Anyone who knows paleontology, knows the older the sediment, the greater the potential for documenting the evolution of life on earth. I guess the same can be said of certain naturalists, namely David Attenborough, who has been exploring life on our planet for almost 90 years.
Fortunately, Sir Attenborough has made a point of taking us along for the ride. And that ride continues in a new documentary set to air on The Smithsonian Channel on May 13th at 8 pm.
Attenborough recently sat down to discuss his latest scientific venture, entitled, "David Attenborough's Rise of Animals: Triumph of the Vertebrates," in which he explores the 500 million years of vertebrate evolution. But the interview also gave him a chance to reflect on his long career; a career as impactful and prolific as the Burgess Shale.
Born in Isleworth, England in May of 1926, Attenborough grew up in an academic setting. His father, Frederick, was principal of the University College in Leicester, whose campus served as home for David and his two brothers. An avid fossil collector from a young age, Attenborough's propensity for nature was later applied throughout an expansive career at the BBC, where he developed a plethora of shows examining life on Earth.
This latest series explores the evolutionary advances that gave rise to fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and humans. Sir Attenborough, along with top scientists in the field, explores issues such as why we became warm-blooded, the evolution of fingers and toes, and why animals evolved a backbone in the first place. The series is the latest in a long line of quality programs Attenborough has produced.
At 89 years of age, he's still hard at work. And the natural world continues to amaze him.
"It's one of the great stories that anybody can tell, is it not? The beginning of life, a thousand million years ago. And visible life 500 million years ago. It is one of the most extraordinary, detailed and wonderful and amazing stories you can think of. And we now understand more about it than we ever did."
Whether he's examining ancient feathered dinosaurs or extolling the virtues of the lyrebird's call, Attenborough's enthusiasm for the natural world is contagious, even after all these years. And he's not about to run out of material.
"You'd be amazed at how much we have failed to show. The natural world is hugely varied with a vast number of species. And we will always find something new to show you."
