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Our Blue Planet and Ocean X

Our Blue Planet

Environment

Oceans

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Plastic doesn’t just look like food, it smells, feels and even sounds like food. Albatrosses forage over thousands of kilometres in search of their preferred prey, which they pluck from the water with ease. How can such capable birds be so easily fooled, and come back from their long voyages with nothing but a mouthful of plastic? And albatrosses are not alone. At least 180 species of marine animals have been documented consuming plastic, from tiny plankton to gigantic whales.

Why marine animals can't stop eating plastic

- All

Animals

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It has been a catastrophic summer for the endangered North Atlantic right whale and the people dedicated to saving them



The right whales’ darkest summer

Oceania

Fish

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The kobudai in Blue Planet II is far from alone in its sex-changing abilities. Of all the animals, fish are sexually the most fluid. Millions of people saw a dramatic example of this in the first episode of Blue Planet II, in which a ten-year-old female kobudai changes into a male. After many months, the transformed male emerges from its lair larger than before, bearing testes, a huge bulbous forehead, and an aggressive nature.

Fish are the sex-switching masters of the animal kingdom

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In an incredible feat of strength and problem solving, saddleback clownfish (Amphiprion polymnus) have been filmed working together to move objects across the sea floor for the very first time. This remarkable behaviour was captured on camera by the Blue Planet II crew and the footage is being utilised in a scientific study.

Clownfish’s incredible show of strength

Earth science

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A submarine dive to 1000 metres under the Antarctic ice fields enabled the Blue Planet II team to record remarkable life for episode The Deep. No human had visited such depths of Antarctica before. Two years in the making, this voyage into the unknown has not only led to a stunning sequence that plunges us into an alien world, rich in biomass and full of life, it has also opened up opportunities for scientific study.

One thousand metres below the Antarctic ice

Polar

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For the first time ever, giant bubbles of methane have been filmed by the Blue Planet II team in the Gulf of Mexico. A moment that may never be seen again. On the hunt for brine pools, the crew were amazed to also discover bubbles the size of basketballs erupting from the ocean floor, followed by a trail of sediment.

Bubbles the size of basketballs

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When the whale’s body gently breaches the surface of the water, Susan Parks must be at the ready. Standing at the bow of a small boat, she has to lean in with a long pole, ready to stick a special gadget onto the whale’s back. It’s a listening device that stays put for a day or less thanks to a suction cup. When the device detaches, it floats to the surface and can be collected.

The people who listen to whales

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They are six metres long, weigh over a tonne and are a relative of the orca, but very little is known about the false killer whale...

Enter the mysterious world of the false killer whale

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When you think of deep diving, you think of marine mammals like elephant seals, beaked whales, sperm whales. But there are others who can go much deeper

The deepest diving animal is not what you'd expect

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Out in the ocean eight-limbed animals are among nature’s most dedicated mums – but it’s less about multi-tasking and more a case of single-mindedness.

The ocean’s most dedicated mothers

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Over the last decade, scientists have discovered that octopuses aren’t always lone beasts. In fact, octopuses engage in rich, fascinating and unusual behaviours when they interact with each other.

‘Underwater city’ reveals mysterious octopus world

Rivers

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Otter spraint (poo) is one of the least offensive smells in the world of excrement; it has a slightly fishy - pungent odour. It is a delight.

The delicious scent of otter poo

Inspiration

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Explore the curious wonders of Our Blue Planet. Discover incredible ocean stories, videos, and photography. Join the conversation now with #OurBluePlanet.

Blue Planet II

Our Blue Planet: Incredible Ocean Stories & Visuals

Burundi

Comoros

Djibouti

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Kenya

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Mayotte

Mozambique

Réunion

Rwanda

Seychelles

Somalia

South Sudan

Uganda

Tanzania, United Republic of

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Angola

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Congo

Congo, The Democratic Republic of the

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

São Tomé and Príncipe

Algeria

Egypt

Libya

Morocco

Tunisia

Western Sahara

Botswana

Lesotho

Namibia

South Africa

Swaziland

Benin

Burkina Faso

Cape Verde

Côte d'Ivoire

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Liberia

Mali

Mauritania

Niger

Nigeria

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Togo

Africa

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Uzbekistan

China

Hong Kong

Macao

Japan

Mongolia

Korea, Republic of

Afghanistan

Bangladesh

Bhutan

India

Maldives

Nepal

Pakistan

Sri Lanka

Brunei Darussalam

Cambodia

Indonesia

Lao People's Democratic Republic

Malaysia

Myanmar

Philippines

Singapore

Thailand

Timor-Leste

Viet Nam

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Bahrain

Cyprus

Georgia

Iraq

Israel

Jordan

Kuwait

Lebanon

Oman

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Palestine, State of

Turkey

United Arab Emirates

Yemen

Asia

Anguilla

Antigua and Barbuda

Aruba

Bahamas

Barbados

Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba

Virgin Islands, British

Cayman Islands

Curaçao

Dominica

Dominican Republic

Grenada

Guadeloupe

Haiti

Jamaica

Martinique

Montserrat

Puerto Rico

Saint Barthélemy

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Lucia

Saint Martin (French part)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Sint Maarten (Dutch part)

Trinidad and Tobago

Turks and Caicos Islands

Virgin Islands, U.S.

Caribbean

Belize

Costa Rica

El Salvador

Guatemala

Honduras

Mexico

Nicaragua

Panama

Central America

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