Here’s a Depressing Look at Man’s Impact on Earth

Man. Earth. The battle is on.

In this corner, weighing in at 198 lbs., we have man. Annnd, in this corner, weighing in at 13,227,735,700,000,000,000,000,000 pounds, we have the Block'em Sock'em Third Rock...planet Earth.

YouTube user Steve Cutts illustrates the fight between humans and the place we all call home. Who will triumph? Watch all three-and-a-half minutes to learn the surprising identity of the winner.

1. Evolution: Darwin's Dangerous Idea (PBS Documentary)

   "Broadcast (2001) Why does Charles Darwin's 'dangerous idea' matter more today than ever, and how does it explain the past and predict the future of life on Earth? The first show interweaves the drama of Darwin's life with current documentary sequences, introducing key concepts of evolution. Evolution determines who lives, who dies, and who passes traits on to the next generation. The process plays a critical role in our daily lives, yet it is one of the most overlooked and misunderstood concepts ever described. The Evolution series goals are to heighten public understanding of evolution and how it works, to dispel common misunderstandings about the process, and to illuminate why it is relevant to all of us."

2. Journey Of Man: A Genetic Odyssey (PBS Documentary)

   "Broadcast (2003) Where did we come from? Spencer Wells, a 33 year old population geneticist, has closed the door on his laboratory and is embarking on the biggest adventure of his life. His mission is to retrace the most extraordinary journey of all time, a journey that involves every man, woman and child alive today. He offers his thoughts on this puzzling question, employing the latest in DNA research and technology to track the migration of humanity across the globe."

3. Ape Genius (NOVA Documentary)

   "Broadcast (2008) At a research site in Fongoli, Senegal, a female chimpanzee breaks off a branch, chews the end to make it sharp, then uses this rudimentary spear to skewer a tasty bushbaby hiding inside a hollow tree. The footage represents an astonishing breakthrough for primate researchers: It's the first time anyone has documented a chimpanzee wielding a carefully prepared, preplanned weapon."

4. The Real Eve (Discovery Channel)

   "Broadcast (2002) Narrated by Danny Glover, 'The Real Eve' reveals that our shared genetic heritage links every living person on earth and traces the expansion of modern humans throughout the world. The discovery of the Eve gene stunned the world. It seems we could all be descended from just one female who lived in Africa. In this telling anthropological video, we access the very latest DNA reconstructions, and for the first time, tell conclusively the story of where, when and how the human race came about and then populated the world. The real Eve refers to Mitochondrial Eve, a name used for the most recent common ancestor of all humans in the matrilineal (mother to daughter) line of descent. Scientists have traced the human race to one female in Africa several million years ago and traced the migration pattern of her descendants as they spread across the earth."

5. Evolutions - The Walking Whale (National Geographic)

   Whales bear the genetic and skeletal heritage of land mammals. This three-part documentary explores the connection.

6. Shape Of Life - Origins (PBS Documentary)

   "Broadcast (2002) For the first time ever, scientists believe they have gathered substantial evidence that points to a single animal group of creatures that gave rise to all animals, including humans. Researchers such as Cristina Diaz and Mitch Sogin think that the most likely candidate for this 'Animal Eve' is a group of creatures that still exist: the sponges. Sponges, members of the phylum Porifera, are considered the oldest living animal phylum. The name Porifera means 'pore bearer' in Latin. Sponges are the only animals that if broken down to the level of their cells can miraculously reassemble themselves. These seemingly inanimate creatures are also fantastic pumps, filtering tons of water to harvest a few ounces of food."

7. Why Are There Still Chimpanzees?

   "Richard Dawkins clears up the misunderstanding of Evolution that is all too common: If we descended from Chimpanzees, then why are there still Chimpanzees? Dawkins explains that we DID NOT descend from Chimpanzees—we both share a common ancestor."