Reviews (134)

science, the history of science, and its role in the future
It amazes me that to this day that no science series since Cosmos first aired has come close to illustrating both the scope of human knowledge and its practical purposes in our lives. Every parent with a DVD player should buy this if their children have the slightest interest in the sciences. Your kids will thank you when they're older. Carl Sagan must've had a talent for teaching as any intelligent young student will get something out this series. Cosmos ages well, serving as a springboard into other disciplines.

Watching the series again on DVD, I enjoyed the less-hard science episodes. All thirteen are great. I especially liked:

"The Harmony of Worlds"
"The Backbone of Night"
"The Lives of Stars"
"The Persistence of Memory"
"Enyclopedia Galactica"
"Who Speaks for Earth"

Each of these episodes is rich with history and gives me a new respect for the man as a speaker. Especially the last episode, though somewhat dated as it was written during the Cold War. The sound quality's excellent too.

Note: Science changes so fast, some of the updates may be 'out of date'. The final update, in light of current events, where Dr. Sagan expresses optimism for the future, well it's a bit chilling.

A Vision for All Mankind
After watching COSMOS for the third time, I am continously impressed by the bravery and insight of Dr. Sagan's vision for humanity. COSMOS's overarching theme is an introduction to the natural sciences for the general public. Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics are wonderfully reduced to their core concepts. Dr. Sagan may be the only person I know who manages to explain Einstein's special relativity without algebra. For those amongst the general public who wish to understand just what a four dimensioned universe is, there is no better series today than COSMOS. Dr. Sagan stays true to his populist belief that science belongs not only to the scientists, but to all humanity.

However, anyone with a university degree will probably be familiar with the science Dr. Sagan speaks of. The shining jewel of COSMOS is not its scientific content, but its deeply humanistic message of hope. We have all heard about the cruelty of the so called "real world" and "human nature." But Dr. Sagan shows us that human bravery and intelligence has transformed our world for the better and that our world is what we make of it. In one of the most poignant moments of the entire series, Dr. Sagan describes the human longing for an explanation of the universe as an eternal part of our species. We, citizens of the 21st century, are the first generation of human beings priviledged with some of the answers to the questions that have fascinated our ancestors.

Dr. Sagan also outlines the philosophy and history of science. This is especially essential to today's society in which science has become increasing gadgety. While cell phones, computers, the internet, designer drugs populate every segment of our society, the philosophy of critical thinking, factual analysis and of questioning every statement, the very heart of science remains as rare today as ever. Our present civlization is forever indebited to those brave men and women who choose the pain of truth rather the comfort of lies. For those who ever wondered how we human beings progressed from tribal hunters to technogical beings, Dr. Sagan's documentary provides a riveting account.

Finally and perhaps most importantly, Dr. Sagan's documentary provides a unifying vision for the future of human kind. We have reached a time in the development of our species when the power in our hands is extraordinary. The destiny of our world and our species is fully in the our own hands. We can either use this power to continously squabble amongst ourselves, to fight our pointless wars and to poison our environment with blatant waste and race headlong to self annihilation, or... we can set aside our differences, recognize the fragility of our world and embrace the common destiny of humanity to explore the final frontier. Dr. Sagan does not pretend that this journey will be an easy one; every age and time has had those who would at the expense of our world, stirr up hatred, fear and greed. However, by showing that science is our candle in the dark, Dr. Sagan encourages each one of us to struggle against the irrationality and ignorance inside each of us to literally reach for the stars.

From the beginning of time to the future of our world, Dr. Sagan's account of the struggle of the human mind to attain sentience is highly passionate while at the same time even and objective. Science, he describes, is the ultimate manifestation of our humanity, the quest of starstuff to understand itself.

I am pleased to say that as the light from Dr. Sagan's house continue to pierce the darkness of Ithaca's gorges to inspire me, so too does his visionary work: COSMOS.

the best science documentrary
This is prehaps the most inspiring documentary about the earth and our place within the universe. I have seen the series about a dozen times and its just as interesting each and every time. This would be great material for children learning about the world around them..

+Fred

Very Excellent!
A little expensive but very cool. Carl Sagan was the first man to break the sound barrier and this is his story. Carl also was a swimming contender in the 1968 Mexico Olympics but he felt the sting of defeat and didn't win diddley. We don't like losers, Carl. A famous scientist, Carl died of cancer some years ago because he didn't eat his broccoli. If only he's gone to Denny's every Thursday for their cream of broccoli soup, he would still be alive today.

Portuguese Subtitles ??
More than 250.000.000 people in the world speak Portuguese. Why didn't they made subtitles in portuguese language for Cosmos? I hope that in the next edition, this problema will be solved. How can we show this DVD for children and teens who doesn't speak english yet? This is my only complain about. ... Read more

Description

Survival of the fittest. Raw competition? Or, a level of cooperation indispensable to life? Evolution tells us that both are important. We explore our own spiraling arms race with microorganisms, the only entities that can pose a threat to our existence. We follow the struggles of medical detectives uncovering the roots of epidemics and trace the alarming spread of resistance among pathogens that cause disease, like the new virulent tuberculosis--nicknamed "Ebola with wings." Interactions between species are among the most powerful evolutionary forces on earth, and understanding them may be key to our own survival. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great for Biology Classes!
By tracking TB and a few other examples this video shows the process of evolution as an interactive exchange between organisms as they change in relationship to each other. It is an excellent video - along with others I have seen in this series - for use in biology classes from high school through basic college courses. This one can be used in discussions on disease or evolution. Very interesting, fast paced and Great science! ... Read more

Description

For 21 years, Charles Darwin kept his theory of evolution secret from all but a few friends. He confided to one: "It is like confessing to a murder." His torment resonates in society today--in the challenge his incredibly powerful idea poses to our understanding of our world and ourselves. We interweave the drama in key moments of Darwin’s life with documentary sequences of current research, linking past to present and introducing major concepts of evolutionary theory. We also explore why Darwin’s "dangerous idea" matters perhaps even more today than it did in his own time, and how it conveys the power of science to explain the past and predict the future of life on earth. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Anthropology, psychology, cultural history, and biology provide key filters in this breezy but substantial exploration of the focal impact of the face. Produced by the BBC as a four-hour series and broadcast in the U.S. on the Learning Channel, The Human Face benefits from host, narrator, and cowriter John Cleese's signature blend of erudition, enthusiasm, and wit. Along the way, Cleese presents information on the evolution of human facial features, the face's role in sexuality (including the biological significance of "bedroom eyes"), communication through facial expressions, and the face's essential role in defining identity. Ideals of physical beauty, the reasons why visual development and artistic expression focus on the face, and the nature of celebrity are examined, as are medical anomalies such as Mobius syndrome, a condition that eliminates the ability to smile. The presenter gets strategic help from guest Elizabeth Hurley, who gamely lampoons her own celebrated beauty in various sketches, and Cleese's fellow Monty Python alumnus Michael Palin, who pops up in Python-esque skits during the program's fourth segment on fame. Comments from scientific sources are augmented by thoughtful interviews with Pierce Brosnan and Candice Bergen, who convincingly address the downside of being drop-dead gorgeous. --Sam Sutherland ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Marvelous, a Cleese Classic!
If you're fan of the Python team or
If you're interested in BORING scientific stuff, this DVD is for you.
When I saw this series on the bbc, I was looking for it.
Funny, interesting, enjoyable, I can't believe that you learn .

Very Interresting
I'm a bit early in rating this because I've just watched the first half tonight but... I think it's very interresting and a very enjoyable piece of work. Elizabeth Hurley is great, and I thought the chemistry between her and John Cleese was very good. I especially liked the study on what defines a persons features as beautiful and the relative 1.6 to 1 measurement ratio system. I also liked the beginning when they teach or try to teach how to detect when someone is lying, they mentioned watching the forehead if someone rinkles up. Later notice the fellow who was just given acting advice and his reaction, he say's something to the effect of she really helped me alot and then he rinkles his forehead. Is he lying?

This is not a laugh fest, it's a serious documentary with some laughs. So far I've enjoyed it very much

Quirky Romp
The Human Face is a fascinating but scattershot approach to the topic. John Cleese's approach is sure to delight his fans and annoy his detractors. He manages in his own unique way (while ripping Elizabeth Hurley's face off and shooting fellow Monty Python alum Michael Palin not once, but twice! Pythons always were excessive!) to convey many interesting and pertinent facts concerning the human face and our reactions to it.

Several sections were absolutely fascinating. The discussion on the evolution of the face claims that humankind's move toward an upright posture created an emphasis toward the eyes and visual stimuli and away from the nose and the sense of smell. Our profound reactions to facial expressivity are demonstrated in MRI brain scans that reveal activity deep in the amygdala as a reaction to faces showing fear although no conscious reaction was felt. Several curiosities reminiscent of "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat" are explored, including a man who, following an automobile accident, wholeheartedly believed that his parents had been replaced by other people who looked exactly like them--he was able to recognize their physical appearance but had lost the emotional attachment that allowed him to recognize their relationship. Most heartening was a young woman with an exceptionally large jaw who had not only come to accept her looks but further to find her unique appearance a source of pride.

The series closes with an examination of fame, and here it seems to go astray--so much so that Cleese resorts to acts of gratuitous violence against Palin. The focus shifted rather unsettlingly away from the face to the idea of fame. The linking premise, of course, is that in the modern day it is our faces which make us famous (or not), while in the past it was our actions, and before the days of photography and portraiture particular faces were unknown. This departure is not enough to spoil an otherwise excellent and wildly quirky series, though.

A great documentary with a nice touch of Python nonsense.
John Cleese takes a different style in teaching us about the power of the human face. The documentary does contain tons of interesting facts about the human face and its role through history. What makes it stand out as a documentary is the twisted humor John Cleese, Michael Palin, and Liz Hurley (to name a few) inject into it. Subjects of Beauty, Expressions, Identity, etc are explained not only verbally, but with great skits and sketchs. Everything from skits with Michael Palin trying to get his face on a coin to Cleese and Hurley posing for the 18th Century French paparazzi painters, help make this as entertaining as it is educational.

Great for the whole family.

Face Facts...
John Cleese is the writer and creator of this fabulous series. But, in addition to it being a fascinating topic, it is also presented in a wonderful manner. It mixes comedy and fact, testimonials and mockery and all in all is a great social commentary. And the delicate balance allows Cleese to have fun and explore serious issues within minutes of each other. With proper implementation, this series could literally change lives. Here is a look at the individual episodes:

"FACE TO FACE." The first episode in this fascinating series examines the power of the facial expression. There are several case studies including a young girl born unable to show any facial expressions, a young couples failing marriage and the possibility that it stems from their facial expressions, even a study of the facial musculature of Elizabeth Hurley.

"HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU." The second look at THE HUMAN FACE tackles the brain and its relation to the face through visual recognition. The case studies include a young child viewing photos of her Mother, a Father who has lost his ability to recognize anybody and a young man who was legitimately convinced that his parents where replaced by look-alikes. Also featured is a young woman who feels a need to change her normal face and a young woman who sees no need to change her extremely unique face.

"BEAUTY." In Part 3 Cleese examines Beauty. He begins by getting where many would sell their nose to get... extremely close to Elizabeth Hurley's face. This fun episode has several celebrity interviews including Candace Bergen, Joan Rivers and Pierce Brosnan. It also follows a young girl picked to be the next super model. Once again, the content puts 'just a pretty face' on its ear.

"FAME." The last session is also the least intriguing as most of the episode is focusing on one thing, Fame. And that only relates to the face indirectly. Much time is spent following 3 wanna-be actors who are to meet a great casting agent... And so the series ends without a final close-out of any sort.

The 2-DVD set has all four episodes on the 1st disc in a Widescreen format and the 2nd disc contains several unused interviews, information on the face, cast information and trailers for the BBC television special... ... Read more

Description

Of all the species on earth, we alone attempt to explain who we are and how we came to be, through the prisms of both science and religion. How has the tension between the two played out? Today, the theory of evolution still is dogged by controversy. This program explores the creationist movement and its arguments by drawing on real human stories of people struggling to find a balance between faith and reason. Through the perceptions of theistic scientists and credible religionists, we underscore the point that science and religion are compatible, although they play very different roles in assigning order to the universe and a purpose to life. ... Read more

Description

A journey into where we’re from and where we’re going.

Evolution is happening all around you--in your body, your backyard, your local hospital, and in the products that make it to your grocery store shelves. Perhaps no other scientific theory has as far reaching an effect on our daily lives as evolution, yet it is one of the most overlooked and misunderstood principles of life. Driven by two simple mechanisms, variation and natural selection, evolution is the process that helps determine who lives, who dies, and who gets the opportunity to pass on traits to the next generation, and the next, and the next ...

Evolution, a groundbreaking 7-part, 8-hour series, travels around the world to examine evolutionary science and the profound effect it has on society and culture. From the genius and torment of Darwin to the vast changes that spawned the tree of life and from the role of mass extinction in the survival of species to the power of sex to drive evolutionary change, Evolution explores the emergence of consciousness, the success of humans and the perceived conflict between science and religion in understanding human life.Evolution is fascinating and far-reaching in scope. ... Read more

Reviews (31)

The PBS TV Series, -not- the David Duchovny film..
This series has very well chosen scientists who say very interesting things. Several of my favorite authors including Peter D. Ward, Simon Conway Morris, and Stephen Jay Gould provide explanations for their ideas on the subject. Compared to similar efforts, the animations of Burgess Shale organisms are a bit stiff and unrealistic. And it's maddening that all of the DNA helices seen in animations are left-handed, i.e. the mirror image of what DNA really looks like. But this series is touching all the right bases, from my p.o.v. and provides much valuable food for thought.

Informative, Well Produced, Timely
This is a DVD Boxed set that belongs on every shelf, period. While highly informative and very well presented, it is also entertaining to watch. Before I knew it, I had watched through the entire series and was wanting even more! I wish that more had been done in the series, particularly an episode dedicated to the budding science of Evolutionary Psychology for example.

It provides an exacting overview of Evolutionary Theory in our current understanding. At the same time, it provides well explained and detailed analysis of the evidence that has been building behind the theory over the last century or more. Of interest to some was the time spent on the debate between Evolution and Creation *Science*, with a full hour dedicated to the issues of faith and science in and out of the classroom.

All in all, entertaining and informative to the open minded, likely an affront to the closed minded, this boxed set comes HIGHLY recommended for anyone regardless. Easily worth more than it costs.

Evolution is fact
There have been bad reviews for this series. Creationist say things like there is evidence for creation and that there is no evidence for evolution. This series proves them wrong. It shows convincing facts that evolution is real. Evolution is the fact that all life came from lower life over millions of years. Creation is the religous fariy tale that the earth was created by god in 6 days less than 10,000 years ago. Creationist say major scientists don't believe in evolution but 96% of scientists believe in evolution. This series shows evolution has been proven and observed. Creationists say there is evidence for creation and this series doesn't show it. The evidence doesn't exist and if the slightest piece of evidence exists than I would be a creationist. If you are a creationist watch this series it will help you see the light. No evolution is not athisum since god is the one who controls evolutions path. The fossil record, DNA, early embryos say evolution and they believe a book written by ancients. I think that creationist should stop writting false reviews and saying there is evidence without evidence existing. So get evidence or get out. Watch this series and see what the creationist are hiding from you.

Not one shred of evidence for accidental life...0 Stars
There is not one shred of evidence that life can, or ever did, spontaneously start apart from infinitely complex design pre-existing the formation of living cells. This series is based on old science that has been discredited. Forget the faith and religion issue for a moment. Spontaneous accidental generation of life cannot and did not happen. No scientist has ever gotten close to proving such a preposterous idea, and yet most still hide this fact. Why is this the case? Because if life and creation were in FACT created, then EVERYTHING changes. We are NOT alone living a purposeless, meaningless existence. This DVD and the PBS series is about human intellectual arrogance more than it is about truth. Is evolution as a scietific force somehow intrinsically designed into living things? Clearly! Did evolution accidentally start or design life on Earth? Ridiculous! That is a leap of faith only an idiot can make.

Interesting but long
I watched 7 out of 8 episodes in two days. It may be educational for people who didn't know much about it, but if you are somewhat familiar with the topics, this documentary film didn't offer much more. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Where did it all begin? How did the universe give birth to the sun and its family of planets that form our solar system? How is a bubbling atomic reactor in space the source of warmth and light for life as we know it? Why will Mars be the first planet we colonize?What is the long-term fate of the planets in our solar system? Are we alone? The Planets is an entertaining, comprehensive, and informative A&E documentary series that sets out to answer many of life's most physically existential questions. This series combines scientific history of early scientists, rich knowledge from the leading minds in modern astronomy, and extraordinary image technology to tell the story of our solar system, from its beginnings to the present and beyond. The topics of the eight-volumes are:"Different Worlds," "Terra Firma," "Giants," Moon," "Star," "Atmosphere," "Life Beyond the Sun," and "Destiny." From the sweltering rocky surface of Mercury to the violent stormy skies of Jupiter to the cold, mysterious land of Pluto, The Planets is a fascinating exploration of discovery and adventure for anyone who has looked up into space on a starry night in total amazement. --Rob Bracco ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Finest planetary voyage
Welcome to the best documentary series ever. Yes, BETTER than Dinosaurs (which depended largely on sensational computer visuals)! Whether you have only a passing interest in astronomy or have read a hundred books about it, this series will steal your heart. Every single aspect is flawless. The musical grandeur of Gustav Holst's symphony and the warm, captivating voice of the British narrator make up the aurals. No artificial excitement, no badly chosen music, PERFECT. The visuals include stylish computer animations and footage that makes you wonder how deep they actually had to dig... The first footage of a human being outside the atmosphere (jumping out of a balloon), the first on-board rocket footage, the earth as a blue dot captured by an ageing Voyager looking back at its birthplace. The content isn't exactly dumbed down, either. Even for an amateur like me, there were plenty of new things to discover. It contains many interviews with astronauts, Russian and American space-project leaders, the finest available planetary geologists, exo-biologists and trendsetting astronomers. Providing not only information, but also a true sense of passion and childlike wonder. Hear how an American airforce officer tries to describe his silent jump through the outher layers of our atmosphere, falling back into "known territory". How Gene Cernan had the almost transcendental experience of covering all of human history (earth) with his thumb. How a NASA scientist was the first to see the other side of Saturn via a Voyager picture... If this series doesn't get you excited, you must be dead.

What we know so far - And well done too!
A solid trip through the drama that is the science of Space. Deftly delivered details of the wealth of data gathered thus far by the world's astronomical community. The masterfully designed menus move the viewer effortlessly to the desired content segment. They are SO nice, you can sit and watch them and be entertained.

As a documentary, the facts are well presented and conveyed in digestible chunks. Concepts like Earth/Mars similarities, and life's early transport across the Sol system, were introduced seamlessly and reinforced throughout the volumes. As a drama, yes a drama, thematic and conceptual material is expertly woven throughout the entire series.

Technically, this set is a gem. It is a shining example of masterful editing techniques, Computer graphics production, DVD production methods, and videography.

On the whole, "The Planets" is a must buy for anyone interested in learning more about the cosmos. There's even a cameo of the well loved and sorely missed Carl Sagan. Shine on Carl!

A MUST BUY.

Zooming back and forth


This is acceptable for young children, because no topic is covered at any length at any one time. This is fine for kids who can't sit still long enough to get a lot of detail. And the presentation continues for four disks, revisiting most topics at least once.

Unfortunately it doesn't really do more than reiterate pretty trite information and opinions, despite the abundance of interviews with quite a number of people in the US and former Soviet space programs. The fact that the USSR made an attempt to probe Mars in 1961 is remarkable, but the complete failure of the mission is not mentioned at all.

Probably the best of the eight programs in this collection is "Moon", which is strictly about the Apollo missions to the Moon, which remain the most amazing achievement of the space age. Also, that program has a single focus and doesn't jump around. The other program from disk two is "Giants", which recounts the US probes to Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

"Life Beyond the Sun" on disk four discusses the labeled release experiment, which did in fact detect microbial life on Mars. The program only gives the official NASA view that no life was found, and doesn't bother to interview Gilbert V. Levin, who designed the experiment, and has a long series of published papers defending the results of the experiment and debunking the inorganic chemical "explanations".

The oddly named "Terra Firma" (an ancient name for the Earth) gives a survey of various probe missions to Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and the Moon. "Atmosphere" again discusses Venus and Mars, and repeats the silly claim that there's a "greenhouse effect" at work.

The main deficiency of this package is the repetition and lack of focus. I would have liked more in-depth discussion of (for example) the search for the various planets X (Tombaugh, Van Flandern, but emphatically NOT Zecharia Sitchin, Andrew Collins, et al), focussed comets as an argument in favor of the existence of one, and critical arguments of the possible existence of a trans-Neptunian major planet.

I'd suggest getting this from the video store first and seeing if your children like it, then purchase it if they do.

Okay, but lots of talking heads
This series was okay, but could have been much better. Like all the BCC's work you can't fault it technically, but the abundance of talking heads does get annoying (though there is a little bit of CG). Any fan of space will find the knowledge they recite as rudimentary at best. It's okay for a novice, but otherwise it's pretty boring to hear a guy in a lab tell you basic facts about the solar system.

Some of the archival footage, particularly of the Russian space program is very interesting, however.

Space is incredible but show it to me, don't tell me about it! I think the BBC's upcoming 'Walking with Spacemen' series, which will be 100 percent CGI and use the technology to recreate what it would be like to visit various planets and moons in the Solarsystem will be much more interesting (If you have seen Walking with Dinosaurs then you'll know what kind of breathtaking visuals they should come up with).

Anyway, till then, the Planets is still a great series.

...
*I watched the original BBC version with the male narrating (i think Richard CHamberlain was name)... Apparently some people don't like the american dub.... why they bothered to make it in the first place is a bit confusing.*

Even if you're uninterested in space, other planets, or earth's own origins and achievements, The Planets is worth a vieiwing on the merits of the genrally spectacular visuals alone, and is very capable of sparking an interest in even the most dormant of brains (mine). Although much of the CGI is low-budget tv quality (from 1999~2000), it's generally kept to a minium and the better cgi (like the simulations of an expanding sun) is MUCH better. It avoids the overly serious tone in the narration that seems to be common to these types of documentaries, and although there is some content overlap between segments, it doesn't diminish the experience.

This is a must see for anyone and everyone (although you can probably catch it on A+E or one of the BBC america channels, rather than spend 80 dollars for this box set (which is worth it, I think- though there are a number of equally worthwhile documentaries that cover some similar ground in a much more intellectual fashion, like Cosmos and Stephen Hawking's Universe, but I haven't seen any that, visually, really convey how fantastic the universe is as much as this one). ... Read more

Description

What caused the incredible diversity of life on earth, and how have complex life forms, including humans, evolved? Is there direction to evolution? And is human intelligence inevitable? We focus on evolution’s "great transformations"--among them the development of a standard four-limbed body plan, the journey from water to land, the return of marine mammals to the sea, and the emergence of humans. Driven by a combination of opportunism and a genetic "toolkit," these astounding leaps forward define the arc of evolution. And they suggest that every living creature on earth today, and every species that has ever existed, is a variation on a grand genetic theme--a member of one, and only one, tree of life. ... Read more

Description

Anatomically modern humans existed more than 100,000 years ago, but with no art, crude technology, and primitive social interaction. Then 50,000 years ago, something happened--a creative, technological, and social explosion, and humans came to dominate the planet. This was a pivot point in our development, the time when the human mind truly emerged. What made this moment so different? We examine forces that may have contributed to the breakthrough, enabling us to prevail over our relatives, the Neanderthals, who co-existed with us for tens of thousands of years. And we explore where this power of mind may lead us, as the culture we create overtakes our own biological development. ... Read more

Description

In evolutionary terms, sex is more important than life itself--without progeny, we are evolutionary losers. Sex fuels evolutionary change, by adding variation to the gene pool and eliminating unsatisfactory traits. We look at the endless variety of sexual expression and the powerful hold sex exerts over all living things. And we explore how the need to pass on our genes has shaped our own bodies, minds, and lives. Some scientists believe that art, literature, music--in fact all of human culture--may be the ultimate result of our sexual drives. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great for biology classes!
This video is great for both evolutionary descriptions and for the importance of sex in creating diversity in populations. It is quick moving , very interesting and has lots of good science - animal behavior, evolution and reproduction. I highly recommend it along with others I have seen in this series for use in high school and basic college science classes and for personal viewing. ... Read more

Description

Some 99.9 percent of all the species that have ever lived are now extinct. While cataclysmic events on earth have pruned the tree of life, extinction also opens the door to diversity, carving out room for new species to emerge and thrive. This film explores the causes of the five mass extinctions that have occurred over the life of the planet--and takes us to the sources of extinctions happening today. In doing so, it confronts a frightening notion: Are we humans causing the next mass extinction — the sixth in the history of life on earth? If so, what does evolutionary theory predict for the world we will leave to our descendants? ... Read more