The BEST episodes of The Nature of Things

#1 - The Beaver Whisperers

Season 52 - Episode 14 - Aired 3/28/2013

The national symbol has a new role as an ecological superhero.

#2 - Smarty Plants: Uncovering the Secret World of Plant Behaviour

Season 51 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/22/2012

A luscious exploration of the natural world, Smarty Plants effortlessly integrates pioneering science with a light hearted look at how plants behave, revealing a world where plants are as busy, responsive and complex as we are.

#3 - Secrets of the Jurassic Dinosaurs

Season 63 - Episode 10 - Aired 4/4/2024

#4 - Grizzly Rewild

Season 62 - Episode 8 - Aired 3/3/2023

Five orphaned grizzly bear cubs get a second chance at life in the wild, but can they survive without their mother? A groundbreaking study follows the bears to find out if rewilding works.

#5 - The Machine That Feels

Season 61 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/19/2021

The ever-growing and mysterious world of Artificial Intelligence.

#6 - Grasslands: A Hidden Wilderness

Season 59 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/27/2019

Canada's prairies are among the world's most endangered, least protected ecosystems, but there are people working to keep them wild.

#7 - Turtle Beach

Season 58 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/17/2019

Scientists explore the extraordinary mass nesting behaviour of the olive ridley sea turtle, and reveal the hidden world inside a turtle nest.

#8 - Spying on Animals

Season 58 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/4/2018

Remote cameras let us bear witness to animal behaviour anywhere, anytime.

#9 - Pets, Vets and Debts

Season 55 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/31/2016

#10 - Nuts About Squirrels

Season 52 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/8/2012

Through the use of robotic squirrels, GPS tracked acorns and scientists, the world of urban squirrels is revealed.

#11 - Mystery of the Monsoon

Season 54 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/29/2015

A look at the vast season weather system that permeates and unifies India, shaping the conditions of existence for its billion-plus inhabitants.

#12 - The Man Who Tweeted Earth

Season 52 - Episode 16 - Aired 4/25/2013

Through pictures, music and poetry, Canadian Commander Chris Hadfield brings us a view of earth from space that we’ve never seen before. Chris Hadfield made us love space again. Tweeting, snapping photos and regularly connecting with folks back home as he hurtled around the earth aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Hadfield is the first Canadian commander ever of one of the most complex and sophisticated examples of human technology ever built. From the moment Hadfield arrived at the ISS for his five-month mission, he transformed the way we connect to space. Millions followed his every move. His YouTube videos were instantly viral. The Queen and Captain Kirk sent him messages. But even though Hadfield made it look like fun, a whole lot of serious science happened up there. Equipment on the ISS measures solar matter to further our understanding of space. Research that can only be done in zero gravity could radically change how medical diagnoses happen on earth. And tests to figure out how to make space travel safer and more efficient (with a view to making it to the red planet one day).

#13 - A Dog’s Life

Season 53 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/21/2013

An exploration of the senses, mind and behaviour of our four-legged friends.

#14 - Dust Storms / Oysters / Science Fairs

Season 20 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/26/1979

#15 - Aliens of the Deep Sea

Season 50 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/23/2010

The octopus is a close cousin of the oyster and snail. And yet, even by human standards the multi-limbed creature is considered highly intelligent. From Spain to Vancouver Island to Capri, Italy, scientists are testing the brain-power of the mysterious and mythic octopus.

#16 - She Walks with Apes

Season 59 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/20/2019

The epic story of three legendary women who fought to save the great apes — and inspired a generation.

#17 - Wasted

Season 55 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/21/2016

Filmmaker Maureen Palmer set out to make a documentary following her partner Mike Pond — a psychotherapist and an alcoholic five years sober — as he searched for the best new evidence-based addiction treatments. The intent was to help others battling substance use disorders.

#18 - Jawsome: Canada's Great White Sharks

Season 63 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/25/2024

Shark nerds are on a mission to reveal the JAWSOME lives of Canada's Great White Sharks.

#19 - Why We Dance

Season 61 - Episode 9 - Aired 2/25/2021

It may surprise you to learn that you are a dancer. In fact, we are all dancers. This film takes us into the beating heart of why humans simply must dance.

#20 - Wild Canadian Weather: Cold

Season 60 - Episode 6 - Aired 1/15/2021

Canadians push the limits of cold endurance while baby harp seals brave icy water and flying squirrels cuddle.

#21 - A Bee's Diary

Season 59 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/13/2020

7 weeks, 8,000km, countless adventures...and 1 gram of honey. The life of a single bee, through her own eyes.

#22 - Pass the Salt

Season 59 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/17/2020

In 1977, health experts declared a war on sodium. We sift through a mountain of salt science for a grain of truth.

#23 - Something in the Air

Season 58 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/17/2019

#24 - Equus: Story of the Horse - Chasing the Wind

Season 58 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/7/2018

How did humans save the wild horse from extinction? And how did we create over 400 specialized breeds today?

#25 - The Wild Canadian Year (5) - Making the Wild Canadian Year

Season 57 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/22/2017

A behind-the-scenes look at the endurance and technical skills that went into the making of ``The Wild Canadian Year.''