The Universe

2007 • HISTORY
4.7
184 reviews
TV-PG
Rating
Eligible
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Season 7 episodes (10)

1 Stonehenge
3/1/14
Perhaps the most mysterious structure on Earth, Stonehenge has stood on a plain in Southern England for 5000 years. Why is it there? In this episode we explore the possibility that this was a prehistoric astronomical observatory. Here ancient astronomer priests may have divined the complex movements of the Sun and Moon, recognizing patterns that would not be discovered elsewhere for thousands of years. The primitive Shamans may have also been the first astronomers to predict eclipses.
2 Pyramids
3/8/14
The Great Pyramids of Giza remain one of the enduring wonders of the ancient world. These mesmerizing monuments have eluded astronomers and archeologists for centuries. Why and how were they built? Were they merely burial tombs, or a cosmic vehicle to the celestial world? The world's renowned Egyptologists, astronomers and engineers join forces to solve some of the long-held mysteries about the pyramids. What were the motives and methods behind the orientation of the pyramids to face the four cardinal directions with extreme accuracy? Did the ancient Egyptians use the sun or nighttime stars in the orientation of the pyramids? Were the pyramids the pharaohs' portal to the nighttime stars? Or was the entire Giza complex built as a place of cult worship to the sun?
3 Heavenly Destruction
3/15/14
Sodom and Gomorrah--a terrifying Biblical tale of two cities incinerated by a hail of fire and brimstone. Was this a fantastic fable, or an actual apocalyptic disaster? Astronomers, archeologists and biblical scholars investigate the possible science behind the myth. Two separate archeological sites along the Dead Sea claim to hold the remains of the actual sin cities. Newly discovered ancient artifacts may even hold the secrets to their destruction? Could an asteroid be responsible for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah?
4 Star of Bethlehem
3/22/14
What was the astronomical reality behind the star that, according to the Gospel of Matthew, guided the Magi to the young Jesus? This episode examines almost 20 centuries of theories, including meteors, novae, supernovae and comets...but is the truth to be found in a combination of astronomy--and astrology? Recent theories suggest that the "star" was the planet Jupiter in a series of conjunctions with other planets, stars and constellations, and that these conjunctions were interpreted by the Magi--astrologers and priests of the Zoroastrian religion--as heralding the birth of the Jewish Messiah.
5 Omens of Doom
4/18/15
To our ancestors, the appearance of certain astronomical events meant something big and something bad was coming. They were portends of death, plague, famine, or war. But what were they really seeing? And how did fear of these objects in the sky actually change the course of history?
6 The Eye of God
4/25/15
Could the strange shapes of the universe solve the mysteries that have haunted mankind since ancient times? Is the eye of God peering at us from the heavens? What is the strange hexagon at the pole of Saturn, or the face on the Moon? Each shape tells its own story of an object's origin, and how physical forces shaped the Universe, and each is a chapter in the greater saga of existence.
7 Apocalyptic Visions
5/2/15
Hell fires, endless winters, or a planet wracked by earthquakes are a few versions of Armageddon visualized by the Vikings, Aztecs, and the rest of our ancient ancestors. But which does modern science think will be closest to the truth? Celestial phenomena--the aging of our sun, the expansion of our universe, and other potentially cataclysmic events--could trigger the kind of Armageddon the ancients feared. Which ancient prophecy do scientists believe actually foretells our doom? And how close are we to the end of the world?
8 Alien Worlds
5/9/15
The ancients believed that the universe consisted of countless worlds we could not see, and argued endlessly over the nature of these distant, invisible planets and whether they might be inhabited. Until recently many scientists thought we would never discover the truth, believing that extra-solar planets were simply too far, too small and too dim to detect. But new technologies have suddenly revealed thousands of distant planets, opening up the most exciting period in astronomy in decades. Some believe we're on the verge of answering the ancient question: are we alone in the universe?
9 Predicting the Future
5/16/15
Many believe that the celestial movement of the Sun, planets and moon gives us the blueprint for life, and governs our future. From Roman emperors, to kings and queens, to modern politicians, knowledgeable and powerful people have consulted an ancient system of predicting terrestrial events from celestial observations. But is there proof that this system of tracking astronomical phenomena can actually predict our future?
10 Roman Engineering
5/23/15
Do Rome's ancient monuments have secret connections to the Sun? New archaeological evidence, confirmed by NASA data and recreated in state-of-the-art virtual reality, suggests that early Roman emperors mastered architecture and astronomy to make the Sun create strange special effects for reasons both political and personal. One set up an obelisk and altar that blocked the Sun on the anniversary of Julius Caesar's murder, another built a domed room that bathed him in sunlight on certain days, and the Emperor Hadrian designed the Pantheon to mark cosmic events like equinoxes, and turned the central "oculus" of the temple dome into his own personal spotlight, but for what nefarious purposes? We uncover the last great mysteries of the ancient world's greatest empire. The answers are hidden in ancient ruins...and among the stars.

About this show

How were ancient builders, including those at Stonehenge, able to create structures around the world with one consistent unit of measurement - the "megalithic yard"- despite being oceans apart? This premium H2 miniseries event uses experts and CGI from The Universe to reveal the answer and demonstrate how our past is connected to the history of the universe.

Ratings and reviews

4.7
184 reviews
Hank53
August 3, 2020
Love how they give one the standard list of options to choose from in answer to anything archaeological; ESPECIALLY the pyramids of Giza Plateau. Oh yeah don't look too closely at the machine tool marks remnant on precisely cut granite and limestone . Nor the absolutely PERFECT symmetry of anything intending to be so, especially sculptures . Egyptians built the pyramids ? YEAH; ..........that's what happened ! It sucks that I can't watch these anymore. I just can't go back and not know what I have been shown. Have you ever wished you didn't know something , because you can no longer be a part of. It's like shortly after learning Santa Claus isn't real. Nostalgia . Just for a second. They make these so interesting and they sound so groundbreaking in discovery and leave one in awe of mainstream Archaeology. It's just a second; because once you are turned on to what isn't being really looked at ; and your eyes open to what becomes clear and make sense ; a whole new world and history opens up your mind from astounding revelations . One's very life , and reaction to their life is set on a different paradigm of perceiving that which you distinguish for yourself vs. what has been impressed upon you by teachers , text books, Professors , television. Finding out something you believe is incorrect , can actually be liberating sometimes. It's because you then have room to gain new information by intention to a clean slate ; vs. DATA that has been almost 'chanted' to your mind without you in the least intending to do so. Live on purpose . Trust many; love few, row your own canoe . The old paradigm of seeing the world through the intention of the institutions of education , 'experts' museums is starting to show it's cracks; even to the skeptics .
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Danan Jenner
May 9, 2022
Very interesting to learn about. I've been a space fan for just about my whole life, and I know a TON of information about astronomy, and I'm still learning more almost every day!
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Brenda Martinez
May 17, 2015
A very nice show, with so much put into it. good job!
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