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STUDIO: BBC Worldwide
MSRP: $24.99
RATED: Unrated
RUN TIME: 240 minutes
SPECIAL FEATURES
None
The Pitch
Our origins extend back much further than we believe…
The Humans
Professor Brian Cox
The Nutshell
Brian Cox helps us understand our origins in the Universe.
The Lowdown
Wonders of the Universe sort of acts as a “beginner’s guide” to understanding our Universe and how we related to it. That isn’t to say it dumbs it down necessarily, but it simplifies it. Brian Cox does a great job here; his comprehension of a complex, convoluted topic (theoretical physics) is illuminating. Like Carl Saga before him, his love for the science is clear. Cox’s voice is clean and understandable, and very understated. Needless to say, this is a must for anyone remotely interested in our Universe, or science in general.
Each episode (there are four) is centered around one topic of discussion and exploration. In the first episode, titled “Destiny”, Professor Cox speaks about time in an easy-to-understand way. He also discusses the Laws of Thermodynamics, for those of us unfamiliar with the laws themselves.
In the second episode, “Stardust”, Cox goes into detail concerning our origins in the Universe; e.g. how we were made. This is perhaps the most intriguing episode of the four part series. Understanding how stars evolve and shape is incredibly fascinating. Professor Cox also speaks about how elements currently on Earth can also be found in our galaxy.
“Falling” is the third episode of the series. Quite clearly, this one is about gravity. Cox even goes as far as showing us how gravity differentiates from planet to planet, by way of getting inside a gravity simulator and progressively increasing the weight of gravity. Easily my second favorite episode of the series.
In the last episode, titled “Messengers”, light itself is explored. In the process, we also learn how the sound barrier is broken by getting into a jet and traveling upwards. This is a fascinating episode, as we also learn how light helps us understand much more about the age of our Universe.
There’s a lot to this series, far more than can be summed up in a mere review. But nevertheless, Professor Brian Cox has done a wonderful job of following up to his other great series, Wonders of the Solar System. This series is highly recommended for everyone. It might not be quite up to par with Carl Sagan’s legendary Cosmos, but it’s still highly enjoyable and very entertaining.
The Package
No extras, but the picture quality is flawless. The beautiful images of space and our Earth are brought to life in amazing clarity.
Rating: 
Out of a Possible 5 Stars