we go behind the scenes at the Fryeburg Cattle Show in Maine, USA. Standard Of Perfection has become the guideline by which animal show-judges award points and prizes to worthy animals. Each animal is awarded points based on physical 'perfection' including facial features, body shape, color and pattern, gait, tail and temperament. Standard of Perfection takes viewers into the world of the bovine makeover and shows how pride and determination, not to mention steel-capped boots, transform a barnyard cow into a regional celebrity. Most people have seen a cow, but few can say they've seen a Grand Champion Jersey being prepped and prepared for the biggest and most prestigious event in New England: The Fryeburg Fair. Held annually in October, the Fair signals a time when cattle lovers across New England gather to bath, groom, clip and show their animals over three days of intense competition. Judged against recognized standards in a variety of categories, hundreds of cattle exhibitors compete for six Grand Champion prizes and the coveted crown of Supreme Champion. With wit, respect and the sort of imaginative approach he has become renowned for, Mark Lewis exposes the intense preparation in order to prime an animal for the biggest show of the year and the love people have for their animals, big and small.
An army of toads, millions strong, sweeps across the Australian continent. Equipped with a deadly toxin their march is relentless. As the toads march towards the city of Darwin its residents prepare for the onslaught. Should they dig a trench? Set out traps baited with special lures? Arm everyone in town with golf clubs? Can anything stop the invasion of the killer toads? For the past 70 years, an invasion of cane toads has marched across northern Australia like a biblical plague. First introduced to Australia to eat farm pests, the toads immediately began multiplying and wreaking havoc on native wildlife. These over sized amphibians are armed with a toxin so potent it can even kill a full-grown crocodile. Now, poised at the gates of the continent's last frontier - the giant toads are set to complete their invasion of Australia's tropical north. And while they have yet to kill any humans here, residents are taking no chances. As scientists belatedly race to study why these toads are such effective killers, the amphibians march toward Darwin - much to the chagrin of its residents. This new action-packed program from National Geographic Television & Film includes great natural history, science, invention, humor, incredible predation sequences and CGI.
The second arctic adventure from the couple that met and fell in love at the North Pole. Their dream was the biggest, the longest and the hardest possible ice expedition: the total crossing of the Arctic Ocean from Russia to Canada via the North Pole. They swam across polar seas and pulled their 90-kilogram sledges across the drifting ice. They suffered through extreme temperatures, and encountered polar bears. They experienced the mental challenges of being a couple, and a mother endured the hardship of being away from her children. For more than 1500 km the nearly inhuman pain and effort could not stop them. But after 99 days of struggling, they were confronted with the reality of global warming. Scientists are talking about it, everyone is thinking about it, but at the top of the Earth these explorers found themselves alone in front of it. Trapped and surrounded by breaking ice, the couple had to abandon their dreams just miles from the finish line and had to be airlifted in order to save their lives. "Through the plane window I saw how much the Arctic was melting, and I understood how close we had been to a disaster. We were alive but the Arctic Ocean was dying."
This highly visual documentary takes us inside the mind of the Erotomaniac. Using a mixture of dynamic stylistic devices and computer-generated imagery, the film attempts to recreate a warped world as seen through their eyes. The film features people diagnosed with this Impulse Control Disorder and explores just how far their compulsions can really go. Erotomania is the delusional belief that someone is in love with you. A simple brush of the arm at the photocopy machine, or the way someone arranges their desk, can all be misinterpreted as signs of interest. From the unrequited love of a man still obsessed with a woman he hasn't seen or spoken to in 20 years to the sinister secret admirer who won't leave their victim alone. From celebrity stalkers, including the story of David Letterman's obsessed fan Margaret Ray, to the erotomaniac who will stop at nothing, including murder, to justify their love. But what makes them do it?
n an age when it's neither socially or legally necessary, why do Canadians choose to marry? While it's true that more couples than ever decide to just live together, the majority still want to say "I do". Why Do We Marry? looks at a convention that is not only persistent but thriving. The documentary begins with a young couple whose piercings and tattoos would lead you to believe they are not the marrying kind, and anything but traditional. However, while their drive- through wedding is a little out of the ordinary, Kathleen McEvoy and Andrew Sherratt have decided to marry for reasons that are as old fashioned as the institution itself. It's the moral thing to do, they say. People marry to make a commitment. They marry for religious reasons, to please family, and because they think children should have married parents. Tradition is still important. But affirmation and validation are also important, even among the unconventional. Larry Kleinman and Nira Friedman in Montreal are in their sixties and they were a couple for nearly two decades, although they never lived together. They decided to get married to cement their relationship and "close the circle", but they continue to live separately. Valda Leighteizer is a grandmother who has married before, and is now marrying her long time partner Kate Krug. As they prepare for their wedding they tell us why it's important to have their union publicly recognized. Sheila Patel and Fabrice Jesten marry to win the acceptance of her family. Kirsten Dane marries Aadil Mamuji for religious reasons after she converts Islam. But there are couples who marry, just to have the party. They are lured by the romance of the event and the idea of being prince and princess for day. They get lots of encouragement from a huge wedding industry that promotes the sensational wedding. And if it's not the couple who wants a marriage, in order to have a wedding, it might very be their parents who insist on the nuptials i
Armed with seven planes, a ship, 250 scientists and researchers and the best gadgets money can buy, a daring and intrepid group tries to catch the 'perfect storm.' Launching the 2007 season of WILD DOCS! Thunderheads is a thrilling ride that follows pilots and scientists as they battle to better understand the role of thunderstorms in the climate change puzzle. Thunderheads tells the gripping tale of I.C.E.-the 'International Cloud Experiment', a multinational force of 250 people from Australia, Russia, England, Germany and the U.S. as they learn all they can about 'Hector,' one of the largest thunderstorms on the planet. To the scientists, led by thunderstorm guru professor Ed Zipser and NASA branch chief Dave Starr from the U.S., 'Hector' may hold the key to better understanding how thunderstorms affect global warming. Indeed, clouds in general may be the sleeping giants of climate change. They have the ability to both trap heat-and to reflect sunlight back into space. As the Earth heats up, will the planet's cloud cover change? Currently, scientists simply don't know, but part of the answer lies in thunderheads, because they are the clouds that make other clouds. This observational documentary intimately captures the blood, sweat and tears that go into conducting a vast, ambitious and perilous experiment.
A new craze is sweeping Japanese society: dogs. The Japanese bought over one and a half million of them in 2004 alone. And like all fads, this one is bringing with it a boom in canine commerce. Tokyo Dogs takes an inside look at how Japan's new-found affection for dogs is leading to some of the most surprising and unlikely enterprises. In Tokyo, caterers and bakeries specialize in pleasing the picky pooch, offering a dazzling array of gourmet treats, all exquisitely presented according to Japanese custom. Deluxe hotels and relaxation centers provide dogs with an endless array of choices: mixed Jacuzzi where master and dog can unwind together, massage salons, hot baths and Shiatsu massages. One even has a wedding chapel, complete with traditional (dog-sized) marriage costumes and Shinto priest. And they'll even take care of the wedding gifts to boot. From high-fashion dog grooming to GPS dog collars to special dogie funeral homes, the market for canines has taken Tokyo by storm. The land of the rising sun is quickly becoming the land of the pampered dog-where else can you see a dog in a kimono?
Our world might be getting smaller, thanks to technology, but virtual worlds and games are booming. Millions of people venture daily into these new and constantly evolving landscapes where they can conquer mythical armies, slay dragons and embark on other fantastical quests. In the virtual world of Second Life, you can painlessly remake yourself as a slim and blemish-free avatar, chat up strangers, shop, or start a business and make (or lose) real money. A cover of Business Week featured the woman who became the first millionaire by buying and selling virtual property. Some of the world's biggest companies are staking territory in Second Life. They don't want to miss out on what's touted as the Next Big Thing the Internet has to offer-some claim Second Life will be more far-reaching than YouTube or MySpace. You Only Live Twice explores the bizarre frontiers of virtual worlds-taking a skeptical, sometimes-humorous look at their heavily marketed promise and their pitfalls. Viewers will see the inside world of an avatar and meet the key players who make worlds like Second Life go around. Do real-world laws apply in Second Life, and if so, whose? Are virtual worlds the future for shopping and marketing? And why are some psychiatrists and social researchers so keen on experiments in virtual worlds?
Nefertiti and the Lost Dynasty: State of the art science helps unravel the mysteries of one of Egypt's most powerful, beautiful and controversial Queens. Over 3,000 years ago, Nefertiti, the perfect one, and her husband Akhenaten, the radical king, tore ancient Egypt apart. This revolutionary couple shook the foundations of Egypt by overthrowing the government, the capital city, and even replacing the old gods. In less than 20 years, they would turn Egypt upside down and then vanish forever. In Nefertiti and the Lost Dynasty, a determined international team brings state-of-the-art CT scans to the Valley of the Kings, for the second time in history, in pursuit of answers surrounding this mysterious family of pharaohs and their unexplained disappearance. Nefertiti explores the debate that has been raging for decades, and follows the new scientific investigation as they try to determine the identity of a 3000 year old mummy. Could it be the lost Queen Nefertiti?
Over a thousand pounds, with powerful muscles and formidable claws … the world's biggest bears are the largest, strongest land-dwelling carnivores on earth. Adult polar, brown (Grizzly) and black bears can take down prey with a single bite or swipe of the paw. And that's only part of their power: bears can run at amazing speeds, have powerful senses of smell and some of the strongest, most formidable jaws in the animal kingdom. They sport superb weaponry that's essential to their survival as they seek food, territory and mates. And with bears and humans crossing paths more often, it's perhaps never been more important to understand 'bear power'. Ultimate Bear gets as close as anyone dares to the world's biggest bears for a full profile of bear power. The film analyzes footage of predation (and rare attacks on humans) to deconstruct the muscle-and-bone 'mechanics' that endow bears and reveal their exceptional survival secrets. Using CGI combined with cutting-edge dissection and imaging of bear brains, we also look inside these creatures and examine the bio-engineering of the world's biggest bears - endowed not just with size, speed and power but powers of sensory detection that may be the best of any animal on earth. We will also look beyond their sheer size and ferocity - to unpack the real complexity of bear.
Imagine what it's like to be stared at whenever you leave your home…to be bombarded with relentless questions from strangers. Superhuman Giants tells the stories of some of the most extraordinary people on the planet. Only three in every million individuals get to become members of their most exclusive club. These people aren't just tall, they're breaking the seven foot barrier. Find out how the human body grows to such an exceptional height? How do they fit in? And can they find love? Find out what it's like to live as a GIANT.
What started as circles juxtaposed to create a head, body and ears evolved into one of the most famous and beloved characters of all time - Mickey Mouse. Leading a team of talented artists, Mickey's legendary designer went on to create such memorable characters as Dumbo, Sleeping Beauty and Pinnochio among many others. CBC NEWS: THE PASSIONATE EYE explores the inspiration and evolution of some of the world's most famous animated characters in Walt Disney: Once Upon a Time. The documentary retraces the creative saga of Disney, a pop culture genius responsible for inventing a cinema art-form. After taking a long journey across Europe, Disney returned with hundreds of illustrated books and engravings, a treasure trove that was to serve as a major source for the creation of his animated feature films. Using a cartoon-style tone and rhythm, the documentary unfolds as an investigation into Disney's creative mind through an orchestration of 3-D animated sequences, photos and archival footage, interspersed with interviews, and clips from the most famous of Disney films such as The Jungle Book, Fantasia, Bambi, Sleeping Beauty and Dumbo... films most of us have been enchanted by at some point in our lives. Walt Disney: Once Upon a Time is directed by Samuel Doux and written by Samuel Doux and Carlo de Boutiny. It is a production of Les Films d'Ici, La Réunion des Musées Nationaux, The Walt Disney Company (France) in association with Arte France .
A six-foot alligator ends up dead inside the belly of a 13-foot python…it is the stuff urban legends are made of but viewers will have no choice but to believe when they witness the unthinkable. It's a battle nature never intended, but as a whole host of exotic species invade and multiply in Florida's Everglades, the ensuing battles seem to be increasingly pitting huge alien creatures against native apex predators. Everything from Burmese pythons to Nile monitor lizards are infiltrating Florida's swamp lands. Already, the aliens have breached the defenses and are marching onward inciting a ferocious turf war. Since 2000, more than 140,000 Burmese pythons have been legally imported into the U.S. as exotic pets. But these alien darlings soon become colossal, dangerous beasts and many owners find it easier to abandon them in the swampy marshes. Is there any hope for Florida's last bastion of wild paradise? National Geographic fuses science, forensics and natural history to deconstruct the bizarre encounter between a native gator and a massive Burmese python. Filmmakers recreate the grisly autopsy and work through tantalizing clues and at the story's climax, scientists use the evidence to reconstruct exactly what happened during that epic clash. Could an entire army of alien species be poised to conquer, kill and take over the Florida Everglades?
You don't have to go to the jungles of Madagascar to be dazzled by exotic mating rituals and ferocious insect appetites. Just outside your back door there exists a world full of heated passions, brutal violence and other worldly beauty. Go out into your garden and pull back a leaf, any leaf, and have a look at a world far stranger than any storyline ever dreamed up on the 'X-Files'. Welcome to The Secret World of Gardens - a place where the familiar is revealed to be strangely alien. This is 'Survivor' in the garden. Using macro-lenses and time-lapse photography, our plant paparazzi uncover the extraordinary secret life concealed in a common garden. With a dizzying shift of perspective, grasses become towering forests and beetles labor away as armored, devouring giants. From the ravages of bloodthirsty predators to the exotic mating rituals of blossoms this striking documentary shot in Super 16mm film gives viewers a ringside seat on the floor of their garden to witness the cycles of life and death that somersault throughout the season in their own backyards. In early spring, the garden troops emerge on the scene. A communal group of ladybugs starts to wake from their snowy slumber and stretch their legs; their red backs in sharp contrast to the crisp white snow that slowly melts as they begin to stir. Bumblebees loudly trumpet their arrival and descend en mass into orchards to bombard pollen sources in dawn to dusk raids as icicles drip off their last icy breaths, and an 8-year old toad digs his way up through the soil to once again witness the renewal of Spring. Plants burst forth from the ground as though they have held their breath all winter long and now is the time to erupt on to the scene with one big exhale, vines tenderly reach for the skies and flowers crack open in breathtaking time-lapse photography. As summer gets into full swing we follow the lives, loves and mishaps of our characters as they battle it out in the garden for survival.
Rogue waves have caused some of the world's worst naval disasters in our history. These destructive forces are not to be confused with tsunamis or tidal waves, and are not caused by earthquakes or landslides. They are massive, towering walls of water that rise from within the sea, offer no warning to those at their mercy and have baffled scientists for centuries. Rogue Waves is a one-hour documentary that combines the dramatic tales of rogue wave disasters over the course of history, with scientific investigation and groundbreaking technology to help us better understand their nature. Through the use of wave tanks and satellite images, Rogue Waves gives viewers insight into the origins of this powerful, unstoppable force, why they strike out of seemingly calm seas and the means scientists are using to better forecast them before disaster strikes.
Traveling faster than a speeding bullet and burning five times hotter than the surface of the sun, lightning can strike humans dead and unexpectedly. Explore the science behind the deadly and mysterious occurrence in Human Voltage: Struck By Lightning. The film follows the stories of three lightning victims - one a recent victim and two others plagued with unusual long term consequences. Tim Samaras, a storm chaser uses a one-ton camera to take viewers into the heart of a lightning storm to capture a whole new picture of lightning. Human Voltage: Struck By Lightning also explores new discoveries in lightening science and innovative brain imaging technology to find out what really happens when lightning strikes the human body.
Monster pumpkins - the obsession of extreme gardeners hoping to grow a world-record holder for competition at the Mr. Universe of horticulture. The extreme gardeners who enter the annual Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off have one obsessive ambition: To grow a world record 1500-pound pumpkin and thus enter the hallowed halls of gardening glory. These gurus of the gourd nurture their fruits through harsh weather, animal attacks, and even vandalism to produce glorious pumpkins of monster proportion. Some call growing giant vegetables for competitions a hobby, others call it a sport, most call it an obsession. We encounter quirky and endearing growers who tend, pamper and coddle their plants as if they are children; coaxing them to grow to unnatural proportions. Of course, there are rumors of creative techniques used by determined growers -- people who'll go to any lengths to raise a winner: spraying the fruit with milk or injecting it directly into the flesh, cradling the pumpkin in its own hammock, talking to it, surrounding the pumpkin patch with end-to-end mousetraps. Some contenders take to sleeping in the garden in the final days before competition to ward off saboteurs. And of course, the growers must diligently fend off the vicious natural enemy of the pumpkin - the woodchuck. We follow Joe Pukos and his fellow competitors through the final harrowing days of harvest and then the long journey across state with the bulging behemoths strapped into the back of their pick-ups. Joe is a real contender for the top prize - at least until last minute rumors circulate that another grower has a pumpkin that will break the world record. At the Cooperstown, New York weigh-off, the massive pumpkins are hoisted one by one onto the competition scales and the moment of truth finally arrives.
Alain Robert is the most daring climber the world has ever seen. Using merely his bare hands, a dusting of chalk and his trusted climbing shoes, he's climbed over seventy of the earth's tallest man-made structures. A heart-stopping film following the planet's most daring free-climber as he attempts to scale completely unaided some of the tallest buildings in the world. Dubbed The Human Spider, Alain Robert is the most daring climber the world has ever seen. Using merely his bare hands, a dusting of chalk and his trusted climbing shoes, Alain has climbed over seventy of the earth's tallest man-made structures including the Taipei 101, the Eiffel Tower, Kuala Lumpur's Petronas Twin Towers, the Empire State Building and London's Canary Wharf. This visually stunning and adrenalin-fueled documentary constructs a fascinating psychological profile of Robert and gains exclusive access to his quest to "free-climb" more of the world's most iconic landmarks including a selection of the tallest structures in Shanghai, Berlin, Moscow, Lisbon and London. As well as incredible footage of his previous exploits this film promises to leave the viewer engrossed, amazed and entertained.
Survivors of shark attacks reveal their death defying and terrifying stories with the ocean's ultimate predator. Sharks are the ocean's ultimate predator. The slightest hint of their presence can evacuate a beach, sending shockwaves of fear through a previously idyllic summer. Not all species of sharks attack people, but some, including the bull shark, the tiger shark and the fearsome white shark are known to prey on humans. Shark attacks are rare, but they do happen, and with more people congregating at the beaches and playing in coastal waters, the number of shark attacks is on the rise. But while there are more attacks, few of these lead to death. These extreme predators are more than capable of slicing a human in two with one vicious bite, yet often they hold back, or let go - why? In When Sharks Attack, research biologist Mark Marks goes in search of answers to the questions of shark attack. He interviews people who have suffered horrific shark bites to ascertain the exact strategy sharks use when attacking, and what the reasons are for letting their prey go free. When Sharks Attack will not only investigate the science behind shark behavior but will also tell the incredible stories of people who have experienced nature's most perfect killing machine first hand - and lived to tell the tale. Teenage surfers JP Andrews and Bethany Hamilton, who, despite almost losing their lives in separate shark attacks, continue to surf. JP says the attack, which left him medically dead for over 30 minutes, has given him great respect for the ocean and for its creatures. This sentiment is echoed by many of the survivors; changed forever, but armed with greater insight because of their life-changing brush with the ocean's most deadly predator.
Fast food addicts swap diets with an ancient tribe whose eating rituals date back thousands of years. For many of us, the holiday season is a time of overindulging in sugary, fat-laden treats. But could you give it all up? How far would you go to give up unhealthy food? In an extreme television experiment, four fast food fanatics trade their Western diet, for the diet of one of the healthiest communities in the world. The traditional Western diet has been linked to diabetes, coronary heart disease and cancer. Time for some extreme diet therapy as four junk food addicts are sent to a remote region of Northern Pakistan. There, they're forced to adopt the diet of the Shimshal people, which includes locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables, and yak meat. Exercise also becomes part of daily life - fetching firewood, carrying water, working in the fields and herding animals. Not all of them will make it through, but for those that do, it will be a life-changing experience.
Counts down the fastest animals on earth and compares them to human attempts to race their way into the record books. You can run - but you can't hide from the fastest animals on the planet. Earth is a planet of extremes - extreme places, and extreme animals. But some animals are more impressive than others when it comes to quickness. It may surprise you to find out which animals use their knack for speed to survive. From miraculous lizards that walk on water to super swift sharks, Extreme Speed counts down the top ten most extreme speed freaks in the animal world, and compares them to human attempts to race their way into the record books. The legendary hare has an impressive track record of extreme speed. But how would it stack up against the world's fastest human athletes? Running full throttle, the hare can approach speeds of 45 miles per hour. That means it could dominate the Olympic 100 metre sprint and shatter the world record in a time of just 5 seconds. That's fast, but not as fast as the tiny animal that races to catch prey while traveling an astonishing 170 body lengths each second. For the cowboys of the Wild West, extreme speed was the difference between life and death. It only takes two tenths of a second for the fastest gunslingers to draw ... and shoot. But cowboys have some competition from a creature that you might find hiding at the bottom of a fish tank. This sharp shooter doesn't pack pistols, but uses clubs to knock its opponents senseless - clubs that move as fast as speeding bullets. Snails are not known for their speed, but some varieties are actually stealth assassins. When the cone snail detects prey a hollow and barbed harpoon loaded with venom is launched from inside the snail's throat. A U.S. Marine based in Guam was posing for a photograph with two cone snails when both simultaneously struck him in the neck. He died in just four seconds. Whether they're predator or prey, the fastest animals on earth all use the power
Extreme sports at its most extreme - witness an unbelievably dangerous journey across the wildest and loneliest stretch of ocean on Earth - all captured on camera. This amazing documentary opens with a chilling mayday call from the documentary's subject, a garbled message that compels viewers to continue watching. Most of us can't fathom what drives people to risk their lives doing extreme sports. But Australian Andrew McAuley's wife did, when she introduced the mountaineer to open ocean kayaking. Now he's attempting an unbelievable first-a solo kayak crossing from Tasmania to New Zealand via some of the most ruthless and dangerous waters imaginable, with a camera mounted on the front of his boat. He's not only leaving behind his wife, but also a young son, and a host of friends who can only marvel at his risk-taking. As we learn from the opening scene in Lost at Sea, he runs into serious trouble. The New Zealand coast guard receives a mayday call that he's 30 miles offshore and his boat is sinking. Extraordinary video diaries recorded throughout his journey allow us to watch one man risk everything.
Lifestyle journalist Kate Spicer is 39, single and, like many women, not 100% happy with her appearance. Follow Kate as she immerses herself in the wide range of bizarre, radical and cutting edge procedures now on offer to normal women willing to undergo a grueling quest for exquisite, youthful looks. Lifestyle journalist Kate Spicer is 39, single and, like many women, not 100% happy with her appearance. She's always been skeptical about the beauty industry but now, as she approaches her forties, she's contemplating action. And with £1.8m now spent everyday in the UK on cosmetic procedures, she's not alone. This film follows Kate as she immerses herself in the wide range of bizarre, radical and cutting edge procedures now on offer to normal women willing to undergo a grueling quest for exquisite, youthful looks. Just how far is Kate willing to go? And will it be worth it? "A lot of the journalism I write is about popular culture and trends," explains Kate. "I often will immerse myself in that subject matter because if something is popular with a lot of people, unless you try it, I don't think you're ever going to understand why." As a streetwise journalist, Kate is well aware that the beauty industry and the media bombard women with unrealistic images of physical perfection and is skeptical about the practitioners of exotic and invasive procedures - and indeed those people who indulge in it. "The images of beauty we have in our society today are incredibly artificial either in terms of the work the individual has had done or in terms of the technological shenanigans you can use on a photograph," says Kate. With a personal interest in improving her looks and a beauty industry cynic's interest in exploring just how easy it is to be sucked into the world of cosmetic improvement, Kate wants to find out what's really involved in our quest to look beautiful. "I've got two motivations here," says Kate. "One is can I get to look better? Can I get to look hotter
The curse of beach holidays, explores why the jellyfish population is exploding. They have become the curse of beach holidays, permeating every ocean on the globe, thriving in the arctic and the tropics. In an ever-changing world where other species struggle to endure, jellyfish populations are on the rise. To the untrained eye, they're gelatinous blobs, drifting aimlessly on the ocean's currents. But jellyfish are among the most-feared and least-understood creatures on earth. And their populations are exploding across the world. They lack sharp claws, piercing teeth or even a brain - but they are armed with an amazing arsenal of weapons. For hundreds of millions of years, jellyfish have been evolving, developing into the ultimate survivor. The wet season, Northern Australia. Here locals and tourists alike have long been wary of the lethal sting of the largest box jellyfish, the sea wasp. These creatures are not aggressive and usually avoid human beings, but accidental collisions are inevitable. And on a continent loaded with deadly predators, it's the box jellyfish that's the most venomous. Since 1900, the creature has killed some 80 people in the waters off Australia. One brush with its tentacles delivers horrific pain and can be fatal. But why does this jelly defend itself like this? Australian jellyfish expert Jamie Seymour introduces us to the Irukandji jellyfish. No bigger than a penny and translucent by design, the Irukandji is nearly impossible to detect in the ocean, but those who've encountered the lethal jelly certainly don't forget. Its venom packs a staggering punch, and its toxins permeate the body with startling efficiency. Swarms of Irukandji are now being reported worldwide. We discover that while a paralyzing defense is the key for jellyfish survival, there may be a new factor enhancing its ability to survive: human-generated changes to the waters they live in. To investigate this phenomenon we go to Japan, where the population of j
A collection of some of the most incredible moments ever caught on film. Amazing Moments showcases some of the most incredible moments ever caught on film. From surviving disaster on land, in the air and at sea, Amazing Moments will leave viewers gasping for breath. This must-see documentary captures the power of nature's fury up-close and personal. Four action-packed segments feature spectacular imagery and firsthand accounts from the scientists, journalists and filmmakers on the scene that let viewers experience thrilling moments of discovery, heart-pounding adventure, and shocking rarely seen animal behaviors. A base jumper equipped with a helmet-cam takes a mile-high free fall-but his parachute won't open. A cameraman films a shark swimming away-but the shark turns back for an unexpected close-up. A journalist and his crew duck for cover on a mountaintop in Afghanistan as their location comes under attack and bullets fly right over their heads.
Oscar nominated doc follows a beauty pageant where the contestants are hired killers, guerrillas and thieves. The contestants are hired killers, guerrillas and thieves. The winner will be crowned Queen, but she won't be invited on a press tour as a role model for young girls. Instead, she will be escorted back to her cell. Nominated for an Oscar for Best short documentary in 2007, La Corona follows four inmates competing for the crown in a beauty pageant like no other, held every year in one of the toughest women's prisons in Bogota Columbia. In a macho culture where femininity is narrowly defined and enforced, televised beauty pageants in Colombia have been known to get higher ratings than World Cup Soccer. National and local beauty pageants are often the centerpiece of cultural festivals, and every little girl dreams of one day being the Queen of her village. But even in Colombia, the idea of a beauty pageant in jail is a bit unusual. The four contestants include: Maira, a steely 21-year-old former assassin; Viviana, a dreamy 24-year- old who has already served six years for guerrilla activity; Angela, 23, a fiery professional thief and hustler from a black ghetto outside the city; and Angie, 22, the "new girl," a single mother who has just been arrested for gang-related robbery. As the competition nears and suspense builds, the women explain in their own words what brought each of them to this place and discuss the lives and loved ones they've left behind.
In a world without people, how would nature react following a nuclear disaster - and how swiftly? Chernobyl provides an unexpected sanctuary for wildlife and abandoned pets. What would happen if the world were suddenly without people - if humans vanished off the face of the earth? How would nature react - and how swiftly? On the edge of Europe, the deserted village of Chernobyl reveals the surprising answer after an unplanned experiment. Chernobyl was abandoned by people after the worst nuclear disaster in history (April 26, 1986). A level 7 meltdown resulted in a severe release of radioactivity following a massive explosion that destroyed the reactor. More than 20 years later, Chernobyl has been taken over by a remarkable collection of wildlife and descendants of pets that were left in the city when its residents fled the nuclear fallout. Unexpectedly in the aftermath of this disaster, Chernobyl has become a sanctuary for plants, birds, and animals, including some species thought to be on the brink of extinction. The adventures of a likable cast of non-human characters give viewers a rare glimpse into a world where wild animals face challenges in an environment totally outside their experience, and once-domesticated pets have learned how to fend for themselves.
Escape the winter and travel to exotic and politically-charged locations around the Tropic of Capricorn. Tropic of Capricorn follows Simon Reeve as he embarks on another epic journey around the world, uncovering extraordinary stories and meeting fascinating people. Accessible and enjoyable this glossy travelogue delivers important social, political and environmental issues to a mass audience. Genial, inquisitive and funny, Simon shares his quirky take on some of the most extreme and beautiful areas on Earth.
Sam Vaknin, a self-proclaimed psychopath, goes in search of a diagnosis. Psychopaths...we usually only know them from Hollywood movies. We never expect them to enter our real life. But, the psychopath is closer than you think. Experts believe their number to be as high as one in a hundred. Most of them function incognito in high-powered professions...all the way to the very top. But...it takes one to truly know one. In this intriguing documentary, Sam Vaknin, a self-proclaimed psychopath, goes in search of a diagnosis. In a scientific first, he allows himself to undergo testing to find out if he was born without a conscience. He knows he's narcissistic and cannot empathize with others. By his own admission, he's pompous, grandiose, repulsive and contradictory, ruthless and devoid of scruples, capricious and unfathomable... but he believes, he's not a bad person. What he is is indifferent...he couldn't care less. Unless, of course, the topic is himself. Vaknin and his long-suffering but ever-loyal wife, Lidija, embark on a diagnostic road trip. But, it's uncharted territory...deep into the mind and life of a psychopath. The 47-year-old convicted corporate criminal has agreed to take part in the pursuit of his own diagnosis...meeting the world's experts in psychopathy in the hope that science will provide some answers for why he is like he is. These experts put Vaknin (and his wife) through a battery of rigorous psychological tests and neuro-scientific experiments. Vaknin is shocked at the results. Sam, his wife, the scientists, the film-makers - will they ever be quite the same again?
The stories of some of those lucky enough to escape this feared mountain phenomenon. Hear first hand accounts from survivors from avalanches around the world. According to the Canadian Avalanche Center, this past year Canada has experienced the deadliest beginning to the avalanche season on record. As of January 2008, there have been ten fatalities since the start of the avalanche season. Avalanche: The White Death tells the stories of some of those lucky enough to escape this feared mountain phenomenon. Hear first hand accounts from survivors from avalanches around the world. The film takes viewers to Nepal, Austria, Utah and Alaska to reveal the catastrophe and horror of being caught in the path of such a force of nature. Although this awesome natural phenomenon is rarely stopped, scientists are learning new ways of predicting and safely triggering avalanches in a controlled manner. In addition to this, mountain awareness is beginning to be taught to winter sports enthusiasts.
What does The Queen, Princess Anne, Lady Zara Phillips and all the rest of the royals have in common? Easy! They all love horses.
Will the economic meltdown trigger another Depression? The current economic crash is compared with the crash of 1929 and how it was dealt with. Will our current economic meltdown trigger another depression? The world is in the midst of an economic crisis with no end in sight. Stock markets around the world have dropped a third since 2007. Hundreds of thousands have lost their jobs. In the U.S., home foreclosures doubled between 2007 and 2008. Venerable financial institutions have shut their doors. And the American auto industry found itself on the verge of bankruptcy. We have been here before. The crash of 1929 gave rise to a decade of hardship and despair. Is history repeating itself? Will today's crash turn into tomorrow's depression? Crash: The Next Depression? looks at the current economic meltdown in the United States and compares and contrasts it with the lead up to the Great Depression, the 1929 Crash, its immediate aftermath and what brought us out of the depression. Threading first person accounts with expert interviews, Crash: The Next Depression? helps viewers understand how much history is repeating itself and what it tells us about our future.
