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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

Eske_PosterArt - On Hunt for the Oldest DNA

Eske Willerslev

Handful of Films Inc

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…

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