Ocean Giants: Part Two - Deep Thinkers

Feb 22, 2012 on PBS at 8:00 PM

Summary

Whales and dolphins conjure a deep sense of wonder in us that’s hard to explain. From the Arctic to the Amazon, this groundbreaking three-part series goes on a global expedition with world-renowned underwater cameramen, Doug Allen (Planet Earth) and ... (more)Didier Noirot (Jacques Cousteau’s cameraman), as they capture spellbinding footage of these marine mammals. Ocean Giants looks at how cetaceans hunt, mate, and communicate, and follows scientists as they strive to uncover new insights about these animals. The second hour, Deep Thinkers, explores the cognitive and emotional lives of dolphins and whales. Like us, cetaceans have special brain cells, spindle cells, that are associated with communication, emotion, and heightened social sensitivity. These cells were once thought to be unique to us, but research is now showing that whales and dolphins may have up to three times more spindle cells than humans.

Previous episode

Ocean Giants: Part One - Giant Lives
Season 30 Episode 8

Feb 22, 2012

Next episode

Ocean Giants: Part Three - Voices of the Sea
Season 30 Episode 10

Feb 22, 2012

Guest stars

John Benjamin Hickey