James Burke was one of the best things about PBS when I was younger. I wish I could thank him personally for quenching my voracious appetite for learning back in the days when science shows were hard to come by.
I dont know how this was recommended to be but for a nearly 50 year old documentary im fascinated and humbled in equal measure. The great link that combines us as a species stretching back millenia
I've enjoyed his many films and series and books. 'The Day the Universe Change.' Brilliant. Also took note of the repeated mentioning of the efforts that were often needed to perform these mental tasks, as 'noodling' or 'obsessively triple checking,' indeed. And we are mostly all better off for this obsessively compulsive behaviors. PBS' 'Secrets of the Dead,' and 'NOVA' and other documentaries also express this observation. A lot. Sort of a historical hint that is typically ignored.