EARTH
BBC Earth, Thursdays, 9.20pm
The four and a half billion years of Earth's existence is an unfathomably long time to hold in our heads. So, we compress it, mentally eliding the epochs between life emerging from the oceans and the rise of the dinosaurs, who have become familiar characters on our screens. The new BBC series Earth takes a different approach: it starts just before the dinosaurs and heads backwards in time.
Its landmarks are catastrophes. The first episode, Inferno, tells the story of the late Permian extinction event, also known as the Great Dying. About 250 million years ago, a series of convulsions set off by volcanic eruptions in Siberia wiped out nearly all life in the oceans and perhaps two-thirds of land vertebrates, including the impressive proto-mammalian synapsids.
But, as Earth's presenter, naturalist Chris Packham observes early in the episode, "Extinction is a vital part of evolution. If nothing ever went extinct, there would be no room for new species to evolve."
Denne historien er fra November 11 - 17, 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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Denne historien er fra November 11 - 17, 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.
