How the Universe Works poster
8.3/10 (232 votes)
#1

Black Holes

S1:E2

Black Holes, the most powerful destroyers in the Universe, the most mysterious phenomena in the heavens. For years they were only speculation, now modern astronomy is proving them frighteningly real and showing that they may well shape everything we see.

8.3/10 (198 votes)
#2

Galaxies

S1:E3

The evolution of galaxies, from clouds of cold gas floating in space 13 billion years ago, to the vast gravitationally bound systems of today.

8.3/10 (196 votes)
#3

Stars

S1:E4

Examining the birth of stars, and how their creation changed the cosmos for ever, leading to planets and life itself.

8.2/10 (153 votes)
#4

Supernovas

S1:E5

Stars are not eternal; they are dying in unimaginably large explosions called supernovas. Second only to the Big Bang, these explosions are where creation and destruction meet. Only now have we begun to understand how these wonders in our sky work.

8.2/10 (165 votes)
#5

Planets

S1:E6

There are just eight planets in our solar system, but there could be a hundred billion planets in our Milky Way galaxy alone. This show follows the journey of planets as they grow from grains of dust to the magnificently diverse worlds we see today.

8.2/10 (158 votes)
#6

Moons

S1:E8

Moons come in every possible shape and size. Home to incredible natural phenomena like gigantic geysers and colossal volcanoes, moons also offer perhaps the best chance of finding alien life in the Universe - and they probably exist in the billions.

8.1/10 (256 votes)
#7

Big Bang

S1:E1

The programme investigates how the Universe came into existence out of nothing, and how it grew from a minuscule point, smaller than an atomic particle, to the vast cosmos we see today.

8.0/10 (159 votes)
#8

Solar Systems

S1:E7

Is our solar system unique? Since the first discovery of a planet orbiting another star, some 280 alien solar systems have been identified. It's only by looking at solar systems far beyond our own, that we can understand how remarkable our universe is.

8.0/10 (159 votes)
#1

Solar Systems

S1:E7

Is our solar system unique? Since the first discovery of a planet orbiting another star, some 280 alien solar systems have been identified. It's only by looking at solar systems far beyond our own, that we can understand how remarkable our universe is.

8.1/10 (256 votes)
#2

Big Bang

S1:E1

The programme investigates how the Universe came into existence out of nothing, and how it grew from a minuscule point, smaller than an atomic particle, to the vast cosmos we see today.

8.2/10 (153 votes)
#3

Supernovas

S1:E5

Stars are not eternal; they are dying in unimaginably large explosions called supernovas. Second only to the Big Bang, these explosions are where creation and destruction meet. Only now have we begun to understand how these wonders in our sky work.

8.2/10 (165 votes)
#4

Planets

S1:E6

There are just eight planets in our solar system, but there could be a hundred billion planets in our Milky Way galaxy alone. This show follows the journey of planets as they grow from grains of dust to the magnificently diverse worlds we see today.

8.2/10 (158 votes)
#5

Moons

S1:E8

Moons come in every possible shape and size. Home to incredible natural phenomena like gigantic geysers and colossal volcanoes, moons also offer perhaps the best chance of finding alien life in the Universe - and they probably exist in the billions.

8.3/10 (232 votes)
#6

Black Holes

S1:E2

Black Holes, the most powerful destroyers in the Universe, the most mysterious phenomena in the heavens. For years they were only speculation, now modern astronomy is proving them frighteningly real and showing that they may well shape everything we see.

8.3/10 (198 votes)
#7

Galaxies

S1:E3

The evolution of galaxies, from clouds of cold gas floating in space 13 billion years ago, to the vast gravitationally bound systems of today.

8.3/10 (196 votes)
#8

Stars

S1:E4

Examining the birth of stars, and how their creation changed the cosmos for ever, leading to planets and life itself.

8.1/10 (256 votes)

Big Bang

S1:E1

The programme investigates how the Universe came into existence out of nothing, and how it grew from a minuscule point, smaller than an atomic particle, to the vast cosmos we see today.

8.3/10 (232 votes)

Black Holes

S1:E2

Black Holes, the most powerful destroyers in the Universe, the most mysterious phenomena in the heavens. For years they were only speculation, now modern astronomy is proving them frighteningly real and showing that they may well shape everything we see.

8.3/10 (198 votes)

Galaxies

S1:E3

The evolution of galaxies, from clouds of cold gas floating in space 13 billion years ago, to the vast gravitationally bound systems of today.

8.3/10 (196 votes)

Stars

S1:E4

Examining the birth of stars, and how their creation changed the cosmos for ever, leading to planets and life itself.

8.2/10 (153 votes)

Supernovas

S1:E5

Stars are not eternal; they are dying in unimaginably large explosions called supernovas. Second only to the Big Bang, these explosions are where creation and destruction meet. Only now have we begun to understand how these wonders in our sky work.

8.2/10 (165 votes)

Planets

S1:E6

There are just eight planets in our solar system, but there could be a hundred billion planets in our Milky Way galaxy alone. This show follows the journey of planets as they grow from grains of dust to the magnificently diverse worlds we see today.

8.0/10 (159 votes)

Solar Systems

S1:E7

Is our solar system unique? Since the first discovery of a planet orbiting another star, some 280 alien solar systems have been identified. It's only by looking at solar systems far beyond our own, that we can understand how remarkable our universe is.

8.2/10 (158 votes)

Moons

S1:E8

Moons come in every possible shape and size. Home to incredible natural phenomena like gigantic geysers and colossal volcanoes, moons also offer perhaps the best chance of finding alien life in the Universe - and they probably exist in the billions.

Season Average Rating Episodes Best Episode Worst Episode
6 ★ 8.5 4
★ 8.9 Are Black Holes Real?
★ 8.2 Death of the Milky Way
8 ★ 8.5 7
★ 8.9 Edge of the Universe
★ 8.0 Asteroid Apocalypse: The New Threat
7 ★ 8.5 9
★ 8.8 Nightmares of Neutron Stars
★ 8.2 How Black Holes Made Us
10 ★ 8.4 2
★ 8.6 Dark History of Earth
★ 8.3 Curse of the Cosmic Rays
5 ★ 8.4 4
★ 8.6 Mystery of Planet 9
★ 8.3 Stars That Kill
3 ★ 8.4 5
★ 8.5 Jupiter: Destroyer or Savior?
★ 8.2 Journey from the Center of the Sun
4 ★ 8.4 4
★ 8.7 Edge of the Solar System
★ 8.1 How the Universe Built Your Car
11 ★ 8.2 2
★ 8.4 The Moons of Saturn
★ 8.1 Solar System Special
9 ★ 8.2 7
★ 8.4 Mission to a Comet
★ 7.8 Aliens of the Microcosmos
1 ★ 8.2 8
★ 8.3 Black Holes
★ 8.0 Solar Systems
2 ★ 8.1 8
★ 8.4 Birth of the Earth
★ 7.8 Volcanoes - The Furnaces of Life