The Quest For Life How did life on Earth begin? Is there life beyond our planet? Is there a future for humankind on other planets? This documentary examines the search for life, from its origins on Earth to possibilities in space. The quest for answers takes EXPLORING SPACE to earthly locales ranging from Greenland to the mountains of eastern Mexico, from a French vineyard to a research facility in Japan – as well as deep into outer space. Earth may be a rare environment uniquely designed for nurturing living organisms, but as humans explore the creation of the planet, the realization grows that the answers to the origins of life may lie beyond earthly bounds. Watch the full documentary now (playlist - 2 hours) Space School Neptune The Life And Death Of Stars Introduction When I heard the learned astronomer, When the proofs, the figures were ranged in columns before me, When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them, When I sitting heard the astronomer where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room, How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick, Till rising and gliding out I wandered off by myself In the mystical moist night air, and from time to time Looked up in perfect silence at the stars. Walt Whitman Mr. I have been teaching physics and astronomy at Northwestern University since 1989 (thus I qualify as the "learned astronomer" in the poem), and I felt that surely there was room on the web for a few pages situated firmly between these extremes. Throughout this site, I have adhered to the principle that there is a big difference between simplified and simple. So much for the introduction; let's start talking about astrophysics! David Taylor Evanston, IL June, 2012 d-taylor2@northwestern.edu
Monster of The Milky Way Astronomers are closing in on the proof they’ve sought for years that one of the most destructive objects in the universe - a super massive black hole - lurks at the center of our own galaxy. Could it flare up and consume our entire galactic neighborhood? NOVA takes us on a mind-bending investigation into one of the most bizarre corners of cosmological science: black hole research. From event horizon to singularity, the elusive secrets of supermassive black holes are revealed through stunning computer-generated imagery, including an extraordinary simulation of what it might look like to fall into the belly of such an all-devouring beast. Space, itself, is falling inside the black hole. Watch the full documentary now
Space School - Strange Things Evidence for the Big Bang | National Schools' Observatory Astronomers think that the Universe started with the Big Bang. As with all science, this is based on evidence; so what is the evidence for the Big Bang theory? The spiral galaxy - M51 1. Redshift of Galaxies The redshift of distant galaxies means that the Universe is probably expanding. Cosmic Microwave Background 2. Very early in its history, the whole Universe was very hot. This is the Cosmic Microwave Background which has been accurately measured by orbiting detectors, and is very good evidence that the Big Bang theory is correct. The Sun is a fairly new star 3. As the Universe expanded and cooled down, some of the elements that we see today were created. You cannot look in new stars, like the Sun, for this evidence, because they contain elements that were created in previous generations of stars. Galaxies of long ago 4. The main alternative to the Big Bang theory of the Universe is called the Steady State theory.
Cosmic Voyage Nominated for an Academy Award, this 36-minute IMAX production offers a state of the art, computer generated journey through the universe, and tries to pinpoint the role of human beings cohabitating within its vastness. Among the topics included are a variety of the greatest scientific theories known to exist - some of which had never before been visualized on film - as well as a guided tour through the cosmos and solar system, and a look at the nature of black holes and exploding supernovas. This IMAX offering presents us with not only one but two journeys - one in space (going from the entire universe to quarks) and one in time (going from the first cells to human beings). These are both monumental enterprises, but unfortunately this half-hour movie can only offer us an inkling of either. Watch the full documentary now
Space School The Sun Cosmos: A Personal Voyage With Cosmos, Carl Sagan and his wife and co-writer, Ann Druyan, brilliantly illustrated the underlying science of his same-titled book, placing the human species within a space-and-time context that brought the infinite into stunningly clear view. The series, which originally aired in 1980 on PBS, has been seen by more than 700 million people worldwide and remains a high-water mark in miniseries history. Sagan lucidly explains such topics as Einstein's theory of relativity, Darwin's theory of evolution, and the greenhouse effect, bringing the mysteries of the universe down to a layman’s level of understanding. The footage in these remastered, seven-DVD or seven-VHS sets is as fresh and riveting as it was two decades ago and is certain to fire the imaginations of a whole new generation of viewers. This is THE GREATEST television series ever. This documentary inspired me to a love of science, learning, and freedom of inquiry that have shaped both my interests and intellectual curiosity.
Space School Pluto The Elegant Universe Adapted from a provocative book by Brian Greene, this deeply engrossing documentary -- which originally aired on PBS's NOVA in three parts -- attempts to explain the controversial string theory, a complicated scientific proposal that, in short, posits a single explanation for many of the universe's mysteries. As affable an egghead as you're likely to find, Greene engages an array of physicists in his examination of string theory, which in part blends Einstein's theory of relativity with the complex laws governing quantum mechanics. Although mind-numbing technical terms are kept to a minimum, those of us not conversant with advanced physics might feel a bit lost at times. Still, the subject is undeniably fascinating, and some of the conclusions are nothing short of mind-blowing: a reasoned, professional discussion of a universe encompassing 11 separate dimensions certainly calls Johnny Carson's "I did not know that" to mind. Watch the full documentary now (playlist - 2 hours, 48 minutes)
Space School Uranus