Sir David Attenborough is the undisputed father of the nature documentary. Throughout his eight-decade career, his gentle, awe-struck voice has served as humanity's guide to distant lands where nature reigns.
"At 93, he shows no signs of slowing. His new feature, A Life on Our Planet, "a first-hand account of humanity's impact on nature and a message of hope for future generations" premiered on April 16th.
"This film is my witness statement and my vision for the future – the story of how we came to make this our greatest mistake and how if we act now, we can yet put it right," Attenborough says in the film's trailer.
As the world teeters on the brink of disaster, Attenborough has hope for the future because of nature's resilience and the younger generations' embrace of the climate challenge.
"We can look to the younger generation who are actually going to do it, because they will be able to see the consequences of what they do," he said.
Attenborough is lending his unique talents to help young people during the COVID-19 pandemic. He'll be teaching lessons on mapping the world, animal behavior, and the world's oceans, as part of the BBC's new online learning program, "Bitesize Daily."
Attenborough began his career at the BBC during the advent of television. He accidentally became the host of Zoo Quest in 1954 after the original host fell ill. Zoo Quest would become the gold standard for nature programming for filming animals in the wild, but from a respectable distance.
Attenborough's greatest success would be Life on Earth, an examination of the role of evolution in nature. The series, which began filming in 1976, would reach an audience of more than 500 million people.
In one of the series' most breathtaking moments, Attenborough finds himself face-to-face with a female gorilla. Stuck in a dangerous position, Attenborough keeps his composure and delivers an incredibly thoughtful ad-lib:
So if there were ever a possibility of escaping the human condition and living imaginatively in another creature's world, it must be with the gorilla. The male is an enormously powerful creature but he only uses his strength when he is protecting his family and it is very rare that there is violence within the group. So it seems really very unfair that man should have chosen the gorilla to symbolize everything that is aggressive and violent when that is the one thing that the gorilla is not—and that we are.
Attenborough would go on to expand upon his Life series over the next three decades, and produce landmark documentaries such as The Trials of Life (1990), The Private Life of Plants (1995), and a ten-part series, The Life of Birds (1998).
In 2006, Attenborough narrated Planet Earth, the most recognized nature documentary of all time. Since then, he's focused his documentary work on highlighting the direct intersection between humankind's footprint on the planet and the toll it has taken on the natural world he has been bringing into people's homes for nearly 50 years.
A Life on our Planet is an impassioned plea from a man who's spent most of his life documenting a natural world that is becoming more imperiled by the day. "This is not only a long-term problem it is the biggest problem humanity has faced. Ever. Please examine it and please respond," he told The Independent.
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.