"Origins" - A NOVA Miniseries starting 8/23 on PBS

Les Sleeth

Not a book, but I thought some might find this interesting.


Next on NOVA: "Origins"

Broadcast: August 23, 2005 at 8 p.m. ET/PT -- Repeat
(NOVA airs Tuesdays on PBS at 8 p.m. Check your local listings as
dates and times may vary.)

Has the universe always existed? How did it become a place that
could harbor life? Are we alone, or are there alien worlds waiting
to be discovered? NOVA presents some startling new answers in
"Origins," a groundbreaking four-part miniseries beginning this
Tuesday. Hosted by Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and
Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural
History, the miniseries investigates new clues from the frontiers of
science. Over the next four Tuesdays, Tyson guides viewers on a
cosmic journey to the beginning of time and to the depths of space,
searching for life's first stirrings and its traces on other worlds.

Here's what you'll find on the companion Web site:

http://www.pbs.org/nova/origins

Inquiry, Interviews, and More

Life's Little Essential
Everybody knows that liquid water is necessary for life. But just
why exactly?

A Conversation With Neil deGrasse Tyson
Hear from the series host on the hottest discoveries in origins
research, his advice for budding scientists, and more.

How did Life Begin?
Harvard's Andrew Knoll discusses the deeply mysterious jump long
ago from non-living to living.

Does Mars Have Life?
NASA's Christopher McKay thinks the red planet once had living
things and maybe, just maybe, still does.

Who Needs Galaxies?
Astronomer Sandra Faber explains how galaxies brew the
ingredients for life.

Are We Alone?
Paleontologist Peter Ward says that as intelligent creatures, we
humans are probably not alone in the universe, just very lonely.

Interactives and Slide Shows

Do Aliens Exist in the Milky Way?
In this interactive poll, explore a series of arguments for and
against, then vote online. (Results to date: 79% yes, 15% no,
and 7% undecided).

The Drake Equation
Try your hand at calculating how many intelligent, communicating
civilizations might be in our galaxy.

Decoding Cosmic Spectra
Play astronomer and analyze the spectral fingerprints of a planet,
star, galaxy, and nebula.

The Pillars of Creation
Assemble the famous image of the Eagle Nebula from raw data
beamed down from the Hubble Space Telescope.

The Origins Game
Where are scientists making the great discoveries in origins
research? Check out our world map.

History of the Universe
This interactive time line chronicles the evolution of the
universe from the big bang to 10 to the 100 years from now.

A Brief History of Life
Review the grand march of organisms from over three billion
years ago to the present.

ET Gallery
Sci-fi films and T.V. shows reveal how limited our imagination
is when it comes to alien life.

Also, watch a video preview of the program, browse Links & Books,
get a recipe for "Cosmic Soup," and more.

erok81

Nice. I have been waiting for another good Nova series. I'll have to check this one out.

Guess I shouldn't be cancelling my cable then.

chief

Looks interesting... I love the NOVA documentaries. Thanks for the heads up.

cscott

I enjoyed the book.