Fire

Episode image for Fire

Episode 4 of 5

Duration: 1 hour

Professor Iain Stewart continues his epic exploration of how the planet has shaped human history.

Iain explores man's relationship with fire. He begins by embarking on an extraordinary encounter with this terrifying force of nature - a walk right through the heart of a raging fire.

Fire has long been our main source of energy and Iain shows how this meant that the planet played a crucial role in Britain's industrial revolution, whilst holding China's development back.

Along the way he dives in a mysterious lake in Oregon, climbs a glacier of salt, crawls through an extraordinary cave in Iran and takes a therapeutic bath in crude oil.

  • How Earth Made Us returns to your screens February 23 at 8pm

    How Earth Made Us returns to your screens February 23 at 8pm

    Iain Stewart poses next to one of the many oil rigs in Azerbaijan.

  • Photo: Buddha

    Photo: Buddha

    Iain Stewart with an enormous stone carving of Buddha at Yungang Grottos, China.

  • World of Wonder

    World of Wonder

    This series is part of World of Wonder - a year of Science across the BBC in 2010. From popular science to Chaos Theory, there's a little something for everyone.

    Find out more about World of Wonder on BBC Science

Credits

Presenter
Iain Stewart
Director
Charles Colville
Producer
Charles Colville
Producer
Jonathan Renouf

Broadcasts

BBC © 2012 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.