Inside PBS Blog

Food, water and shelter are necessities, but for animals and humans alike, survival often requires so much more – from the ability to adapt to the environment, to perseverance in the face of tremendous challenges. This week on PBS, get a variety of perspectives on what it takes to survive.

• The depths of the world’s oceans hold some of Nature’s most profound examples of adaptation. Case in point: the cuttlefish, aka the “King of Camouflage.” These alien-like creatures can change their color, pattern and shape to blend in with the surrounding reef, hence hiding from predators. And when smaller males face too much competition from larger suitors, they just disguise themselves as females so they can get close to their desired mate. See all this and more on NOVA’s “Kings of Camouflage,” airing July 21 at 8pm ET (check local listings).

• The secret war in Laos during the Vietnam War did more than just divide battlefields – it divided families. In “The Betrayal,” which was nominated for an Academy Award, witness one family’s struggle to adapt to their new life in America while coming to terms with the horrors of their past back home -- including leaving some family members behind in order to survive. The film, which represents a 23-year-long collaboration between the filmmaker and Thavi, the film’s protagonist, premieres on POV on July 21st at 10pm ET (check local listings).

• In today’s world, the quality and length of our existence is determined largely by our access to healthcare. For in-depth information on managing your health, and perspectives on healthcare policy in the U.S. and around the world, visit PBS Video, where you can watch full episodes of FRONTLINE, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and Bill Moyers Journal, and other award-winning news programs.

What is your key to survival?

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