Of all the objects in the cosmos, planets, stars, galaxies, none are as strange, mysterious, or powerful as black holes. Black holes are the most mind-blowing things in the universe. They can swallow a star completely intact. Black holes have these powerful jets that just spew matter out. First discovered on paper, on the back of an envelope, some squiggles of the pen. The bizarre solution to a seemingly unsolvable equation, a mathematical enigma. Einstein himself could not accept black holes as real. People didn't even believe for many years that they existed. Nature doesn't work that way. Yet slowly, as scientists investigate black holes by observing the effect they have on their surroundings, evidence begins to mount.
Uranus and Neptune, two of the largest, farthest and strangest planets in our solar system. These two planets break all the rules. Of all the big planets, Uranus and Neptune remain the biggest enigmas. Today, astronomers are finally unlocking why these supersized snowballs are so weird. Can an ancient mega-collision reveal what knocked Uranus onto its side? Can a missing twin world unlock why one of Neptune's moons orbits the wrong way? And what is the energy that drives the fastest winds in the solar system?
Time i s a concept which is so familiar, and yet recent discoveries have revealed it to be far stranger than we could have possibly imagined. In the final programme in the series, Brian explores the enigma of time - a phenomenon we take for granted but which is one of the biggest mysteries in the universe. He recalls highlights from his TV series that touch upon this conundrum.
The Phaistos Disc is one of the greatest mysteries of the Bronze Age. A strange 3,000-year-old relic found in an ancient Minoan palace marked with enigmatic images that no one has ever managed to decode. But now, using cutting-edge technology, experts might finally reveal its secrets. How can this corroded scrap of metal change the history of a continent? And is this dead woman's face the most kissed in history?
An unassuming 80-year-old device that has the appearance of a typewriter could actually be one of the greatest secret weapons in history. Using cutting-edge digital technology, experts investigate the secrets of a revolutionary encryption machine. How could there be a carving of a modern helicopter on an ancient Egyptian inscription? can this 800-year-old device covered in strange sayings really predict the future?
The second episode dives deeper into the enigmatic world of octopuses, uncovering the extraordinary intelligence of these cephalopods. From their ability to change color and shape in an instant to their sophisticated use of tools, this documentary reveals how octopuses navigate and survive in the ocean's most challenging environments. The documentary explores the profound cognitive abilities of octopuses, highlighting their potential for future planning, problem-solving, and even dreaming. Witness the coconut octopus's ingenious stilt-walking and shell-wielding tactics, and marvel at the giant Pacific octopus's intricate hunting strategies. Through stunning underwater footage and insights from leading scientists like Dr. Alex Schnell and Dr. C.E. O'Brien, viewers are invited to rethink what they know about intelligence in the animal kingdom. This captivating film showcases the remarkable adaptability and creativity of octopuses, making it a must-watch for anyone fascinated by the mysteries of the ocean.
First discovered on paper, on the back of an envelope, some squiggles of the pen. The bizarre solution to a seemingly unsolvable equation, a mathematical enigma. Einstein himself could not accept black holes as real. People didn't even believe for many years that they existed. Nature doesn't work that way. Yet slowly, as scientists investigate black holes by observing the effect they have on their surroundings, evidence begins to mount.