documentary television programs

Investigates how the Ring of Fire, a powerful geologic force of active volcanoes that circles almost the entire Pacific, shaped and continues to shape the evolving world.

Examines the engineering achievements of the Byzantine Empire in the Middle Ages, discusses their invention of foreign intelligence, and looks at how the empire's accomplishments contributed to its downfall.

Presents an examination of the nature of tsunamis, explaining how they form and why they are so difficult to predict, including footage and stories from survivors of tsunamis in Hawaii.

Explores the power, diversity, and ecological influence of the world's oceans, featuring eight episodes that introduce the blue whale, the largest creature ever to live on the planet, visiting the habitats of the Arctic and Antarctic, and introducing the creatures and geology of the open ocean, the deep, the seasonal and coral seas, the tidal seas, and the coasts.

Groundbreaking eight-part series reveals ancient Rome's hidden treasures and untold stories as never before. From iconic figures including Caligula, Caesar, and Constantine to epic events such as the eruption of Vesuvius, the invasion of Britain, and fall of Rome, this collection reveals a startling, up-to-date vision of the ancient empire and challenges our perception of what we know about the Romans and their lives.

The vivid, inside story of how the Ebola outbreak began and why it wasn't stopped before it was too late. With exclusive access to key global decision-makers and health responders, and gripping accounts of victims from the slums of Monrovia to the jungles of Guinea, Outbreak exposes tragic missteps in the response to the epidemic.

"Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." These simple words go to the heart of food journalist Pollan's thesis. Humans used to know how to eat well, he argues, but the balanced dietary lessons that were once passed down through generations have been confused and distorted by food industry marketers, nutritional scientists, and journalists. As a result, we face today a complex culinary landscape dense with bad advice and foods that are not "real." Indeed, plain old eating is being replaced by an obsession with nutrition that is, paradoxically, ruining our health, not to mention our meals. Pollan's advice is: "Don't eat anything that your great-great grandmother would not recognize as food." Looking at what science does and does not know about diet and health, he proposes a new way to think about what to eat, informed by ecology and tradition rather than by the nutrient-by-nutrient approach.--From publisher description.

"Where did we come from? What makes us human? NOVA's...investigation explores how new discoveries are transforming views of our earliest ancestors. Featuring interviews with world-renowned scientists, footage shot "in the trenches" as fossils were unearthed, and...computer-generated animation, [these programs] bring early hominids to life, examining how we became the creative and adaptable modern humans of today...In the first episode...encounter..."Selam," the amazingly complete remains of a 3 million year-old child, packed with clues to why we split from the apes, came down from the trees, and started walking upright...[T]he second episode investigates the riddle of "Turkana Boy" -- a tantalizing fossil of Homo erectus, the first ancestor to leave Africa and colonize the globe...[T]he final episode...explores the origins of "us" -- where modern humans and our capacities for art, invention, and survival came from, and what happened when we encountered the mysterious Neanderthals..." -- Container.

Examines the toll of opioid addiction in the U.S. on individuals, families, and communities through personal stories, including a couple who lost their son to prescription painkillers, and expert commentary.

Examines the actions of Vice President Dick Cheney toward expanding the power of the presidency, and focuses on the administrations actions in twarting investigations based on wire-tapping used to fire U.S. attorneys.