The Hand

In February 2021, orbiters from China and the UAE settled into their positions above Mars, and Nasa’s Perseverance rover touched down on its surface. Maggie Aderin-Pocock reviews the astonishing footage the rover has already sent back, and talks with its legendary chief designer Adam Seltzer about the challenges of missions to the red planet.

It is the most famous painting in the world, created by the hand of a genius, marveled at by millions every year in the Louvre in Paris. But could there be a second Mona Lisa? In 1913, an interesting portrait surfaced. It depicts a younger Mona Lisa in a slightly different setting and it's left unfinished: the so-called "Isleworth Mona Lisa." Is this the earlier version? There are only two contemporary references to the painting from the 15th century and both suggest da Vinci could have painted the woman in the masterpiece more than once.

In 1547, Ivan IV (1530-1584), archduke of Moscow, crowns himself Tsar of Russia and sets about reclaiming lost Russian territory.

"My paintings will be understood 1000 years from now". Japanese painter Ito Jakuchu (1716-1800) left these mysterious words along with his many paintings. These prophetic words are coming true with recent finds using the latest technology to better understand the artist's creative process, and his singular style in composition and design. Observe in pristine images the remarkably fine lines of Jakuchu (0.1mm!), and find out the messages hidden in the paintings of "the man with the hand of god".

During the early part of his reign, Ivan the Terrible faces betrayal from the aristocracy and even his closest friends as he seeks to unite the Russian people.