The Cosmos: A Beginner's Guide

This two-disc, six-part BBC series hosted by scientist Adam Hart-Davis shows how advanced technology is providing clues to the answers for some of life's biggest questions, such as “Where did the universe come from and where is it heading?” and “Is there intelligent life elsewhere?” Hart-Davis and his colleagues visit researchers who are using giant telescopes—such as one stationed in the Chilean desert—to obtain a clear, unobstructed view of the deep reaches of outer space (where violent events such as supernova explosions take place); travel to Geneva, Switzerland, where scientists are seeking to understand the Big Bang origins of the universe via experiments using a giant subterranean particle collider; and board a research plane flying high enough to briefly escape Earth's gravitational pull. Meanwhile, the search for life on other planets increasingly focuses on Mars (some scientists have even replicated a simulation of its barren landscape in the deserts of Utah). While there will likely never be a eureka moment when we understand everything about the universe, The Cosmos serves as a good introduction to our current knowledge, combining clear and insightful explanations with solid graphics and 3-D animation. DVD extras include a 12-page viewer's guide and a gallery of Apollo astronauts. A fascinating, widely accessible primer, this is recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)