Episode
Nature: Triumph of Life: The Four Billion Year War
Overview
THE FOUR BILLION YEAR WAR explains how both conflict and cooperation have helped shape the species that today populate our world. And it profiles the winners and losers in this epic evolutionary contest — from the massive dinosaurs who disappeared long ago to the humble bacteria that have survived for billions of years virtually unchanged.
Details
- Series
- Nature
- Season
- Season 19
- Episode
- Episode 7
- Air date
- 2001-01-15
- Runtime
- 53 min
Episode context
Triumph of Life: The Four Billion Year War is Episode 7 in Season 19 of Nature. It aired on 2001-01-15. The runtime is 53 min.
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Episode 6: Polar Bear Invasion
Each October, the remote Canadian town of Churchill in Manitoba plays host to some very unusual guests. More than a thousand hungry polar bears gather there to await the refreezing of Hudson Bay and then move out on the ice in pursuit of their traditional winter diet of seal. The world's largest land carnivore, polar bears can be very dangerous for humans as well as sea creatures -- but for tiny Churchill, they also are a tourist-dollar bonanza.
Episode 8: Triumph of Life: The Mating Game
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Episode 9: Triumph of Life: The Eternal Arms Race
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Episode 4: The Urban Elephant
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Episode 10: Triumph of Life: Winning Teams
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Episode 11: Triumph of Life: Brain Power
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Episode 2: The Octopus Show
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Episode 12: Triumph of Life: The Survivors
This sixth installment focuses on the mass extinctions that have occurred over time. Though attention is paid to the factors that probably led to the demise of the dinosaurs, far more time is devoted to examining a wide variety of land and sea creatures that are continuing to fight off extinction. Climate changes, the birth of more highly evolved life forms, and changes in ocean currents are just a few of the factors that can play a major role in determining which species will prevail. Scientists and historians share their thoughts about which of today's species are most likely to remain triumphant over the coming millennia.
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Episode 13: Baby Tales
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