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Lift the Ice

6 episodes 94%4KCC

Six experts probe Earth's ice for clues to life, space, and survival.

This series follows six specialists as they investigate extraordinary mysteries emerging from ice, from signs of life beneath frozen surfaces to cosmic clues preserved in ancient layers. Drawing unexpected links between Earth's coldest frontiers and the wider universe, each episode rewards curiosity with discoveries that keep unfolding. Sign up to see how ice can reveal far more than cold.

Episode guide

6 episodes
1
1The Ice Is Alien
Ice holds the keys to the cosmos. Planetary scientist Dr. Nina Lanza embarks on a journey to answer the greatest mysteries of the universe. From an Arctic lake that’s helping to find alien life, to Siberian scientists hunting black holes, to predicting solar flares using Greenland’s ancient ice.
52 min
2
2The Ice Is Alive
Our ice hides a menagerie of life. Microbial ecologist Dr. Allison Fong goes on a journey to uncover the mighty power of these tiny creatures. From life-saving cures hidden in volcanic ice caves, to alien-like worms with bizarre adaptations, to blood-red algae that could transform distant glaciers.
54 min
3
3The Ice Is History
Our past is re-emerging from the ice. Archaeologist Ben Timberlake investigates civilisation-defining mysteries. From cataclysmic meteor impact sites buried deep below Greenland’s ice, to artifacts exposing a brutal massacre in ancient Alaska, to a Soviet ghost town in the Arctic.
53 min
4
4The Ice Rises
Ice holds the key to rebuilding worlds. Marine biologist Dr. Diva Amon explores the hidden forces in our ice that can restore ecosystems. From deep-sea Arctic habitats with regenerative powers, to game-changing ice dinosaurs in Alaska, to a dying glacier in the Andes that can kick-start new life.
54 min
5
5The Ice Is War
Ice is the deadliest enemy. Former soldier and archaeologist Ben Timberlake is on a mission to reveal the ice’s role in wars past, present, and future. From hunting lost WW1 bunkers in Italy, to secret Cold War nuclear bases in Greenland’s ice, to modern-day Arctic espionage on Russia’s border.
54 min
6
6The Ice Is a Beast
Our ice is acting strangely. Atmospheric scientist Dr. Ella Gilbert embarks on a mission to diagnose what’s happening inside these colossal pieces of ice. From galloping glaciers in Svalbard, to exploding permafrost pingos in Siberia, to a vertical glacier stuck 650ft underground in an Italian cave.
55 min
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