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Natural World Facts

Engaging Platforms - Finalist

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Robots in the Deep (ft. SOI)

Official Selection

About NWF

I'm Leo Richards, and Natural World Facts is my life's work and passion project; it's my vessel for wildlife film-making, science communication, writing, and beyond, and I'm keen for it to be as collaborative as possible!

On YouTube, my films have been viewed more than 74 million times and amassed 680,000 subscribers. In 2022, NWF was a finalist in the Engaging Platforms category of the Jackson Wild Media Awards; in 2023, my film Robots in the Deep was shortlisted as official selection in the International Ocean Film Festival.

Please get in touch if you would like to work with me on any nature-related film or project. Click below to view a portfolio of some of my previous collaborations.

About

“It is the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.”

 

- Charles Darwin

Collaborations

WHO I WORK WITH:

Contact

Let's chat!

If you're a fan or potential collaborator, I would love to hear from you! I'm open to discussing anything, and will endeavour to reply to all messages. But here are my particular interests.

  1. Science Communication Projects

  2. Wildlife Film Production

  3. Deep-sea Content and Exploration

  4. Presenting and Narration

Thanks for contacting me!

  • YouTube
  • TikTok
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
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Rhinopias, Coral Triangle

Shot by Edi Frommenwiler for Underwater Paradise.

Leo Richards, wildlife presenter at Natural World Facts

About Leo

Leo Richards is the founder and presenter of Natural World Facts. He is 20 years old, and currently studying Marine Biology at the University of Southampton.

A bit of background...

I set up Natural World Facts in 2012 with my brother when I was 9 years old, already with a passion for the natural world. More than a decade later, the project is still going, with frequent videos posted on a variety of natural history topics over on my YouTube channel. My fondness for nature began to grow when I was around 2 years old, for I spent my time digging around in our little London back garden (much to my mum's dismay), gathering what I found into little jars and matchboxes for later study. Worms, beetles, earwigs, you name it! But what fascinated me most were the woodlice - these captivating little crustaceans that seemed so out of place among the others.  As I grew older, I became captivated by David Attenborough's films. The DVD for his series 'Life' had come free with mum's newspaper, and it opened my eyes to the natural wonders beyond the garden wall. The great migrations of whales crossing entire oceans, the conflicts of penguins and leopard seals in the frozen seas of Antarctica, and the wonders of coral reefs. That's when I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to see and protect these breathtaking creatures, and I wanted to talk about them on TV just like the man who'd inspired me! In 2010, my tech-whizz older brother helped me set up a blog where I published daily nature facts - my first ever foray into science communication! In 2011, I decided I didn't just want to write facts about animals, I wanted to present them! Remembering how captivating I'd found Attenborough's films, this felt like a natural step. We re-branded as Natural World Facts, set up a new website, and on the 8th of August 2012, I released my first ever video. I kept on making these films. While I wrote and presented, my brother would film and edit, releasing the videos on our YouTube channel. When he left for University, I took over everything. The channel grew slowly, gathered a small but friendly community of followers who believed in me and encouraged me to keep going! It wasn't until 2021 when everything changed. After an almost 3-year absence from YouTube, I created a film about a species of deep-sea shark which had captivated me! I'd seen it on an episode of River Monsters, where Jeremy Wade hauled a great hulking Greenland shark out from the depths of the Arctic Ocean! I don't know what spurred me to make a film about it, but it was the moment I developed my fascination for the deep sea. Since then, I've created over 50 documentaries about deep sea topics, covering everything from hydrothermal vents to deepwater brine pools and coral gardens! I set up an interactive Deep Sea Hub on this website to compliment those films, including a scale vertical model of the ocean allowing users to scroll through successive zones. In late 2021 I began studying Marine Biology at the University of Southampton, and through my course I made connections with deep-sea scientists, exploration organisations, and science communicators who shared my passion to communicate the wonders of the natural world and deep sea with a wider audience. It's my hope that someday I might be able to work on wildlife documentaries for television or streaming services, in particular with the BBC Natural History Unit. In 2022 I joined the youth council of Reserva: The Youth Land Trust, which aims to create youth-funded nature reserves around the globe, and is nearing its first goal to protect 1,050 acres of Cloud Forest from mining in Ecuador.

About Leo

WHAT I DO:

What I Do

Film-making

I have been creating films about the natural world for more than a decade, including original productions (British Wildlife series), collaborations with exploration organisations and talented individuals using their existing archive footage (Underwater Paradise, Deep Sea Wonders), and films for external clients (Great Big Story, UN Ocean Decade).

To work with me on a collaborative project, or commission a film, get in touch using the form above.

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Ocean Watch | A Tale of Deep Sea Exploration
40:13

Ocean Watch | A Tale of Deep Sea Exploration

Ocean Watch: A Tale of Deep Sea Exploration, created in collaboration with Schmidt Ocean Institute. Support my work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/naturalworldfacts Written, narrated and edited by me, Leo Richards. This channel (Natural World Facts) is my passion project dedicated to exploring the wonders of the natural world and telling stories that inspire! This film is unusual in that it is my first piece of contract work, commissioned by Schmidt Ocean Institute, who have kindly given me permission to post it here on YouTube - so the style might seem a little different to usual, but I had a blast making it. The film premiered at the Royal Institution in London. See the film's outro for full credits. Thank you to everyone at SOI who recorded the footage, gave interviews, piloted the ROV, kept the ship running, and managed a boat-load (literally) of media and footage to make this film possible! Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI) is a non-profit oceanographic research foundation that has been pioneering deep-sea research and discovery since 2009, on board their old vessel RV Falkor and their new RV Falkor (too). Their remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian is equipped with a suite of sensors and a 4K camera that has illuminated the depths and live-streamed dives around the world. Most footage shown is filmed and provided by SOI. Check out their website: https://schmidtocean.org/ 00:00 - Introduction to the Deep Ocean 05:39 - 1 - In Search of Hydrothermal Lost Cities 06:58 - 1 - Hydrothermal Vents of the Puy de Folles Seamount 08:46 - 1 - Hydrothermal Vent Formation and Processes 10:37 - 2 - The Underworld of Hydrothermal Vents 11:52 - 2 - The Tica Vent Field 12:43 - 2 - The Giant Tube Worm, Riftia pachyptila 13:43 - 2 - The Dispersal of Life at Hydrothermal Vents 14:35 - 2 - A New Deep Sea Ecosystem 15:17 - 3 - Octopus Odyssey: The Octopus Gardens 16:47 - 3 - New Findings at the Octopus Gardens 17:55 - 3 - Muusoctopus: Reproduction and Hatching 19:15 - 4 - Health Diagnostics of Deep Sea Corals 20:34 - 4 - Mesophotic Corals of Puerto Rico 22:19 - 4 - DISCO & SOLARIS: Reactive Oxygen Species Sensors 24:31 - 5 - Vertical Reefs of the Galapagos 25:29 - 5 - Corals of the Vertical Reefs 26:17 - 5 - Mapping the Vertical Reefs 27:05 - 5 - Wonders of the Deep Galapagos 27:57 - 6 - Ultra Fine-Scale Seafloor Mapping 30:01 - 6 - Innovations in Deep Sea Exploration 31:26 - 6 - Mapping the Deep Sea Floor 32:51 - 7 - The Challenges of Exploring the Deep 33:45 - 7 - Hydrothermal Vents of the Galapagos 34:31 - 7 - The Great Squat Lobster Trail 35:20 - 7 - A Newly Discovered Hydrothermal Vent Field 35:56 - The True Extent of the Deep Sea 38:17 - The Achievements of Falkor (too) 39:14 - Outro and Credits CHECK OUT MY DEEP SEA WEBSITE: https://naturalworldfacts.com/deep-sea-hub/ Music Used: All tracks sourced from Artlist. #deepsea #wildlife #nature #documentary #ocean #marinebiology #science #biology
Ocean Watch (Official Trailer) | A Story of Deep Sea Exploration
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Ocean Watch (Official Trailer) | A Story of Deep Sea Exploration

Announcing an exciting new film project with Schmidt Ocean Institute! Join us in-person at the Royal Institution in London on the 27th January (7pm) for the world premier of Ocean Watch, a 40-minute documentary film featuring new deep-sea discoveries and showcasing mesmerising never-before-seen deep sea footage from Schmidt Ocean Institute and their new global-glass research vessel, R/V Falkor (too)! Book your tickets to the premier at the Royal Institution in London here (disclaimer - I don't make any money from ticketing): https://www.rigb.org/whats-on/world-premiere-ocean-watch There will be an in-person Q&A following the film with writer/director/narrator Leo Richards (me :D), facilitated by Dr. Carlie Wiener, Head of Communications at Schmidt Ocean Institute. -- Film bio: Our planet’s oceans, a realm shrouded in mystery, cover 70% of the Earth’s surface, yet a staggering 95% remains unexplored and unknown. These waters hold secrets more fascinating than our wildest imaginings, landscapes more alien than any distant planet, and biodiversity that rivals the densest rainforests’ richness. Join us aboard the state-of-the-art research vessel, R/V Falkor (too), a beacon of modern oceanographic exploration. Equipped with leading-edge technology and an advanced underwater robot capable of plunging to depths of 4,500 meters, R/V Falkor (too) is your gateway to witnessing the uncharted wonders of the deep sea. Experience the thrill of discovery as our expert team unveils groundbreaking findings from their latest scientific missions. Immerse yourself in the mesmerising beauty of underwater ecosystems, never before seen by human eyes—marvel at unveiling new species, each a puzzle piece in understanding our planet’s most enigmatic environment. Witness the groundbreaking research and innovative technologies shining a light into the ocean’s darkest depths. Schmidt Ocean Institute, Natural World Facts and the Ri invite you, ocean enthusiasts, budding marine biologists, and curious minds of all ages, to embark on this unparalleled adventure. Also hear from Schmidt Ocean Institute's executive director, Jyotika Virmani, who will speak at the Ri on Monday 22 January 2024 about charting the unknown depths! Book tickets to that separate event here: https://www.rigb.org/whats-on/oceanic-enigma-charting-unknown-95 #ocean #oceanlife #deepsea #wildlifedocumentary
Mysteries of the Twilight Zone | Worlds of the Deep
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Mysteries of the Twilight Zone | Worlds of the Deep

The Deep Sea Twilight Zone | Worlds of the Deep episode 1, a collaboration with Schmidt Ocean Institute. Thank you to Masterworks for sponsoring Natural World Facts. Skip the waitlist and invest in blue-chip art for the very first time by signing up for Masterworks: https://www.masterworks.art/nwf - See important Masterworks disclosures: https://www.masterworks.com/cd In the deep ocean, life is concentrated at chemosynthetic oases where primary production is made possible via chemosynthesis at cold seeps and deep sea hydrothermal vents. The non-chemosynthetic regions of the deep are divided into two very different worlds. First is the midwater, where pelagic wanderers tread migratory routes that span entire oceans, and planktonic drifters and their predators take part in bioluminescent light shows. It is separated into zones based on depth, including the sunlight zone (epipelagic), twilight zone (mesopelagic), midnight zone (bathypelagic), abyssal and hadal zones. And below, lies the deep sea floor. A kingdom of mud and ooze, where sessile creatures cling to any solid outcrop and corals craft kingdoms on the seamount crusts. The worlds of the deep sea could not be more different, and yet their stories are fundamentally intertwined. In this episode, we delve into the Twilight Zone. Support my work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/naturalworldfacts Episodes: 1 - The Twilight Zone 2 - The Midnight Zone - coming soon 3 - The Abyssal Plain - coming soon 4 - Seamounts and Canyons - coming soon 5 - Hydrothermal Vents - coming soon Written, narrated and edited by me, Leo Richards. This channel (Natural World Facts) is a solo passion project dedicated to exploring the wonders of the natural world and telling stories that inspire! I'm so excited to share this series with you at last. Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI) is a non-profit oceanographic research foundation that has been pioneering deep-sea research and discovery since 2009, on board their old vessel RV Falkor and their new RV Falkor (too). Their remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian is equipped with a suite of sensors and a 4K camera that has illuminated the depths and live-streamed dives around the world. Most footage shown is filmed and provided by SOI. Huge thank you to them for contributing their footage, and working with me to create this series! Check out their website: https://schmidtocean.org/ 00:00 - Introduction to the Deep Ocean 04:04 - The Ocean Midwater 05:21 - Introducing Schmidt Ocean Institute 06:54 - The Sunlight Zone (Epipelagic) 08:51 - The Twilight Zone (Mesopelagic) 10:40 - Twilight Zone Drifters - Gossamer Worm 11:28 - Twilight Zone Drifters - Bloody-belly Comb Jelly 12:12 - Twilight Zone Drifters - Swimming Sea Snails 12:48 - Twilight Zone Drifters - Deep Sea Siphonophores 14:47 - Twilight Zone Drifters - Meroplankton and Larvae 15:35 - Twilight Zone Drifters - The Life Cycle of Jellyfish 16:31 - Twilight Zone Drifters - Deep Sea Jellyfish 17:38 - Introducing Nekton - Active Swimmers 18:38 - Deep Sea Cephalopods - The Glass Octopus 19:10 - Deep Sea Cephalopods - The Glass Squid 19:52 - Deep Sea Cephalopods - Inking as Defence 20:41 - Deep Sea Cephalopods - Mimicry of Swordtail Squid 21:43 - Deep Sea Cephalopods - Hunting Techniques 22:38 - Deep Sea Adaptations - Countershading and Counter-illumination 23:54 - Deep Sea Adaptations - Silvering in Cutlassfish 25:43 - Deep Sea Adaptations - Silvering in Hatchetfish 27:00 - Deep Sea Adaptations - Strawberry Squid 27:40 - Vertical Migration - Introduction 29:14 - Vertical Migration - the Largest Migration 30:50 - Vertical Migration - Deep Sea Lanternfish and Humboldt Squid 32:30 - Vertical Migration - the Deep Sea Food Web 33:55 - The Midnight Zone (Bathypelagic) 35:13 - Sponsored Segment - Masterworks X NWF CHECK OUT MY DEEP SEA WEBSITE: https://naturalworldfacts.com/deep-sea-hub/ Disclaimer from sponsor: This video and information about Masterworks are not targeted to residents of any particular country or jurisdiction. Investing involves risk and the value of investments can go up as well as down. Before investing you should review the offering circular for the particular offering you are considering, including the section entitled "Risk Factors". Masterworks and its agents are not registered to of er investment services in any non-U.S. jurisdiction and the offerings have not been registered, reviewed, or approved by any regulatory authority in any non-U.S. jurisdiction. Accordingly, non-U.S. residents must take reasonable steps to confirm that their participation in a Masterworks offering does not violate the laws of the jurisdiction in which they reside. Music Used: All tracks sourced from Artlist, aside from the closing track which was created by Tatiana A. Gordeva. #deepsea #wildlife #nature #documentary #ocean #marinebiology #science #biology
Into the Abyss: Worlds of the Deep (Official Trailer)
02:56

Into the Abyss: Worlds of the Deep (Official Trailer)

Explore the wonders of the deep ocean as you've never seen them before! In this collaborative film series, I am working with Schmidt Ocean Institute and their extensive library of 4K footage from an array the deep sea's remarkable ecosystems to bring their discoveries to light through a series of immersive films. Below are the episodes in order (subject to change). 1 - The Twilight Zone 2 - The Midnight Zone 3 - The Abyssal Plain 4 - Seamounts and Canyons 5 - Hydrothermal Vents I will also release two compiled films combining the midwater episodes and the sea floor episodes: 1 - Into the Abyss: The Midwater World (Full Movie) 2 - Into the Abyss: The Deep Sea Floor (Full Movie) Schmidt Ocean Institute is a non-profit oceanographic research foundation that has been pioneering deep-sea research and discovery since 2009, on board their old vessel RV Falkor and their brand new RV Falkor (too), the most advanced marine research vessels in the world. Their remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian is equipped with a suite of sensors and a 4K camera that has illuminated the depths and live-streamed dives around the world. All footage shown is filmed and provided by Schmidt Ocean Institute. Huge thank you to them for allowing me to access their footage, and work alongside them to create this series! Check out their website: https://schmidtocean.org/ Written, narrated and edited by me, Leo Richards. This channel (Natural World Facts) is a solo passion project dedicated to exploring the wonders of the natural world and telling stories that inspire! I'm so excited to share this series with you at last.
Deep Sea Gigantism | Why the Ocean Breeds Giants
32:49

Deep Sea Gigantism | Why the Ocean Breeds Giants

Deep Sea Gigantism | Why Creatures of the Deep Grow so Large. Enter at https://www.omaze.com/naturalworldfacts for your chance to win a Custom Tesla® Model S-APEX and support a great cause, the Petersen Automotive Museum. The experience closes on January 27th at 11:59pm PST and I promise, you don’t want to miss this! Deep sea (abyssal) gigantism demonstrates the role of natural selection in driving evolution and survival, particularly in an environment characterised by challenging conditions and limited resources. Evolution tends towards the most effective adaptations to grant animals the best chances of survival. And whether large or small, evolution selects for the best-adapted body size to survive these conditions. Though widely debated and often controversial, the research that has been done into the science behind deep sea gigantism has significant implications in the human world; it is believed that climate change may have a greater impact on ocean dwellers than any other population of animals. As the colder oceans warm up, the balance of temperature, oxygen supply, and what organisms are present, will throw the equilibrium off course. And the giants, which rely so heavily on this fine balance, may be the first to go. Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/naturalworldfacts 00:00 - Introduction to Deep Sea Gigantism 02:27 - Kleiber's Rule - The Pressure Misconception 04:06 - Kleiber's Rule - How Buoyancy Enables Gigantism 05:00 - Kleiber's Rule - The Efficiency of Larger Animals 05:52 - Kleiber's Rule - Food Availability in the Deep Sea 07:00 - Gigantism Examples - Gigantism in Amphipods 08:45 - Gigantism Examples - The Colossal Squid 09:18 - Gigantism Examples - The Humboldt Squid 09:38 - Gigantism Examples - The Magnapinna (Bigfin Squid) 10:52 - Gigantism Examples - The Sleeper Sharks 13:41 - Kleiber's Rule - Metabolism of Deep Sea Giants 14:59 - Kleiber's Rule - Gigantism in Sponges 16:02 - Polar Gigantism - Bergmann's Rule 17:43 - Polar Gigantism - Giant Polar Invertebrates 20:00 - Polar Gigantism - The Oxygen-Temperature Hypothesis 21:34 - Polar Gigantism - A Fragile Ecosystem 23:05 - The Island Rule - A Scale Model of Evolution 24:20 - The Island Rule - Adaptive Radiation (Darwin's Finches) 25:19 - Insular Gigantism and Dwarfism 26:29 - Deep Sea Gigantism and Dwarfism 28:16 - The Island Rule - Islands and the Deep Sea 29:40 - Conclusion CHECK OUT MY DEEP SEA WEBSITE: [https://naturalworldfacts.com/deep-sea-hub/](https://naturalworldfacts.com/deep-sea-hub/) Written, Narrated and Edited by Leo Richards I do not own any of the footage. I write the script, narrate, and edit what footage I can find, which is allowed due to YouTube's 'Fair Use' policy as these films are transformative and for educational purposes. Footage used belongs to the incredible marine conservation societies of Schmidt Ocean Institute, MBARI, WHOI and the Ocean Exploration Institute, along with various other YouTube sources. Most footage is used with explicit permission of the copyright owner. In cases where I cannot contact the owner or have not received a reply, I use certain clips in accordance with the Fair Use policy. Music Used: Ocean by Aleksey Chistilin Il. Largo by Hawkins Under Canopies by Spearfisher Ripples by Tamuz Dekel Parallel Dimension by Onyx Music Marakana by Alon Peretz Come Back Home by Ardie Son Elapsed by Sémø Life by O.B Waiting for a New Day by Aleksey Chistilin Stream by ANBR Sun Up by Laurel Violet Home of the Gumon by Gareth Coker Slow Tides by Eleven Tales Beneath the Mountain by Rising Tide Autumn Nights by O.B #deepsea #wildlife #nature #documentary #ocean #marinebiology #science #biology Bibliography: The Island Rule and the evolution of body size in the deep sea - JSTOR (no date). Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/3838549.pdf Vermeij, G.J. (2016) Gigantism and its implications for the history of life, PloS one. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4714876/ (Accessed: November 14, 2022). Why do some creatures in the deep sea grow to enormous sizes? (2022) Science ABC. Available at: https://www.scienceabc.com/nature/animals/creatures-deep-sea-grow-enormous-sizes.html
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