21st Century Cosmos

Narrated by William Shatner, 21st Century Cosmos (the opening title in the nine-volume Cosmic Odyssey series) introduces students to current cosmological theories that are being advanced and challenged by scientists. Since our perception of the vast universe is shaped largely by deductions based on educated guesses, ideas about the nature of the cosmos are subject to constant revision. Most of the program explores one of the biggest theoretical shifts in the last 50 years: the notion of an expanding, rather than a static or contracting universe, with further discussion of Hubble's discovery in 1924 that galaxies are moving away from one another, the COBE experiment by NASA to measure background radiation, and the mysterious concept of "dark matter" or "dark energy." Needless to say, these are very esoteric topics, so the excellent use of analogy and illustrative graphics are appreciated, as are the solid interview bites from an international array of astronomers that are skillfully edited into the articulate script. Viewers will learn that science is not necessarily always the study of exact, measurable fact--much of it is trial and error, with many theories difficult to test through any kind of measurable observation. The cosmologists featured here aren't afraid to use the word "weird" in their descriptions of our universe--and neither should we. Recommended. Other titles in the series include: The Case for Mars, The Enigma of Venus, Extreme Astronomy, Stellar Evolution, and Traveling to Outer Planets. Aud: H, C, P. (E. Gieschen)