The Top 14 Science and Technology Documentaries of 2025: From David Attenborough to Hannafly

Netflix
Brian Johnson stands out as a unique figure in contemporary society. The billionaire entrepreneur and proponent of anti-aging practices aims to extend both lifespan and “healthspan” by taking nearly 100 different medications daily and adhering to a rigorous fitness plan. The real enchantment of Please Don’t Die lies in its ability to evoke mixed feelings towards Johnson. His lifestyle is built on a fundamentally flawed scientific approach, yet his ideas are more captivating than those of his tech-savvy peers.

Disney+
In The Sea with David Attenborough, there’s a sequence that is as chilling as it is eye-opening. The aggressive trawling disturbs the seabed, leading to the displacement of fish from their habitats. This documentary marks Attenborough’s most politically charged effort, serving as a cautionary tale about the severe environmental repercussions of industrial fishing practices. If this indeed is part of the 99-year-old’s final project, it certainly encapsulates the essence of his illustrious career.

BBC iPlayer/NBC
Who could be seen as the American equivalent of David Attenborough? Perhaps the two-time Oscar-winning Tom Hanks might be your answer. He brings a touch of cinematic brilliance to this 10-part nature series, narrating the incredible biodiversity of the Americas. While I don’t expect much insight into the climate crisis from this series, its lack of real-world relevance is almost compensated for by its stunning cinematography.

BBC iPlayer
A couple of decades ago, Bruce Parry spent an extensive period submerged in an Indigenous community for the anthropology series Tribe. Now, the series is returning but in a vastly changed world. Faced with increasing threats from deforestation and migration, Parry must earn the trust of the community he visits. The scenes in Tribe—which include piranha fishing, political discussions, and ayahuasca rituals—are richly fascinating, and we hope to witness more of them. The access granted to us through Parry feels like a true privilege.

Netflix
Children have historically been used for entertainment, and the practices surrounding child actors have often been disturbing. In the 1920s and 30s, many faced long hours of labor and near-death experiences from excessive workloads and amphetamines. Fast forward to the 21st century, and “Kidfluence” has emerged, wherein families create financial empires through their children’s online activities. Bad Influence follows child pageant star Piper Locker, who has reportedly been exploited by her mother. This harrowing documentary explores the darker aspects of social media.

BBC iPlayer/CNN
Whereas David Fincher’s film Social Network spotlighted the early days of Facebook, the origins of Twitter remain less familiar. Twitter: Break the Birds takes us back to when it was a basic platform for status updates. The documentary shines during its exploration of the power struggles between Jack Dorsey and his co-founders, and it discusses the technical challenges social media platforms have faced from the beginning. Interestingly, did you know that Twitter (or X, as it’s currently branded) had initially considered names like Ketchup or Friend Stalker? The later sections serve as a timely reminder that many of the platform’s issues predate Elon Musk’s controversial involvement.

BBC iPlayer
Last year, naturalist Chris Packham introduced In Our Autistic Mind, a two-part documentary that allowed people with autism to create a film expressing their inner experiences. The follow-up season tackles ADHD and dyslexia, two conditions often misunderstood. While the series primarily examines the social difficulties faced by individuals with ADHD and dyslexia, it also incorporates strong scientific insights into their neurological underpinnings. Highlighting positive aspects, it reveals that many dyslexic individuals excel in pattern recognition.

Netflix
From the creators of My Octopus Teacher, Pangolin: Kuru’s Journey tells the heartwarming tale of a baby pangolin rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. We follow Kuru as he is rehabilitated by his caretaker Gareth, who considers himself a helicopter parent. The duo’s adorable adventures, from carrying Kuru away from a warthog’s burrow as dusk approaches, evoke both laughter and empathy. With pangolins being the most trafficked mammals globally, Kuru’s survival is a testament to human care and compassion.

BBC iPlayer
The third season of Hannah Fry’s Guide to Everyday Technology is just as engaging as ever. This time, the focus is on roller coasters, highways, and—inevitably—air fryers. The series thoroughly explores how these technologies impact our lives and uncovers some surprising insights. How did the creators of the Theremin influence modern doorbell designs? What role did it play in the innovation of refrigeration? And just what is an air fryer starfish? If you’ve ever wanted to take apart your gadgets to see how they work, this meticulously crafted series will satisfy your curiosity without voiding any warranties.

Amazon Prime Video
We’ve become acquainted with octopuses in a variety of quirky roles, from spiritual guides to unlikely educators. Enter this two-part series dedicated to these tentacled beings and their remarkable talents. A beautifully animated depiction of their life cycle is narrated by Doris, a massive Pacific octopus whose journey defies the odds, even as her story tragically culminates. Nonetheless, Octopus! remains a whimsical documentary brimming with curiosity and humor.

NOW
Science fiction serves as a powerful lens through which we can envision the future, often depicting a grim outlook. This four-part documentary aims to explore how sci-fi has imagined the atomic bomb and its consequences. Beyond this, Wonderland thoughtfully examines a wide range of sci-fi narratives from the past 80 years, providing depth and nuance often missing from surface-level analyses of the genre.

Netflix
In 2023, the world grappled with the four-day search for the missing OceanGate Titan submarine. Ultimately, five lives, including that of co-founder Stockton Rush, were lost following a catastrophic implosion. This feature-length documentary exposes how egotism and carelessness contributed to these untimely deaths. One particularly haunting moment features audio from an acoustic surveillance system that detected fissures in the carbon fiber hull during initial test dives, an essential safety protocol the company later ignored.

Disney+/Nat Geo
In 1983, Sally Ride became NASA’s shining star as the first American woman to journey into space, capturing global attention. However, both she and her fellow female astronauts faced rampant institutional sexism and invasive media scrutiny. This feature-length documentary intricately weaves together her personal battles to retain a semblance of privacy, including her 27-year relationship with Tam O’Shaughnessy during an era marked by homophobia. It also delves into captivating aspects of Ride’s career, such as the hand-eye coordination techniques she developed to gain an edge over her colleague Judy Resnik, who tragically perished in the Challenger disaster.

BBC iPlayer
Back in 1999, Walking with Dinosaurs captivated audiences, bringing them into the world of prehistoric wildlife using groundbreaking visual effects. Given that those visuals feel somewhat dated now, a reboot seemed timely. In each episode of the 2025 series, researchers act as detectives, unearthing ancient relics and drawing extensive conclusions from bones and their surroundings. These imaginative stories showcase scenarios such as hatchlings chasing dragonflies through the jungles or a pack of Albertosaurus cornering their quarry. As always, a healthy dose of skepticism is advised; there remain many mysteries surrounding the lives of dinosaurs that we have yet to unravel.