Watch How to Grow a Planet

How to Grow a Planet is a breathtaking BBC documentary series from 2012 featuring geologist Dr. Iain Stewart exploring the secrets behind how our planet has transformed over billions of years into the diverse, life-supporting wonder it is today. He is joined by pioneering archaeologist Klaus Schmidt and primate behavioral ecologist Jill Pruetz, who bring their expertise in their respective fields to explore the ways in which plants, humans, and animals have interacted throughout history.

Throughout the series, the viewer is taken on a journey through the ages, from the origins of life on this planet to the present day, exploring the unique ways in which plants have helped shape the world we see today. The series is divided into three episodes, each focusing on a different aspect of plant life and its role in the natural world.

The first episode, "Life from Light," explores the earliest forms of plant life, discussing how they revolutionized the planet through their ability to capture sunlight and turn it into food via photosynthesis, in turn allowing the emergence of oxygen and other key elements essential to life as we know it. Stewart takes the viewer on a tour of some of the most exotic plants in existence, showcasing their miraculous adaptations and the evolutionary pathways that led to their existence.

The second episode, "The Power of Flowers," delves into the evolution of flowering plants and the integral role they play in pollination and plant reproduction. Alongside the stunning array of colors, shapes, smells, and sizes, viewers will learn about the complex interactions between plants and their pollinators (such as bees, birds, and butterflies), as well as the roles that co-evolution, genetic mutations, and convergent evolution have played in generating the immense diversity of flowering plant species on earth.

The final episode, "The Challenger," follows Pruetz to Senegal to study chimpanzees and their relationship with the plants around them. She demonstrates how these primates have learned to use plants for various purposes, including feeding, nesting, and protecting themselves from predators, while also highlighting how human activity impacts the local ecosystem.

Overall, How to Grow a Planet is an engaging, visually stunning exploration of the life cycle of our planet, offering insight into the integral role plants have played in shaping the world. Viewers will leave with a newfound appreciation and understanding of the complex processes that have led to the diverse and fascinating world we know today.