description:
See how our understanding of nature and the universe has been transformed since the 1970s.
How big is the universe? What is it made of? Are we alone? Questions like these have inspired amazing discoveries that have transformed our understanding of the universe since the 1970s, shedding light on everything from exoplanets to black holes to the mysterious dark matter and energy that rule the cosmos. And closer to home, quantum physicists have discovered the weird laws that govern the subatomic world, unlocking amazing technologies – from the smart phone in your pocket to powerful new quantum computers taking shape in labs today.
episodes:
How big is the universe? If it began with the Big Bang, will it also have an end? Is there life beyond our planet? Questions like these inspired the launch of Voyager I in 1977 and have driven innovative space research and exploration ever since. Trace ground-breaking discoveries that have transformed our picture of the universe, from an age when we knew of no planets beyond our solar system, to today, when we have evidence of thousands and estimate trillions more. And follow the teams trying to solve two of the biggest mysteries in cosmology today: What are dark matter and dark energy?
When we look at the world at the tiniest scales in the subatomic realm, things get weird – very weird. Welcome to the quantum universe, where particles can spin in two directions at once, observing something changes it, and something on one side of the galaxy can instantly affect something on the other, as if the space between them didn’t exist. Buckle up for a wild ride through the discoveries that proved all of this to be true and paved the way for the digital technologies we enjoy today – and the powerful quantum sensors and computers of tomorrow. Premiered November 6, 2024 at 9 pm on PBS
Correction: The original version of this film had misplaced punctuation, which falsely implied that in 1974, Stephen Hawking was the first to predict black holes. The film, captions, and transcript have been amended to clarify that in 1974, Stephen Hawking first predicted the phenomenon now known as Hawking radiation, referred to in the film as the “Achilles’ heel” of black holes.
