Ep 1. Arctic Dinosaurs

In the first episode of NOVA season 36, titled "Arctic Dinosaurs," viewers are taken on a journey through the remote wilderness of northern Alaska, where scientists have made an incredible discovery that could change the way we think about the history of life on Earth.

The episode begins with the story of a team of paleontologists who, back in 2006, stumbled upon the remains of a duck-billed dinosaur while conducting fieldwork on Alaska's North Slope. This discovery was remarkable for a number of reasons: not only was it the first dinosaur fossil ever found in this part of the world, but it also suggested that the animals who roamed the Arctic during the Late Cretaceous period were far more diverse than previously thought.

Over the next decade, this initial discovery sparked a flurry of scientific activity in the region as researchers set out to explore the Arctic's unique geological formations and understand how the dinosaurs that once lived here adapted to their harsh, cold environment. NOVA's cameras follow one such research team, led by paleontologist Tony Fiorillo, as they brave freezing temperatures and treacherous ice to collect new fossils and piece together the puzzle of the ancient Arctic ecosystem.

As they work, the scientists are confronted with a series of challenging questions. How did dinosaurs like the duck-billed Hadrosaur survive the long, dark winter nights? What did they eat in a landscape devoid of trees and lush vegetation? And how did they migrate and interact with other animals in such a remote and inhospitable region?

To answer these questions, the researchers rely on a combination of advanced scientific techniques and good old-fashioned detective work. They painstakingly map the layers of rock in which the fossils are embedded, searching for clues about the environment and climate that prevailed during the time of the dinosaurs. They analyze tiny fragments of dinosaur bone and teeth, looking for isotopic signatures that can reveal what the animals ate and drank. And they use cutting-edge computer models to simulate the ancient Arctic environment and test different hypotheses about the behavior and physiology of these remarkable creatures.

Along the way, the scientists make a number of intriguing discoveries. One of the most surprising is the realization that many of the Arctic dinosaurs were not as massive as their counterparts in more temperate regions. Instead, they seem to have evolved smaller body sizes and more efficient metabolisms, which allowed them to thrive in a place where resources were scarce. Another fascinating finding is that the Arctic was not always as cold and icy as it is today, and that during the Late Cretaceous period it may have been a relatively warm and moist forested region teeming with life.

Through interviews with the scientists involved in the research and stunning footage of the Alaskan wilderness, "Arctic Dinosaurs" brings this fascinating story to life. It is a gripping tale of scientific discovery, exploration, and persistence in the face of some of the planet's most unforgiving conditions. And it's a reminder that even in the frozen expanse of the Arctic, the world is full of secrets waiting to be uncovered.