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NOVA
Great Human Odyssey
Season 43
Episode 12
Our ancient human ancestors once lived only in Africa in tiny bands of a few thousand hunter-gatherers. Then we moved out of our African cradle, spreading rapidly to every corner of the planet. How did we acquire the skills, technology and talent to thrive in every environment on earth? How did our prehistoric forebears cross the Sahara, survive frigid ice ages, and sail to remote Pacific islands?
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Find out why deadly flash floods are on the rise and how we can protect ourselves from them.
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Explore mysterious 9,000-year-old Stone Age megastructures found in the Arabian Desert.
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Discover how two revolutionary ancient inventions changed the course of humanity forever.
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Follow ancient humans’ journey into an icy and perilous new land.
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Discover how Homo sapiens outlasted Neanderthals – and how they helped make us who we are today.
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Follow Homo sapiens as they venture out of Africa and spread farther than any other human species.
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Trace the remarkable origin story of Homo sapiens and the crucial moments that shaped our species.
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Forensic science is put to the test after the first-ever staged multi-vehicle pileup.
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A first-of-its-kind experiment aims to stage a multi-vehicle pileup to gain new data on car safety.
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After centuries of pseudoscience, researchers examine the causes of racial health disparities.