Biology

This program explores the basic structure of both animal and plant cells and the specific functions that different cell components serve. After an overview of a complete cell, individual segments dive in to detail each of the specific parts. Discrete, pedagogical segments cover: the plasma membrane, extracellular matrix, flagellum and cilia, the nucleus, nucleolus, nuclear envelope, cytosol and cytoplasm, the rough and smooth endoplasmic reticula, the golgi apparatus, ribosomes, lysosomes, vacuoles, peroxisome, and mitochondria. Where plant and animal cells different is made clear, and separate segments on structures unique to plants include the cell wall, plasmodesmata, and chloroplasts.

There are some 300,000 species of flowering plant on Earth. A small number have so captivated humans across the ages that they have become iconic. This series explores the biological and botanical history of four iconic plants, tracing each species’ epic journey across millennia.

The campfires of our ancestors; the ships with which we first explored the globe; instruments, artwork, buildings, furniture— these are only some of our innumerable uses for wood. From cradle to coffin, we owe much to the second life of trees. But are we doing enough to protect them? Trees That Walk is a meditative, intricate exploration of the deep and enduring bonds between trees and people— thought-provoking, haunting, and wise