Wonders of the Solar System/Wonders of the Universe (UK/BBC)

dpaterso · Mar 17, 2010

Any Brits been watching this BBC science series?

I'm pretty bowled over by the presentation.

Both eps are still showing on BBC iPlayer:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/search/?q=Wonders of the Solar System

which alas probably won't work for non-UK members.

-Derek

Zoombie · Mar 17, 2010

I waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaant to waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatch itttttttttttt!

And I can't!

D: D: D: D:

Sophia · Mar 17, 2010

Yes. It's a really lovely program. The whole style of it, and Brian Cox's presenting, is enthralling. I love the BBC for things like this.

jvc · Mar 17, 2010

It does make the licence fee worth it. They do have a few gems hidden away in the their schedules. Although most of the other stuff is carp.

Zoombie · Mar 17, 2010

My question is

A) Is it as good as Cosmos?

B) When do I get to see it?

Shakesbear · Mar 17, 2010

jvc said:
It does make the licence fee worth it. They do have a few gems hidden away in the their schedules. Although most of the other stuff is carp.

Yep - far too many food programmes on the Beeb! Not, of course that I want to carp about them...

Sorry ... couldn't resist ...

Sophia · Mar 17, 2010

Zoombie said:
Is it as good as Cosmos?

I don't remember Cosmos well enough to say, but from its episode guide, I think it dealt with the mathematics and physics elements in a little more detail than Wonders of the Solar System does.

I think WOTSS gets the balance right between science and human interest to give up-to-date information. It's the first science program I've seen in a long time that really makes me feel thrilled and joyous about it all again.

The presenter, Brian Cox, gave this TED talk about the LHC.

benbradley · Mar 17, 2010

Hey, why can't I watch? I can spell program "programme," aluminum "aluminium," and I can even spell elevator "lift."

Zoombie said:
...
B) When do I get to see it?

I'm guessing when the US version of the DVD goes on sale.

Or maybe it's on b*t t*rr*nt... and I didn't say that.

Manuel Royal · Mar 17, 2010

Damn, I want to see that. Brian Cox is like the British Carl Sagan.

When I was a teenager, I thought I'd earn a PhD in Planetary Astronomy and work at a major observatory. Didn't turn out that way.

The new information about the rest of the Solar System from just the past few years is overwhelming.

ETA: And now dozens of extrasolar planets have been catalogued. And soon -- we'll be able to detect rocky planets. Earth-size worlds.

Smileycat · Mar 18, 2010

I was only able to watch previews. Looks good, though.

Sophia · Mar 20, 2010

Brian Cox has tweeted that "For my US friends, Wonders will be on Discovery Science Channel, probably in August."

Smileycat · Mar 21, 2010

thanks for the news, Elara.

alleycat · Mar 21, 2010

For those who can view them (I have no idea whether they can be viewed outside the US), the PBS Nova website also has a number of interesting full videos of science, history, etc. The link is: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/programs/

benbradley · Mar 21, 2010

alleycat said:
For those who can view them (I have no idea whether they can be viewed outside the US), the PBS Nova website also has a number of interesting full videos of science, history, etc. The link is: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/programs/

For older episodes not online there such as these:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/listseason/20.html
Try entering the episode title on http://youtube.com.
"Secrets of The Psychics" isn't the usual big-particle-accelerator science thing (The Hunting Of The Quark, 1974), but it's still one of my favorite Nova episides. < /personal agenda >

Sophia · Mar 22, 2010

Wonders of the Solar System will be available on DVD from April 12th. It's in Region 2 (Europe) format.

Sophia · Mar 30, 2010

For Derek and anyone else who has watched Wonders: Enjoy this three-minute clip.

(Language warning).

dpaterso · Mar 30, 2010

Evil person! By midway through the video, I couldn't see the screen for tears. So that's where clouds come from!

-Derek

jvc · Mar 30, 2010

Smileycat · Mar 30, 2010

ElaraSophia said:
For Derek and anyone else who has watched Wonders: Enjoy this three-minute clip. (Language warning).

LOL

Fran · Mar 31, 2010

I love it. I don't understand most of it, but the pictures are pwetty.

Sophia · Mar 15, 2011

~~~animates thread~~~

People watching the follow-up series Wonders of the Universe may appreciate this article.

EDIT - language warning for the linked article!

dpaterso · Mar 15, 2011

Bad Sophia! Bad!

Talking of Prof Cox, whom my other half opined is "A bit of all right" last Sunday, whatever that means <sniff> I'm finding Wonders of the Universe a tad less enthralling than Wonders of the Solar System, still interesting but high waffle content.

-Derek

crunchyblanket · Mar 15, 2011

I'd be telling porkies if I said Brian Cox's prettiness wasn't a major draw for me. But even without that, it's a great show - I love his enthusiasm and it's filmed beautifully.

Satori1977 · Mar 15, 2011

I want to see it too! Sometimes I hate living in the states. Have to wait until August.

crunchyblanket · Mar 15, 2011

Is it anywhere online, I wonder? Does the BBC iplayer work in the US?

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