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Arts & Culture

Humanity From Space

North America's Electric Grid. In just 100 years, Thomas Edison’s electrical grid expanded from a few city blocks to a vast network in North America and around the globe.
Courtesy of DSP/HANDEL
North America's Electric Grid. In just 100 years, Thomas Edison’s electrical grid expanded from a few city blocks to a vast network in North America and around the globe.

Airs Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018 at 10 p.m. on KPBS TV

Trace humankind’s long journey from hunter-gatherer to dominant global species.

From the perspective of space, this two-hour special uses mind-boggling data and CGI to disclose the breathtaking extent of humanity’s influence, revealing how we’ve transformed our planet and produced an interconnected world of extraordinary complexity.

A trip through 12,000 years of development, the documentary shows how seemingly small flashes of innovation — innovations that touch all of us in ways unimaginable to our ancestors — have changed the course of civilization.

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As our global population soars, the program considers the challenges humanity will face in order to survive.

"Humanity From Space" was produced by Darlow Smithson Productions and Handel Productions Inc.

A big decision awaits some voters this July as the race for San Diego County’s Supervisor District 1 seat heats up. Are you ready to vote? Check out the KPBS Voter Hub to learn about the candidates, the key issues the board is facing and how you can make your voice heard.