Stories about science can be a tough sell to friends and family, particularly if they lack the human-centred narratives of a political scandal or court case. Luckily that isn’t so in a documentary that had its UK launch recently. Hunt for the Oldest DNA is a tight, well-produced work that focuses on a competitive, adventurous, rule-breaker called Eske Willerslev (pictured above), who bet his career on finding prehistoric DNA in Arctic permafrost. There are some flaws – the harm Willerslev’s ambition causes to others deserved more attention – but the overall result is a…
Life
New Scientist recommends documentary Hunt for the Oldest DNA
The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week
By Tom Leslie
23 October 2024