Season 1 |
| 1 :01x01 - Secrets of the Sun (May/29/2007) | | It is a fireball in the sky, a bubbling, boiling, kinetic sphere of white hot plasma, exploding and erupting. Its size is almost unimaginable--one million Earths would fit within its boundaries. In this violence is born almost all the energy that makes existence on Earth possible, yet, its full mysteries are only now beginning to be understood. From Sun spots to solar eclipses, solar flares to solar storms, the birth of the sun to its potential death, discover the science and history behind this celestial object that makes life on Earth exist. | | Guest Stars: Neil Tyson as Himself | Director: Douglas Cohen
Writer: Douglas Cohen | |
| |
| 2 :01x02 - Mars: The Red Planet (Jun/05/2007) | | It has been fifty years since man first ventured into space, but the greatest secrets are yet to be revealed. Mars is the planet in our solar system most similar to Earth despite otherworldly features such as the largest volcano in the Solar System. Rumors of life on Mars may be substantiated as NASA orbiters and rovers discover new evidence of frozen water just beneath the rusty soil. Did alien life exist there? As Earth reels with the effects of global warming, Mars becomes the most likely candidate for eventual human habitation. Cutting-edge computer graphics are used to show what life would be like on Mars, and to imagine what kind of life forms might evolve in alien atmospheres. | | Guest Stars: Neil Tyson as Himself, Professor William Hartmann as Himself, Everett Gibson as Himself | Director: Tony Long
Writer: Tony Long | |
| |
|
| |
| 4 :01x04 - Jupiter: The Giant Planet (Jun/19/2007) | | The giant planet of Jupiter poses some of the most intriguing questions about our solar system. With a mini solar system of over sixty moons around Jupiter, is it possible that one could contain life? | |
| |
|
| |
| 6 :01x06 - Spaceship Earth (Jul/10/2007) | | Take a high performance ride through the formation of the third planet from the Sun, Earth. A survivor of one of the most violent "neighborhoods" in the universe, learn how earth was created and discover what creatures hold clues to how life began. What evil forces threaten the demise of Earth? Complex and controversial, this is the scientific detective story of all time. Cutting-edge graphics are used along with the stories of scientists and explorers who dare to venture into the uncharted territory of the cosmos. | | Guest Stars: Professor Ken Nealson as Himself | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| 9 :01x09 - Alien Galaxies (Jul/31/2007) | | To know our place in the universe take a look far, far away to the realm of Alien Galaxies. Our galaxy is one of hundreds of billions in the universe. The Milky Way consists of more than a billion stars, our sun being only one of them. Take a view of the universe through the Hubble Space telescope and go back almost all the way to the Big Bang. Cutting-edge computer graphics are used to bring the universe down to earth to show what life would be like on other planets, and to imagine what life forms might evolve in alien atmospheres. | |
| |
| 10 :01x10 - Life And Death Of A Star (Aug/07/2007) | | Ignited by the power of the atom, burning with light, heat and wrath, stars are anything but peaceful. They collide, devour each other, and explode in enormous supernovas--the biggest explosions in the Universe. Using cutting-edge computer graphics, never-before-seen satellite images, and interviews with the world's leading astronomers, take a front row seat to the most amazing light show in the cosmos. | |
| |
| 11 :01x11 - The Outer Planets (Aug/14/2007) | | New discoveries regarding the Outer Planets are creating a fundamental rethinking of our solar system. Uranus is a toxic combination of hydrogen, helium and methane. Scientists speculate that the planet was knocked on its side after colliding with another body. Neptune's largest moon, Triton, is cold and barren, but some scientists speculate that liquid water might exist under Triton's icy surface. If this is proven true, Triton could be the home to one of the biggest discoveries of all time. Cold and inhospitable, Pluto completes one orbit around the solar system every 248 years. Cutting-edge computer graphics are used to bring the universe down to earth to show what life would be like on other planets, and to imagine what kind of life forms might evolve in alien atmospheres. | |
| |
|
| |
| 13 :01x13 - Search for ET (Aug/28/2007) | | In a galaxy filled with a billion stars, in a universe filled with a hundred billion galaxies--are we alone? SETI--the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence--is a privately funded project using radio telescopes and optical telescopes to scan the stars for signals. NASA is planning missions to Mars, Jupiter's sixth moon, Europa, and Saturn's largest moon, Titan, to look for primitive, microbial life in ice concentrations. Whether we discover primitive or intelligent life, how will that knowledge impact humankind's view of itself? Cutting-edge computer graphics are used to bring the universe down to earth to show what life would be like on other planets, and to imagine what kind of life forms might evolve in alien atmospheres. | |
| |
| 14 :01x14 - Beyond the Big Bang (Sep/04/2007) | | The Big Bang theory and the creation of the universe are examined. Included: interviews with physicists and historians. | |
| |
Season 2 |
|
| |
| 16 :02x02 - Cosmic Holes (Dec/04/2007) | | A closer look into the mysterious holes formed in space. Included is black holes and their variations, wormholes and white holes. | |
| |
| 17 :02x03 - Mysteries of the Moon (Dec/11/2007) | | Uncover the mystery of the moon, as well as the meaning behind the moon in several cultures, from a god to a timekeeper. Some argue that without the moon, humanity would never have come to be. | |
| |
| 18 :02x04 - The Milky Way (Dec/18/2007) | | Countless wonders exist between the earth and the Milky Way. Watch as The Universe takes viewers inside the 100,000 light-year-wide cluster of stars and phenomena. | |
| |
| 19 :02x05 - Alien Moons (Jan/08/2008) | | The Universe goes inside the Kuiper Belt to explore the moons surrounding the planets of the solar system. Some contain volcanic fury while others have the possibility of alien life. | |
| |
| 20 :02x06 - Dark Matter (Jan/15/2008) | | Despite not having a clear knowledge of what it is, scientists know that Dark Matter and Dark Energy make up 96% of the universe. Discovered only a decade ago, scientists continue to study their characteristics. With computer graphics, watch as Dark Matter and Dark Energy are brought closer to Earth. | | Guest Stars: Michio Kaku as Himself | |
| |
|
| |
| 22 :02x08 - Space Travel (Feb/05/2008) | | Scientists are working on a vast plethora of new technologies in hopes of traveling through space at a rate fast enough to explore the far ends of the universe. See the science behind the notion of warp-speed and the theories that show it is possible for a particle to travel faster than light. | | Guest Stars: Neil Tyson as Himself, Michio Kaku as Himself | |
| |
| 23 :02x09 - Supernovas (Feb/12/2008) | A stellar explosion, the supernova is the sensational death of a star. It can shine as bright as 100 billion Suns and radiate as much energy as the Sun would emit over 10 billion years. Jets of high-energy light and matter are propelled into space and can cause massive Gamma Ray Bursts and emit intense X-ray radiation for thousands of years. Astronomers believe that this process creates the very building blocks of planets, people and plants. Meet the world's leading Supernova hunters, and take a look at recorded supernovas throughout history.
Source: History.com | |
| |
| 24 :02x10 - Constellations (Feb/19/2008) | A constellation is a group of stars that are connected together to form a figure or picture. These star pictures help organize the night sky and provide a useful tool for astronomers even today. Explore some of the 88 official constellations and learn about some of the highlights of each--like the star that's due to go supernova in the constellation Orion. Discover the 13th zodiac sign that no one talks about, and find out why Polaris, the North Star, will one day have to surrender its title.
Source: History Channel | | Guest Stars: Amy Mainzer as Herself, Michio Kaku as Himself | |
| |
| 25 :02x11 - Unexplained Mysteries (Feb/26/2008) | | A look at myths and mysteries concerning the universe. Includes a possibility that life can be sustained on Mars, an examination of time travel, and the theory of a Dark Star as a companion of our sun. Also, a closer look at the Big Bang theory. | | Guest Stars: Kim Stanley Robinson as Himself, Michio Kaku as Himself | |
| |
| 26 :02x12 - Cosmic Collisions (Mar/04/2008) | It's been said that our universe is a cosmic shooting gallery. Gravity is moving everything around and things are bound to collide. Astronomers are attempting to understand how these collisions occur in the dark recesses of space. Learn about collisional families, which are clusters of comets and asteroids; planetary collisions; mass extinction impacts involving asteroids and comets; stars collisions; and galaxy cluster collisions. Cutting-edge computer graphics are used to bring this series down to earth as the heavens yield their greatest secrets.
Source: History Channel | | Guest Stars: Amy Mainzer as Herself | |
| |
| 27 :02x13 - Colonizing Space (Mar/11/2008) | Space colonization is no longer the fodder of science fiction, it is becoming a reality. Examine the efforts underway to establish a human colony on Mars, including how they plan to grow food, recycle wastewater and introduce greenhouse gases to revive the red planet and make it more habitable for humans. Cutting-edge computer graphics are used to bring the universe down to earth to show what life would be like on Mars, and to imagine what kind of life forms might evolve in alien atmospheres.
Source: History Channel | | Guest Stars: Michio Kaku as Himself, David Brin as Himself | |
| |
| 28 :02x14 - Nebulas (Apr/01/2008) | Take a tour through the "Art Gallery of the Galaxy" and view what are considered the "crown jewels" of the heavens. Nebulas are mysterious clouds of gas that aren't classified as stars, planets, moons or asteroids. Astronomers use the most sophisticated techniques to view them since they are practically invisible to the naked eye. Nothing less than stunning, nebulas glow, reflect or obscure the galaxy's light with amazing swirls of color. Nebulas mark the regions where the nothingness of space first coalesces, where stars are born and where stars die. Cutting-edge computer graphics are used to bring the universe down to earth.
Source: History Channel | | Guest Stars: Michio Kaku as Himself | |
| |
| 29 :02x15 - Wildest Weather in the Cosmos (Apr/08/2008) | Imagine a tornado so powerful, it can form a planet, or winds sweeping across a planet but blowing at 6,000 miles per hour! How about rain....made of iron? Sounds like science fiction, but this type of weather is occurring daily in our solar system. Scientists are just beginning to unlock the secrets of these planets and their atmospheres. Can this research help scientists solve long unanswered questions that we have about Earth? As our own planet churns with the effects of global warming, it's natural to look into the heavens and wonder about the rest of the real estate.
Source: History Channel | | Guest Stars: Neil Tyson as Himself, Michio Kaku as Himself | |
| |
| 30 :02x16 - Biggest Things in Space (Apr/15/2008) | We can't compare anything on earth to the biggest things known in space. The Lymann Alpha blob is a bubble like structure containing countless galaxies--perhaps the biggest object in the entire universe. Regions of radio-emitting gas called "radio lobes" could be even bigger. Then there are super galaxy clusters which are hundreds of galaxies merged together due to cosmic collisions. Discover which is the largest planet, star, star cluster, constellation, black hole, volcano, galaxy, explosions, moon, storm, impact crater and "void" in space.
Source: History Channel | | Guest Stars: Neil Tyson as Himself, Amy Mainzer as Herself | |
| |
| 31 :02x17 - Gravity (Apr/22/2008) | Gravity is the most powerful and exacting force in the universe. It is pervasive and penetrating. Gravity binds us together, its reach hangs stars in the sky and its grip crushes light. Gravity holds planets together, and leashes them to their suns. Without gravity, stars, comets, moons, nebulae, and even the Earth itself would not exist. Explore how science and humanity discovered, overcame and utilized gravity. Learn what it takes to propel objects into the heavens, to ride a wave or to ski down a slope. Take a front row seat as an astronaut subjects himself to the weightless wonders of the specially modified aircraft used to train astronauts known as the "Vomit Comet."
Source: History Channel | | Guest Stars: Neil Tyson as Himself | |
| |
| 32 :02x18 - Cosmic Apocalypse (Apr/29/2008) | The Universe as we know it is condemned to death. Space, matter and even time will one day cease to exist and there's nothing we can do about it. Harsh realities are revealed about the future of our Universe; it may collapse and burn or it might be gripped by a galactic ice age. Either of these scenarios might be a long way off. However, our Universe could suddenly be destroyed by a "random quantum fluctuation", a bubble of destruction that can obliterate the entire cosmos in the blink of an eye. No matter how it ends, life in our Universe is doomed.
Source: History Channel | | Guest Stars: Neil Tyson as Himself, Michio Kaku as Himself | |
| |
Season 3 |
|
| |
| 34 :03x02 - Parallel Universes (Nov/18/2008) | | An exploration of the theories behind parallel universes, which includes the use of particle colliders to determine the existence of new dimensions and universes. | | Guest Stars: Michio Kaku as Himself | |
| |
| 35 :03x03 - Light Speed (Nov/25/2008) | | An examination of the speed of light, including the quests which are made to beat the light speed barrier. Plus, how light speed enables scientists to look back in time, revealing the way the universe appeared a billion years ago. | | Guest Stars: Alan Guth as Himself, Michio Kaku as Himself, Amy Mainzer as Herself | |
| |
| 36 :03x04 - Sex in Space (Dec/02/2008) | | Before man can realize the dream of reproduction in space, a few tests must take place. We must probe the physiological, psychological and cultural challenges of sex in space. From conception to birth, look at how the environments of space exploration may effect copulation, conception and human tissue development, as well as the issues which may arise around sex may impact the emotional lives of astronauts. We'll cut through the rumors of whether sex has already been tried in space and look at how the burgeoning space tourism business may soon lead to a boom in space sex. | | Guest Stars: Michio Kaku as Himself | |
| |
| 37 :03x05 - Alien Faces (Dec/09/2008) | | Scientists try to combine both fact and fiction to determine what an alien may look like. They also discuss how Earth creatures offer a guide to understanding possible extraterrestrial life forms. | | Guest Stars: Michio Kaku as Himself, Chris McKay (1) as Himself | |
| |
| 38 :03x06 - Deadly Comets and Meteors (Dec/16/2008) | At this very moment, celestial forces prowl the Universe and threaten man's very existence. They're asteroids and comets--and they've left their imprint on planet Earth, literally. Initially, they helped build planets through violent collisions. During this fiery bombardment period, they may have even seeded Earth with water and the building blocks for life. Since the turbulent formation of the solar system, these space rocks have continued to impact earth. Some have been so violent that they've led to mass extinctions events, including one that wiped out the dinosaur. What's more, radical new theories suggest that asteroid and comet dust harbor deadly viruses that may have triggered some of our worst pandemics. The possibility of future cosmic collisions remains a legitimate threat. Yet, despite their dangers, asteroids and comets may hold vital natural resources, which could actually preserve mankind.
Source: History | | Guest Stars: Amy Mainzer as Herself | |
| |
| 39 :03x07 - Living in Space (Dec/23/2008) | When mankind eventually leaves the cradle of Earth and ventures forth into the uncharted territories of the cosmos, where, and what form, will our new homes take? Will they be cities under glass, entrenched in distant alien soils? Will they be gleaming metropolises hanging in orbit above our heads, or in the lonely void of space? Will they be hollowed out asteroids, strip-mined for the valuables they horde? How will we grow food? What will the new era of spacesuits be like? The rovers that carry us around? Will robonauts, advanced robotic machines, perform the most dangerous tasks for us? How will we live... in space?
Source: History.com | |
| |
| 40 :03x08 - Stopping Armageddon (Jan/06/2009) | | Can a deadly asteroid be stopped from hitting the Earth? It's only a matter of time until this scenario becomes reality and a rock from space comes down and threatens to wipe out our civilization. This is what happened to the dinosaurs over sixty-five million years ago, will it happen to us? This episode examines the threat and explores the many ways in which experts are proposing to stop Armageddon. | | Guest Stars: Amy Mainzer as Herself | |
| |
| 41 :03x09 - Another Earth (Jan/13/2009) | | Is the Earth unique in the universe or does another similar planet lay in the nearby cosmos? Is it possible that Alpha Centuri is another Earth like planet? Planets the size of earth have been hard to find, but indirect methods are arriving on line which give scientists a good survey of how many such bodies may be in the universe. How rare would it be to find life on another earth-like planet? | |
| |
| 42 :03x10 - Strangest Things (Jan/27/2009) | | An exploration of mysterious phenomenon, including alcohol clouds in space, pulsar planets, the possibility of a planet beyond Neptune, and dark matter. | | Guest Stars: Amy Mainzer as Herself | |
| |
| 43 :03x11 - Edge of Space (Feb/03/2009) | | The majority of space has occurred in Low Earth Orbit, around 120 miles above sea level. For a cool $20 million, any person can take a ride on the International Space Station, around the 1,100 mile band around Earth. Commercial prospects for LEO are huge, there are big dangers lurking for anyone interested in traveling this way, such as radiation, , cosmic rays, and space debris numbering in the thousands threaten any spacecraft traveling in orbit. It's a new frontier and maybe the final frontier, and the possibilities are endless if you are willing to travel to the edge of space exploration. | |
| |
| 44 :03x12 - Cosmic Phenomena (Feb/03/2009) | | There have been both helpful and harmful effects on life on Earth from cosmic effects. Cosmic Phenomena includes the beauty of the Aurora Borealis and rainbows to the dangers of UV radiation and cosmic rays, from the miracle of photosynthesis to the thrill of a meteor shower as we explore the effects caused by the sun and other extra-solar sources, which can get under our skin and scramble man's technology, make life possible and be a threat to our existence all at once. | |
| |
Season 4 |
| 45 :04x01 - Death Stars (Aug/18/2009) | | Season 4 opens with an exploration of dying stars, the process where stars become supernovae, and, occasionally, become the biggest blast in the universe as a gamma ray burst (GRB). One death star, named WR104, lurks 8,000 light-years from Earth and some believe its GRB arrow is aimed directly at us. A death star galaxy named 3C321 is a frightening vision of what could one day befall the Milky Way galaxy: a companion galaxy's black hole being hammered with a constant blast of high-energy particles, wreaking havoc with its celestial bodies. Nearby, Death Stars Eta Carinae and Betelgeuse burn through their fuel supplies as they hurtle toward extinction...which just may be too close for comfort. | | Guest Stars: Amy Mainzer as Herself | |
| |
| 46 :04x02 - The Day the Moon Was Gone (Aug/25/2009) | | A look at what the Earth would be like if the moon did not exist. Includes the changes of the oceans and shifting currents, unusual weather patterns, and the changes which would occur between day and night. | |
| |
| 47 :04x03 - It Fell From Space (Sep/01/2009) | | An examination of the natural and man-made objects which make their way through earth's atmosphere and make their way to the ground and what can be learned by the scientists. Such items include asteroids, parts off of rockets, comets, meteors and other space debris. | | Guest Stars: Amy Mainzer as Herself | |
| |
| 48 :04x04 - Biggest Blasts (Sep/08/2009) | | An examination of the most powerful explosions and blasts in the universe. Includes a look at the Mexico's Yucatán peninsula and the impact which caused the Chicxulub crater. Also a look at gamma rays and Big Bang Theory. | | Guest Stars: Amy Mainzer as Herself | |
| |
| 49 :04x05 - The Hunt for Ringed Planets (Sep/15/2009) | | An examination of all the planets which sport rings: Saturn, Uranus, Jupiter, Neptune and even Earth with their ring of satellites. Included is, what the rings tell us about the origins of both the solar system and galaxies. | | Director: Douglas Cohen | |
| |
| 50 :04x06 - 10 Ways to Destroy the Earth (Sep/22/2009) | | An examination of ten ways to destroy the Earth including being sucked into a black hole, annihilating it with antimatter; being hurled towards the sun; and the end of gravity. | |
| |
| 51 :04x07 - The Search for Cosmic Clusters (Sep/29/2009) | They are the one-stop-shopping places for learning all about the nature and variety of stars in the Universe. They're unique, because in clusters, all the stars were born at about the same time, from the same material and all are at the same approximate distance from Earth. This means we can be sure that any differences among them are due to their true natures and not distorted by different distances from Earth and other factors. In this episode, two kinds of star clusters in the galaxy are explored. "Open Clusters" are young, live in the spiral arms of the galaxy and give us insight into the birth and formation of stars. "Globular Clusters" are old, live in the outskirts of the galaxy and could be nearly as old as the Universe itself. In addition, explore Galaxy clusters to reveal the large-scale structure of the Universe, which is expanding so fast that eventually all other galaxies, except for our own, will literally disappear from our sight.
Source: History channel | |
| |
| 52 :04x08 - Space Wars (Oct/06/2009) | Outer space is already an essential part of America's ability to fight wars. Our military depends on satellites for many things, such as communications, reconnaissance and targeting information. But so far, no country has put weapons into space, although the U.S. and China have both shown they can shoot down satellites with ground-based missiles. If weapons do become a part of space, how will they work, how effective will they be, and what type of damage could they do? From ground-based lasers to telephone-pole sized rods hurtling from space at two miles per second to the far out weapons of the distant future, it's time to "lock and load" for Space Wars.
Source: History Channel | |
| |
| 53 :04x09 - Liquid Universe (Oct/20/2009) | | A closer look at all the type liquids which exist in our universe, including scalding iron rain, lakes of methane, oceans of electrified hydrogen metal and miles-high geysers. | |
| |
| 54 :04x10 - Pulsars & Quasars (Oct/27/2009) | They sort of sound like the same phenomenon, but Pulsars and Quasars are very different. Pulsars are tiny--only a few miles across--but they spin as fast as a kitchen blender and sweep the sky with beacons of radiation that make them appear to flash on and off. They have unbelievably strong magnetic fields, are more accurate than atomic clocks...and they can even tell aliens just where to find the Earth! Quasars are at the other end of the spectrum. Quasars are huge cores of galaxies with black holes that are called "monsters" and which spit lobes of radiating gas called "DRAGNs." Quasars are so far away, we see them as they were only in the distant past--meaning they existed only in the early universe, when they may have played a major role in the creation of the galaxies themselves.
Source: history.com | |
| |
| 55 :04x11 - Science Fiction. Science Fact (Nov/03/2009) | | Researchers make an attempt to turn science-fiction concepts into reality, including testing a "transporter." Also, physicists rewrite fundamental laws of the universe. | |
| |
| 56 :04x12 - Extreme Energy (Nov/10/2009) | Ours is a universe of energy, from powerful jets ejected from black holes to the raw nuclear fury of our Sun. But, the total amount of energy in the universe maintains perfect equilibrium--no more can be added or taken away. Because of this, there are enormous amounts of energy being transferred...electric, thermal, kinetic and magnetic energy are just a few that keep our universe balanced--and create awesome cosmic events and stellar displays.
Source: history.com | |
| |
Settings
Digg
Furl
Del.icio.us
Google