Overview

There is a surprising natural wonder in the middle of the vast West Texas desert: a prehistoric ocean reef built from the remains of ancient sea life. This fossil-rich landscape tells the story of Earth's most devastating mass extinction—and can help enlighten the climate threats we face today.

In the 1990s, an entire city in the Caribbean vanished under ash. Plymouth, Montserrat, once vibrant, now lies frozen in time—buried by a volcano still simmering beneath the surface. We explore how this community has endured, and how scientists are racing to uncover the volcano’s secrets before it erupts again.

In the southern part of Mexico City lies Xochimilco, a maze of canals filled with boats, music, food and tourists. It’s also one of the last remnants of the interconnected lakes that once surrounded Tenochtitlan, the ancient capital of the Aztecs. And within these canals lies the last remaining wild habitat of a strange, smiling salamander called the axolotl.

The Outer Banks, known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic," is home to thousands of shipwrecks, including Blackbeard’s infamous Queen Anne’s Revenge. But beyond the maritime history, this fragile coastline is rapidly changing—threatened by shifting sands, rising seas, and intensifying storms that could reshape it forever.

Florida’s native crocodiles have found an unexpected sanctuary in the cooling canals at Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant. This fortunate happenstance, along with tireless conservation efforts, are helping these once endangered predators make a remarkable comeback.

The 1700 Cascadia earthquake and tsunami was a natural disaster that reshaped the Pacific Northwest. Through tree rings, soil layers and international collaboration, scientists have pieced together the exact timing of the event. As the region braces for another quake, can we prepare in time? Find out how new models and tsunami evacuation towers are helping coastal communities face the threat.

In its prime, Cahokia was a prosperous city with a population similar to London’s. But this sprawling Native American metropolis from the Mississippian culture vanished long before Europeans arrived in North America. What happened? Now, cutting-edge scientific research offers a glimmer of hope in unraveling the mystery of Cahokia's disappearance.

This episode explores the mystery of the vanishing Colorado River Delta. Once a lifeline for the American Southwest, it's now a shadow of its former self. What happened? Outdated water laws? Excessive urban development and agriculture? Is there a possibility for restoration? Let's investigate.

The Choco region in northwest Ecuador is hosting a groundbreaking experiment to try and help its rainforests recover from rampant deforestation. A multinational team is planting small “tree islands" to attract natural seed dispersers. It’s an innovative approach that we’ll take a close look at, from above and within.

Hidden beneath the surface of our coastal seas are towering forests - of kelp. These underwater ecosystems are as crucial to our environment as their land-based counterparts. We’ll explore them alongside conservationists who are working to restore these threatened habitats. We'll also meet some adorable sea otters and learn about their role in maintaining the balance in this sensitive environment.

The Channeled Scablands of the Pacific Northwest hide an astonishing secret. Evidence of a massive flood that shaped the entire region lies just beneath its landscape. But it can only be seen with cutting edge LIDAR technology. Join Joe as he learns how scientists are using lasers to reveal details that may help us predict the paths of potential megafloods of the future.

Join Joe in this exploration of a true titan of modern engineering: the world's largest crane. With a lifting capacity of 5,000 tons, this giant ring crane at Rotterdam's Mammoet headquarters is a true powerhouse that plays a crucial role in the renewable energy revolution, building massive offshore wind turbines that help combat climate change. And yes, they may let Joe drive it.