Documentary / Biography

National Geographic takes a closer look at one of the best-documented meteorite falls in history. Captured by a network of specialized cameras, radar and listening equipment, watch as the stunning fireball hurtles toward Earth at a blistering 46,000 miles per hour. Meanwhile, another meteorite...

With whitish hair and skin, as well as pale, light-sensitive eyes, people with albinism usually suffer more from social stigma than from their actual physical disabilities. And while this condition is found in all races around the globe, nowhere is it more dangerous to...

Visit one of America's last fishing communities as its residents fight to preserve their homes and livelihoods in the wake of one of the greatest environmental disasters in U.S. history. National Geographic follows the desperate stories of Venice, Louisiana fishermen, from last ditch efforts...

On June 6, 1912, the Katmai region of Alaska experienced a volcanic eruption so devastating that falling ash blacked out the sun for three days 100 miles away. The magnitude of the deadly blast was four times greater than Mount Pinatubo and 100 times...

Take a new look at Earth through the eyes of a zany band of intergalactic adventurers. Zooming in to investigate, Captain Rip Rayon and his crew discover that there's a whole lot of shaking going on! And when you beam aboard on this global...

Join our alien team as they explore one of the most amazing planets in the universe -- Earth! As Captain Rip Rayon and crew send their space ships deep into the ocean, they encounter slimy sea slugs, spiky sea urchins, and lots of super-sleek...

The world is addicted to oil. But now the easy pockets of oil are gone and the race is on to find new sources. Nowhere is the battle more intense than in Alaska - source of nearly 15% of America's domestic production, and home...

Take a harrowing journey with author Sebastian Junger and photographer Reza deep into Afghanistan for the last interview with the assassinated resistance leader, Ahmed Shah Massoud. With never-before-seen footage, Afghanistan Revealed explores this war-torn country and the lives of its people as they struggle...

Climb into the cockpit of an exact replica of the fabled Spirit of St. Louis to experience a riveting, hour-by-hour reenactment of the danger, doubts, and fatigue endured by the young Charles Lindbergh on his record-shattering flights across the Atlantic. From exclusive, rarely-seen archival...

Take a look inside the personal stories of two individuals whose own experiences prompted them to prepare for Armageddon. After surviving a plane crash, Leland Freeborn has prophesized a full-scale nuclear attack "when the snow is on the ground, and the Christmas lights are...

Follow the zoo babies as they introduce us to their family, habitat, lifestyle and appetite, and watch as they discover unique characteristics about their own upbringing. Over 15 animals are featured including the elephant, giraffe, wildebeest, clouded leopard, serval cat and hippo. The babies...

How does a potato chip get perfectly seasoned with just the right amount of crisp? How can a four-door sedan have the same power and agility as a sports car? Visit some of the most advanced manufacturing facilities in the world and find out...

In the south of England, excavators make a shocking discovery - a shallow grave of headless skeletons and severed skulls. National Geographic pieces together the events that led up to this massacre.

New evidence suggests that at least one convict escaped from Alcatraz and survived. National Geographic investigates one of the most intricate prison escapes in history three tireless inmates break from the fortress-like Alcatraz Island Federal Penitentiary and brave the frigid waters in a handmade...

Off the coast of San Francisco, an unexpected killing challenged the great white shark's supremacy as the ultimate predator when one became prey to a killer whale. Whale-watchers witnessed a stunning act of nature as a killer whale rose to the water's surface with...

The world watched in horror on March 11, 2011, as the fourth largest earthquake ever recorded crippled Japan and triggered a massive tsunami that swallowed entire communities, leaving an unprecedented catastrophe in its wake. All the while, amateur videographers, news crews, tourists and countless...

Inside Ferrari's closely-guarded factory in Maranello, Italy, you'll see how the newest, most powerful model is created from start to finish, learn its design secrets and take a test drive at 200 mph.

National Geographic takes you to Bowling Green, Kentucky, where GM is developing the new Corvette Z06, a high-performance street machine that is fantastically aerodynamically efficient.

Spotting a jaguar in South America's Pantanal is like finding a needle in a haystack -- filming one is even harder. Follow Christian Baumeister's journey in search of the majestic cat.

Follow the life and career of Dr. Jan Pol. Set in Central Michigan's farm country, Dr. Pol, along with his wife Diane, own and operate a veterinary clinic that services over 18,000 clients.

Take an intimate journey into the world of gorillas living under human care. Meet a remarkable gorilla who paints while in captivity, and visit an innovative gorilla orphanage in West Africa. Traditionally, gorillas have been separated in sanitized cells for public safety and viewing....

Follow the journey of a rebel named Black Wolf who breaks from his pack and survives to be one of the oldest wolves in Yellowstone. He'll travel paved roads most wolves avoid at all costs as he ventures out to mate with a rival...

Kevin Richardson is a self-taught animal behaviorist with an uncanny ability to work with the planet's most iconic predators. The Kingdom of the White Lion--a reserve that is home to several large lion prides--is under threat, and Kevin is working tirelessly to save it....

Venturing into vast underwater graveyards of Mayan human sacrifices in Mexico, journalist Diego Bunuel searches for new revelations about the infamous upcoming doomsday. Using groundbreaking National Geographic technology, Diego and a team of archaeologists will literally light up the abyss to explore these underwater...

Taboo takes viewers on a journey beyond their comfort zones and across cultural borders to explore addictions and lifestyles that are acceptable in some cultures but forbidden, illegal, or even reviled in others.

The Pacific Crest Trail zigzags some 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada. It cuts through seven national Parks and 24 national forests as it travels through California, Oregon, and Washington. It's a trail of ever-changing obstacles from some of the highest mountain passes in...

A shark shoots skyward, tackling a herd of seals, as National Geographic expert Ryan Johnson heads to sea with researcher Alta De Vos. Join the pair as they unravel a mystery surrounding Seal Island, located at the southern tip of Africa. Plunge into waters...

Hammerheads school in enormous numbers. Coral reefs ripple with color by day but at night turn into killing grounds for packs of whitetip sharks. Pristine waters brim with tuna and dolphins in hot pursuit of clouds of fish. Isla del Coco, or Cocos Island,...

Alone in a cell 23 hours a day for days, or even decades. Today, tens of thousands of Americans are subject to what may be the most extreme prison environment ever designed. Although the effects of isolation are largely unknown, in prisons across the...

Megalodon was the biggest predator ever to swim the oceans. And for 20 million years, this ferocious 50-ton shark with a 9-foot jaw and 7-inch serrated teeth terrorized the creatures of the seas. Now, nearly 2 million years after its extinction, a team of...

For more than half of the U.S. population, the Appalachian Trail is less than a day's drive away. Yet despite its proximity to many major cities, few truly know the splendor of this national treasure. National Geographic travels off the beaten track to discover...

It's the busiest execution chamber in the country. In the small town of Huntsville, Texas 18 inmates were executed in 2008 alone, 423 between 1982 and 2008. National Geographic provides rare access inside this center of the capital punishment controversy. In intimate interviews, meet...

Join renowned wildlife filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert as they capture the drama of Africa's largest free-roaming elephant herds on their timeless journey across the bush country of northern Botswana. Two years in the making, this remarkable documentary reveals extraordinary elephant behavior never before...

The Serengeti in northern Tanzania is one of the world's last great wildlife refuges, teeming with crocs, leopards, cheetahs -- and one of the biggest lion populations in Africa, with approximately 3,500 lions in 300 prides. But one pride looms large in the Serengeti...

Witness the wrenching story of the collapse of the Romanov dynasty. Nicholas II had absolute power over his vast realm, yet he was helpless in the face of his son's hemophilia. Enter Rasputin, a wild-living Siberian "holy man" whose apparent ability to heal the...

Hidden beneath the surface of the sea is a phenomenon we know almost nothing about. On land, scientists have long studied the great animal migrations, but in the ocean some of the most spectacular events go almost unnoticed. Now, with an international team of...

Human babies come into this world entirely helpless unable to walk, talk or feed themselves. And, as any parent can testify, a remarkable transformation occurs over their first year. But what's happening behind what you can simply observe? From first breath to first step,...

In the brief but brilliant "Age of the Helicopter," there have been many contenders for the title of "Super Copter", but one of the newest copters that brings it all home is the EH101. Recently chosen to be the next "Marine One" the Presidential...

Enter the mysterious, unchartable wilderness of Okefenokee, 700 square miles of swampland on the Georgia-Florida border. Eerie, forbidding, and darkly beautiful - Okefenokee is ruled by a descendant of the dinosaur, the fearsome alligator. Day and night the alligator glides silently through its steamy...

National Geographic embarks on a voyage of breakthrough discoveries that will forever alter our view of the infamous creature once labeled "the perfect killing machine." Join the ultimate great white expedition, featuring Jaws creator Peter Benchley and famed underwater photographer David Doubilet. Witness amazing...

Over the centuries, horses have captured hearts and minds of the Irish people. Nurtured by the mild climate and rich grasses, the horses of Ireland have always flourished. From magnificent wild stallions to sturdy work ponies and the elegant racing thoroughbreds Ireland's horses are...

Historic snows and bitter cold across North America. Massive floods in Australia and Pakistan. Deadly mudslides in Brazil. Epic drought and wildfires in Russia. 2010 was one of the most destructive years in history. National Geographic presents the dramatic images of this catastrophic weather...

Animal advocate and host, Beth Stern, makes her way through some outrageous pet pampering and meets some shockingly over indulgent pet owners who wouldn't have it any other way. An avid pet owner and spoiler herself, Beth visits other owners who lavish attention on...

National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Dr. Enric Sala journeys to the Pitcairn Islands to document life in the sea and on land with hopes of turning this ocean environment into a protected marine reserve.

Secret Service Files: Protecting the President goes on the ground with agents-the Secret Service Protective Detail and FBI response teams - as they recount personal stories of protecting the President of the United States during high-risk events.

Rocket City Rednecks returns for more outrageously ingenious science, as the family of "backwoods geniuses" combine their hillbilly ingenuity with advanced engineering to tackle real-world scenarios.

Snow Leopards are under threat from poachers and farmers who fear the leopards are attacking livestock. But experts can't protect them without knowing more about them. Join the WCS and a team of experts; including big cat tracker Boone Smith; as they set out...

From military reports to radar readings and mass sightings of UFOs, National Geographic will analyze the most compelling evidence and hear from witnesses and experts as we explore the Secret History of UFOs.

Secret Weapon of the Confederacy explores the short, eventful life of the submersible H. L. Hunley.

Orphaned cubs are rescued from the jungle, rehabilitated and released - but did they learn how to live in the wild? To find out, the rescuers unite to find the cubs they set free a year ago.