John Rubin

Earth teems with a staggering variety of animals, including 9,000 kinds of birds, 28,000 types of fish, and more than 350,000 species of beetles. What explains this explosion of living creatures—1.4 million different species discovered so far, with perhaps another 50 million to go? The source of life's endless forms was a profound mystery until Charles Darwin brought forth his revolutionary idea of natural selection. But Darwin's radical insights raised as many questions as they answered. What actually drives evolution and turns one species into another? To what degree do different animals rely on the same genetic toolkit? And how did we evolve?

National Geographic Wildlife Filmmakers Go Eye-to-Eye with Danger! They swim with sharks, confront venomous snakes, and stalk hungry lions. They're National Geographic filmmakers, and for these remarkable adventurers, capturing unforgettable footage in the wild is not just a job, it's a way of life. Join a cinematographer in the rain forest canopy as he goes to incredible lengths - and heights - to film the world's most powerful bird of prey. Witness the frustration of a filmmaker who just misses the scene-stealing shot of jackal pups greeting their mother in the Serengeti, and feel the exhilaration when he finally captures the event to perfection. Meet the talented professionals who go behind the camera every day and sometimes risk their lives to bring us extraordinary images of nature's most amazing creatures.