Sloths are Harder to Chase Than You Think
Catching a sloth is no mean feat, as sloth researcher Bryson Voirin will attest as he chases Blaze the sloth through the canopy.
Jan 07, 2019•2 min
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Episodes
The Horrifying Way Rome Dealt With Wartime Loss
After the defeat in Cannae, Rome was in a state of panic and social disorder. To restore calm, Rome's ruler, Quintus Fabius Maximus, resorted to drastic and cruel measures.
Jan 07, 2019•4 min
Was Jack the Ripper Hiding in Plain Sight?
Jack the Ripper managed to commit his violent murders and escape without ever once being seen. Actually, he may have been spotted at one of his crime scenes.
Dec 24, 2018•3 min
USS Indianapolis Crew Battled Sharks and Hallucinations
A Japanese torpedo attack against the USS Indianapolis leaves the men with no time to launch lifeboats. For four grueling days, the survivors float helplessly in the Pacific Ocean.
Dec 17, 2018•4 min
Was This Egyptian Pharaoh More Important Than We Thought?
Psamtik I was believed to be a minor Egyptian pharaoh. But in 2017, an exquisite statue of him was uncovered, suggesting his status and importance in history may need to be revisited.
Dec 17, 2018•5 min
This Third Officer Docks His First MSC Oscar in Harsh Conditions
It's a big day for the 23-year-old junior officer of the MSC Oscar: he's bringing in the giant vessel to port for the first time in his career - a tricky maneuver in a narrow waterway known for its strong currents.
Dec 10, 2018•3 min
What Hieroglyphics Say About the Women of Ancient Egypt
The priests of Amun held an elevated position in ancient Egypt. But modern archaeologists were stunned to discover that a group of women were even more important - they were dubbed 'The Wives of Amun.'
Dec 10, 2018•3 min
A Honey Badger Barrels Through a Sharp Thorn Tree for Lunch
A rock rat is hiding from his predator, a honey badger, in the midst of a Namibian sweet thorn tree. But he doesn't count on his opponent's determination to get lunch, even at the price of a few cuts.
Dec 03, 2018•3 min
Meet the 24-Hour Code Crackers of World War II
The success of Operation Hydra in decoding enemy messages handed the Allies a key advantage in the fight against deadly German U-boats. The hunted had become the hunters.
Dec 03, 2018•2 min
The Hagfish Is the Slimy Sea Creature of Your Nightmares
The hagfish is a slime-emitting ocean-dweller that's remained unchanged for 300 million years--and it shows. It has a skull (but no spine), velvet smooth skin, and a terrifying pit of a mouth that's lined with rows of razor-sharp teeth.
Nov 19, 2018•3 min
The F-4 Phantom Gets Put to the Test In Vietnam
It's December 1966, and a U.S. pilot is leading a squadron of six F-4 Phantoms on a dangerous bombing mission over North Vietnam. Every mile of their 100 mile route is dotted with North Vietnam's lethal defenses.
Nov 19, 2018•4 min
A Honey Badger Cracks Open a Thick Ostrich Egg
Ostrich eggs can weigh up to three pounds and have some of the hardest shells around. This honey badger, however, isn't about to let any of that get in the way of a tasty, protein-filled snack.
Nov 12, 2018•2 min
Pocahontas Redefined How Europeans Saw Native Americans
Prior to the arrival of Pocahontas in England, indigenous people of the Americas were viewed as cannibals, brutish, and non-Christian. Enter Pocahontas, who arrived in London, baptized and speaking English.
Nov 12, 2018•4 min
The First Submarine to Launch Rockets from its Deck
It's June 1945 and the USS Barb has just launched an unprecedented attack on the factories of the Japanese island of Shari. It's the first time that rockets have ever been launched from a submarine.
Nov 05, 2018•2 min
Why the A400M is the Most Advanced Military Transport Plane
When it comes to military transport, the A400M is in a class of its own: it has a 37 ton maximum payload, a fuel capacity of 16,000 gallons and the capacity to fly 5,500 miles without refueling.
Nov 05, 2018•1 min
This Swedish King Built a Warship That Redefined Naval Combat
In the 1560s, Eric XIV of Sweden was determined to change the way naval battles were fought. The result was Mars: a giant of a warship that would rely on artillery and firepower to devastate her rivals.
Oct 29, 2018•3 min
Gelada Baboon Reacts to Being Cheated on With Fury
If a gelada queen doubts her king's influence, she'll happily play the field. But when she gets caught, it's up to the alpha to fight for what's his.
Oct 29, 2018•4 min
This Giraffe Risks Everything by Drinking in Lion Territory
A giraffe takes a long drink from a local watering hole, with watchful lions in close proximity. The giraffe isn't brave, just desperately thirsty, while the lions aren't lazy, they're just waiting for nightfall.
Oct 22, 2018•2 min
The Volcanoes That Still Threaten New Zealand's Safety
Ever since the deadly eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886, New Zealand has invested heavily in a sophisticated warning system - all in an effort to prevent another major tragedy.
Oct 22, 2018•1 min
Rare Vintage Footage Captures Innocence of Pre-War Hawaii
In a remarkable series of color films capturing pre-war Hawaii, an idyllic paradise is revealed. A few short years later, that illusion of paradise would be shattered by the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Oct 15, 2018•2 min
Do Naked Mole Rats Have Hair?
All mammals have hair--but is the naked mole rat an exception to the rule? A caretaker at Smithsonian's National Zoo gives us a closer look. #ZooQs
Oct 15, 2018•54 sec
This Badly Damaged German U-Boat Can't Dive for Cover
It's November 1943 and a German U-boat has been brutally damaged in a fight with British warships and is limping its way to port. But the sub's onboard batteries are impaired - which means it can't dive to evade enemy ships.
Oct 08, 2018•4 min
The Trick to Finding a Partner as a Peacock
Ever wonder why only male peacocks have such extravagant plumage? We ask a caretaker at Smithsonian's National Zoo to explain. #ZooQs
Oct 02, 2018•49 sec
How Napalm Bombs Intensified U.S. Attacks During WWII
Bombing ground targets from the air is tricky and not always accurate. But a new type of bomb creates an unimaginable level of destruction - and strengthens U.S. attacks in the Pacific.
Oct 01, 2018•2 min
Why Los Angeles Is One of the Best Places to Film
The San Gabriel Mountains lure lots of Angelenos looking for some quiet seclusion. One of the more famous was Leonard Cohen who spent five years there, searching for peace of mind.
Sep 24, 2018•2 min
The Most Powerful Tornado Recorded on Earth
For Oklahoma City and its surrounding suburbs, May 3, 1999 began like any other spring day. By the evening, a deadly tornado of unprecedented ferocity had wreaked havoc, claiming a total of 36 lives.
Sep 24, 2018•4 min
Why the U.S. Military Pushed $10 Million Worth of Helicopters Overboard
It's 1975, and a small Vietnamese civilian aircraft is desperate to land on the flight deck of a U.S. aircraft carrier. It becomes a dramatic race against time to clear the deck before the plane runs out of fuel.
Sep 17, 2018•2 min
Two Cheetah Clans Fight to the Death
Two rival cheetah clans battle under the cover of night. The outcome is fatal and will alter the lives of the warriors forever.
Sep 17, 2018•2 min
Were Lithium Batteries the Cause of This Plane Crash?
UPS Airlines Flight 6 crashed into a military base 10 miles from Dubai Airport on September 3, 2010. Investigators seeking answers zero in on the plane's cargo: highly flammable lithium batteries.
Sep 10, 2018•3 min
Why Al Capone Wasn't Your Typical Discreet Gangster
Al Capone wasn't just one of the biggest distributers of bootleg alcohol during Prohibition, he also embraced his notoriety in some flamboyant ways.
Sep 03, 2018•3 min
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