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The Immortals

   2014    Science
This episode covers the nature of how life may have developed on Earth and the possibility of life on other planets. Tyson begins by explaining how the human development of writing systems enabled the transfer of information through generations, describing how Princess Enheduanna ca. 2280 BCE would be one of the first to sign her name to her works, and how Gilgamesh collected stories, including that of Utnapishtim documenting a great flood comparable to the story of Noah's Ark. Tyson explains how DNA similarly records information to propagate life, and postulates theories of how DNA originated on Earth, including evolution from a shallow tide pool, or from the ejecta of meteor collisions from other planets. In the latter case, Tyson explains how comparing the composition of the Nakhla meteorite in 1911 to results collected by the Viking program demonstrated that material from Mars could transit to Earth, and the ability of some microbes to survive the harsh conditions of space. With the motions of solar systems through the galaxy over billions of years, life could conceivably propagate from planet to planet in the same manner. Tyson then moves on to consider if life on other planets could exist. He explains how Project Diana performed in the 1960s showed that radio waves are able to travel in space, and that all of humanity's broadcast signals continue to radiate into space from our planet. Tyson notes that projects have since looked for similar signals potentially emanating from other solar systems. Tyson then explains that the development and lifespan of extraterrestrial civilizations must be considered for such detection to be realized. He notes that civilizations can be wiped out by cosmic events like supernovae, natural disasters such as the Toba disaster, or even self-destruct through war or other means, making probability estimates difficult. Tyson describes how elliptical galaxies, in which some of the oldest red dwarf stars exist, would offer the best chance of finding established civilizations. Tyson concludes that human intelligence properly applied should allow our species to avoid such disasters and enable us to migrate beyond the Earth before the Sun's eventual transformation into a red giant.
Series: Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey

The Internets Own Boy. The Story of Aaron Swartz

   2014    Culture
the rise and fall of a tech industry prodigy. Interviews with his friends and loved ones paint a portrait of Swartz as a martyr of freedom of information and hail his fight for the public's right to access tax-funded academic and scientific research, culminating in a personally devastating two-year Federal lawsuit." An avid researcher who had previously accessed otherwise private databases, Swartz, acting "in the grand tradition of civil disobedience to declare... opposition to this private theft of public culture" used MIT computers to access tax-funded research that would otherwise be held privately by for-profit publishers, an incident many viewers may remember from national headlines just a few year ago. Though neither MIT nor the digital repository Swartz accessed pressed charges, a US Attorney stepped in and filed a 13-count felony charge against Swartz, threatening him with over $1 million in fines and up to 35 years of jail time. Despite the defense of his peers, these events launched Swartz into a two-year long downward spiral of withdrawal and depression. Aaron Swartz's untimely death at the age of 26.

The Jinx

       History
This featured documentary series reveals long-buried information discovered during the filmmakers' seven-year investigation of a series of unsolved crimes, and the man suspected of being at its center – Robert Durst, scion of New York’s billionaire Durst family – and was made with his full cooperation. 'The Jinx' expose police files, key witnesses, never-before-seen footage, private prison recordings, and thousands of pages of formerly hidden documents. Directed and produced by Andrew Jarecki and produced and shot by Marc Smerling.
Series: The Jinx

The Origin of Life

   2024    Science    HD
The film, marking our first own production, embarks on an awe-inspiring journey, shedding light on one of science's most profound questions: How did life emerge from the non-living? With a focus on the intricate mechanisms that may have transformed simple molecules into the first microorganisms, this film explores the concept of a chemical evolution that meticulously selected increasingly complex molecules, eventually leading to the genesis of life. By delving into the pivotal role of RNA, viewers are invited to contemplate the plausibility of life spontaneously arising from the basic elements of the universe.
The documentary meticulously illustrates a potential pathway for the emergence of life, emphasizing the significance of ribozymes—RNA molecules with catalytic abilities—and their role in a prebiotic chemical evolution. The film posits a compelling argument for the natural processes that might have led to the formation of the first complex lipid vesicles, a critical step towards cellular life. By presenting a theory that bridges gaps in our understanding with scientific ingenuity, ‘The Origin of Life’ invites viewers on an intellectual adventure to discover the origins of existence itself.
More information on https://www.javier-serrano.blog/Evolucion/el_origen_de_la_vida_parteI.php

The Persistence of Memory

   1980    Science
The idea of intelligence is explored in the concepts of computers (using bits as their basic units of information), whales (in their songs and their disruptions by human activities), DNA, the human brain (the evolution of the brain stem, frontal lobes, neurons, cerebral hemispheres, and corpus callosum under the Triune Brain Model), and man-made structures for collective intelligence (cities, libraries, books, computers, and satellites). The episode ends with speculation on alien intelligence and the information conveyed on the Voyager Golden Record.
Series: Cosmos

The Plot Against the President

   2020    Culture
The true story of how Congressman Devin Nunes uncovered the operation to bring down the President of the United States. Following the book 'The Plot Against the President' by investigative journalist Lee Smith, this feature length documentary explores new information and additional interviews as the case unfolds. Most of the world knows about Russiagate, but most American people would not be able to explain exactly what happened, and why it was the biggest political scandal in US history. This film will be a guide, and a basis for which people will understand the events related to this case as they continue to unfold every day.
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Atom

2007  Science
The Story of the Jews

The Story of the Jews

2013  History
Triumph of Life

Triumph of Life

2006  Nature
Wonders of Life

Wonders of Life

2013  Science
The Human Body

The Human Body

1998  Medicine