01x03 - When the Asteroid Fell

[bunniefuu]

♪♪♪

[thunder rumbling]

NARRATOR:
The story of life on Earth...

[roaring]

...is marked
by a series of

catastrophic extinction events.

Natural disasters which have
threatened to wipe out

many of the creatures
that call our planet home.

But after every brush
with death,

life has come back

even stronger.

One of the most devastating
catastrophes took place



an asteroid hit the Earth

with the destructive force
of nine billion atomic bombs...

[expl*si*n]

ending the reign of
the giant dinosaurs.

[loud roar]

But it wasn’t the blast
that wiped them out.

It was the decade of
darkness that followed.

[up-tempo music]

After the skies cleared,

the Earth would belong
to a new dynasty of animals

we are a lot more familiar with.

[chitters]

Mammals.

[growling]

[theme music song]

[peaceful music]

NARRATOR:


life on Earth is thriving.

[wind howling]

Polar forests cover
the high arctic,

Winter is over

and months of total darkness
have come to an end.

[dinosaur soft roar]

At last Spring is here.

Sunlight shines on
this lost world

where dinosaurs reign supreme.

[dinosaur snarls]

This Nanuqsaurus is
enjoying the spring air.

He’s a gigantic arctic predator,

weighing as much
as three polar bears.

[dinosaur roaring]

An older male,
he’s seen a lot of life.

He still wears
his white winter feathers.

Good for camouflage in the snow,

but he sticks out a bit

now that the trees
are turning green.

[wind howling]

Don’t let the peaceful
forest fool you,

this guy knows another rival

could be hiding
anywhere in here.

[tense music]

A surprise encounter could
result in a fight to the death.

So, when he stumbles
into a female’s nesting area,

he is wary.

[hisses]

But there’s
nothing to worry about.

-[inspiring music]
-[dinosaur soft roar]

She is his mate.

They have been together
for twelve years.

And they’ve had
each other’s backs

through many
extreme Arctic seasons.

Springtime is a relief
from the winter darkness,

but the months of
plenty are yet to come

when all the animals here
can bask in a long hot summer

of 24 hour sun.

[exciting music]

Life is starting to gear up.

Trees take leaf,

warming waters
tell these mayflies,

that it’s time to hatch.

Everywhere there is renewal.

It’s the same
for our Nanuqsaurus couple.

She has just laid her eggs
and they are getting

ready to have a family.

Our new mom has built
a nest of leaves that

not only protects her eggs
but also generates warmth

which helps them incubate.

[dinosaur soft growling]

But a nice warm home
like this has also

attracted a sleepy squatter.

This tiny mammal, an Unnuakomys,
is napping the day away.

But he’s not bothering anyone,

so our couple doesn’t
pay him any mind.

[squeaks]

[loud growling]

A strange animal call
drifts up from the valley below.

Mom finishes covering her eggs.

Now it’s time to hunt.

The pair work well together,

they’ve done
this many times before.

[growling]

Edmontosaurus.

A vast herd of these herbivores
have arrived from the south

in search of plants to graze.

But these beasts won’t be easy
prey for our Nanuqsaurus couple.

An adult Edmontosaurus
is as long as a school bus,

far too large even
for our two predators.

But they have a plan...

and wait for their moment.

[tense music]

Right on time
some teenagers arrive.

[growling]

And like most teenagers
they are impatient.

What they don’t realize
is they have bigger problems

than who gets to eat first.

What looks like a dim star,

is actually an asteroid.

[dramatic music]

Seven and a half-miles wide,

hurtling towards the Earth
at 45,000 miles per hour.

[loud expl*si*n]

For the dinosaurs this
is the end of the world.

NARRATOR:


the climate is warm,
and many species of

plant and animal life
thrive even at the poles.

The dinosaurs rule the world

for now.

They have no idea everything
is about to change.

[celestial music]

NARRATOR:


a giant asteroid has slammed
into the Earth,

unleashing the destructive force

of nine billion
atomic bombs.

[dramatic music]

[thunder rumbling]

Landing off the coast
of what is now Mexico.

The rock penetrates deep
into the Earth’s crust,

which triggers mega tsunamis
at sea.

And releases a blast
that incinerates everything

on land within 1,000 miles.

But far away
in the Arctic Circle

devastation has yet to hit.

[dinosaur roar]

And though their world is about
to end, the dinosaur predators

continue to hunt as they have
done for millions of years.

The adolescent group
have identified their target,

a young Edmontosaurus
with his mother

on the edge of the herd.

[Edmontosaurus growling]

The eager teenagers
go on the attack,

while our couple wait.

[tense music]

[squeaks]

At the same time,
shockwaves from the blast

are racing across the planet
at close to the speed of sound

[strong wind howling]

...minutes after
the asteroid hit.

[loud thudding]

The first shock waves reach
the Nanuqsaurus Arctic home.

Triggering earthquakes and blind
panic among the dinosaurs.

[dinosaurs roaring]

The herd stampedes.

[dramatic music]

In the chaos those that can’t
keep up are trampled.

Finally, the tremors stop.

One of the teenagers
didn’t survive.

But his pals spot a chance to
pick up where they left off...

-[tense music]
-[roars]

...a juvenile,
abandoned by the herd.

He doesn’t stand a chance.

Our Nanuqsaurus couple watch...

and now they make their move.

[tense music]

After letting the teenagers
do the hard work,

our more experienced
team steals the prize.

[loud roar]

They’ve been running
this con for years.

Mom and dad claim the k*ll.

Hours have passed since
the asteroid slammed into Earth.

But now another wave is tearing
through the atmosphere.

An intense air blast.

It overtakes the old couple.

But they battle on
to get back to their nest.

[strong wind howling]

At last, the winds break.

In all their years together,

they’ve never experienced
anything like this.

Despite the chaos most creatures
try to carry on as normal.

This young Nanuqsaurus
may not know what happened,

but he isn’t going to let
a good Edmontosaurus carcass

go to waste.

He’s interrupted
by a little opportunist.

A Dromaeosaur.

He has also
brought a friend.

[squawks]

And another.

But this is
no family style restaurant.

[squawks]

The Nanuqsaurus is
not going to let these

scavengers interrupt his dinner.

[peaceful music]

Further up the valley our
couple finally approach home.

They don’t know the high
winds have damaged their nest,

exposing their hidden eggs.

[tense music]

Making them easy picking
for a band of Dromaeosaurs.

They’ve returned
seconds too late.

[load roar]

Even the father’s
terrifying show of strength

can’t save their babies.

[emotional music]

The mother finds four
of her eggs were destroyed.

Heartbroken,
they console each other.

[soft growling]

♪♪♪

A terrifying and deadly day
for all the Artic animals.

They might hope
that tomorrow will be easier.

But the asteroid isn’t
finished with them yet.

In fact,
the worst is yet to come.

[mournful music]

A towering pillar of
pulverized rock dust

rises from the impact crater.

Dense and vast it starts
to blocks out the sun

for the entire planet.

[dramatic music]

A time of endless darkness
has arrived and threatens

all life on Earth.

NARRATOR:
An asteroid has hit the Earth

launching billions of tones of
debris into the atmosphere.

[sniffing]

A dark cloud starting
to covering the entire planet.

This black swirling dust,
rich in carbon and sulfur,

is about to make
the world uninhabitable

for millions of creatures.

[tense music crescendo]

[music stops]

Almost five thousand miles
north of the impact,

the creatures of the Arctic
are about to face

the asteroid’s final blow.

[soft roars]

-[suspenseful music]
-[wind howling]

As the debris
cloud reaches them.

They are plunged
into total darkness.

They will never see
the sun again.

Even animals who are
adapted to dark Arctic winters

will find this darkness
unlike anything

they’ve experienced before.

Earth, once home to a diverse
spectrum of colorful life,

is transforming into
a dark mass of gray.

[soft music]

Two months later what
should be a hot summer

is instead a deep freeze.

The natural rhythm of life
is being turned upside down.

[ice cracking]

[soft roar]

For our Nanuqsaurus couple,
there is more tragedy.

[brooding music]

Their remaining eggs have frozen
in the bitter cold.

Even this brave mother
couldn’t protect them

from the decay and death
of a world with no sunlight.

♪♪♪

NARRATOR: With no reason to
stay by the nest they share,

the two decide to move on.

♪♪♪

[dramatic music]

NARRATOR: As months pass,

trillions of tons of
dust strangle the planet.

[wind howling]

Rain is scarce.

And what does
fall is turned to acid.

In this cold darkness,
plants can no longer produce

their energy
through photosynthesis.

Even mature trees are dying.

It’s the beginning
of the end for plant eaters

who will starve.

[growling]

This young Edmontosaurus

is struggling to breathe.

Dust has filled his lungs.

But even worse,
he’s lost his herd.

He would be easy prey for
our resting pair of Nanuqsaurus.

[growling]

♪♪♪

[growling]

[growling]

[growling]

Fortunately for him,
with so many dying

herbivores around,

they’ve already eaten.

[growling]

♪♪♪

[growling]

[growling]

The youngster is spared.

[growling]

The Edmontosaurus
herd is following their

instincts and heading south.

Their senses
tell them it’s winter.

They have no
idea there’s nothing

for them to the south
but more cold and darkness.

For the Nanuqsaurus, the
departure of the Edmontosaurus

herd means scarcity and hunger
will hit the predators too.

Life is about to become
desperate for our old pair.

[growling]

[roaring]

[dramatic music]

NARRATOR: It’s been more than
a year since the asteroid

collided with Earth and
the planet is an alien world.

It remains shrouded in
a thick cloud of foul dust.

And this apocalyptic,
endless night,

the average temperature
has dropped 36 degrees

and the once thriving ecosystems
have frozen to death.

The Arctic,
like much of the planet,

is in an
unprecedented deep freeze.

♪♪♪

Incredibly, there are
places water still runs.

And here, near the Nanuqsaurus’
old nesting site, is an oasis.

An area of volcanic activity
has caused the ground to warm.

Water is now
flowing here instead of ice.

And that attracts life.

♪♪♪

Insects thrive in the water.

[squawking]

They provide food for the birds.

Miraculously, the dark gray
world is still showing signs of

life and hope for the future,

at least for these
smaller creatures.

[growling]

Our brave Nanuqsaurus pair

are still hanging on,
unsure what their future holds.

[growling]

Our mother is once
again carrying eggs.

But something is wrong and she
is growing sicker by the day.

It will be impossible for her
to bring life into this world.

[growling]

Her mate is powerless to help.

Unbearably,
in order for him to find food,

he must leave her on her own.

With no choice,
he ventures into the unknown,

leaving her
without his protection.

[wind howling]

She is now alone
and vulnerable.

[growling]

[suspenseful music]

The two teenage
Nanuqsaurus are back.

Hungry and impatient as usual.

[growling]

They haven’t eaten
for days and are desperate.

[roaring]

Once,
they saw her as competition...

[growling]

...now, she is prey.

[roaring]

She will not go without a fight,

but the end is inevitable.

[roaring]

[roaring]

[dramatic music]

The forests are frozen.

And almost all large land
animals are dead and gone.

Without sunlight,
the web of life that

supported them has collapsed.

Only the bones of our
female Nanuqsaurus remain.

♪♪♪

Sitting beside her skeleton
is her devoted mate.

Now alone, he must endure
the cold and conserve his energy

and hope for something,
anything,

to give him a chance to survive.

[growling]

[roaring]

[growling]

[squawking]

NARRATOR: Year two of
endless night on Earth.

It is a catastrophe
for all life,

especially large animals
like the dinosaurs.

[growling]

Our old female
Nanuqsaurus put up a fight,

but is long gone.

Miraculously,
her mate is still alive.

Enduring the cold
and scavenging for food.

His body has
even become a refuge

for other living creatures.

In his feathers,

the tiny mammal, Unnuakomys,
picks ticks from his skin.

A good exchange
for the warm bed.

-[growling]
-[squeaking]

The Nanuqsaurus never
did shed his winter coat.

At last, he spots what
he has been waiting for.

[ominous music]

[growling]

[chirping]

[roaring]

[growling]

[squawking]

[growling]

[squawking]

One of
the adolescent Nanuqsaurus

is wasting his energy
chasing birds.

Still, our male waits.

He watches as
the kid wears himself out.

[growling]

Then, he summons what little

strength he has for the attack.

[growling]

-[shrieking]
-[roaring]

♪♪♪

NARRATOR: Revenge is sweet.

Our Nanuqsaurus is
now the last of his kind.

After a 170 million year reign,

the giant dinosaurs are
passing into history.

♪♪♪

Years go by, and still,

the dark cloud blankets
the Earth.

♪♪♪

Robbed of the sun’s energy,
three quarters of

all species across the
planet are driven to extinction.

♪♪♪

[chirping]

♪♪♪

Finally, a decade later...

the dust clouds clear
and give way to a new dawn.

Seeds that have laid dormant
in the soil spring to life.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

Few animals made it,

finding
creative ways to survive.

Some hid underground...

...some in water.

But all were
small and adaptable.

The planet they
inherited is a blank canvas,

and evolution is about
to go into overdrive.

[birds chirping]

NARRATOR:
Five million years later

a vibrant new habitat now
dominates the land.

Lush, tropical rainforests.

[birds singing]

Beneath the canopy,
the air is filled with the scent

of colorful flowers

and the hum
of pollinating insects.

[buzzing]

The only descendants
of the dinosaurs that have

survived are the birds.

Other creatures have
made the most of this new

environment
and found ways to thrive.

High in the canopy,
it is not just the birds

looking for breakfast.

[squeaking]

These are Plesiadapis.

They are mammals,
and mammals are thriving

in these new forests.

This is a fruit hunting mission.

They work together to
find the best afternoon snack.

And there are
plenty of delicious options.

The new world is
so abundant,

they have the luxury to choose
only the ripe ones.

[squeaking]

Plesiadapis is one of
the very first primates.

A group of mammals whose
intelligence and climbing skills

have helped them seize the high
ground up in the tree canopies.

But in the water below,
there is danger.

[suspenseful music]

Not every reptilian predator...

[squeaking]

died with the dinosaurs.

[squeaking]

[birds singing]

NARRATOR: It is five million
years after the asteroid impact.

The world is now covered
in lush tropical rainforests.

Here, birds and mammals thrive.

The giant dinosaurs are gone,

but other reptilian
predators have survived.

[suspenseful music]

This Plesiadapis is safe

as long as he stays
in the trees.

♪♪♪

But this tasty
snack is just out of reach

and he makes
a potentially fatal mistake.

[squeaking]

[splashing]

[dramatic music]

This little mammal has no idea

what lurks in the murky depths.

♪♪♪

It doesn’t look
good for our little...

aw, never mind.

[squeaking]

[dramatic music]

Crocodiles survived
the apocalyptic winter

because they lived in the water
and could go long periods

without eating.

After devouring his prey,
this giant Kosmodraco

likes to take a
long bask in the sun.

He settles down and opens
his mouth wide to keep cool.

But a nice warm patch
of sand attracts all sorts

of creatures from the forest...

...like Titanoides.

[growling]

[Titanoides growling]

NARRATOR: Mammals like these
have evolved to be immense

and powerful.

Large enough to take on
the biggest reptiles.

[hissing]

[roaring]

♪♪♪

[growling]

These tough guys now
rule the shores.

[growling]

[splashing sound]

The age of the mammals
has truly arrived.

No longer in
the shadow of the reptiles,

mammals will soon
dominate the planet.

♪♪♪

[slow dramatic music]

NARRATOR: When scientists
became convinced that

a cosmic collision
k*lled off the dinosaurs,

it inspired more
thorough scientific study

of the threat asteroids
present to life on Earth.

♪♪♪

Starting in the 1990s,

astronomers all over the world
have been using

their telescopes
to track and catalog

the many objects flying
around our Solar System.

♪♪♪

Today, they believe
they have found all asteroids

large enough to cause
a similar mass extinction event.

And while none
of these present

any immediate danger,
there are thousands of

smaller objects which
could cause major destruction

if they impacted the Earth.

♪♪♪

Recently,
a 100-foot-wide lump of rock

called 2024-YR4 was spotted

on a near-collision
course with Earth.

It will miss us,
but only by luck.

Few scientists believe
that watching the skies

and hoping for the best
is a winning strategy.

So, in 2021, NASA launched DART,

a prototype of a new planetary
defense system,

its aim was to smash
into the side of an asteroid

and prove threats like
these could be neutralized,

if we spotted them in time.

[epic music]

♪♪♪

The mission succeeded.

♪♪♪

While some human technology may

pose a threat
to life on Earth...

breakthroughs like the
DART program could be what

saves many species,

including our own,

from going
the way of the dinosaurs.

♪♪♪

♪ I see trees of green ♪

♪ Red roses too ♪

♪ I watch them bloom ♪

♪ For me and you ♪

♪ And I think to myself ♪

♪ What a wonderful world ♪

♪ Yes, I think to myself ♪

♪ What a wonderful world ♪

♪♪♪