Xploration Awesome Planet(2014–)

Episode 1

Dramatic Landscapes

In this episode, Cousteau takes us to the American mid-West to see how wildlife in Yellowstone National Park cope with the harsh winter environment. We then climb to the top of Zion National Park's most famous peak before heading to a Pacific island.

Artists of the Environment

In this episode, Cousteau explores the different ways an environmental painter, sculptor, photographer and craftsman blend nature with art.

Science of the Great Barrier Reef

In this episode, Cousteau dives off the coast of Australia to explore the Great Barrier Reef. He then heads to James Cook University to get an up-close look at some of the country's deadliest creatures.

New Zealand

In this episode, Cousteau travels to New Zealand, where he explores Auckland's volcanic field and comes face-to-face with one of the largest insects on the planet.

Natural Wonders

In this episode, Cousteau heads to Hawaii to see an incredibly rare waterfall of lava pouring into the ocean. Antelope Canyon of Arizona, walk atop a unique frozen lake in Alberta, and take a magical scuba dive into a cenote in Mexico.

Student Explorer

In this episode, we reveal the winner of our first ever #StudentExplorer Contest. Philippe and the lucky student then head to Mexico to swim with whale sharks in the wild.

Guardians of the Environment

In this episode, we unearth some of the ways scientists, students and regular citizens are working to save our Earth. From creating "safe havens" for New Zealand's endangered species, to breeding clownfish in Australia.

Pennsylvania

In this episode, Philippe travels to Pennsylvania to explore a hidden wonder beneath the Appalachian Mountains and see how researchers at Carnegie Mellon University are using cutting-edge science to measure air quality in Pittsburgh.

Rangers

In this episode, we'll travel to Yellowstone National Park to learn how rescue dogs can find people caught in an avalanche and how rangers manage trails in harsh winter conditions. From there trips to Hawaii and Utah.

Environmental Engineers

We visit Pennsylvania to see how engineers are using new technology to fast-track the replacement of more than 500 bridges. Then it's off to New Orleans for an inside look at the city's newly constructed $1.1 billion dollar hurricane protection facility.

Animal Coexistence

Travel to Australia to catch the world's deadliest jellyfish. We'll also visit California to see how after years on the brink of extinction that California Condor continues to slowly recover. And finally, a visit to Maui.

Farmers

Examine the different methods of farming. We'll join an oyster farmer as he pulls in a harvest off the coast of southeastern Louisiana, and then visit an aquaponics farm in Los Angeles.

Winter Wonderland

We head to a winter wonderland in Banff, Alberta, Canada. Philippe joins the avalanche safety team at Ski Lake Louise as they show a few different ways of avalanche control including dynamite blasts on the mountain. We then head to the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise for a snowshoeing expedition. And finally we look at the dynamics of ice while climbing a frozen waterfall.

Cultural Science

We look at different examples of cultural science. Starting off in Hawaii, Philippe paddles out on a 6-man canoe during a lesson in early Hawaiian navigation. Then it's off to Florida to join members of the Seminole tribe who show us different uses of plants as tools and food in the harsh terrain of the everglades. We wrap things up in the Pacific Northwest looking at the Suquamish tribe.

Bahamas

This week we head to the bright sunshine and clear waters of the Bahamas. Philippe will start off getting up close underwater with Great Hammerhead sharks. Then we join a professional freediver to get a look at the world's deepest saltwater blue hole. After that it's into the mangroves to see how local researchers have been tracking baby lemon sharks for decades.

Predatory Myths

This week we look to debunk a few predatory myths from our oceans to deserts. We join the shark research team at the University of Miami for two days of shark studies--first right by the city skyline and then further out to sea. We then head to Florida where Philippe will visit an antivenom lab home to hundreds of venomous snakes. We also see how venomous snakes use defense mechanisms to scare.

Animal Migrations

The week from oceans to mountains we follow the paths of animal migrations. We start in Hawaii as Philippe joins a humpback whale research team to get up close and in the water with these majestic animals that swim thousands of miles each year to and from Alaska. Then it's into the rocky mountains to see how Jackson, Wyoming accommodates thousands of elk that migrate to this area each winter.

Planet Rescue

See how we can save our planet. We start at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation center in North Carolina as Philippe gets a tour of this incredible facility. We then head to the beach where dozens of sea turtles are released back into the wild. In the Pacific Ocean, Trilogy Excursions leads regular coral reef cleaning to preserve the ecosystems there.

South Carolina

This week we visit South Carolina. Philippe joins the Department of Natural Resources to tag tiger sharks in Port Royal Sound. Then we head inland for a hike to find wild venus fly traps. From there it's back to the shoreline of Port Royal Sound to examine ecosystem indicators through three different species of crab. Finally Congaree National Park is home to the largest hardwood forest in the US.

Food

Host Philippe Cousteau looks at new ways of cultivating fresh, nutritious food. He visits a farm in Los Angeles where they grow food on a parking lot, just to show that fresh food can be grown in an urban environment. We also look into what distinguishes fruits from vegetables. The results can be surprising. And then we look at the amount of food that is wasted world wide.

Forest

Host Philippe Cousteau looks at ways scientists are measuring the health of our forests. In New England, Philippe visits a white pine forest that is being threatened by invasive plants. At the University of California - Santa Cruz, students use sonic-tomography to look inside trees in order to detect any signs of disease. At the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, we learn about the pitch pine tree.

Insects

This week we look at the wonderful world of insects. Philippe heads to the University of Texas to see how research helping to control invasive fire ant populations. Then we go to Penn State University to look at the complex societies ants create.We stay at PSU to look at the importance of pollinators and then end at the University of Pennsylvania to see how researchers study disease transmission.

Glacier National Park

This week we head to the beautiful landscape of Glacier National Park. Philippe heads out to uncover insect fossils dating back 45 million years. Then we look at the intricate geology of the park itself. From there we track one of the most important food sources of the park - wild huckleberries. And then we join a group of students participating in a citizen science expedition.

Nature's Classroom

This week we see how nature can sometimes be the best classroom. Philippe heads to Key Largo to join a high school class getting up close with local sea grass habitats. Then we head to the streams of Pennsylvania to go on a "Bio-Blitz" surveying aquatic insects. From there it's up to the Pacific Northwest to see how volunteers use camera traps to keep tabs on elusive animals.