Professor Brian Cox joins Chris Lintott and the team to investigate one of the most intriguing new mysteries in modern astronomy. Observations from the James Webb Space Telescope have revealed hundreds of compact, extraordinarily bright objects known as “little red dots”, appearing less than a billion years after the Big Bang. Many may hide rapidly growing supermassive black holes, raising a profound question: how could such enormous objects have formed so early in cosmic history? The journey begins with the strange physics of black holes themselves, from event horizons and singularities to the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way and the gigantic black hole in the galaxy M87. With cosmologist Emma Chapman and Professor Sadegh Khochfar, the programme explores radical explanations for these ancient monsters, including primordial black holes born soon after the Big Bang and massive black holes formed directly from collapsing clouds of gas, bypassing stars altogether. Cutting-edge computer simulations recreate the first billion years of the universe and reveal how the earliest galaxies and black holes may have emerged within the cosmic web. These discoveries are forcing astronomers to reconsider not only how supermassive black holes grow, but how galaxies and the early universe itself evolved.
What begins as a dream Mediterranean holiday turns into an unimaginable fight for survival. On the night of January 13, 2012, passengers aboard the luxurious Costa Concordia are dining and putting children to bed when the ship sails dangerously close to the Italian island of Giglio and strikes underwater rocks. As the vessel loses power and begins to flood and tilt, confusion spreads through its glittering corridors. Passengers are initially told there is only an electrical problem, while precious minutes pass before an evacuation is ordered and lifeboats become increasingly difficult to launch. Through extraordinary footage recorded by those on board, black-box communications and deeply personal survivor testimony, the disaster unfolds almost minute by minute: Families desperately searching for a way off the ship, crew members risking their lives to help strangers, passengers trapped as corridors become walls, and rescuers entering the enormous wreck while it threatens to shift beneath them. Behind the terrifying struggle to survive emerges an equally disturbing question—how could a modern cruise ship carrying thousands of people end up on its side just metres from shore? The deaths of 32 people, the actions of Captain Francesco Schettino and the investigation that followed transform one catastrophic night at sea into a gripping story of human courage, fatal decisions and the consequences of failure when every second matters.
In the final three episodes of the series, Chris Packham follows three extraordinary evolutionary journeys to discover how the relentless demands of survival transformed simple early animals into some of the most remarkable creatures alive today. In Borneo, the voracious appetite of the bat leads back more than half a billion years to the origins of the through-gut, the first anus, heads and jaws, revealing how the need to find and consume food helped reshape animal life and ultimately produced the bat’s extraordinary powers of hearing. In the Bahamas, the intelligence of dolphins opens an even deeper story: from ancient cells able to sense light to the evolution of eyes, complex brains, sophisticated senses and the remarkable minds of modern dolphins. The journey culminates with one of nature’s supreme athletes. Tracing the horse’s ancestry through hundreds of millions of years, Packham reveals how primitive muscle cells evolved into increasingly powerful systems for movement, how beating hearts supplied those muscles with oxygen, and how limbs became ever more effective tools for locomotion. Slithering, swimming, walking and running eventually converge in an animal built for extraordinary speed and endurance. Together, these final episodes reveal a breathtaking truth: hunger, perception and movement were not merely necessities of survival—they were powerful evolutionary forces that helped create the astonishing complexity of animal life.
For years, reports of unidentified aerial phenomena have remained hidden behind secrecy, speculation, and official denials. This gripping documentary follows investigative journalist and filmmaker Jeremy Corbell as he gains extraordinary access to witnesses, classified information, and sources connected to one of the most controversial mysteries of modern times. As new evidence emerges and long-held assumptions are challenged, the search for answers begins to reveal a story far more complex than many imagined. What starts as an investigation into unexplained sightings soon becomes a high-stakes journey into a world of government secrecy, whistleblowers, intelligence networks, and hidden information. With rare footage, firsthand testimony, and exclusive access to key figures at the center of the debate, the documentary explores the growing effort to uncover what may be one of the most significant discoveries of the modern era—and why some people believe the truth has remained hidden for so long.
This fascinating documentary explores the extraordinary life of the man who transformed photography from a complicated luxury into something accessible to ordinary people around the world. Through innovation, ambition and relentless determination, George Eastman revolutionized the industry by creating simple cameras and film systems that allowed anyone to capture memories with ease. The story follows the rise of Kodak from a bold idea into a global phenomenon, revealing how one visionary helped shape modern visual culture and forever changed the way people experienced everyday life. Beyond the technological breakthroughs, the documentary also examines the personal side of a complex and driven figure whose success came with immense pressure and sacrifice. From his pioneering marketing philosophy—“You press the button, we do the rest”—to the impact his inventions had on journalism, family life and popular culture, the film paints a compelling portrait of innovation during a rapidly changing era. It’s an engaging look at the birth of mass photography and the remarkable legacy of a man whose influence can still be felt every time a picture is taken.
A decisive clash unfolds on the waters of the Mediterranean, where two powerful worlds collide in a battle that would change the course of history. Through dramatic reconstructions, expert analysis, and historical accounts, the film brings to life the tension, strategy, and sheer scale of one of the largest naval confrontations ever fought. As fleets gather and alliances form, the stakes rise beyond territory or power—this is a struggle that will define the balance between empires and shape the future of Europe. Amid the chaos of combat, the story reveals the human side of the conflict: the commanders making impossible decisions, the soldiers facing overwhelming odds, and the turning points that transformed a desperate confrontation into a legendary victory. With vivid detail and a strong sense of urgency, it offers a compelling look at how courage, faith, and strategy combined in a moment that still echoes through history today.
With cosmologist Emma Chapman and Professor Sadegh Khochfar, the programme explores radical explanations for these ancient monsters, including primordial black holes born soon after the Big Bang and massive black holes formed directly from collapsing clouds of gas, bypassing stars altogether. Cutting-edge computer simulations recreate the first billion years of the universe and reveal how the earliest galaxies and black holes may have emerged within the cosmic web. These discoveries are forcing astronomers to reconsider not only how supermassive black holes grow, but how galaxies and the early universe itself evolved.