5: Rare Earth | Earth: The Power of the Planet

Duration: 58'54''

Synopsis

Life on Earth prospers because it enjoys the right amount of heat from the sun, and the atmosphere prevents meteorite bombardment.

Further Information

More clips from Earth: The Power of the Planet

1: Volcano | Earth: The Power of the Planet

1: Volcano | Earth: The Power of the Planet

BBC Two | 2007 | 59'10''

Dr Iain Stewart tells the story of planet Earth. Although they appear to be destructive, volcanoes have been crucial to the devel...

2: Atmosphere | Earth: The Power of the Planet

2: Atmosphere | Earth: The Power of the Planet

BBC Two | 2007 | 59'03''

Dr Iain Stewart reveals the natural forces that shaped the earth. He traces the history of the atmosphere, from the ozone laye...

3: Ice | Earth: The Power of the Planet

3: Ice | Earth: The Power of the Planet

BBC Two | 2007 | 59'08''

Documentary series in which Dr Iain Stewart tells the story of the earth's development. Ice isn't just something to put in a gin and ...

4: Oceans | Earth: The Power of the Planet

4: Oceans | Earth: The Power of the Planet

BBC Two | 2007 | 58'42''

Iain travels to surfers' paradise Hawaii to learn more about oceans, explaining the difference between waves, tides and currents.

How glaciers form | Earth: The Power of the Planet

How glaciers form | Earth: The Power of the Planet

BBC Two | 2007 | 2'54''

Dr Iain Stewart explains how snow is transformed into glacier ice.

More resources about Ecosystems and Biomes

01: Frozen Worlds | Frozen Planet II

01: Frozen Worlds | Frozen Planet II

BBC One | 2022 | 57'53''

From the poles to the highest mountain peaks, there are surprising frozen worlds found on every continent, and each is home to unique an...

01: Nepal | Kate Humble: Living with Nomads

01: Nepal | Kate Humble: Living with Nomads

BBC Two | 2015 | 59'01''

In a demanding and emotional journey, Kate Humble travels with the Raute, Nepal's very last nomadic community of just 140 hunter-...

01: The Living Forest | Landmarks

01: The Living Forest | Landmarks

BBC Two | 1990 | 19'14''

The Living Forest looks at all the animals & plants that live in the forest on the ground to the forest canopy, & shows how they live in ba...

02: Frozen Ocean | Frozen Planet II

02: Frozen Ocean | Frozen Planet II

BBC One | 2022 | 58'05''

At the top of our planet lies the Arctic Ocean - a shape-shifting world of ice and water, home to unique animals like polar bears, harp s...

02: People of the Forest | Landmarks

02: People of the Forest | Landmarks

BBC Two | 1990 | 18'54''

People of the Forest looks at the Baka of the Cameroon & the Kayapo of South America & how their lives work in balance with the rainforest.

02: Siberia | Kate Humble: Living with Nomads

02: Siberia | Kate Humble: Living with Nomads

BBC Two | 2015 | 59'09''

Kate Humble continues her travels with the Nenets reindeer herders deep in the Siberian tundra, but plummeting temperatures jeo...

03: Destroying the Forest | Landmarks

03: Destroying the Forest | Landmarks

BBC Two | 1990 | 19'12''

By the next century, the rainforests of the world could have disappeared for ever, destroyed by outside influences and economic pressur...

03: Frozen Peaks | Frozen Planet II

03: Frozen Peaks | Frozen Planet II

BBC One | 2022 | 58'12''

A look at how mountains create unique frozen worlds, home to extraordinary animals that must overcome the crushing conditions of the cold.

03: Green | Earth

03: Green | Earth

BBC Two | 2023 | 58'12''

Chris Packham tells the miraculous story of how plant life turned the Earth from a barren rock into a vibrant green world.

03: Mongolia | Kate Humble: Living with Nomads

03: Mongolia | Kate Humble: Living with Nomads

BBC Two | 2015 | 59'10''

In her final journey of the series, Kate Humble travels deep into the Gobi Desert to live with an extended family of cashmere ...

04: Frozen South | Frozen Planet II

04: Frozen South | Frozen Planet II

BBC One | 2022 | 58'02''

Antarctica is the most hostile of earth’s frozen worlds. Yet even here, life finds a way not just to survive, but thrive.

04: Saving the Forest | Landmarks

04: Saving the Forest | Landmarks

BBC Two | 1990 | 19'16''

Despite the destruction, there are ways to save the forest, by careful harvesting, protecting, learning, replanting, policing - and campaig...

05: Frozen Lands | Frozen Planet II

05: Frozen Lands | Frozen Planet II

BBC One | 2022 | 58'00''

In the far north of our planet lie vast frozen lands of snow-covered forest and open tundra. These are lands of extremes that push animal...

06: Our Frozen Planet | Frozen Planet II

06: Our Frozen Planet | Frozen Planet II

BBC One | 2022 | 58'19''

Our frozen planet is changing. We meet the scientists dedicating their lives to understanding what these changes mean for animals, p...

07: Worlds of Wonder | Frozen Planet II

07: Worlds of Wonder | Frozen Planet II

BBC One | 2023 | 58'06''

A journey through the world’s coldest realms with the most-loved animals from the series, including emperor penguins and one of the l...

1: Africa | Equator from the Air

1: Africa | Equator from the Air

BBC Two | 2020 | 59'05''

In Africa, Gordon takes to the skies to see how a growing human population is affecting wildlife, from flamingos and elephants in Kenya to h...

1: Arctic Part 1 | Undiscovered Worlds with Steve Backshall

1: Arctic Part 1 | Undiscovered Worlds with Steve Backshall

BBC Two | 2019 | 58'45''

Steve Backshall visits unexplored parts of the world. This time his team is kayaking in the Arctic - they face pe...

1: Congo | Wilderness with Simon Reeve

1: Congo | Wilderness with Simon Reeve

BBC Two | 2024 | 58'42''

Simon Reeve battles his way across the Congo, braving thick jungle and tropical swamps in search of the people and the wildlife who ma...

1: Galapagos | Nature's Microworlds

1: Galapagos | Nature's Microworlds

BBC Four | 2012 | 29'02''

The Galapagos is home to a myriad of bizarre and unique creatures endemic to these islands, but how did they get here and what is the key...

1: Heart of the Dragon | Wild China

1: Heart of the Dragon | Wild China

BBC Two | 2008 | 59'01''

The hills of Guilin and the fishermen of the Li River form the heart of this exploration of the rice-growing cultures and strange creatur...

More from Iain Stewart

1: Deep Earth | How Earth Made Us

1: Deep Earth | How Earth Made Us

BBC Two | 2010 | 59'24''

Series telling the story of how the development of civilisation was influenced by planetary forces. Professor Iain Stewart explores the rol...

4: Oceans | Earth: The Power of the Planet

4: Oceans | Earth: The Power of the Planet

BBC Two | 2007 | 58'42''

Iain travels to surfers' paradise Hawaii to learn more about oceans, explaining the difference between waves, tides and currents.

Episode 1 | Planet Oil: The Treasure That Conquered The World

Episode 1 | Planet Oil: The Treasure That Conquered The World

BBC Four | 2017 | 59'16''

From the moment we first drilled for oil, we opened a Pandora's box that changed the world forever. It transfor...

Eurasia | Rise of the Continents

Eurasia | Rise of the Continents

BBC Two | 2013 | 59'04''

Professor Iain Stewart shows that where the south of Eurasia is today there was once an ocean and how, in 250 million years, all of the cont...

Iceland Erupts: A Volcano Live Special | Volcano Live

Iceland Erupts: A Volcano Live Special | Volcano Live

BBC Two | 2012 | 59'03''

Kate Humble heads to Iceland and meets the scientists monitoring the country's most dangerous volcanoes. She also inves...

1: Life From Light | How to Grow a Planet

1: Life From Light | How to Grow a Planet

BBC One | 2012 | 59'29''

How plants have driven the greatest changes to the Earth. Prof Iain Stewart shows how they first harnessed light from the sun and c...

1: Scotland's Trees | Making Scotland's Landscape

1: Scotland's Trees | Making Scotland's Landscape

BBC One | 2010 | 59'30''

Professor Iain Stewart reveals how Scotland's unique landscape was shaped. Here, he uncovers the devastating impact of mank...

3: The Big Freeze | Men of Rock

3: The Big Freeze | Men of Rock

BBC Two | 2010 | 58'52''

In the final episode of the series, Iain Stewart finds out about daredevil scientist Louis Agassiz, who first imagined the world had been gri...

1: Tsunamis | 10 Things You Didn't Know About...

1: Tsunamis | 10 Things You Didn't Know About...

BBC Four | 2008 | 58'56''

Iain Stewart journeys across the oceans to explore stories about the most powerful giant waves in history, including how one...

The Geology of Japan | Journeys into the Ring of Fire

The Geology of Japan | Journeys into the Ring of Fire

BBC Four | 2006 | 2'20''

Iain Stewart explains the geology of the tectonic plates that make up the landscapes of Japan.