Extinction Is Still Complicated: Curiosity Stream’s New Documentary De-Extinction Explores the Promise and Perils of Species Revival

SILVER SPRING, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Is bringing a species back from extinction truly possible, or are we simply creating something new in its image? As headlines swirl around the highly publicized birth of three wolf pups, Curiosity Stream (Nasdaq: CURI) is set to premiere the Curiosity Original film De-Extinction on July 17^th. The documentary dives headfirst into the scientific breakthroughs, public misconceptions, and ethical dilemmas at the heart of this cutting-edge field.

De-Extinction follows the pioneering, and at times polarizing, work of scientists racing to reverse the tide of biodiversity loss. In multiple labs and in the field from Australia to Siberia, to Germany and the U.S., scientists are pushing the boundaries of what's possible with gene editing and synthetic biology. Among them are researchers from Colossal Biosciences, the biotech company in the spotlight for its work on the long-extinct dire wolf. But are Colossal’s new pups dire wolves or are they genetically engineered animals inspired by them? And what does that mean for the future of de-extinction?

“Science isn’t magic, and the story is more complex than the headlines suggest,” says John Cavanagh, Executive Producer for Curiosity. “This is an incredible breakthrough. Genetic research has let us understand evolution like never before. De-Extinction captures the potential of this moment, showing how radical science could shape the future of life on Earth. But it's also a sobering look at what’s at stake.”

With access to cutting-edge labs and world-leading researchers, the documentary peels back the layers of hype to reveal the real science and the real stakes behind efforts to bring back species like the woolly mammoth, the Tasmanian tiger, the northern white rhino, the aurochs -- an extinct species of bovine considered to be the wild ancestor of modern domestic cattle, and of course, the dire wolf. Once confined to science fiction, species revival is rapidly becoming part of the conservation conversation. But as we lose up to 150 species a day in what many call the planet’s sixth mass extinction, De-Extinction challenges viewers to reconsider what “extinct” really means and whether humanity is prepared for the consequences of reversing it.

De-Extinction premieres July 17th exclusively on Curiosity Stream.

About CuriosityStream Inc.

CuriosityStream Inc. (Nasdaq: CURI) is the entertainment brand for people who want to know more. The global media company is home to award-winning original and curated factual films, shows, and series covering science, nature, history, technology, society, and lifestyle. With millions of subscribers worldwide and thousands of titles, the company operates the flagship Curiosity Stream SVOD service, available in more than 175 countries worldwide; Curiosity Channel, the linear television channel available via global distribution partners; Curiosity University, featuring talks from the best professors at the world's most renowned universities as well as courses, short and long-form videos, and podcasts; Curiosity Now, Curiosity Explora, and other free, ad-supported channels; Curiosity Audio Network, with original content and podcasts; and Curiosity Studios, which oversees original programming. For more information, visit CuriosityStream.com.