Chasing The Sun

Equator is an epic production - capturing every detail in High Definition - that takes viewers on a 40,000-kilometre odyssey chasing the sun to some of the most extreme and diverse locations on the planet. The equator is not only the line that divides the Earth in two - it's also a line of life and a powerful force of nature, where the pace of evolution quickens. The equator covers only five per cent of the Earth's surface, but is home to 50 per cent of its animal and plant species. The equator is a species factory. Equatorial animals live constantly in warm, humid surroundings. Life is good; they can breed all year round. But the downside of such abundance is that these creatures must compete and fight for survival with half of all the species on Earth.

Equator is an epic production - capturing every detail in High Definition - that takes viewers on a 40,000-kilometre odyssey chasing the sun to some of the most extreme and diverse locations on the planet. The equator is not only the line that divides the Earth in two - it's also a line of life and a powerful force of nature, where the pace of evolution quickens. The equator covers only five per cent of the Earth's surface, but is home to 50 per cent of its animal and plant species. The equator is a species factory. Equatorial animals live constantly in warm, humid surroundings. Life is good; they can breed all year round. But the downside of such abundance is that these creatures must compete and fight for survival with half of all the species on Earth.

Professor Brian Cox visits some of the most stunning locations on earth to describe how the laws of nature have carved natural wonders across the solar system.

All five episodes from the BBC documentary science series presented by Professor Brian Cox. Whether it's Saturn's rings, the solar flares of the Sun or the deserts of Mars, Professor Cox demonstrates how the forces that shaped our world are also responsible for creating some of the most breathtaking sights in our solar system.

The BBC version of Life arrives with an at-times breathtaking, altogether stunning 1080p/VC-1 transfer; one that boasts gorgeous colors and remarkable detail, and puts most other nature documentary presentations to shame. Still, comparisons to the series' 1080i Discovery Channel release are the most inevitable and the most unavoidable. Simply put, the differences between the two aren't earth shattering – in some instances, our beloved little "p" may as well stand for "placebo" – but they are notable. There are plenty of scenes and shots in which the tiniest strands of animal hair are crisper, distant foliage is more refined, and the craggly crevices of rocky ravines are more revealing.