The Ultimate Guide
Ants
All the ants on earth put together would weigh as much as all the humans. Older than the dinosaurs, they are the rulers of the small places of our planet. With over ten thousand known species, and perhaps as many not yet discovered, ants display some of the most amazing adaptations in the natural world. With its trademark computer animations, The Ultimate Guide reveals the marvels of ant anatomy and, with stunning microphotography, takes viewers into their realm.
1 "T. Rex" April 21, 1996
Sixty-five million years ago, western North America was T. rex country. Three stories high, with teeth like serrated knives and weighing six tons, T. rex ruled over a semi-tropical world.
2 "Sharks" August 11, 1996
Grey and swift as an F-14, sharks hone in on their prey with a lethal array of five separate long-range sensors. Learn how evolution made the shark such a great predator. Broadcast as a part of Shark Week in 1996.
3 "Snakes" March 16, 1997
The ancestry, evolutionary adaptations, and wide variety of snakes species are examined. These lithe and beautiful creatures come in all sizes and speeds, each uniquely suited to their specific habitat.
4 "Elephants" April 6, 1997
Wildlife photography and computer graphics help to reveal the nature, design, and origin of elephants. These mighty creatures have their mysteries, such as how they can communicate without making a sound.
5 "Dogs" May 25, 1997
Dogs have been man's workmates and companions for 12,000 years. Examine their diversity, from Asian wolves to urban foxes. Meet dogs who guard herds, and others that can detect cancer.
6 "Great Apes" July 13, 1997
Discover why the great apes, the nearest relatives to humans, are considered an evolutionary failure. Wildlife footage and computer graphics explore these and other questions.
7 "Big Cats" September 14, 1997
Come face to face with the ruthless drive to survive that burns inside the big cats. Discover how these creatures have evolved into hunting experts, some with incredible speed capabilities.
8 "Whales" November 16, 1997
Whales are the largest creatures ever to live, yet they are exquisitely graceful. Explorations of their past, startling comparisons of size and speed and cutting-edge computer animation provide a master reference guide to this mammoth creature.
9 "Bears" January 19, 1998
The diverse, highly adapted bear family has a fascinating lifestyle and a wide range of habitats. The bears' ancestry and adaptations to nature are examined with the help of computer animation.
10 "Birds of Prey" April 5, 1998
Witness the power of the animal kingdom's most efficient hunters, the raptors. Discover the varied characteristics that enable each species to capture their prey: an owl's hearing, a vulture's digestive system and reproduction of the peregrine falcon.
11 "Octopus" September 20, 1998
With eight arms, a boneless body, three hearts, blue blood, and a shimmering neon skin, the intriguing octopus remains a mystery. Scientists debate whether these creatures have personalities and wonder how intelligent they really are.
12 "Horses" November 30, 1998
Horses have evolved from cat-sized multi-toed mammals to sleek and swift animals closely linked to human life. Their efficient lungs and intricate physiology make them uniquely qualified and popular in races, farm works and military transport.
13 "Crocodiles" March 22, 1999
The world's largest reptiles can go a year without meals, live one hundred years and deliver sixteen tons of crushing force in an instant. Populating swamps and waterways on five continents, crocodiles are one of nature's oldest and most successful designs.
14 "Ants" April 5, 1999
To most people, one ant looks like another. But a closer look shows the differences as hunters, gatherers and predators fill a range of diverse niches throughout the world, including army ants with antlers and others as small as a pinpoint.
15 "Dolphins" July 19, 1999
Conveying a sense of freedom, fun, grace, compassion, peace and beauty, the charismatic dolphin appears to defy the laws of physics with its speed and maneuverability. Dolphins may even possess a seventh sense we barely understand.
16 "House Cats" November 29, 1999
The domestic cat has retained many features of its wild ancestry. From superb sprinting ability to an extraordinary sense of touch, the cat is an accomplished hunter. Follow these creatures from newborn kittens to full grown predators.
17 "Human Body" March 20, 2000
What makes some people superstars? Why do we chew faster when there's music in the air? How does sunshine provide pleasure, cure depression or change molecules to Vitamin D? These and other answers begin to explain human beings.
18 "Planes" May 22, 2000
The plane has evolved into one of the most important inventions in history in less than a century. Using high-tech probes, get a comprehensive look at the variety and evolution of planes, how they were developed and why they are able to fly.
19 "Extreme Weather" August 28, 2000
Explore the visible and invisible forces that drive trade winds, tornadoes, monsoons and hurricanes across the Earth's surface. Learn the effects of sunspot activity on weather, and research how Earth's volcanic origins are linked to weather today.
20 "Mummies" October 30, 2000
Unlock the secrets of ancient civilizations as the process of mummification is revealed. Discover how the scientific knowledge gained from embalmed Egyptian and pre-Columbian specimens, and learn the science behind decomposition.
21 "Submarines" February 5, 2001
The most powerful weapon in any country's arsenal, today's submarines are known for stealth and firepower. Board one of these mini cities at sea for a peek at the crowded, yet remarkably efficient, design of the submarine.
22 "Pyramids" May 7, 2001
The pyramid's stones still hold hidden clues to ancient cultures, and the mysteries of their construction still confound modern scientists. Travel across three continents and see how these pyramids and their fabled cities must have looked at the peak of their civilizations.
23 "Spiders" July 9, 2001
Among the smallest creatures on Earth, spiders use their venom to paralyze insects and eat them alive. But humans must beware, for the black widow is the most toxic of all poisonous animals, and a fiddleback bite stops blood clotting and rots human flesh.
24 "Mastodon in Your Backyard" October 7, 2001
Learn how the Mastodon evolved, migrated out of Africa, and survived in the North American forests for roughly 3.7 million years and dozens of climate changes. Explore the controversy among theories explaining how and why this species disappeared.
25 "Iceman" March 25, 2002
To be added
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