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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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53:15
How did Earth give rise to humans? See what made our species' existence possible.
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53:45
How did life bounce back after a cataclysmic extinction wiped out some 90% of all species?
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53:47
See how life made the leap to land, turning a barren landscape into a lush, green world.
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53:46
How did life survive on a planet covered in ice from pole to pole?
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53:47
See how Earth transformed from a barren hellscape to a planet capable of sustaining life.
53:31
Dive into the subconscious to see what’s really driving the decisions you make.
53:30
Neuroscientists discover the tricks and shortcuts the brain takes to help us survive.
53:19
Investigate one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions in recorded history.
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53:31
Follow scientists determined to save the critically endangered right whale.
53:31
Here’s how the U.S. could reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
53:31
Americans use ancient wisdom and new technology to fight extreme weather.
53:31
See the latest stunning images and discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope.