How The Universe Works

How does light escape from the sun? We take a journey from the center of the sun, following the path of light. We witness its fiery birth from in the core, its 430,000 mile battle against gravity and magnetism, and its escape from the solar surface.

Stars: Erik Dellums, Richard Lintern, Holly Gilbert
Writer(s): Eleanor Grant

How and when will the Universe end? Gravity and dark matter are poised to annihilate the Universe in a big crunch. Expansion and dark energy may tear it apart. Or, a phase transition could kill us tomorrow in a cosmic death bubble.

Stars: Richard Lintern, Mike Rowe, Michelle Thaller
Director(s): Mark Bridge
Writer(s): Eleanor Grant

Beneath Jupiter's swirling clouds lie our solar system's deepest secrets: from its violent youth, through the birth of life to the death of the sun. Now, scientists are unlocking these secrets and discovering that every living thing exists tha to Jupiter.

Stars: Richard Lintern, Mike Rowe, Phil Plait
Director(s): Mark Bridge
Writer(s): Eleanor Grant

The first second of the Universe, the creation of everything when space, time, matter and energy burst into existence. It is the most important second in history, which seals the Universe's fate and defines everything that comes after - including us.

Stars: Richard Lintern, Mike Rowe, Lawrence Krauss
Director(s): Mark Bridge
Writer(s): Eleanor Grant

Saturn's secrets are out. The ferocious weather, the evolving ring system and the discovery of active geology on Saturn's moons has rewritten the textbooks. Scientists are looking for life on Saturn's moons and they may have found...

Stars: Erik Dellums, Richard Lintern, Mike Rowe
Director(s): Mark Bridge
Writer(s): Eleanor Grant

An overview of historical mass extinctions and what is in store for the future.

Stars: Erik Dellums, Richard Lintern, Michio Kaku
Director(s): Mark Bridge
Writer(s): Eleanor Grant

What built the Milky Way? New research might now have the answer, revealing an unlikely hero. At the heart of our galaxy sits a super massive black hole, one of the most destructive objects in the Universe. Could it be our creator?

Stars: Richard Lintern, Mike Rowe, Michio Kaku
Director(s): Mark Bridge
Writer(s): Eleanor Grant

One day, a cosmic disaster will make life on Earth impossible. To survive, we must find a new home amongst the stars. Scientists are already developing new propulsion systems to take us to these distant worlds.

Stars: Richard Lintern, Mike Rowe, Michelle Thaller
Director(s): Mark Bridge
Writer(s): Eleanor Grant

Is there another Earth out there with liquid oceans, rocky continents and life like us? Astronomers seek the answer with spectroscopy, direct imaging and telescopes. They hope to find evidence of atmospheres, magnetospheres and signs of life.

Stars: Richard Lintern, Mike Rowe, James S. Bullock
Director(s): Mark Bridge
Writer(s): Eleanor Grant