PBS

Some of the biggest evolution questions finally answered.

Some of the biggest evolution questions finally answered.

Some of the biggest evolution questions finally answered.

Some of the biggest evolution questions finally answered.

Some of the biggest evolution questions finally answered.

Some of the biggest evolution questions finally answered.

Some of the biggest evolution questions finally answered.

The furthest extremes of light refraction phenomena.

Day by day, country by country, we tend to measure seasons differently.

Astounding feats of animal memory.

The lingerling radiation from the ancient universe still surrounds us to this day.

Is the equinox really when day = night, or is that a myth?

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Of all the species that humans have domesticated, dogs are our oldest animal friends. But how did a group of wolves become the furry pup at the end of the bed? New research is finally unlocking the paw-in-hand evolution of dogs and humans. In this episode we’re answering one big question: Did we domesticate dogs, or did dogs domesticate us?

Are humans nature’s greatest architects? When we look elsewhere in nature, we find some pretty amazing animal architects. Species like ants, termites, prairie dogs, birds, and more have engineered some incredible structures. This week we look at how a few of these species have mastered physics to install air conditioning in their homes!

Many creatures wear disguises in order to keep safe from predators, but there are some that dress to kill. Orchid mantises are one of nature’s most awesome examples of aggressive mimicry. These killer insects are almost indistinguishable from orchids! Scientists recently learned that their disguise doesn’t work quite how we thought it did.

Waste not, want not… right? Poop, in all of its various forms throughout nature, shapes the world in ways you might not imagine. One creature’s waste is another’s fuel, and all over nature these leftovers help new life spring up. Here’s how whales, birds, worms, bats, and more help the world breathe clean, thanks to their poop.

How do we comprehend a storm like Hurricane Harvey? Let's put it into perspective.

Organisms of all shapes and sizes synchronize their behaviors using biological clocks. Some keep pace with the daily rising and setting sun using circadian rhythms. Others use annual cycles or the changing seasons as their cue. But many animals use moonlight and Earth’s lunar cycle to run their biological clock. Do humans do the same thing, with things like menstrual cycles?