Humans in Universe

OSIRIS, a lone solar-powered satellite, continues in its egg-shaped elliptical orbit. The silence of its blinking lights is only matched by the deep nothingness of the patch of super clusters and nebulae behind it. Its face pockmarked by the eons of micro-collisions, the holes in its solar sails telling the story of Kessler’s syndrome puberty. Always falling, but never touching, the planet which it worships scarred and gutted rages below: red with fury, yellow from the fire and black from the charred remains. It was lovingly called Earth by the locals. Its creators, from back when the home planet was green, were now long gone, extinct, and reformed into the celestial constituents. The deep pulsating circuitry within OSIRIS continues onwards, however, humming and thrumming while an eternity passes as such. How long ago were the humans last seen alive? When did the last of the sapiens pedal the soil?

In this spectacular series, Professor Cox offers an original new perspective on human life: the story of a group of apes that evolved to leave their home planet and step out into the universe. Humans are curious creatures. Of all the species on Earth, we alone ask questions. This series tackles the greatest questions we've ever asked. Where are we in the universe? Why are we here? How did the human brain arise and why did we become consciousness? Will our search for alien life be successful or are we all alone? And what is our future? In search of answers, Brian sets off across the globe collecting clues from the people that he encounters and linking them to the latest scientific thinking on each question.

The study of life in our universe has been given the name 'astrobiology'. It is a relatively new subject, but not a new discipline since it brings together several mature fields of science including astronomy, geology, biology, and climatology.

A psychiatrist presents a compelling argument for how human purpose and caring emerged in a spontaneous and unguided universe.