Hosted by the engaging Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, Origins consists of four one-hour episodes. The first focuses on the initial billion years of Earth history, research into the emergence of water (which appeared surprisingly early, as it turns out, and could have been delivered by comets) and the birth of the moon. The second show concerns hardy, single-cell organisms on Earth developing, in some quite inhospitable places, into complex life forms, while the third covers the Big Bang and the final installment looks at theories involving extraterrestrial life. If the topics sound familiar, their presentation is always fresh, dynamic, and thoroughly accessible. Watching Origins would be a great, context-providing preface to the study of a number of niche subjects, including geology, physics, biology, and much else. An invaluable production. --Tom Keogh

Product Description
Who would have predicted that a hot spot left over from the Big Bang would eventually lead to our galaxy the solar system the Earth -- and to us? Origins explore how the universe and our planet began amid chaos and eventually gave birth to the first stirrings of life.Join cutting edge scientists on a voyage deep into the Earth with a space probe designed to capture the earliest observable snapshot of the Big Bang. Then watch as astronomers test an ingenious new way to detect distant planets that may harbor life and discover that every atom in our bodies and practically every bit of matter in the earth was made in the heart of stars.Hosted by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson (shown) Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History Origins Presents Starling new findings that attempt to explain just how Earth life and the universe all began.System Requirements: Running Time 240 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/MISC. Rating: NR UPC: 783421380394 Manufacturer No: WG38039