Neil deGrasse Tyson, Director of the Hayden Planetarium of the American Museum of Natural History, is the affable host of the four-hour Origins--originally broadcast on the PBS NOVA series--an accessible, fascinating, and up-to-date synthesis of the best current theories regarding the evolution of the universe and the emergence of life on Earth. Covering billions of years in less than 250 minutes is hardly a simple task, but Origins succeeds to a remarkable degree thanks to a winning combination of clear narration and expertly-chosen interviews, complemented throughout by eye-catching stills, film, and imaginative computer-generated segments. The first two hours are “local” in nature, chronicling the formation of our home planet and the beginning of life on Earth, while the last two travel out into the cosmos, examining the “Big Bang” theory of how the universe as a whole came into being and discussing the likelihood of extraterrestrial life. An example of beautifully-produced popular education at its best, this is highly recommended. DVD extras include printable materials for educators. Aud: H, C, P. (F. Swietek)
Origins
(2004) 2 videocassettes or 2 discs. 360 min. VHS or DVD: $29.95. WGBH Boston Video. PPR. Color cover. Closed captioned. ISBN: 1-59375-174-5 (vhs), 1-59375-175-3 (dvd). Volume 20, Issue 2
Origins
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