PBS International Readies Rise of the Mammals

The science documentary Rise of the Mammals, a NOVA production by HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, is now available worldwide from PBS International.

Rise of the Mammals chronicles the discovery of an astonishing collection of fossils by scientists from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, revealing a strikingly detailed picture of how the world and life recovered after an asteroid struck Earth 66 million years ago. Timed with the publication of a scientific paper on the subject in Science magazine, NOVA’s Rise of the Mammals will premiere Wednesday, October 30, at 9 p.m. on PBS in the U.S.

“It’s not every day you get a phone call asking if you want to send a film crew to document the discovery of a lifetime, but when you get that chance, you take it,” said Sean B. Carroll, head of HHMI Tangled Bank Studios. “Telling the story of this momentous discovery has been a three-year odyssey that we hope will inspire viewers of all ages to realize that there is still so much to discover about our world.”

“Rise of the Mammals speaks to the vital, groundbreaking work HHMI Tangled Bank Studios is doing to shine light on revolutionary scientific stories,” said Tom Koch, VP of PBS International. “We look forward to bringing this and many other stories from the studio to international audiences as part of our distribution partnership.”

“This story about the recovery of life reminds us of the incredible tenacity of life on Earth. It also reveals a different kind of tenacity—that of the dogged persistence of the scientists and volunteers who worked so hard to make this discovery,” said Chris Schmidt, NOVA co-executive producer.

“NOVA is so proud to share this story with our viewers,” added Julia Cort, NOVA co-executive producer. “This film truly represents our mission to stoke curiosity and help people everywhere appreciate the role science plays in shaping our understanding of ourselves and the world we live in.”