The BEST episodes of The Nature of Things

Every episode of The Nature of Things ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Nature of Things!

Hosted by the world-renowned geneticist and environmentalist, David Suzuki, every week presents stories that are driven by a scientific understanding of the world.

Last Updated: 3/25/2024Network: CBC (CA)Status: Continuing
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The Beaver Whisperers
star
10.00
1 votes

#1 - The Beaver Whisperers

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

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

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Smarty Plants: Uncovering the Secret World of Plant Behaviour
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10.00
1 votes

#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.

The Machine That Feels
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10.00
1 votes

#3 - The Machine That Feels

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

The ever-growing and mysterious world of Artificial Intelligence.

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Grasslands: A Hidden Wilderness
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10.00
1 votes

#4 - 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.

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Turtle Beach
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10.00
1 votes

#5 - 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.

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Something in the Air
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10.00
1 votes

#6 - Something in the Air

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

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Spying on Animals
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10.00
1 votes

#7 - Spying on Animals

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

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

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Pets, Vets and Debts
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10.00
1 votes

#8 - Pets, Vets and Debts

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

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Nuts About Squirrels
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10.00
1 votes

#9 - 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.

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Mystery of the Monsoon
star
10.00
26 votes

#10 - 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.

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The Man Who Tweeted Earth
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10.00
1 votes

#11 - 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).

A Dog’s Life
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10.00
1 votes

#12 - 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.

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Dust Storms / Oysters / Science Fairs
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10.00
1 votes

#13 - Dust Storms / Oysters / Science Fairs

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

Aliens of the Deep Sea
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9.82
28 votes

#14 - 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.

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She Walks with Apes
star
9.75
4 votes

#15 - 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.

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Moose: A Year in the Life of a Twig Eater
star
9.00
2 votes

#16 - Moose: A Year in the Life of a Twig Eater

Season 55 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/15/2015

High up in Canada’s Rockies, by a crystal-clear lake rimmed with old-growth forest, a moose is born. At the best of times, the odds are stacked against this leggy 35-pounder surviving its first year, as normally less than 50 percent do, but now that number is sinking even lower. Moose populations across many parts of North America are in steep decline and scientists believe one big reason is that fewer moose calves are surviving their first year. If the population continues on this trajectory, scientists believe that moose could be gone from many parts of North America within the next 50 years. It has never been more important to understand what happens in the first year of a moose’s life.

Directors: Susan Fleming
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Why We Dance
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9.00
1 votes

#17 - 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.

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Wild Canadian Weather: Cold
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9.00
1 votes

#18 - 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.

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A Bee's Diary
star
9.00
1 votes

#19 - 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.

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Pass the Salt
star
9.00
2 votes

#20 - 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.

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Equus: Story of the Horse - Chasing the Wind
star
9.00
2 votes

#21 - 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?

The Wild Canadian Year (5) - Making the Wild Canadian Year
star
9.00
27 votes

#22 - 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.''

Directors: Jeff Turner
Writer: Jeff Turner
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Wasted
star
9.00
1 votes

#23 - 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.

Directors: Maureen Palmer
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The Antibiotic Hunters
star
9.00
2 votes

#24 - The Antibiotic Hunters

Season 54 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/5/2015

Increasing resistance to antibiotics has been called “the most pressing global health problem of our time”. A new documentary travels to an ocean reef, a rainforest canopy, a frigid cave and even the mouth of a giant lizard – all in the urgent search for new antibiotics.

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The Great Butterfly Hunt
star
9.00
2 votes

#25 - The Great Butterfly Hunt

Season 53 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/2/2014

Canadian scientist Fred Urquhart unravels the mystery of the monarch's winter home.

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