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Prairies: Life on the Plains

Season 1 Episode 4 | 24m 57s

Often overlooked, North America’s prairies are among the most dynamic and biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. Journeying into tallgrass remnants, explorer Ariel Waldman reveals a hidden world where bison shape the land, microscopic wildlife thrive in moss and soil, and fire renews life above ground. From towering grasses to underground networks, the prairies emerge as resilient yet fragile landscapes.

Aired: 04/21/26 | Expires: 10/21/26
Extras
Celebrate the life and career of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mary Oliver.
Preview: 250 Years of Americana
Soybeans may soon be part of the asphalt beneath you.
An Iowa farm thrives as one of the state’s few Black-owned farms.
A Vermont couple finds new ways to better protect their land from drought and floods.
A Georgia farm keeps the produce coming year-round by planting and harvesting in different locations
See how college students are turning soybeans into new products like baby wipes.
A California farmer shares easy-to-grow mushrooms with giftable box kits.
A Minnesota farm family plants a new kind of wheat that restores the soil and saves water.
A Montana rancher honors his ancestors, and Mother Earth, by restoring native grasses to his land.
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In a Mars-like region on Earth, hidden ecosystems persist despite extreme conditions.
Antarctica’s icy ecosystems reveal how frozen landscapes can sustain odd forms of life.
An explorer undertakes a solo Antarctic expedition to document the life beneath the ice.