Human Universe

2014

Seasons & Episodes

  • 1

8.6| 0h30m| en| More Info
Released: 07 October 2014 Ended
Producted By: BBC
Country: United Kingdom
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0276p50
Synopsis

Professor Brian Cox asks the biggest questions we can ask. Are we alone? Why are we here? What is our future? Join him in a stunning celebration of human life as he explores our origins, our place and our destiny in the universe.

... View More
Stream Online

Stream with BBC Earth

Cast

Brian Cox

Director

Producted By

BBC

Trailers & Images

Reviews

juhazzz In the sea of sensationalized and overly-dramatized "documentaries", here's finally a good change of pace. Brian delivers a proper thought provoking 5 episodes documentary. Very good and easy to follow for the casual document consumers and just as good for the more knowledge-hungry people.
scottyxl "From apeman to spaceman" is a quote from the first episode but it also describes the entire show. And for me personally it is an amazing quote I will be remembering for a long time.This series shows the viewer the journey our species made from its first steps to its permanent base in space. As a space enthusiast I really liked that it touched a lot of areas in that field even though it didn't feel like a documentary about space (exploration).As always Professor Brian Cox did a stellar job presenting this show, his enthusiasm and skill in explaining theories with ease is just amazing. Adding the stunning visuals (the satellite overview in episode #4 was such an amazing shot for me I actually paused the screen for several minutes) to the mix makes this a documentary a must watch for anybody who enjoys watching documentaries. I did find that I knew most of the theories that where explained but for me this didn't make this show any less good, because they where told from a different angle. This was done so well that I lost count of how many times my hair stood up straight on my arms, legs and neck.Hopefully, like Sir David Attenborough, Professor Brian Cox will continue making documentaries until he's physically unable to.
Michael Flynn A must watch. The very truth of our existence. It answers questions man has asked since our intellectual fruition from the animals. So have other documentaries/books but it is presented so elegantly and concise and truthfully. At a good level for the majority.Now a word to the majority. Yes the people on the planet who believe in the grown up santa's of whatever creed/colour - however generally the same colour as them. To not watch and understand this is a crime to your intellect and your obligation to cherish your once in a lifetime opportunity to basque in the sun of consciousness and self awareness fully aware of the where, how and what we are. To not wonder why's stars twinkle. Not thinking in a possibly infinite Universe some illiterate iron age prophet 2000 years ago was spoken to by god in a cave in a universe 13.7 billion years old. Doesn't really compute. There were no good old days. Stop wasting your life.Don't live your life in ignorance denying science - to deny facts but not even have the decency to attempt prove/justify what you profess to know and how facts you are unable to grasp or are too lazy to even attempt to grasp are false. Let's move from the dark ages to a bright future free of religious hatred, superstition and down right stupidity and ignorance by the vast majority of the earth's worshippers.Long live science, reason, logic, compassion, intelligence, and human understanding. This documentary is a testament to science and of human achievement. Well done to Brian - I'm sure this series will free large numbers of blinkered worshippers. They are not the ones we have to worry about though because they must ultimately be reasonable.What could be better than being the only known intelligent life with a mission to explore this universe which you should be in awe of. Not worrying about some fables in a book, praying for heaven and virgins. Jesus!Denying moon landings and other such nonsense.Anyway whatever your fancy. Watch this amazing documentary. Saint, sinner or prophet. This documentary delivers.Mike.............x
mentifis So, overall it's artistically done and contains a modicum of information about the subjects, but combined with the imagery and music it does convey what it intended, except... well, with regards to the title... how is it a human universe? First we attribute the universe to 'god' and now to 'humans'? I mean, this isn't just reserved for the title, of course...It's appropriately named that as the focus is on humanity, and particularly its achievements in science, but how could a species be so purely aspirational? The ironic thing is that if an alien species did end up watching Human Universe... well, they'd think every human must have surely been a scientist... Brian does actually mention some political problems in the world, but only very fleetingly. That, of course, is irrelevant in documentaries about science (except when it comes to lack of NASA funding etc... which is one disheartening thing he seemed to conveniently not discuss), but the thing is that his focus was very much about the potential of humanity... and with half of the world currently in conflict, thousands of daily murders, most governments essentially corrupt... I don't suppose if those were discussed for five hours humanity would seem so inspiring anymore.This, of course, is ultimately due to his optimism... and while science in isolation is a source of almost infinite inspiration, I really don't think most people are scientists, or the world would focus on at least funding it (one would assume)...Also, one thing I personally didn't like is a scene with a rodeo in it... while it was to illustrate precision and differences in variables etc. I really don't think that what is plainly animal abuse is at all inspirational in people. Then again, there could have been many other examples that could have been used that might have been slightly more relevant too... not that I don't think that most of his other scientific examples were great... the depressurized chamber was spectacular as it allowed the feathers and ball go at the same speed, without even slightly moving...Ultimately, though, why focus so much on how absolutely unique humans are? Science itself is inspirational, and focusing on it (not on pride) could actually reduce nationalism, which is arguably (along with religion), the cause of all conflicts.The only conflict should be of protons in a collider... if only.