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.
In the final two episodes, the journey reaches the Pacific edge of North America and the remote wilderness of Patagonia, two spectacular regions shaped by powerful oceans, towering forests and extreme weather. Along the West Coast, wolves comb the shoreline for food, sea otters battle crashing surf, blue whales gather in a rare display of speed and movement, and giant Pacific octopuses devote everything to protecting the next generation. High in the redwood canopy, even tiny salamanders perform extraordinary leaps to survive, revealing how life has adapted to one of the continent’s most dramatic coastal environments. The series then travels to the far south of the Americas, where Patagonia delivers a fittingly wild finale. Pumas stalk guanacos through snowy mountains, rockhopper penguins fight their way through violent waves to reach their colonies, giant stag beetles climb immense trees to compete for mates, and elephant seals clash for dominance along the coast. In one of the most remarkable scenes, a family of orcas passes down a dangerous hunting technique from one generation to the next, showing how survival here depends not only on strength, but also on experience, cooperation and learning.
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.
As a handful of tech billionaires accumulate unprecedented wealth, they are no longer just disrupting industries—they are challenging the very foundations of democracy, finance, and national sovereignty. With remarkable access to their world, this eye-opening investigation encounters figures such as cryptocurrency mogul Justin Sun, venture capitalist Tim Draper, and influential technology investor Peter Thiel, uncovering ambitious plans to create private cities, experimental micronations, and new technology-driven forms of government. From blockchain empires such as Tron to radical schemes designed to bypass traditional institutions, their ultimate goal may be nothing less than reshaping the global financial and political order. Travelling from Silicon Valley to controversial territories where these ideas are being tested, the film reveals the extraordinary ambitions of a new technological elite. As private fortunes gain influence once reserved for governments, one unsettling question emerges: are these visionaries building a freer future—or quietly creating a world governed by rules written by the ultra-rich?
A fascinating behind-the-scenes journey into the creation of one of the most explosive and theatrical rock albums ever recorded. Through rare studio footage, revealing interviews, and passionate recollections from Meat Loaf, Jim Steinman, Todd Rundgren, and other key collaborators, the documentary uncovers how an ambitious project that many believed would fail became a worldwide phenomenon. From endless studio battles and rejected demos to the unforgettable recording sessions behind songs like ‘Paradise by the Dashboard Light’ and ‘Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad,’ every moment reveals the obsession, chaos, and creative genius that fueled the album’s legendary sound. The documentary explores how operatic storytelling, rock energy, and teenage rebellion were fused into something completely unique during an era dominated by disco and punk. Packed with memorable anecdotes, isolated vocal and instrumental breakdowns, and emotional reflections from the people who lived through it, this is an absorbing look at the making of an album that went on to become one of the best-selling and most influential records in rock history.
The film takes you on a journey through the four Papal Basilicas in Rome and their treasures: St. Peter’s (one of the 25 destinations most visited by travelers from all over the world), St. John in the Lateran, St. Mary Major and St. Paul Outside the Walls. Four majestic buildings – each with a precious papal altar, each a treasure trove of timeless works of art and a destination for millions of travelers and pilgrims over the centuries – play the leading role in a new film tour that has been recognized as a work of cultural interest by the film board of the Ministry of Culture, Heritage and Tourism.
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.