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The Universe Episode Guide

1 :01x01 - Secrets of the Sun

First aired: May/29/2007
Writer: Douglas Cohen
Director: Douglas Cohen
Guest star: Neil Tyson (Himself)

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.



2 :01x02 - Mars: The Red Planet

First aired: Jun/05/2007
Writer: Tony Long
Director: Tony Long
Guest star: Neil Tyson (Himself), Professor William Hartmann (Himself), Everett Gibson (Himself)

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.



3 :01x03 - The End of the Earth: Deep Space Threats to Our Planet

First aired: Jun/12/2007
Writer: Laura Verklan
Director: Laura Verklan
Guest star: Neil Tyson (Himself), Professor Stan Woosley (Himself)

Asteroids, comets and gamma rays pose some of the most dangerous threats to the Earth. See how NASA's top scientists are arming themselves with the latest technology to help protect Earth from these threats.



4 :01x04 - Jupiter: The Giant Planet

First aired: 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?



5 :01x05 - The Moon

First aired: Jun/26/2007
Writer: Tony Long
Director: Tony Long
Guest star: Professor William Hartmann (Himself)

The moon has been a prominent fixture for man for thousands of years. Now, NASA is planning to build a permanent station on the moon. Learn how the moon became to be and what is in store.



6 :01x06 - Spaceship Earth

First aired: Jul/10/2007
Guest star: Professor Ken Nealson (Himself)

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.



7 :01x07 - The Inner Planets: Mercury & Venus

First aired: Jul/17/2007

Examining Mercury and Venus. Included: exploring how the damages they've suffered from cosmic collisions and acid rain may serve as a warning for Earth.



8 :01x08 - Saturn: Lord of the Rings

First aired: Jul/24/2007
Guest star: Neil Tyson (Himself), Carolyn Porco (Herself)

A study of Saturn featuring theories regarding its rings.



9 :01x09 - Alien Galaxies

First aired: 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

First aired: 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

First aired: 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.



12 :01x12 - The Most Dangerous Place in the Universe

First aired: Aug/21/2007
Writer: Laura Verklan
Director: Laura Verklan
Guest star: Professor Andrea Ghez (Herself)

The universe's danger zones are explored, including black holes; locations where galaxies merge; gamma-ray bursts; and magnetars.



13 :01x13 - Search for ET

First aired: 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

First aired: Sep/04/2007

The Big Bang theory and the creation of the universe are examined. Included: interviews with physicists and historians.



15 :02x01 - Alien Planets

First aired: Nov/27/2007

A look at the newly found planets far beyond our solar system.



16 :02x02 - Cosmic Holes

First aired: 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

First aired: 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

First aired: 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

First aired: 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

First aired: Jan/15/2008
Guest star: Michio Kaku (Himself)

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.



21 :02x07 - Astrobiology

First aired: Jan/29/2008
Guest star: Professor Geoff Marcy (Himself), Chris McKay (Himself)

Astrobiology combines elements of astronomy, biology and geology to examine the evolution of life on not only Earth, but other planets as well.



22 :02x08 - Space Travel

First aired: Feb/05/2008
Guest star: Neil Tyson (Himself), Michio Kaku (Himself)

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.



23 :02x09 - Supernovas

First aired: 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.



24 :02x10 - Constellations

First aired: Feb/19/2008
Guest star: Michio Kaku (Himself), Amy Mainzer (Herself)

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.



25 :02x11 - Unexplained Mysteries

First aired: Feb/26/2008
Guest star: Michio Kaku (Himself), Kim Stanley Robinson (Himself)

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.



26 :02x12 - Cosmic Collisions

First aired: Mar/04/2008
Guest star: Amy Mainzer (Herself)

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.



27 :02x13 - Colonizing Space

First aired: Mar/11/2008
Guest star: Michio Kaku (Himself), David Brin (Himself)

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.



28 :02x14 - Nebulas

First aired: Apr/01/2008
Guest star: Michio Kaku (Himself)

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.



29 :02x15 - Wildest Weather in the Cosmos

First aired: Apr/08/2008
Guest star: Michio Kaku (Himself), Neil Tyson (Himself)

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.



30 :02x16 - Biggest Things in Space

First aired: Apr/15/2008
Guest star: Neil Tyson (Himself), Amy Mainzer (Herself)

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.



31 :02x17 - Gravity

First aired: Apr/22/2008
Guest star: Neil Tyson (Himself)

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."



32 :02x18 - Cosmic Apocalypse

First aired: Apr/29/2008
Guest star: Neil Tyson (Himself), Michio Kaku (Himself)

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.



33 :03x01 - Deep Space Disasters

First aired: Nov/11/2008
Writer: Rob Beemer
Director: Rob Beemer
Guest star: Michio Kaku (Himself), Michael Cassutt (Himself), Chris McKay (Himself)

As season 3 begins we examine the dangers which are involved during space travel, mainly during launch and reentry into Earth's atmosphere.



34 :03x02 - Parallel Universes

First aired: Nov/18/2008
Guest star: Michio Kaku (Himself)

An exploration of the theories behind parallel universes, which includes the use of particle colliders to determine the existence of new dimensions and universes.



35 :03x03 - Light Speed

First aired: Nov/25/2008
Guest star: Alan Guth (Himself), Michio Kaku (Himself), Amy Mainzer (Herself)

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.



36 :03x04 - Sex in Space

First aired: Dec/02/2008
Guest star: Michio Kaku (Himself), Vanna Bonta (Herself)

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.



37 :03x05 - Alien Faces

First aired: Dec/09/2008
Guest star: Michio Kaku (Himself), Chris McKay (Himself)

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.



38 :03x06 - Deadly Comets and Meteors

First aired: Dec/16/2008
Guest star: Amy Mainzer (Herself)

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.



39 :03x07 - Living in Space

First aired: 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?



40 :03x08 - Stopping Armageddon

First aired: Jan/06/2009
Guest star: Amy Mainzer (Herself)

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.



41 :03x09 - Another Earth

First aired: 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

First aired: Jan/27/2009
Guest star: Amy Mainzer (Herself)

An exploration of mysterious phenomenon, including alcohol clouds in space, pulsar planets, the possibility of a planet beyond Neptune, and dark matter.



43 :03x11 - Edge of Space

First aired: 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

First aired: 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.



45 :04x01 - Death Stars

First aired: Aug/18/2009
Guest star: Amy Mainzer (Herself)

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.



46 :04x02 - The Day the Moon Was Gone

First aired: 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

First aired: Sep/01/2009
Guest star: Amy Mainzer (Herself)

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.



48 :04x04 - Biggest Blasts

First aired: Sep/08/2009
Guest star: Amy Mainzer (Herself)

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.



49 :04x05 - The Hunt for Ringed Planets

First aired: Sep/15/2009
Director: Douglas Cohen

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.



50 :04x06 - 10 Ways to Destroy the Earth

First aired: 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

First aired: 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.



52 :04x08 - Space Wars

First aired: 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.



53 :04x09 - Liquid Universe

First aired: 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

First aired: 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.



55 :04x11 - Science Fiction. Science Fact

First aired: 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

First aired: 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.



57 :05x01 - 7 Wonders of the Solar System

First aired: Jul/29/2010

Our Sun has served Earth well for almost five billion years. It's bathed us with heat and energy. But like humans, our home star is mortal. In five billion years, it will stop nurturing its planetary offspring. The aging star will bloat out beyond the orbit of our planet incinerating all living things--including humans if we're still around.



58 :05x02 - Mars: The New Evidence

First aired: Aug/05/2010

In the last few years, the Red Planet has yielded up many new clues that life may have once existed there...and may even exist there today. There is now have proof that water once flowed on the surface, that Mars once had lakes, and that the frozen poles are mostly water, not carbon dioxide as previously thought. Mars has snow--an aurora--and lightning generated by dust storms. Most intriguing of all are the seasonal plumes of methane that just may point to bacteria living below the surface.



59 :05x03 - Magnetic Storm

First aired: Aug/12/2010

It bursts from the sun with the power of ten thousand nuclear weapons... and when it hits our planet, it could create the largest disaster in recorded history. A magnetic storm from the sun could wipe out electrical power, television, radio, military communication, and nearly every piece of electronics in the Northern Hemisphere. It's a "Solar Katrina" -- a planet-wide "hurricane" of magnetic forces that scramble all 21st Century technology, possibly for good. What causes this magnetic superstorm? Why is magnetism so powerful -- and yet so poorly understood? And is there anything we can do to prevent the Magnetic Storm?



60 :05x04 - Time Travel

First aired: Aug/19/2010

One of the Universe's most enduring mysteries is Time Travel. In this episode, we explore the possibilities. Discover why Time Travel into the future is unavoidable in the Einsteinian world of Relativity. As for the past... the laws of physics do not tell us it's impossible, but the bizarre consequences of going into the past and altering the future make for mind-bending science. Finally, we go for the future by traveling to the nearest star, 4.3 light years away... in only 45 days. Our destination may be an Earth-like planet; a planet scientists are now hunting for, and may find in the next 3 to 4 years.



61 :05x05 - Secrets of the Space Probes

First aired: Aug/26/2010

They've discovered water on other planets, and snatched the actual building blocks of life from a comet's tail. But can space probes find a new Earth...and even make contact with alien life? In the 21st century, space probes are photographing, drilling and even sniffing new worlds in the quest for life, and scanning thousands of distant suns trying to detect Earth-like planets. It's only a matter of time before space probes unlock the secrets to extra-terrestrial life and the universe itself.



62 :05x06 - Asteroid Attack

First aired: Sep/02/2010

What are the latest discoveries in the deadly world of asteroids? Will a recently returned Japanese spacecraft become the first to bring an asteroid sample back to our planet? What would happen to America's East Coast if the massive asteroid impact that helped form Chesapeake Bay 35 million years ago struck today? And why did President Barack Obama choose an asteroid as the destination for the next great manned mission into space? Learning about these huge space rocks isn't just about science, it's about survival.



63 :05x07 - Total Eclipse

First aired: Sep/16/2010

Once they were dreaded and thought to be dragons eating the sun--but modern science has dispelled mythology and we now look forward to total Solar Eclipses as one of the most spectacular phenomena in the heavens. Explore the complex movements of Earth, Moon and Sun that produce these unusual events and hear details why we may be the only intelligent beings in the known Universe to witness eclipses like we see on Earth. Man-made eclipses also figure into the science in the form of instruments called "coronagraphs." They blot out the sun and reveal its corona, uncovering secrets which, while enlightening, also warn of a disaster that could make our advanced technology crash and burn. Finally, travel into deep space, where the tiny eclipses caused by planets circling distant stars is now beginning to reveal hundreds more stars where "exoplanets" exist... perhaps even those in habitable zones like the Earth.



64 :05x08 - Dark Future Of The Sun

First aired: Sep/23/2010

Our Sun has served Earth well for almost five billion years. It's bathed us with heat and energy. But like humans, our home star is mortal. In five billion years, it will stop nurturing its planetary offspring. The aging star will bloat out beyond the orbit of our planet incinerating all living things--including humans if we're still around.



65 :06x01 - Catastrophes that Changed the Planets

First aired: Oct/25/2011

The planets of our solar system have experienced epic catastrophes throughout their long history, both raining down from outside and bubbling up from within. We'll voyage back in time to investigate the violent events that profoundly shaped the planets, including earth itself. We'll witness stunning revelations about what transformed Mars into a barren, hostile desert...The disaster that changed Venus from temperate to hellish...The impact that blew away Mercury's mantle, turning it into a planetary core...A colossal disturbance that rearranged the orbits of the gas giants...Titanic impacts on Jupiter...And how a lost moon may finally explain Saturn's rings.



66 :06x02 - Nemesis: The Sun's Evil Twin

First aired: Nov/01/2011

Could there be a monstrous, undiscovered star orbiting our own Sun? Could it be scattering killer comets throughout our Solar System like clockwork every 26 million years? New scientific surveys are probing the edges of our Solar System--a realm populated by giant worlds and mysterious planetoid--hunting for Nemesis, the Sun's purported evil twin. We may be on the verge of discovering this ultimate death star, suspected of causing every mass extinction in Earth's history. We employ everyday experiences to explain what Nemesis is and why it's been so hard to find. Experts start a wildfire on a dry California hillside, race a NASCAR around an oval track, and juggle fire, all in the effort to present how Nemesis works, and why life on Earth may depend on its discovery.



67 :06x03 - How the Solar System was Made

First aired: Nov/08/2011

At 4.6 billion years old, the Solar System is our solid, secure home in the Universe. But how did it come to be? In this episode we trace the system's birth from a thin cloud of dust and gas. Shocked by a nearby supernova, the pull of gravity and natural rotation spun it into a flat disc from which the Sun and planets coalesced. It all happened in the space of 700 million years, during which the planets jockeyed for position, dodging the brutal bombardment of deadly asteroids and setting into the neat, stable system that we now realize might be a rarity in the universe.



68 :06x04 - Crash Landing on Mars

First aired: Nov/22/2011

What might happen if the first manned mission to Mars crashes hundreds of miles from the rocket that would take them back home? Could they survive the crash, and travel across the brutal Martian surface to their home ship? We'll show what the astronauts would have to do to survive dust storms and space radiation, while extracting vital resources like water from the Martian soil itself. It's a dramatic vision of the very near future, where survival can depend on pre-industrial technology and human ingenuity.



69 :06x05 - Worst Days on Planet Earth

First aired: Nov/29/2011

Earth may seem like the most hospitable planet in the solar system. But look again. Startling new discoveries reveal the blue planet has been plagued by more chaos and destruction than scientists once imagined. Stand on the Earth billions of years ago as a primitive planet slams into it. Shiver as our entire globe is frozen over like a gigantic snowball. Feel the heat as mammoth volcanoes scorch the landscape and darken the sky. From a cosmic gamma ray burst frying away the ozone layer to an Everest-size asteroid slamming into the ocean, we'll reveal new information about how these unparalleled events drove life to the brink of total extinction. Out of this continuous devastation, how has our planet--and life--got to where it is today? Are the worst days behind us--or lurking in the distant future?



70 :06x06 - UFO: The Real Deal

First aired: Dec/13/2011

Many argue that flying saucers and other extra-terrestrial space ships continuously visit the earth. If that were true, what kinds of technologies would such alien spacecraft require? And do eyewitness reports of UFO sightings jibe with modern theories of how interstellar travel might be possible? Authors, astronomers and theoretical physicists weigh in with the blueprints for inertia-canceling devices, nuclear-powered craft, antimatter propulsion systems and even warp drives. Based on Einstein's theories and countless scientific studies, we'll find out how these visitors might bridge the vast distances between the stars. And if they could survive such hazardous journeys, are they flesh and blood or intelligent machines?



71 :06x07 - God and the Universe

First aired: Dec/20/2011

Since the dawn of civilization, humans have wondered who or what created the universe. Religion offers a spiritual answer, but do the latest discoveries in physics show evidence of a transcendent intelligence, or simply that the laws of physics by themselves could have led to the universe in which we live? This episode embarks on a mind-bending scientific search for God, asking physicists and theologians if the seemingly miraculous way the universe has been calibrated to support life is evidence of a creator...whether string theory will eventually be able to rule out the existence of God...why Stephen Hawking says the universe could have been created spontaneously...and how an advanced civilization in another universe could have conceivably created our own.



72 :07x01 - How Big, How Far, How Fast

First aired: Apr/29/2012



72 :07x02 - Alien Sounds

First aired: May/06/2012



72 :07x03 - Our Place in the Milky Way

First aired: May/13/2012



72 :07x04 - Deep Freeze

First aired: May/20/2012



72 :07x05 - Microscopic Universe

First aired: Jun/03/2012



72 :07x06 - Ride the Comet

First aired: Jun/10/2012



72 :07x07 - When Space Changed History

First aired: Jun/17/2012