BBC Earth

Share: Venus, Mars, gas giants, frozen moons – there’s no shortage of unnerving places drifting around our Sun. Which is the worst? Place a bar of lead on the surface of Venus and it will melt like butter. Not only is the temperature extreme – twice as hot as your oven – the pressure is equivalent to standing under nearly a kilometre (0.6 miles) of ocean. “It’s pretty bad,” says Paul Byrne, a planetary scientist at Washington University in the US.

Share: For the last 20 years, Planet Earth has taken us deep into some of the most extraordinary corners of the natural world. Through pioneering filming techniques and sheer perseverance, it’s delivered moment after moment that remain seared on the memory. Sequences that simply cannot be forgotten (even if, in the case of the terrifying racer-snakes-versus-iguana showdown, you might have tried to).

Share: For over 70 years, Sir David Attenborough has graced our television sets, turning his avuncular gaze upon every corner of the planet and every flavour of wildlife. From frogs to fungi, from ants to antelope, from elephants and beetles to elephant beetles, Sir David’s generous narration has introduced generation after generation to the natural world’s most incredible wonders. But beyond narrating, he’s never hesitated to jump right into the thick of the action, either.

Share: Twenty years ago, Planet Earth gave us an unprecedented view of the world. But behind every incredible shot were crews spending weeks waiting in the dark, scientists who followed animal behaviour like scripture, and a production that rewrote the rules of documentary filmmaking. A starving lion pride in Botswana orchestrating an attack on an adolescent elephant in the dead of night. Birds of Paradise species practicing intricate and entirely unique mating dances in New Guinea.

Share: For millions of years, people – and our ancestors – have been moving around Africa’s Great Rift Valley. It’s thought to be one of the first places on Earth where we stood up and began to walk, so you could call it the birthplace of human mobility itself. But what would our predecessors have made of our transport today: a fully electric Škoda, zipping quietly across the dusty plains, a futuristic red streak across this ancient landscape.

Share: Once thought of as solitary creatures, scientists discover 'underwater city' full of octopuses living side by side A couple of assumptions are often made about octopuses. First, that they are smart. There is truth in that: octopus behaviour such as tool use, predation techniques and puzzle-solving suggest a higher level of intelligence than other invertebrates. Everyone has watched an octopus unscrewing a jar. Second, they have a reputation for being solitary.

Share: In the animal kingdom, sitting at the top of the food chain as the apex species is a title shared by very few creatures. Those species reaching the top have adapted to their environment and their prey, with their optimal characteristics developed generation by generation through evolution. Smarter, sleeker, and stealthier over time. And the same goes in the wild world of cars. CUPRA knows this.

Share: Trailblazing new six-part docuseries fronted by Prince William is launching on BBC Earth, highlighting the vital work of rangers as guardians for our planet. The brainchild of Prince William, "Guardians" looks to redefine our understanding of rangers around the world, and their critical work in protecting nature.

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Share: If someone asked you to name a species in need of conservation, it wouldn’t take long for you to land upon the polar bear. While they are not facing imminent extinction, the devastation caused to their habitats by climate change puts their long-term survival at risk and their numbers are predicted to decline by 30% by 2050. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT. PAGE CONTINUES BELOW Sorry there is no content available for your region.