
Destiny
Professor Brian Cox explores the laws of the universe. In this episode, Brian looks at the nature of time and its role in creating both the universe and ourselves.
Having explored the wonders of the solar system, Professor Brian Cox steps boldly on to an even bigger stage - the universe.
Who are we? Where do we come from? For thousands of years humanity has turned to religion and myth for answers to these enduring questions. But in this series, Brian presents a different set of answers - answers provided by science.
In this episode, Brian seeks to understand the nature of time and its role in creating both the universe and ourselves. From an extraordinary calendar built into the landscape of Peru to the beaches of Costa Rica, Brian explores the cycles of time which define our experience of life on Earth. But even the most epic cycles of life can't begin to compare to the vast expanse of cosmic time.
For instance, just as the Earth orbits the Sun, the solar system orbits the entire Milky Way galaxy. This orbit takes a staggering 250 million years to complete.
Ultimately, Brian discovers that time is not characterised by repetition but by irreversible change. From the relentless march of a glacier, to the decay of an old mining town, the ravaging effects of time are all around us. The vast universe is subject to these same laws of change. As we look out to the cosmos, we can see the story of its evolution unfold, from the death of the first stars to the birth of the youngest. This journey from birth to death will ultimately lead to the destruction not just of our planet, but also the entire universe, and with it the end of time itself.
Yet without this inevitable destruction, the universe would be without what is perhaps the greatest wonder of all - the brief moment in time in which life can exist.
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Clips
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Brian’s history
Duration: 01:33
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Entropy and time
Duration: 05:28
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The arrow of time
Duration: 05:40
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The Chankillo calendar
Duration: 02:54
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Brian Cox |
Director | Stephen Cooter |
Producer | Stephen Cooter |
Executive Producer | Jonathan Renouf |
Series Producer | James Van Der Pool |
Broadcasts
- Mon 7 Mar 2011 01:00
- Tue 8 Mar 2011 19:00BBC Two England
- Wed 9 Mar 2011 19:00BBC Two Northern Ireland
- Thu 10 Mar 2011 20:00
- Tue 31 May 2011 00:15BBC One except Northern Ireland, Scotland & Wales
- Sat 4 Jun 2011 01:00BBC One Northern Ireland
- Mon 27 Jun 2011 22:05
- Wed 29 Jun 2011 01:20
- Boxing Day 2011 19:00
- Tue 27 Dec 2011 02:55
- Sun 22 Jan 2012 00:00
- Mon 6 Jun 2016 22:00
- Mon 13 Jun 2016 00:10
- Thu 17 Aug 2017 22:00
- Fri 18 Aug 2017 02:00
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