Trace humankind's long journey from hunter-gatherer to dominant global species. From the perspective of space, this special uses mind-boggling data and CGI to disclose the breathtaking extent of humanity's influence, revealing how we've transformed our planet and produced an interconnected world of extraordinary complexity.
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Humanity from Space is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
About the Show
"Humanity from Space" is an epic journey of discovery. Using the latest mind-boggling data and astonishing CGI, the film traces the story of humankind’s ascent from hunter-gatherer to dominant global species. From the global perspective of space, this 2-hour special reveals the breathtaking extent of our influence, revealing how we’ve transformed our planet and produced an interconnected world of extraordinary complexity.
A journey through 12,000 years, "Humanity from Space" shows how seemingly-small flashes of innovation have changed the course of civilization - innovations that touch all of us today in ways unimaginable to our ancestors. We’ll gaze into the future at the new challenges we will inevitably face in order to survive as our global population soars because of our success. In every case, we’ll look at our progression in a unique and surprising way, revealing unforgettable facts and connections.
To visualize these stories, cutting-edge technology is used to turn raw data into authentic moving images, building on expertise from a previous (and highly-praised) project: "Earth From Space." Using this technique, we can map humanity’s behavior in stunning, never-before-seen detail, revealing how our civilization grew, how it works today, and what the future might hold.
NASA’s SUMI satellite designed to study the world’s weather has an electronic eye hundreds of times more sensitive than previous satellites.
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NASA
Wheat being grown at Rothamsted Research, as part of the 20:20 initiative.
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DSP/HANDEL
A large steam engine at London Museum of Water & Steam.
3/10
DSP/HANDEL
The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System (SEGS) will use solar tower technology to produce clean reliable solar electricity to more than 140,000 homes.
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DSP/HANDEL
The Millenium Bridge in London, UK.
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DSP/HANDEL
Plants at Green Sense Vertical Farm, America’s largest indoor, commercial, vertical farm.
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DSP/HANDEL
Our world relies on vast global networks. Satellite data and CGI allows us to visualize these invisible global networks that link us together.
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DSP/HANDEL
The Cordero Rojo Mine Building in the USA. The mine extracts thermal coal from the Wyodak Seam. It mined and shipped approximately 36.7 million tons of low sulfur, 8,476 Btu coal in 2013.
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DSP/HANDEL
In just 100 years, Thomas Edison’s electrical grid expanded from a few city blocks to a vast network in North America and around the globe.
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DSP/HANDEL
NASA’s SUMI satellite designed to study the world’s weather has an electronic eye hundreds of times more sensitive than previous satellites. It reveals the interconnectivity of our electrified world.
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NASA
