Watch The Big Bang and Beyond: Exploring the Early Universe

2022
1 Season

The Big Bang and Beyond: Exploring the Early Universe is a fascinating educational series produced by The Great Courses Signature Collection that delves into the mysteries of the universe's origins. The show is presented by award-winning astrophysicist Dr. Mark Whittle, who provides a detailed and engaging overview of the Big Bang theory, the formation of galaxies and cosmic structures, and what the early universe can teach us about the nature of time, space, and matter.

The show is divided into 24 half-hour episodes that are packed with information and stunning visuals. Each episode covers a different aspect of the early universe, starting with an overview of the key theories and concepts that underlie modern cosmology. From there, Dr. Whittle delves into the details of cosmic evolution, discussing everything from the birth of the first stars and galaxies to the formation of supermassive black holes and the cosmic microwave background radiation.

One of the most compelling aspects of The Big Bang and Beyond is its use of cutting-edge scientific research to explore the mysteries of the early universe. Dr. Whittle draws on the latest observational and theoretical work to illuminate the fascinating world of astronomy and cosmology. This includes discussing topics such as the role of dark matter and dark energy in shaping the universe, the impact of cosmic inflation on the formation of cosmic structures, and the search for evidence of gravitational waves.

Throughout the series, Dr. Whittle also highlights the contributions of some of the greatest minds in cosmology, such as Albert Einstein and Edwin Hubble. He explains how their insights and discoveries transformed the field of astronomy and set the stage for our modern understanding of the universe.

The show's production values are also top-notch, with stunning animations, graphics, and images that bring the early universe to life. These visuals help viewers to better understand complex concepts and to appreciate the incredible beauty and diversity of the cosmos.

Another strength of The Big Bang and Beyond is its accessibility. While the show covers complex scientific topics, Dr. Whittle presents the material in a clear and engaging way that is easy to follow. He uses everyday language and analogies to make the concepts more relatable, making the show accessible to viewers of all ages and scientific backgrounds.

Overall, The Big Bang and Beyond is a must-watch for anyone interested in the origins of the universe and the nature of reality. It is a rich and illuminating series that provides a comprehensive overview of the latest scientific research in astronomy and cosmology. Whether you are a seasoned amateur astronomer or simply curious about the cosmos, this series is sure to leave you with a newfound appreciation for the wonders of the universe.

The Big Bang and Beyond: Exploring the Early Universe is a series that ran for 1 seasons (12 episodes) between January 3, 2022 and on The Great Courses Signature Collection

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Seasons

12. The Future of Early Universe Cosmology

January 3, 2022

Conclude the series by reviewing the history of the universe, highlighting the major gaps in our knowledge. Then turn to four promising areas of experimental research that may provide answers. Let your imagination soar by contemplating theoretical possibilities such as this one: Could we exploit inflation to create a baby universe in the lab? Do we, in fact, live in someone else's baby universe?

11. From the Big Bang to the Universe's Fate

January 3, 2022

Learn that the ultimate fate of the universe is tied to its beginning-to the as-yet-unknown conditions that preceded the Big Bang. Focus on the importance of dark energy, an enigmatic force discovered in the 1990s that is causing the universe to expand at an accelerating rate. Compare three scenarios that lead to either infinite expansion or eventual collapse in a Big Crunch.

10. The Origins of the Constants of Nature

January 3, 2022

Constants of nature, such as the gravitational constant, appear to be fine-tuned to make life possible. Is this a coincidence of astronomical unlikelihood, an expected outcome of the nature of the universe, or does it imply that ours is one of many universes with different properties? Consider this question in light of the anthropic principle which takes the existence of observers into account.

9. Other Universes across Other Dimensions?

January 3, 2022

Many physicists believe that our universe really isn't three dimensional, but only appears so to us. Explore what it would mean if there are extra dimensions that we can't see. Learn how to visualize this counterintuitive state, and examine what it implies for Big Bang theory and the concept of a multiverse. One set of ideas that calls for at least nine dimensions is string theory.

8. More than One Big Bang in a Multiverse?

January 3, 2022

At one time, Earth was considered the center of the cosmos. Might the idea that the Big Bang was the beginning of everything be just as parochial? Take a mindboggling trip through the theory of eternal inflation-that our observable universe is a nearly infinitesimal speck inside a much larger, older, and eternally growing multiverse, in which inflation continually sprouts new universes like ours.

7. What Caused Inflation: The Scalar Field

January 3, 2022

Can inflation possibly be true? See how a concept called a scalar field may be the inconceivably high-energy medium that spontaneously triggered inflation, leading to the observable universe-and more-in a billionth of a billionth of a billionth of a billionth of a second. Probe a rival theory that the Big Bang was caused by the collision of two universes in four-dimensional space.

6. Inflation! The First Fraction of a Second

January 3, 2022

Dig into the bizarre theory of inflation developed by physicist Alan Guth, which holds that for a fraction of a second just after the Big Bang the universe expanded at a mind-boggling rate, making the cosmos effectively infinite. Analyze how this idea solves the three puzzles introduced earlier. Learn about associated concepts, such as the scalar field and its decay, known as reheating.

5. Mysteries That Reshaped the Big Bang Model

January 3, 2022

Evaluate three mysteries connected to the Big Bang model that baffled theorists beginning in the late 1960s. Why was the early universe so uniform? Why does the universe obey the laws of geometry we teach in high school? And how did the universe come to be made of the kinds of particles we see and not others? A single solution to all three questions seemed too much to hope for, yet one turned up.

4. How Big Was the Big Bang?

January 3, 2022

Is it possible to calculate the size of the universe at the instant of the Big Bang? Assemble the clues that scientists use to address this question. In the process, discover a number of remarkable properties of the universe, including that it must be bigger that what we can see, extending beyond the boundary that limits our knowledge due to the finite speed of light and the age of the universe.

3. First Galaxies, First Stars, and Dark Matter

January 3, 2022

Continue the story of the early universe by exploring such highlights as the formation of the first atoms at 370,000 years, when space transitioned from opaque to transparent; the accretion of hydrogen and helium gas into protogalaxies after millions of years due to gravitational influence of dark matter; and the collapse of the gas into ever denser balls eventually leading to the first stars.

2. The First Few Minutes of the Universe

January 3, 2022

Beginning a hundred-billionth of a second after the Big Bang, trace events as the universe quickly cooled from a quadrillion degrees. Learn about the strong, weak, and electromagnetic forces, and the fundamental particles-all of which precipitated from the seething cauldron of energy, even as matter and antimatter were mutually annihilating.

1. The Big Bang Changes Everything

January 3, 2022

Explore the Big Bang model, which says the universe evolved from an initial hot, dense state billions of years ago. Find that the Big Bang wasn't a moment when the cosmos had zero size, it didn't take place at a special point in space, and it wasn't necessarily the beginning of the universe. Rather, it was the energetic start of the expansion phase that is still underway. #Science & Mathematics

Description

Where to Watch The Big Bang and Beyond: Exploring the Early Universe

The Big Bang and Beyond: Exploring the Early Universe is available for streaming on the The Great Courses Signature Collection website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch The Big Bang and Beyond: Exploring the Early Universe on demand at Apple TV Channels and Amazon Prime and Amazon.