The Best 4 Science Documentaries of 2025

human (BBC iPlayer/NOVA)

Ela Al Shamahi serves as the ideal guide through the journey of our ancestors. In human, she provides an in-depth exploration of our history spanning over 300,000 years, revealing our complicated ties to humanity. Paleoanthropologists weave a narrative showing that humans are not the only species possessing intelligence and creativity.

Notable moments include a visit to Indonesia to explore ‘The Hobbit’ remains (Homo floresiensis, our extinct meter-tall relative) and the discovery of ancient seashells crafted into jewelry by early humans.

The series also features intriguing analyses, such as footprints found in dried lakes hinting at a mother’s urgent trek and growth rings in Neanderthal teeth indicating longer childhoods than previously thought.

Once Upon a Time in Space (BBC iPlayer)

James Bloomer’s latest endeavor is an unmissable series tracing the history of space exploration from the late 1970s to today. It features numerous personal stories, including NASA astronaut Anna Fisher’s experiences as the first mother in space and Michael Fall’s gripping recount of the Russian space station Mir’s crew navigating a dangerous collision that led to depressurization.

The series showcases touching footage of Carl McNair’s father expressing pride in his brother Ronald, who was one of the first Black astronauts to lose his life in the 1986 Challenger disaster. “It took four generations to go from slavery to space,” says Carl, filled with a mix of joy and sorrow.

kingdom (BBC iPlayer, airing on PBS starting January 24, 2026)

Before its release, the latest production from David Attenborough and the BBC Natural History Unit has already been aptly characterized as a Shakespearean drama set in the natural world. This series promises gripping intrigue right from the first episode. It chronicles the struggles of four rival factions: a leopard family, a wild dog pack, a lion pride, and a hyena clan, all based in Nsef, a stunning corner of South Luangwa National Park in Zambia.

The narrative unfolds with the entrance of the wild dog named Storm and his team, engaging in a complex feud with the elegant leopard Orimba. As each group competes for resources and territory, tense confrontations lead to astonishing moments of violence.

Witnessing these creatures’ lives is a privilege, and viewers will certainly grow fond of them, especially the strong matriarchs and Flint, the three-legged wild dog trapped in a poacher’s snare. Prepare for an emotional experience, and perhaps keep some tissues handy.

Famous Last Words: Dr. Jane Goodall (Netflix)

The renowned primatologist Jane Goodall sadly passed away this year, but her legacy continues in a new series. In Famous Last Words, adapted from a Danish format, interviews are conducted shortly before the subjects’ deaths.

Goodall’s interview is released posthumously and showcases her brilliance. With her stuffed monkey, Mr. H, she sits down with a glass of whiskey, intended to prevent her voice from tiring during the lengthy conversation that follows.

The episode remains engaging throughout, as Goodall passionately advocates for a kinder, sustainable world. Various topics are discussed, including her pioneering research, Shakespeare, animal grief, the supernatural, her views on marriage, and Mr. H’s origins. Yet, it’s her warmth and dry wit that transforms this conversation into a heartfelt experience.