Streamstop

As a modern society, we stand in awe as we gaze upon the colossal monuments and mysterious cultures of ancient times. These civilizations were vastly different from our own; so different, in fact, that our perspectives on the world as it exists today often place a barrier to our comprehension of ancient beliefs and customs. This documentary titled Symbols of an Alien Sky seeks to rectify this. With vivid insight and enlightening exploration, the film allows us to fully grasp and appreciate the customs of our ancient ancestors through their observations and interpretations of celestial events. Celestial activities and planetary movements are the subjects of exhaustive research today, and can generally be predicted with great degrees of accuracy. But ancient civilizations approached the canvas of our skies with great fear and reverence, often imbuing its activities with profound mythological connotations. For them, the chaotic events of their times were written and reflected in the skies. The movements of planets were once thought by our earliest astronomers to represent the presence of omniscient gods. These gods were the subject of much worship and trembling wonder as evidenced by the ceremonies, monuments and artifacts of the time. In fact, reverence for the gods overwhelmingly defined every aspect of these ancient cultures. While most modern scientists generally regard these beliefs as symptomatic of a naive civilization, Symbols of an Ancient Sky poses several intriguing theories which challenge this assumption. For example, the prominence of various beliefs, symbols and archetypes are strikingly common across every ancient culture. This commonality is apparent in centuries-old recounts of the dragon, an unexplained mythological phenomenon whose existence was insisted upon by every culture of ancient times. Could this creature, in addition to the other widely accepted archetypes of the day, have really existed in some form? Symbols of an Ancient Sky opens our minds to the infinite possibilities of our ancient world. This noble journey is unlike any other, and could forever alter our perceptions of the planet we once inhabited and the one in which we exist today. Like & Suscribe! Thanks for watching!

Arctic Manhunt is a dramatic forensic documentary that attempts to identify the mystery man at the center of one of the biggest manhunts in Canadian history. Equal parts criminological exam footage and creative re-enactments, this episode of Pure History Specials offers a stylized, moody investigation into one of Canada's greatest unsolved mysteries. On Christmas Day, 1931, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, with the assistance of aboriginal trackers, approached a rural cabin near the Arctic Circle. They were there to question an unknown trapper about vandalized trap lines but were met with open fire instead of answers. Over the next 49 days one of the largest criminal searches in Canadian history ensued, taking the RCMP above the Arctic Circle where they had to endure harsh weather conditions on top of firefights with the mysterious fugitive they were pursuing. Ending with the trapper's suicide, police found $2,400 in cash on his body but nothing to identify him or indicate why he was on the run. Some speculate he was a Chicago gangster connected to Al Capone while others suspect he may have been a murderer responsible for a string of unsolved homicides across the Great White North. Others have posited that he was just a down-on-his-luck farmer from North Dakota. Despite photographs and fingerprints, police agencies across North America failed to identify the mystery man time and again. Almost 80 years later, forensic experts dig up the remains of the fugitive to try and determine his identity once and for all. Through skeletal remains and facial reconstruction technology, forensic scientists piece together a narrative of the RCMP's pursuit of the mystery man through the Canadian wilds, but their only hope of finding a positive identification rests in obtaining a reliable sample of DNA from the fugitive's remains. Criminal profilers offer additional insight in an effort to fill in the details of who this fugitive was, and what he was running from. Arctic Manhunt weaves through time, taking viewers to the past where they imagine the events of the manhunt, and into the forensic labs of today where scientists work to close the book on this decades-old cold case. Like & comment!, Subscribe Thanks for watching!

A fascinating document of an architectural, historical and cultural wonder, The Living Stones of Sacsayhuaman takes viewers on a journey to the outskirts of Peru where a team of Russian researchers work to uncover the mysteries of the stone walls built by the Incas. This marvel of construction seems impossible even by today's standards. Lacking any form of scripted communication, the Incas left behind no written indications of their customs. This has long complicated the quest to retrace and fully comprehend their astounding architectural achievements. Their structures can be found in a variety of sites from Ecuador to Chile, including Machu Picchu and Ollantaytambo. The walls of Sacsayhuaman, however, are perhaps the most awe-inspiring and perplexing of all Incan structures. Massive in scale and sophisticated in its geometric precision, the sheer complexity of Sacsayhuaman left many questioning whether it was the work of gods or demons. Thought to have been constructed in the middle of the 15th century, Sacsayhuaman features long stretching rows of stones, each weighing as much as three hundred tons. How were these blocks transported, and forced to fit together with such accuracy? That is but one mystery confronted by a team of Russian geophysicists as they travel to the site during the summer of 2012. The film follows these researchers, and benefits from the wealth of finely detailed footage they captured on their expedition. They collect samples of the soil surrounding the structure, as well as several of the stone formations, all of which will undergo further in-depth study at a research laboratory in their homeland. These studies will hopefully indicate the types of stones that comprise the mammoth walls, the means by which they were joined, and the materials used to aid in the process of their construction. Illuminating and transporting, The Living Stones of Sacsayhuaman reminds us of the awesome wisdom of ancient civilizations, and how they managed to transcend their minimal resources with maximum ingenuity and skill. In spite of the countless advances brought forth by our modern world, many of their most spectacular accomplishments may forever remain out of our reach of understanding. Like & Superscribe! Thanks for watching!

Where does genius come from? Is it the byproduct of tireless work, developmental happenstance or divine inspiration? The documentary Superhuman: Genius explores this phenomenon by portraying the lives and accomplishments of five individuals for whom cerebral superiority is second nature. The film opens with Akiane Kramarik, a 13-year old girl from Idaho who has painted with the detail and sophistication of a grand master since the age of four. She interprets her passion for painting as a literal calling from God, in spite of a complete lack of religious upbringing in her household. In nine short years, she's amassed an astonishingly accomplished collection of over 100 original paintings, and has published her works in numerous volumes. Her artistic intuition is guided by a force she herself does not fully understand. Ben Pridmore is first shown browsing through the grocery store aisles for product serial numbers, and later reciting them with perfect recall to the check-out clerk. His memorization of long and complex numbered sequences is an amazement to spectators, and has earned him the top prize at three World Memory Championships. Yet his achievements have not translated into monetary success, and he remains an unemployed accountant. The 1988 film Rain Man is perhaps the most popular of pop culture references to the enigmatic nature of genius. Superhuman: Genius traveled to Utah to meet Kim Peek (now deceased), the real-life inspiration for that Oscar-winning film. Diagnosed with savant syndrome at an early age, and told he would never be able to walk, communicate or learn as a result of his disorder, Kim has since gained notoriety for possessing the sharpest memory in recorded history, absorbing nearly 98% of everything he read. The film also spotlights Ariel Lanyi, a 10-year old pianist and composer from Israel who was fed classical music from the moment of his birth, and Ainan Cawley, a wunderkind in the world of science who passed O Level Chemistry at the age of seven. Each of their stories certainly inspire awe, but they also bring forth a series of perplexing questions about the human condition. Is the capacity for genius merely an untapped potential in all of us?

For many of us, there are moments in our lives that we'd rather forget. But that isn't an option for Aurelien, a 20-year old student who resides in Durham, England. Possessed with the power of near-perfect recall, he can recite specific events from random dates in his past with almost superhuman accuracy. The Boy Who Can't Forget profiles Aurelien and others throughout the world who share his unique gift, and plumbs the mysterious depths of memory in the process. The filmmakers approach their subjects from both a human and scientific perspective. Those who possess this ability don't subscribe to complex memory retention techniques, nor are they hiding any tricks up their sleeve. For them, remembering which day of the week fell on a particular date twenty years ago, and all the personal activities and world events that correspond to that date, is as easy and natural as breathing. It's a talent that baffles and astounds members of the scientific community. The film introduces us to one such figure, a professor at the University of California who has spent a great number of years studying the phenomenon, yet continues to struggle in finding a reasonable explanation for it. Another professor from New York University offers his own tantalizing hypothesis by chalking it up to a form of obsessive compulsive disorder, a charge that is vehemently rejected by others in the film. The film also gives us a sense of what it's like to live with unlimited memories, and how it can serve as more of a curse than a blessing for some. Nature usually offers the comfort of distance from the undesirable moments in our lives, and grants us the ability to cope by allowing those memories to fade in reflection. The film's remarkable subjects are not afforded this luxury, and they live with the oftentimes overwhelming implications of this reality on a daily basis. How are memories formed and retained? Do we all carry in us the potential for total recall, or is it only bestowed upon a chosen few? By addressing these questions and many more, The Boy Who Can't Forget embarks on a fascinating exploration into the unknown corridors of the human mind. Directed by: Barnaby Peel

In these chaotic modern times, it's easy to view the world as a dark and foreboding place. The 24-hour news cycle is awash in tales of terrorism, political corruption, and global strife. Is this truly the reality of the world in which we live? The powerful documentary The Reality of Truth defends an alternative realm of consciousness where we can all achieve a renewed sense of meaning and purpose. Religion provides the platform from which many seek enlightenment. That's where it all started for Mike "Zappy" Zapolin, a successful entrepreneur whose personal journey serves as the basis for the film. Blessed with great personal wealth and a happy family, Zapolin seemed to have it all. But something was missing. He happened upon passages in the Bible which described Manna from Heaven - a small, round edible substance with spiritual powers. He then noticed the appearance of mushrooms in ancient religious iconography. Could this provide the key to the fulfillment he seeks? Thus begins the revealing journey of self-discovery which is documented in the film. Zapolin receives counsel from Deepak Chopra, Joel Osteen and other popular spiritual teachers. He collaborates with a team of his closest confidants who have undergone their own personal expeditions of consciousness, including actors Michelle Rodriguez and Peter Coyote. He even travels to the windswept mountaintops of Peru where a shaman supervises his first foray into the world of mind-altering plant consumption. The established medical community may not yet fully embrace the healing powers of psychedelic plant remedies, but research has long testified to its effectiveness in treating depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other common ailments. Equally potent avenues of treatment can be found in the act of transcendental meditation and even something as simple as tightly controlled breathing exercises. The Reality of Truth explores each of these potential solutions thoroughly. In each instance, the practitioner appears to achieve a deeper sense of self, and an elevated relationship to the world around them. If these practices were adopted on a mass scale, might unity and love replace chaos and destruction? For some, this notion wouldn't seem so far-fetched after viewing the film. Directed by: Laurent Levy, Mike Zapolin

The real identity of Jack the Ripper is arguably the most famous unsolved case of all time. He was an unidentified English serial killer that preyed on poor, destitute women who worked as prostitutes around the slums of London's East End, specifically in the Whitechapel district. And while he was only active for ten short weeks, with only five official victims attributed to him, Jack's crimes - and Jack himself - would have a significant impact on the 20th century and beyond. He gave the world a glimpse of humanity's very dark and horrible side, capable of inflicting pain and death by the most gruesome methods. In the late 19th century, East London and specifically the Whitechapel district, was an impoverished section of the city, riddled with disease, crime, murder and death. Many women were forced into prostitution to survive and often left unprotected from beatings and murder. However, in 1888, a string of gruesome killings shocked London and, eventually, the rest of the world. From August 31 to November 10, five women, Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly - also known as the "Canonical Five" victims - were found murdered - and mutilated. They were prostitutes and had their throats stabbed, abdomens cut open and reproductive organs either stabbed or sections of the bladder, vagina and uterus removed and taken, potentially as souvenirs. The mutilations got worse with every murder that his last victim, Mary Jane Kelly, was almost unrecognizable due to the extreme stabbing and evisceration he inflicted. The public was understandably in a state of panic. The police were left clueless because there didn't seem to be any motive for the killings. However, they were sure that one man committed the crime due to the similarities of the killings. An extensive manhunt followed, but he was never caught. Almost everyone was a suspect, the butcher, the baker and candlestick maker - and even the grandson of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert Victor. But none of them was ever proven guilty. So who was Jack the Ripper? And why did the murders suddenly stop, with the Ripper disappearing seemingly into thin air? There were so many unanswered questions about this case back in 1888, and today, 134 years later, there are still no answers. His mystery endures because the unknown truth of his identity tantalizes and draws us in. Not knowing who he is leaves everyone open to speculation. Jack the Ripper was a real – and frightening human being. At the same time, he will remain anonymous, forever an elusive shadow just beyond our reach. Directed by: David Wångstedt

The Baltic Sea is the final resting place for many wondrous artifacts from sunken battleships to sealed champagne bottles dating back over a hundred years. In June of 2011, a Swedish expedition company detected the outline of an object which one could literally characterize as "out of this world". If proven true, the uncovering of an unidentified flying object in Earth's waters will certainly constitute the most meaningful archeological find in human history. The thrilling documentary The Mystery Beneath traces this unprecedented underwater excavation project, and chronicles the challenges, media fervor, and anonymous threats that plagued explorers along the way. An expedition of this magnitude requires vast resources and generous funding. With this in mind, the team decided to go public with their initial findings. The scientific community understood the implications of such a discovery and was justifiably intrigued. Mass media was quick to sensationalize the discovery, and stoked the inflamed rhetoric of conspiracy theorists and fear mongerers. Could this enigmatic structure - which bore a striking resemblance to the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars in early sonar images - actually be a doomsday device in waiting? The need for answers was great, and the expedition team were soon given the tools they needed to find them. In their attempts to relocate and ultimately identify the object, the explorers must contend with the possibility of surveillance from surrounding countries, malfunctioning equipment, and a series of perilous environmental factors and safety concerns. Viewers will gain a deep respect for these treasure hunters, particularly the divers who risk death in the depths of a black sea for the chance to make history. Finding and documenting the object is only the beginning. Once the divers collect samples and visual documentation of the mystery structure, the team must work feverishly to decode even more clues, salvage their reputations amidst growing public skepticism, and defend against an increasingly antagonistic press and harrowing personal threats. The journey produces bouts of giddy wonder and deflated morale in equal measure. The Mystery Beneath is a pulse pounding adventure into the unknown, but it's also an inspiring portrait of human curiosity and resolve. Directed by: Magnus Egler

The field of neuroscience has advanced our understanding of the human brain by leaps and bounds in recent decades. We now know the regions of the right and left hemispheres that are responsible for speech, movement, emotional response and other essential functions. Still, much of the brain's complexity remains illusive and indefinable. At the center of this uncertainty is one of the most fundamental existential questions in the history of our species: what is the source of our consciousness? "The Ultimate Truth" examines the scientific clues that could enable us to isolate the core of our identity. The phenomenon of consciousness is not something we can locate on a CAT scan. Instead, it is thought to be the product of evolution, our collective experiences, and constant interactions between the billions of neurons that electrify our brains. In a process known as neuroplasticity, our consciousness continues to evolve as we learn and develop throughout our lifetime. Conversely, we can elect to stifle this growth as well. Some may turn away from a task they find too challenging, disengage from certain activities due to social stigmas, or suppress attempts at independent thought. Cultural shifts also condition our brains to function on a different level than previous generations. The film sheds light on these influences, including the move from enlightenment to individualism, the spread of social media, the vanity of the selfie, the role of religious dogma in shaping our view of the world, and the apathy that results from a society that values self-gratification above all else. The filmmakers present the lessons of the past from which we have not yet fully learned. As the narrative shifts from tales of genocide, war, and segregation, it continuously circles back to how these elements inform or constrict our cerebral development. It's an intricate weaving of influences, stimuli and experiences, much like the film's own viewpoints on the evolution of consciousness. The film features insightful narration rich in scientific detail, innovative animations, and ongoing text displays that highlight the key points of its dense material. "The Ultimate Truth" dissects the notion of the self with surgical precision. Directed by: Athene

An entertaining combination of sound scientific observation and doomsday speculation, World War A: When Aliens Attack attempts to construct the likeliest scenario that would result from an alien visitation to our planet. Does such an event have its foundations in scientific fact? The film presents a compelling case based on insights from astrophysicists, researchers, historians, military defense experts and others. The search for intelligent life has remained a constant throughout our modern history, and several key discoveries have been made in recent years. Scientists are certain that Mars harbors the elements needed to sustain microbial life - a solid surface and evidence of water - and they've uncovered the existence of exoplanets in the farthest reaches of our galaxy. On the most basic level, they believe it would be foolish to assume that we are the only intelligent species in an infinite universe. The film surmises that if we were visited by an intelligent alien species, they would surely possess more advanced technological capabilities than us. For this reason, they would likely be regarded as a menace, and we could reasonably assume that they had the potential to annihilate our planet. How could we begin to prepare ourselves for such a threat? Where would we find shelter, food, supplies, and the caliber of weaponry that could ensure our survival? Other figures profiled in the film aren't as convinced that visiting aliens would have a hostile nature. Regardless of their intentions, many experts agree that intelligent alien life forms could be in search of our planet just as we are watching out for them, and they could have a significant head start. The documentary features a weaving of on-camera interviews, informative animations of our cosmos, and cinematic dramatizations complimented by impressive visual effects. World War A: When Aliens Attack works best when it focuses on the efforts that are currently underway to discover planets like our own. The Earth is blessed with a series of characteristics that make life possible, and astrophysicists are tasked with finding other planets that enjoy similarly hospitable conditions. Some viewers may be surprised to learn that they have singled out several possible prospects. Directed by: Anne Siegele

The Great Pyramid of Giza is a marvel of engineering. The precision of craftsmanship that went into mounting this colossal monument continues to amaze and mystify archeologists around the world. How did the ancient Egyptians manage to haul six million tons of stone without the benefit of modern technology? Produced by the award-winning documentary series NOVA, Decoding the Great Pyramid calls upon recently unearthed documents and other research materials to outline the monumental efforts behind the construction of this wondrous structure. Constructed 4,500 years ago, the pyramid was constructed to serve as a sacred tomb to a fallen pharaoh. Massively scaled and perfectly proportioned, the structure is the oldest of the existing Seven Wonders of the World. Remarkably, the pyramid remains largely intact after all those thousands of years. Much folklore has grown over the existence of the pyramid. The challenge to modern archeologists is to decipher fact from fiction. Recent discoveries have led them closer to the truth than ever before. For example, contrary to long-held opinion, the laborers were not slaves. Researchers now believe most of the labor force consisted of farmers, and they all shared a sense of national pride in their efforts. The existence of thousands of bread molds indicates that this team was well nourished during their decades of hard labor. The film features insights from several highly skilled archeologists and Egyptologists. Collectively, they summarize various aspects of the pyramid's scarily accurate construction. Ordered and organized by the pharaoh Khufu, the structure might have appeared typical from the outside, but its audacious design was anything but. We hear how the pyramid's flawless design begins with its perfectly leveled foundation. We learn how the space designed to house the tomb was shielded from potential disrepair, and which tools were likely employed to shape and move each hefty limestone. The uncovering of the world's oldest papyrus texts further illustrates the inner workings of this complex undertaking. Featuring enlightening narration and stunningly realized reenactments, Decoding the Great Pyramid provides logical and well-informed answers to many of the most puzzling questions surrounding the construction and purpose of the pyramid.

At the opening of the 21st century, a series of exceedingly valuable gold snake-like spiral bracelets made appearances at museums and auction houses across the globe. So rare were these artifacts that many archeologists were unaware of their existence. The Hunt for the Transylvanian Gold chases the clues in an attempt to uncover their origins and the sinister subplots that surround their sudden emergence on the international stage. Some believe these bracelets are the remnants of the vast treasures hidden by a Dacian king nearly 2,000 years ago. Still others believe they are elaborately produced fakes. But even if they authentic, how were they uncovered and by whom? Romanian prosecutor Augustin Lazar operates under the belief that they were illegally procured by members of a fierce mob who specialize in the looting of archeological sites. German antiquities expert Barbara Deppert was presented with two of the bracelets by a young man who claimed he found them in the mountains of Transylvania. Eventually, met with Lazar to contemplate their possible source of origin and authenticity. During the course of their investigations, they discovered that the bracelets also made appearances in New York and London in recent years. The plot thickens with the introduction of Calin Ciota, a car dealer, dog enthusiast and ex-convict who was sold one of the mystery bracelets by a man desperate for a loan. When he attempted to resell the piece, he inadvertently became part of an undercover sting. The film offers the testimonies of all three figures as it weaves a complicated international web of intrigue. Along the way, we are presented with elements of organized crime, scandal, and a high stakes game of cat-and-mouse. The end result could prove to be one of the biggest forgeries in the history of archeology or lead to a complete rethinking of ancient Romanian history. The film also features a touch of the mystical as the interview subjects question whether the artifacts are imbued by an ancient religious curse. The Hunt for the Transylvanian Gold is by no means a bland slice of obscure archeological history. It's paced like a heart-pumping globe-trotting thriller. Directed by: Andrei-Nicolae Teodorescu

The limitless expanse of the cosmos challenges our perceptions of the universe and our role in it. What was once looked upon a big machine seems to be revealing itself as a living organism that continues to evolve and self-generate. This is the theory behind The Living Universe: Cosmos as Organism, a contemplative documentary that beautifully intersects the scientific with the philosophical. The film isn't so much as interested in the latest findings of cosmologists as it is in the effect that such findings might ultimately harbor on the human species. As our understanding of the universe continues to sharpen and expand, will this bring about a similar expansion of our own consciousness? Does the human race even matter in the broad scheme of things? To illustrate these points, the filmmaker travels back in time. During the Scientific Revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries, the leading thinkers like Sir Isaac Newton first set forth this "universe as machine" metaphor. The foundations for this belief were firmly stationed in the Christian faith; they believed that God Himself had set this machine in motion. But this track of thinking was complicated a century later when Charles Darwin first announced his galvanizing theory of evolution. Human consciousness has always developed in concert with the most influential scientific breakthroughs. These discoveries have forced us to question the nature of our reality. Our notion of self has teetered from merely functioning as a cog in the wheel of the natural order to existing as the master of our domain at nature's expense. The film explores a third possibility. The universe is not a shell where things happen from within; it is itself a living process that evolves through the interactions of all that surrounds it. To what extent does the power of our minds play a role in the basic functioning of the universe? The film's animation-heavy visual presentation is acceptable enough. The ideas are what really take hold. The organistic paradigm is not a new theory, but it's given life and clarity through the enthusiastic and probing narration that blankets the film. Directed by: Adrian David Nelson

The Nazca lines are one of the most intriguing mysteries of the ancient world. Located in the south Peruvian plateau, it is a group of giant geoglyphs etched into the ground. Geoglyphs are works of art built using rocks, stone fragments, gravel and even trees. What makes the Nazca lines interesting is that hundreds of them span a wide area, and no one knows who built them and why. They date from around 500BC - though archaeologists are still unsure about this estimate. There are around 300 of them depicting different animals, human figures and plants like the Spider, Condor, Tree, Monkey, Parrot and Flower, amongst many others. Many of the geoglyphs can't be seen at ground level despite measuring roughly 1km across. They were also only discovered in the 1920s when airplanes came to be, and pilots flying over the area noticed the images. However, in the 1990s, tourists discovered a different set of drawings between Palpa and the Nasca Plateau. Instead of the usual depictions of nature, this group was given the name "estrellas" - or "stars" in Spanish due to their geometrically correct and highly complex designs. The estrellas include circles, squares, points and line designs that measure over 130 meters. They are also nearly impossible to see from the surface, only coming out clearly in high-resolution photos, drone images, or viewing on an angle due to the terrain. When they were first discovered, no one took the estrellas seriously. Many considered them a hoax or a tourist trap. Until a second group was found with a similar design, though this depicted a more intricate geometric shape dubbed "The Mandala." There are 18 estrellas, each designed with increasing degrees of complexity, connected by one line that runs through them all. Each estrella's geometric formation is frighteningly precise, making us all ask how they did it and why. Many historians believe that these geoglyphs, which are younger than the Nazca lines, were created by the Huari civilization, which came after the Nazcan people. The Huari is credited for creating the "tocapu", a popular geometric design consisting of complex circles and squares found in Peruvian art, fashion and more. The tocapu is highly similar to the creation of the estrellas. The Huari most likely continued the Nazcan tradition of creating geoglyphs but incorporated tocapu inspired designs, as opposed to animals, thereby making the estrellas. There have been numerous theories as to why the estrellas were constructed at all. They might have been offerings to the gods and deities they worshipped. Each Estrella could also have been a way to mark solstices and the changing of the seasons. We may never really know their true purpose, but archaeologists should continue to study them. The estrellas provides insights into just how "modern" the ancient civilizations were in terms of designing long-lasting structures using some form of physics, science, geometry, engineering and math. Hopefully, one day, both the Nazca lines and the estrellas will give up their secrets. Directed by: Igor Aleksejev

For centuries, man has looked beyond the stars to find other signs of life. This came to a fever pitch in the mid 20th century, when the age of space exploration formally began. At the same time, pop culture exploded with space and alien inspired toys, tv shows, movies, comic books and more. And, of course, many began to report sightings of UFOs worldwide. Since the 1950s, there have been numerous reports of pilots witnessing unidentified objects flying beside/near/around them. They either believed they were seeing enemy or Soviet spy technology or a big joke or scam. However, in 2017, the US military released authenticated footage showing an "unidentified aerial phenomenon" (UAP). The US Government then followed and admitted that they have been investigating the existence of aliens and stated, "We confirm that there are unidentified objects and that we don't know who, what, or where they come from." This caused an uproar in the scientific community because previously, the government would permanently deny or downplay sightings. However, it has become harder to hide them and find feasible explanations for the truly unexplainable phenomenon, especially in today's social media age. More credible scientists worldwide are interested in these unexplained sightings, and those trained to observe and shut down these anomalies have noticed things that even they can't explain. For example, the consensus is that these objects are not Russian or Chinese technology. With the number of spies, news of a new weapon would have leaked. There have been no leaks at all. So the US Government and similar agencies in other countries, specifically France, continue to investigate all the footage that captured these UAPs in action. Scientists noticed two sighting patterns. First is that a significant amount of ufo sightings have taken place around old/current nuclear testing sights or areas with A LOT of atomic energy and radiation. The current working theory/hypothesis is that if we on Earth can detect supernovas exploding billions of light-years away, other life forms might have detected the nuclear test bombs detonated in the 1950s and 60s. The second is that the sightings come in clusters of spaced repetition following multiple numbers of years. If this theory is correct, then the next batch of sightings should be on October 2035. Does all of this prove that UFO/UAPs exist? Not expressly, but it does point to a future where scientists and government are now more open. They are willing to consider the possibility that we are not alone and are eager to invest time and tech to prove it. And if we are not, we'll be poised to understand - and benefit - from these new life forms. Directed by: Dominique Filhol

UFOs, or unidentified flying objects, have long been a popular subject of numerous books, TV shows, and movies. For most people, it firmly belonged to fantasy and science fiction. Talk of UFOs would almost always be met with a healthy dose of ridicule and especially skepticism towards those who claim to have seen one - or worse, abducted by aliens. However, Fox Mulder and his friends who believe in flying saucers might have the last laugh. More than ever, UFOs are a hot topic in Washington and other relevant parts of the world, especially since the recent admissions from high-ranking US military and government officials that UAPs - or unexplained aerial phenomena - are real. In 2019, a series of leaked tapes from the US Department of Defense showed infrared images taken from some of America's most sophisticated and cutting edge fighter jets and navy ships of unexplained aerial phenomena. These UAPs were highly anomalous and had technology beyond anything encountered by humans. They directly engaged with US jets and pilots, hovering over the water, rapidly accelerating without accompanying sonic booms in seconds. And though these reports sound like the standard script from "nutty" UFO believers, it is now what senior-level officials are also saying. Admitting that UAPs exist and that we have had active encounters with them is a shocking 180-degree turn in the US Air Force, FBI and CIA narrative. It was a constant push to debunk the subject and suspected coverups in the past. But now, this culture of denial has all but disappeared. Popular Australian show 7 NEWS Spotlight's report "The UFO Phenomenon" takes a deep dive into these recent developments because it is not only the USA affected, but potentially also the Australian Government. Australians in the thousands have been reporting UFO sightings dating back decades, with some notable notorious instances in Western Australia, Victoria and Queensland. For example, Exmouth, Western Australia, was the site of a famous 1991 sighting. A woman named Annie and two Australian Federal Police officers saw a diamond-shaped aircraft that hovered over their vehicle and moved faster than anything they had ever seen. Further back, in 1966, half the school population of Westall High School in southwest Melbourne ran out into their football field to see a group of what they perceived were flying saucers. Teacher Terry Greenwood was visited by Australian military personnel and threatened not to talk about it. At school, administrators also instructed staff and students not to talk about the incident, and the authorities have never given an official explanation of what happened. Today, 55 years later, Westall witnesses reunite to talk about what they experienced with the same clarity and certainty they did as children. Even though more data is required to prove that UFOs exist ultimately, these new developments, at the very least, give us a tantalizing glimpse of the possibility that they do.

In 1911, while on an expedition in Peru, explorer Hiram Bingham famously stumbled into Machu Picchu, rediscovering the ancient city after being forgotten for 500 years. In the mid-1920s, military and commercial pilots flying over the southern part of the country were the first modern men to see the majestic Nazca Lines, thanks to the dawn of flight. These two are top of mind the world over for Peruvian archaeological sites. Thanks to their awe-inspiring and iconic scale and grandeur, they have even been declared UNESCO world heritage sites. However, Peru has many more fascinating historical sites, though less popular with tourists. These include the Kasma lines, the temple fortress of Chanquillo, the geoglyphs of Lima, and Piquillacta, one of the most significant archaeological complexes worldwide. Despite not being as popular with tourists, these other archaeological sites are just as mysterious, awe-inspiring and built at a vast scale that modern architects and engineers are intrigued at how ancient Peruvians made it happen. Though not as impressive as the Nazca lines, the discovery of the Kasma lines hints that at one point in time, this area was a central social and administrative hub, with Sechin Alto, a massive architectural complex built over 1,000 years before the pyramids in Egypt as its centerpiece. While its exact purpose is unclear, there are hints that Sechin Alto might have been a medical or surgical center due to the numerous stone engravings depicting body organs. Chanquillo, on the other hand, is another monumental edifice located in Peru's coastal desert. It consists of a fort and what is believed to be an observatory, identified by the Thirteen Towers. This is a series of granite towers ranging from two to seven meters high, spaced exactly five meters apart, dating from about the 4th century BC. On the eastern outskirts of the bustling capital city of Lima, the Canto Grande geoglyphs were discovered by chance by an airplane. Sadly, rapid urban construction and industrialization have destroyed most of these geoglyphs, and those that remain are located on higher ground. They consist of a trapezoidal-shaped drawing, a solid 135-meter rectangular strip with scattered groupings of single or large stones. And despite using the same construction methods as the Nazca lines, these geoglyphs were created 2000 years before Nazca. Despite the massive effort to build these structures, their primary purpose still needs to be clarified. Finally, no trip to Peru should miss Piquillacta, near Cusco. It was built around 800 AD by the mysterious Wari people and can only be truly appreciated when seen from a great height. Built over an area with extreme differences in elevation, its builders still constructed it perfectly. It contains over 700 rooms, precisely built into each other, using granite and additional labor and materials that match the building of the Great Pyramids. Peru truly holds a wealth of ancient sites beyond Machu Picchu. Hopefully, there will be continuous archaeological efforts to study and unravel their mysteries. Directed by: Igor Aleksejev

Let’s go back to the Neolithic period, which spanned from around 10,000 BCE to 3,000 BCE, and was a time of significant change and innovation in human history. It was when early people transitioned from a nomadic lifestyle to a more sedentary way of life. From frequently moving in search of food and resources people began to settle down in one place and developed agricultural and trade systems. "Jamila" or "The Beautiful One" is the name archaeologists gave the remains of a nine-year-old girl who lived thousands of years ago. Her grave was discovered in 2018, buried in the Neolithic village of Ba'ja, an ancient settlement in modern-day Jordan. Built around 5500 BCE, Ba'ja is considered one of the oldest ancient villages in the world. Located in a remote corner of the Black Desert, a region in the eastern Jordan Valley, Ba'ja is known for its well-preserved mudbrick architecture and ancient artifacts such as graves, ancient pots, and tools. These archaeological discoveries help shed light on the daily life and culture of the people who lived there. Ba'ja was likely inhabited by a semi-nomadic group who relied on agriculture and animal husbandry for their livelihood. It is not clear exactly why its people made the transition from a nomadic to a sedentary lifestyle. One possible factor that contributed to the shift to a sedentary lifestyle may have been the availability of fertile soil, water, and other resources. There was also the development of new technologies, such as irrigation systems and tools for agriculture, and changes in social and cultural practices, such as the emergence of more complex methods of trade and exchange. What makes Jamila's grave special is that she was buried lovingly and with care. Around her neck, archaeologists also found a stunning 2,500-bead necklace, now considered one of the most significant finds from the Neolithic period. And the discovery of this non-descript grave has now changed - and challenged - many preconceptions of how Neolithic people lived. For example, finding beads in a remote area already speaks volumes about how things were changing. The beads came from far-flung regions, pointing to trade, and the level of craftsmanship that created the necklace proves that Ba'ja had skilled artisans in the community. Ba'ja residents must have had a steady and secure food supply because they had the time to build permanent structures, develop societal traditions such as burials and create exquisite jewelry and other furnishings. The necklace has been painstakingly reconstructed in Germany. After a two-year delay due to the global pandemic, it is back in Jordan, on display at the newly opened Petra Museum. The archaeological work at Ba'ja also continues, where another grave - and necklace - has been found. It will undoubtedly continue to provide crucial insights into the beliefs and customs of people who lived during the Neolithic period. Directed by: Barbara Puskas

For almost 100 years, Disney has been synonymous with fun entertainment for the family. It is a major force in the media and entertainment industry today, running theme parks, marketing consumer products and producing films and television shows. The Disney Channel, in particular, was launched in 1983 and has consistently produced high-quality, family-friendly programming that has resonated with audiences worldwide. Over the last 20 years, the network has produced a wide variety of original series, movies, and specials that have become popular with viewers and have often spawned successful franchises and spin-offs, including "Lizzie McGuire," "Hannah Montana," and "High School Musical," among others. These have helped establish the Disney Channel as a destination for original programming and have contributed to the network's enduring popularity. The network has also been at the forefront of efforts to promote its shows and movies through cross-platform marketing campaigns, including the creative use of interstitials or the short segments of programming shown between television shows, often during commercial breaks. These segments can take many forms, including upcoming show promos, behind-the-scenes footage, interviews with cast and crew and, of course, the station ID. In 2002, the Disney Channel introduced their iconic "Wand ID", where their stars waved a magic wand to create an animated version of Mickey's ears. The ID was accompanied by a simple, four-note theme song now seared into the minds of every child that has watched. The Disney Channel theme is now one of the most recognizable in broadcast history, and the subject of this video essay is the search for who composed it. While one would think a quick Google search would be able to answer this question, the filmmakers soon find out it's a bit more complicated than that. Incidental music, including station identifier themes, often goes uncredited. While the network may have had a revolving set of musicians, arrangers and composers, pinpointing which one wrote the theme music was challenging. The audience is taken on a fascinating ride into leads and corresponding rabbit holes along the quest for the elusive composer. These include the history of TV bumpers, intros and outros and how developing the right network personality can help connect with the audience. After a lot of research, near hits and lots of misses, he finally discovers who the unsung composer is, and it is a moving yet bittersweet moment. What a tribute to the composer whose simple four-note mnemonic station theme continues to unlock many happy childhood memories. Directed by: Kevin Perjurer

The Church of Scientology has endured decades of scandal based on allegations of abuse, mind control and other cult-like tactics. Perhaps no controversy has stoked more suspicions than the sudden disappearance of the church leader's wife. In Where is Shelly?, 60 Minutes Australia travels to the United States to track down Shelly Miscavige and uncover the possible motives behind her 13-year absence from public or private view. The church is notoriously aggressive in their response to critics or the prying eyes of the press. This wall of secrecy has crumbled significantly in recent years due to the efforts of actress Leah Remini and other high-profile ex-Scientologists and whistle-blowers. Remini and others provide valuable context in the film, and help to further the investigation into Miscavige's whereabouts. At the center of the mystery lies the church's enigmatic leader David Miscavige. Prophet to some, ruthless and bloodthirsty dictator to others, Miscavige assumed leadership in the church during the early 1980s. During his tenure, he has successfully courted megastar celebrities to the church, raised its profile in the public consciousness, and opened it up for unprecedented scrutiny among the press and law enforcement. Throughout the course of the film's investigation, we hear harrowing accounts from ex-members of the church. They testify to rampant beatings, and the banishment of members who unwisely disobey or question the leader's strict edicts. Is this the level of punishment that befell the leader's own wife? Is it something far more sinister? Or did Shelly fall off the social map by choice? "It could be the greatest con that's ever been practiced on the public," confesses an emotional Ron Miscavige, the estranged father and vocal critic of David. The documentary crew journeys from Los Angeles to Clearwater, Florida looking for new clues and an ultimate resolution to the perverse mystery. Along the way, they explore the monetary value of Scientology's operations, including the benefits they glean from their tax-free status and the structure they've built to ensure continued financial vitality. In pulse-pounding fashion, Where is Shelly? follows the turns of a real-life mystery that is equal parts surreal, cryptic and depraved. Like & Suscribe,comment!

The Great Pyramid of Giza is a marvel of engineering. The precision of craftsmanship that went into mounting this colossal monument continues to amaze and mystify archeologists around the world. How did the ancient Egyptians manage to haul six million tons of stone without the benefit of modern technology? Produced by the award-winning documentary series NOVA, Decoding the Great Pyramid calls upon recently unearthed documents and other research materials to outline the monumental efforts behind the construction of this wondrous structure. Constructed 4,500 years ago, the pyramid was constructed to serve as a sacred tomb to a fallen pharaoh. Massively scaled and perfectly proportioned, the structure is the oldest of the existing Seven Wonders of the World. Remarkably, the pyramid remains largely intact after all those thousands of years. Much folklore has grown over the existence of the pyramid. The challenge to modern archeologists is to decipher fact from fiction. Recent discoveries have led them closer to the truth than ever before. For example, contrary to long-held opinion, the laborers were not slaves. Researchers now believe most of the labor force consisted of farmers, and they all shared a sense of national pride in their efforts. The existence of thousands of bread molds indicates that this team was well nourished during their decades of hard labor. The film features insights from several highly skilled archeologists and Egyptologists. Collectively, they summarize various aspects of the pyramid's scarily accurate construction. Ordered and organized by the pharaoh Khufu, the structure might have appeared typical from the outside, but its audacious design was anything but. We hear how the pyramid's flawless design begins with its perfectly leveled foundation. We learn how the space designed to house the tomb was shielded from potential disrepair, and which tools were likely employed to shape and move each hefty limestone. The uncovering of the world's oldest papyrus texts further illustrates the inner workings of this complex undertaking. Featuring enlightening narration and stunningly realized reenactments, Decoding the Great Pyramid provides logical and well-informed answers to many of the most puzzling questions surrounding the construction and purpose of the pyramid. Like & Suscribe,comment!

A growing number of fishing boats have been washing up on Japanese shores. Sometimes, these vessels house rotting corpses. They are known in Japan as "ghost ships". Where have these ships travelled, and what factors led to their demise? The documentary Ghost Ships sets out to uncover the answers behind this ghoulish mystery. In one recent year, Japan was host to over 80 shipwrecks of North Korean vessels. These fishing boats are marked by primitive markings in the Korean language, and they often contain the lifeless bodies of crew members. The removal of these damaged boats and dead seamen represent a significant financial burden, and tremendous trepidation and fear among Japanese residents. The lack of diplomatic relations between North Korea and Japan makes the identification of each victim difficult, and further clouds the mystery surrounding their demise. Some of the boats arrive in a condition one would expect from a shipwreck; they are badly deteriorated by the ravages of the sea and wash ashore in tatters. Investigators could easily deduce that these were fishing boats that could not withstand harsh ocean conditions. But other ships have been found in immaculate condition and arrive without any evidence of human life. Given the strictly regulated borders and imposing surveillance in North Korea, investigators are at an obvious disadvantage. In their quest to find answers, they often rely on the efforts of insiders within the country. Conspiracies persist in the absence of hard facts. Could these capsized ships house spies? Could they be defectors who risked their lives to flee North Korea? Or are they part of a larger operation designed to abduct Japanese citizens? The film eventually settles in to one prevailing theory involving the booming North Korean fishing industry, and the possibility that desperate fisherman could be treading into dangerous waters in search of lucrative squid populations. Produced by CAN's investigative series Undercover Asia, Ghost Ships plays like a pulse-pounding mystery at sea. As the narrative unfurls, its implications expand to include the dynamics between two incompatible countries, a massive industry suffering from dwindling populations of fish, and the desperation of people fighting to survive by any means necessary. Directed by: Nicholas Leof Ahlmark, Yusuke Hayamizu Like &Suscribe,comment!

UFOs, or unidentified flying objects, have long been a popular subject of numerous books, TV shows, and movies. For most people, it firmly belonged to fantasy and science fiction. Talk of UFOs would almost always be met with a healthy dose of ridicule and especially skepticism towards those who claim to have seen one - or worse, abducted by aliens. However, Fox Mulder and his friends who believe in flying saucers might have the last laugh. More than ever, UFOs are a hot topic in Washington and other relevant parts of the world, especially since the recent admissions from high-ranking US military and government officials that UAPs - or unexplained aerial phenomena - are real. In 2019, a series of leaked tapes from the US Department of Defense showed infrared images taken from some of America's most sophisticated and cutting edge fighter jets and navy ships of unexplained aerial phenomena. These UAPs were highly anomalous and had technology beyond anything encountered by humans. They directly engaged with US jets and pilots, hovering over the water, rapidly accelerating without accompanying sonic booms in seconds. And though these reports sound like the standard script from "nutty" UFO believers, it is now what senior-level officials are also saying. Admitting that UAPs exist and that we have had active encounters with them is a shocking 180-degree turn in the US Air Force, FBI and CIA narrative. It was a constant push to debunk the subject and suspected coverups in the past. But now, this culture of denial has all but disappeared. Popular Australian show 7 NEWS Spotlight's report "The UFO Phenomenon" takes a deep dive into these recent developments because it is not only the USA affected, but potentially also the Australian Government. Australians in the thousands have been reporting UFO sightings dating back decades, with some notable notorious instances in Western Australia, Victoria and Queensland. For example, Exmouth, Western Australia, was the site of a famous 1991 sighting. A woman named Annie and two Australian Federal Police officers saw a diamond-shaped aircraft that hovered over their vehicle and moved faster than anything they had ever seen. Further back, in 1966, half the school population of Westall High School in southwest Melbourne ran out into their football field to see a group of what they perceived were flying saucers. Teacher Terry Greenwood was visited by Australian military personnel and threatened not to talk about it. At school, administrators also instructed staff and students not to talk about the incident, and the authorities have never given an official explanation of what happened. Today, 55 years later, Westall witnesses reunite to talk about what they experienced with the same clarity and certainty they did as children. Even though more data is required to prove that UFOs exist ultimately, these new developments, at the very least, give us a tantalizing glimpse of the possibility that they do. Like & Suscribe,comment

The limitless expanse of the cosmos challenges our perceptions of the universe and our role in it. What was once looked upon a big machine seems to be revealing itself as a living organism that continues to evolve and self-generate. This is the theory behind The Living Universe: Cosmos as Organism, a contemplative documentary that beautifully intersects the scientific with the philosophical. The film isn't so much as interested in the latest findings of cosmologists as it is in the effect that such findings might ultimately harbor on the human species. As our understanding of the universe continues to sharpen and expand, will this bring about a similar expansion of our own consciousness? Does the human race even matter in the broad scheme of things? To illustrate these points, the filmmaker travels back in time. During the Scientific Revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries, the leading thinkers like Sir Isaac Newton first set forth this "universe as machine" metaphor. The foundations for this belief were firmly stationed in the Christian faith; they believed that God Himself had set this machine in motion. But this track of thinking was complicated a century later when Charles Darwin first announced his galvanizing theory of evolution. Human consciousness has always developed in concert with the most influential scientific breakthroughs. These discoveries have forced us to question the nature of our reality. Our notion of self has teetered from merely functioning as a cog in the wheel of the natural order to existing as the master of our domain at nature's expense. The film explores a third possibility. The universe is not a shell where things happen from within; it is itself a living process that evolves through the interactions of all that surrounds it. To what extent does the power of our minds play a role in the basic functioning of the universe? The film's animation-heavy visual presentation is acceptable enough. The ideas are what really take hold. The organistic paradigm is not a new theory, but it's given life and clarity through the enthusiastic and probing narration that blankets the film. Directed by: Adrian David Nelson Like & Suscribe,comment

The Nazca lines are one of the most intriguing mysteries of the ancient world. Located in the south Peruvian plateau, it is a group of giant geoglyphs etched into the ground. Geoglyphs are works of art built using rocks, stone fragments, gravel and even trees. What makes the Nazca lines interesting is that hundreds of them span a wide area, and no one knows who built them and why. They date from around 500BC - though archaeologists are still unsure about this estimate. There are around 300 of them depicting different animals, human figures and plants like the Spider, Condor, Tree, Monkey, Parrot and Flower, amongst many others. Many of the geoglyphs can't be seen at ground level despite measuring roughly 1km across. They were also only discovered in the 1920s when airplanes came to be, and pilots flying over the area noticed the images. However, in the 1990s, tourists discovered a different set of drawings between Palpa and the Nasca Plateau. Instead of the usual depictions of nature, this group was given the name "estrellas" - or "stars" in Spanish due to their geometrically correct and highly complex designs. The estrellas include circles, squares, points and line designs that measure over 130 meters. They are also nearly impossible to see from the surface, only coming out clearly in high-resolution photos, drone images, or viewing on an angle due to the terrain. When they were first discovered, no one took the estrellas seriously. Many considered them a hoax or a tourist trap. Until a second group was found with a similar design, though this depicted a more intricate geometric shape dubbed "The Mandala." There are 18 estrellas, each designed with increasing degrees of complexity, connected by one line that runs through them all. Each estrella's geometric formation is frighteningly precise, making us all ask how they did it and why. Many historians believe that these geoglyphs, which are younger than the Nazca lines, were created by the Huari civilization, which came after the Nazcan people. The Huari is credited for creating the "tocapu", a popular geometric design consisting of complex circles and squares found in Peruvian art, fashion and more. The tocapu is highly similar to the creation of the estrellas. The Huari most likely continued the Nazcan tradition of creating geoglyphs but incorporated tocapu inspired designs, as opposed to animals, thereby making the estrellas. There have been numerous theories as to why the estrellas were constructed at all. They might have been offerings to the gods and deities they worshipped. Each Estrella could also have been a way to mark solstices and the changing of the seasons. We may never really know their true purpose, but archaeologists should continue to study them. The estrellas provides insights into just how "modern" the ancient civilizations were in terms of designing long-lasting structures using some form of physics, science, geometry, engineering and math. Hopefully, one day, both the Nazca lines and the estrellas will give up their secrets. Directed by: Igor Aleksejev Like & Suscribe,comment!