Episode Information

We stand alone in our galaxy as a planet teeming with unique life found only on Earth. This is be-cause our home is just the right distance from the sun, meaning it’s not too hot or too cold. Life on earth would not be possible without the sun, but sometimes our star cranks up the heat to extreme levels. Life has harnessed the power of the sun, but the dramatic forces of fire and drought chal-lenge the survival of plants and animals. Summer heat bakes landscapes, draining rivers, leaving fish high and dry and turning the plains into a tinderbox. Just one spark of lightning and animals must flee or die. But many creatures have found a way to make extreme heat work in their favour. Whatever the temperature fire can be our ally, and animals across the natural world harness its power – ensuring they thrive even when they feel the heat.