Celebrating Earth Month
Every April, NMPBS celebrates our home on Earth with special programming that aims to highlight and educate about the importance of environmental awareness and the lasting impacts of climate change on our world.
Programs and Specials
NOVA "Chasing Carbon Zero"
Can the U.S. reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and avoid the biggest impacts of climate change? Experts say it can be done. Here’s the technology that could get us there.
NATURE "Niagara Falls"
Embark to Niagara Falls and witness its stunning beauty and a wide variety of wildlife—mammals, birds, and reptiles— that call it home. Through the eyes of passionate scientists, uncover a complex world forged by stone and powered by water.
NOVA "Weathering the Future"
As extreme weather in the U.S. impacts more people – with longer heat waves, more intense rainstorms, megafires, and droughts – discover how Americans are fighting back by marshaling ancient wisdom and innovating new solutions.
NATURE "The Hummingbird Effect
Discover how tiny hummingbirds influence their many flowering kingdoms and their ripple effects on macaws, quetzals, monkeys, tapirs and more. Set in the exotic landscapes of Costa Rica.
NOVA "Arctic Sinkholes"
Colossal explosions shake a remote corner of the Siberian tundra, leaving behind massive craters. In Alaska, a huge lake erupts with bubbles of inflammable gas. Scientists are discovering that these mystifying phenomena add up to a ticking time bomb, as long-frozen permafrost melts and releases vast amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Desert Reef
Desert Reef reveals the narrative of a changing planet. The fossilized ocean reef in New Mexico's Guadalupe Mountains tells a fascinating story of profound sea-level fluctuation and climate change more than 280 million years ago.
The Sandias
Just east of Albuquerque, the Sandia Mountains rise majestically out of the land. There is perhaps no other American place so dominated by a natural icon. Endlessly beautiful, awe inspiring, ever changing and timeless, the Sandias leave an indelible mark.
American Experience "The Sun Queen"
Scientist Mária Telkes dedicated her career to harnessing the power of the sun. Though undercut and thwarted by her male colleagues, she persevered to design the first successfully solar-heated house in 1948 and held more than 20 patents.
American Experience "The Man Who Tried to Feed the World"
The Man Who Tried to Feed the World recounts the story of the man who would not only solve India’s famine problem but would go on to lead a “Green Revolution” of worldwide agriculture programs estimated to have saved one billion lives.
When Whales Walked: Journeys in Deep Time
Discover the evolutionary secrets of some of the world’s most majestic creatures. From voracious crocodiles and acrobatic birds to stupendous whales and majestic elephants, WHEN WHALES WALKED follows top scientists on a global adventure as they follow clues from the fossil record and change what we thought we knew about the evolution of iconic beasts.
Defending the Dark
Defending the Dark tells the story of protecting the dark sky areas of Maine and what we can do in our own backyards to bring back the night sky. It's more than just saving the stars; dark skies need protecting for our health, safety, nature, and science.
Beneath the Polar Sun
Not far from the North Pole, a research team sets out to measure the world’s largest and oldest sea ice floes. Steve is an expedition leader who has led projects in the High Arctic for 40 years. Chris is a polar oceanographer who studies ice floes from a Harvard lab. They know the data, but nothing has prepared them for the truth on the ground. Caught in a frozen maelstrom, something has to give.
Deer 139
Deer 139 follows research scientist Samantha Dwinnell and her friends Tennessee Watson and Anya Tyson as they hike the 85-mile-long migration path of Deer 139, a pregnant mule deer that is on her way from her winter grounds to her summer grounds to give birth to her fawn. Along the way, the team gains new understanding about how these animals connect to a rugged and unforgiving landscape.
Golden Eagles: Witnesses to a Changing West
“Golden Eagles: Witnesses to a Changing West” takes you in the field with eagle researchers in Wyoming as they strive to discover how the birds are adapting to the many challenges facing them, climate change to sprawl, lead poisoning, energy development. Rappel into eagle nests; go behind the scenes at wildlife rehabilitation centers; hear stories of Indigenous peoples’ connections to the eagle.
The Lost Salmon chronicles the plight and potential recovery of the iconic spring chinook salmon of the Pacific Northwest. Faced with extinction in many river systems of the West, a new genetic discovery could aid in their recovery. Once teaming in the millions and a sacrament for the oldest civilizations in the Americas, time is running out for the genetically distinct wild salmon.
River’s End - California’s Latest Water War
Explore the global water crisis, using California as a microcosm. River's End shows how water politics that led to the draining of the Owens Valley by Los Angeles, made famous by the film "Chinatown," continue to this day in ongoing efforts to take ever more water from Northern California's San Francisco Bay estuary. Except this time, the water grab is at the hands of industrial agriculture.
Frozen Obsession
Climate change is a critical scientific and social issue in today's world. FROZEN OBSESSION follows the 2,000-mile Northwest Passage Project expedition through the extreme Canadian Arctic as the NPP team studies water chemistry, microbiology, birds, mammals, and physical oceanography. Witness the next generation of scientists and decision makers who will surely make a difference in the world.
Land and Water Revisited
Revisiting the 1962 documentary "Land and Water: An Ecological Study of the Teotihuacan Valley of Mexico," this film focuses on the environmental changes that have taken place in the region over the past 60 years and the role humans have played in altering the environment, both past and present.
Sharing Butte Creek
SHARING BUTTE CREEK tells the remarkable story of positive environmental change in California. Two hundred years of human development obliterated the natural wetlands that once were abundant. But recent efforts have created vast proxy wetlands restoring robust bird populations and salmon runs. Butte Creek is today a potent model for conservation efforts across California and the nation.
Earthshaker
In 1979, two hikers in the Ojito Wilderness Area northwest of Albuquerque, New Mexico stumbled upon a colossal discovery: four enormous, largely intact fossilized dinosaur bones. For the next 25 years, the mystery of the Seismosaurus, or "Earth-shaking lizard," unraveled. EARTHSHAKER tells this fantastic story.
Sleeping Monsters, Sacred Fires: Volcanoes of New Mexico
For 25 million years, volcanos spewed molten rock and ash across New Mexico, forming craters, super volcanos, cinder cones, lava flows and peak-less mountains. Over time, these massive eruptions also planted the seeds of civilization and shaped the identity of New Mexico and its people, particularly American Indians.
Extinction: The Facts
With a million species at risk of extinction, Sir David Attenborough explores how this crisis of biodiversity has consequences for us all, threatening food and water security, undermining our ability to control our climate and even putting us at greater risk of pandemic diseases.
The Letter: A Message For Our Earth
This film tells the story about the Pope’s call to care for our planet. In 2015, Pope Francis wrote Laudato Si’, a letter to the world confronting the looming calamity of human impact on Earth and ourselves. It is one of the most ambitious and revolutionary papal statements in history and outlines the most critical environmental and social issues that we collectively face.
Beauty on the Wing: Life Story of the Monarch Butterfly
Beauty on the Wing: Life Story of the Monarch Butterfly is a narrated film that unfolds along the shores of Cape Ann and in the heart of Mexico’s forested volcanic mountains. Every stage of the butterfly’s life cycle is experienced in vibrant close-up, from mating to egg to caterpillar to adult, and set against the backdrop of sea and forest, sun and wind.
Lion: The Rise and Fall of the Marsh Pride
Explore the story of the Marsh pride of lions as it battles for survival in Kenya’s Maasai Mara Reserve. In a world where lions and humans are increasingly at odds, the film charts the rise and fall of the pride. Featuring archival footage and testimony from those who have filmed the pride and lived alongside it, "Lion" is a powerful tale of shifting loyalties, complex family dynamics and more.
The Earthshot Prize 2022
Celebrate the annual ceremony of Prince William's prestigious environmental award: The Earthshot Prize. The star-studded event honors this year's five winners and their innovative solutions to help repair our planet.
Popular Series
Our Land: New Mexico’s Environmental Past, Present and Future
Our Land: New Mexico’s Environmental Past, Present and Future is an ongoing series connecting New Mexicans to their landscapes and helping them better understand the impacts of climate change and environmental policies on their everyday lives.
Changing Planet, Season 2
Changing Planet revisits six of our planet's most vulnerable ecosystems and catches up with truly inspiring scientists and local experts fighting to safeguard their communities and wildlife, and charting the progress of their game-changing environmental projects. Join conservation scientist Dr. M. Sanjayan to meet new faces who’ll deepen our understanding of these habitats.
The Green Planet
Revisit six of our planet’s most vulnerable ecosystems and the truly inspiring people introduced in the first series; scientists and local experts fighting to safeguard their communities and wildlife. Conservation scientist Dr. M. Sanjayan introduces new faces who’ll deepen our understanding of these habitats and introduce potential solutions to combat the climate crisis.
Big Pacific
Plunge into the Pacific with researchers and cinematographers and see the ocean’s rare and dazzling creatures in a way never before seen on television. The show examines an ocean that covers a third of the Earth’s surface.
Rivers of Life
Experience the extraordinary animals, epic landscapes, and remarkable people who live alongside three iconic rivers - the Amazon, the Nile and the Mississippi in this landmark three-part series.
Life From Above
Behold Earth as it’s never been seen before. Cameras in space tell stories of life on our planet from a brand-new perspective, revealing its incredible movements, colors, patterns and just how fast it’s changing.
Wild Metropolis
Discover the extraordinary animals adapting to life in the world’s most loved cities, and witness the remarkable ways they meet the challenges of surviving in the newest habitat on the planet.
A Walk in the Park with Nick Mollé
Emmy-nominated filmmaker Nick Molle shares his passion for the natural beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park and other locations worldwide. Molle explores the scenic natural habitats of each region's indigenous animals, discusses the effect of environmental changes on the species and illustrates humans' role in each ecosystem.
Wonders of Mexico
Travel south along Mexico's mountain spine, explore the tropical forests of the Maya and journey across the deserts of Northern Mexico to discover its amazing wildlife and culture.
Neanderthal
This two-part series investigates what our ancient ancestors looked like and what would have happened when we met them. It turns out that what we thought we knew about them is wrong. They weren’t hunched, grunting, knuckle-dragging ape-men at all. In a reconstructed, imaginary confrontation, we discover they were faster, smarter, better looking and much more like us than we ever thought.
Operation Maneater
Veterinarian Mark Evans uses technology to tackle three deadly predators: the great white shark, Nile crocodile and polar bear. When these animals attack humans, both sides lose. As more people are killed or maimed, more animals are killed in retaliation. Evans wants to find ways to break this circle of violence and protect both humans and animals.
Energy Switch
Energy and climate point-counterpoint talk show, featuring America's leading experts, moderated by energy scientist and television host Dr. Scott Tinker. Lively, balanced but at times conflicting discussions. Non-partisan, researched and vetted. Tightly edited, fast paced, and rich with content.
Epic Trails
EPIC TRAILS follows avid backpacker, knowledgeable wilderness explorer and passionate adventurer, Eric Hanson, as he discovers the people, places and adventures that surround the world’s top backpacking trails.
EcoSense for Living
Thought-provoking series of eco-topics ranging from reconnecting kids to nature, green jobs, and healthy lifestyles limiting the impacts of toxins on our home and bodies. The series aims to empower viewers with practical solutions geared toward saving money, treading lighter on the planet, and improving quality of life.
Into the Outdoors
INTO THE OUTDOORS aims to get kids to want to go outside to explore, discover and understand the natural world around them.
Bears of Durango
An adventure-filled exploration of conservation science, BEARS OF DURANGO embeds with a dynamic team of wildlife researchers tasked with conducting a black bear study in Durango, Colorado. This program invites viewers to consider their own regions and backyards, and how they can better cohabitate with the wildlife around them.
Untamed
“UNTAMED” - a co-production of VPM and the Wildlife Center of Virginia - introduces viewers to the natural and man-made challenges facing wildlife today and, most importantly, what we can do to make a difference.
Weathered
Natural disasters and extreme weather can happen without warning. And with the impacts of climate change, more Americans than ever are at risk. Weathered will highlight real stories from people affected by natural disasters across the country and explain how families and communities can be prepared.
Eons
Join hosts Michelle Barboza-Ramirez, Kallie Moore, and Blake de Pastino as they take you on a journey through the history of life on Earth. From the dawn of life in the Archaean Eon through the Mesozoic Era — the so-called “Age of Dinosaurs” -- right up to the end of the most recent Ice Age.
The National Parks
Filmed over the course of more than six years at some of nature's most spectacular locales, the film is a story of people from every conceivable background—rich and poor, soldiers and scientists, natives and newcomers—who were willing to devote themselves to saving some precious portion of the land they loved and in doing so reminded their fellow citizens of the full meaning of democracy.
Around the World in 80 Days
Get ready to set sail in the hot air balloon with Phileas Fogg, Passepartout and Fix in a brand-new adaptation of Jules Verne’s classic adventure novel Around the World in 80 Days, starring David Tennant.
Prehistoric Road Trip
Join Emily Graslie for a summer road trip through America's dinosaur country on a search for mysterious creatures and bizarre ecosystems that have shaped Earth.
Plants Behaving Badly
Two groups of plants exhibit such intriguing behavior that a century and a half ago they attracted the attention of Charles Darwin. These same plants, the orchids and the carnivorous plants, still fascinate scientists today.
Expedition with Steve Backshall
Head into the unknown with naturalist Steve Backshall as he journeys to the world’s last unexplored places and faces challenges around the globe, encountering extraordinary wildlife and meeting remarkable people along the way.
Colombia: Wild and Free
Journey to South America to explore the magnificent flora and fauna of Colombia, from the wild, largely deserted Pacific coast to the snow-covered volcanoes of the Andes, from the plains of the Orinoco region to the rainforests of the Amazon.
America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston
Follow Baratunde Thurston, bestselling author and podcaster, as he explores the country’s diverse landscapes to see how they shape the way we work, play and interact with the outdoors. From coal miners turned beekeepers in Appalachia to Black surfers catching waves in L.A., uncover a deeper understanding of our passionate and complex relationship with the natural world.
Animal Babies: First Year on Earth
Meet six baby animals from across the globe. Follow along as they experience joy and hardship, confront near-daily adversities, navigate their habitats, and overcome challenges in their first year of life.
Changing Seas
Produced by South Florida PBS in Miami, Florida, Changing Seas gives viewers a fish-eye view of life in the deep blue. Join scientists as they study earth’s last frontier and discover the mysteries of our liquid planet.
The Desert Speaks
Host David Yetman takes viewers on unforgettable, bold explorations of desert landscapes. Through intriguing storytelling and stunning photography, viewers find out about the people, plants, animals and archaeology of arid regions throughout the New World. "The Desert Speaks" was produced for 19 seasons, and continues to air today.
J Schwanke’s Life in Bloom
Host J Schwanke shows how to bring the beauty of flowers into your surroundings and demonstrates how living a life surrounded by colorful blossoms can reduce stress, instill wellness, and enhance happiness. Season two features techniques for flower arrangement, delicious floral food and cocktail recipes, and fun conversations with guests – from dahlia growers to chiropractors.
Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change the World
This revealing series follows Greta Thunberg as she steps from behind the podium and onto the front lines. Over the course of the three episodes, Greta explores the science as she travels to extraordinary locations across the globe, meeting leading climate scientists, witnessing first hand the consequences of climate change and confronting the complexity of what is required to make change happen.
Earth's Natural Wonders
Earth's natural wonders are parts of the natural world that nature has carved on such a scale that they defy belief. For human beings, survival within these extraordinary places can pose great challenges. Yet human ingenuity makes this possible.