Marabella Productions » National Geographic

Man-Made Disasters

admin — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:12:14 +0000

Premiere Date: November 1, 2010: 1X60 min. documentary, National Geographic Channel
Can a direct link be drawn between human activity and some “natural disasters?” Geophysicists find examples worldwide of man’s capacity for drastically and suddenly awakening the planet’s destructive force through volcanoes, earthquakes, and even tornadoes. Does our quest for power and our impulse to build mega-structures come with an unexpected price tag? Certain forward-thinking energy companies and structural engineers are assuming it does, and they’re at the vanguard of a new movement that’s finding ways to generate energy and build big without disrupting the delicate balance of forces below—and above—the earth’s crust.

Finding the Origin Of Life

admin — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:26:59 +0000

Premiere Date: February 11th, 2010 10 PM EST

1×60 min. documentary, National Geographic Channel

As far as we know, life is unique to Earth. So how did it come to be? And why here? We’ve all wondered about the origins of life, but one scientist in San Diego believes that he and his mentor found the answer. Dr. Jeffrey Bada at UC San Diego, sheds new light on renowned scientist Stanley Miller’s controversial experiment from a half century ago. Like Miller, Bada recreates conditions on Earth before life began 4 billion years ago. But this time, Bada introduces 21st century technology that Miller could only dream of. While cameras roll, the San Diego scientist mixes up a batch of “primordial ooze,” then, similar to the mythical Dr. Frankenstein, zaps it with a bolt of electricity—“primordial lightning.” The results? Amino acids, the building blocks of all life. It was this stunning experiment that first demonstrated that life could have evolved spontaneously from a combination of chemical processes present on early Earth. Still, how could these amino acids evolve to become bacteria, animals, and eventually humans? How did life start reproducing itself from something that isn’t alive?

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Earth Without The Moon

admin — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:25:06 +0000

Premiere Date: February 4th, 2010, 10 PM EST
1×60 min. documentary, National Geographic Channel

Earth Without The Moon reveals the startling fact that the Moon is receding from Earth and is gaining speed each year. The moon is a stabilizing force for Earth, enabling life to originate, evolve, and exist over the last 4 billion years. However, when it recedes just 10% further from Earth, the Earth will tip up to 90 degrees on its axis, creating endless catastrophes. Extreme temperature swings will push oceans to the poles and ice to the equator; massive dust storms and hurricanes will last hundreds of years; rising sea levels will submerge cities like New York and Rio de Janeiro. Without our Moon, life as we know it will perish from the Earth.

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