Watch Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer

2021
1 Season
7.4 (66)

Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer is a six-part documentary series that premiered on PBS in 2021. The show explores the fascinating history of medicine and public health and how our knowledge and understanding of these fields have led to longer, healthier lives.

The series is hosted by two renowned experts, David Olusoga and Steven Johnson. Olusoga is a British-Nigerian historian and broadcaster, and Johnson is an American author and media theorist. Together, they take viewers on a journey through time, looking at how advances in medicine, technology and social conditions have impacted human lifespan.

The first episode, "Clean Air," examines the devastating effects of pollution and how people throughout history have struggled with air quality. It covers the industrial revolution in Britain, the history of smoking and the complex science of air pollution. The second episode, "Infectious Disease," focuses on the deadly epidemics humanity has faced, from the black death in the middle ages to the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s.

In the third episode, "The Anti-germ Theory," Olusoga and Johnson investigate how modern medicine has been shaped by the germ theory of disease. They explore the work of pioneers like Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch who discovered that diseases like cholera and tuberculosis were caused by bacteria. The fourth episode, "Public Health," looks at the history of public health and how the sanitation revolution in the 19th century led to better living conditions and longer lives.

In the fifth episode, "Vaccines," the hosts explore the history of vaccination from the smallpox vaccine developed by Edward Jenner to the COVID-19 vaccines developed in record time. They also delve into the controversies and misinformation surrounding vaccines and how they have affected public health.

The final episode, "The Future," takes a look at the emerging technologies and innovations that could change the future of medicine and health. From personalized medicine to gene editing to artificial intelligence, Olusoga and Johnson explore the exciting possibilities of these cutting-edge technologies.

Overall, Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer is a thought-provoking and informative series that combines history, science and technology to tell the story of how we have come to live longer, healthier lives. With stunning visuals, compelling interviews and expert analysis, this series is a must-watch for anyone interested in the history of medicine and public health.

Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer is a series that ran for 1 seasons (4 episodes) between May 11, 2021 and on PBS

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Seasons

4. Behavior

June 1, 2021

Behavior examines the importance of public engagement during a health crisis, from the discovery that the simple act of handwashing could save lives in a 19th Century Viennese maternity hospital - to facemasks and lockdowns used to combat the Spanish flu 100 years ago, along with what we are experiencing today.

3. Medicine

May 25, 2021

Medicine focuses on the more recent medical inventions that combat illness directly, particularly antibiotics, and the development of antiviral drugs for HIV. Knowledge of how to produce safe, effective drugs and distribute them quickly around the globe now underpins work to find treatments for COVID-19.

2. Data

May 18, 2021

Data looks at how the emergence of fact-based research, data mapping and analysis has improved public health. The practice evolved out of the 19th century science of epidemiology and cholera mortality reports in the 1840s, where the now ubiquitous "curve" of an epidemic was first documented.

1. Vaccines

May 11, 2021

Vaccines explores the history and use of vaccination, from early practices in Africa introduced to America during the slave trade and Thomas Jefferson's clinical trials, to the first anti-vax protests in the 19th century and COVID-19 today.

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Where to Watch Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer

Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer is available for streaming on the PBS website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer on demand at and PBS.