Nitrate

How the Universe Works

  • TV-PG
  • 2010–2023
  • 11 seasons
  • Documentary
  • 8.3

A users' guide to the cosmos, from the Big Bang to galaxies, stars, planets and moons: where did it all come from and how does it all fit together? A primer for anyone who has ever looked up at the night sky and wondered.

Episodes

9 episodes
  1. 1Most Amazing Discoveries

    42 minNov 22, 2016

    From the furthest reaches of space to our own cosmic backyard, we count down the discoveries that changed everything we know about our universe.

  2. 2Mystery of Planet 9

    42 minNov 29, 2016

    Scientists have discovered a mysterious ninth planet on the very edge of our solar system. Ten times the size of Earth, this strange world could have moons with extraterrestrial life.

  3. 3Black Holes: The Secret Origin

    42 minDec 6, 2016

    Recent discoveries could explain how supermassive black holes grow so big, one of the universe's most mysterious questions. Neither dark matter nor cannibalism can fully explain these monsters, but the latest science might finally provide an answer.

  4. 4Secret History of Pluto

    42 minJan 3, 2017

    The first close-up images of Pluto revealed unimaginable secrets of this mysterious frozen world. Now, scientists investigate if Pluto is home to a warm ocean of liquid water beneath its surface, and whether this underground ocean could harbor life.

  5. 5Stars That Kill

    42 minJan 10, 2017

    The universe is home to real-life Death Stars that could destroy planet Earth. The latest science reveals the terrifying secrets of NASA's six deadliest: vampire stars, supernovas that can vaporize a planet, and unpredictable stars gone rogue.

  6. 6The Universe's Deadliest

    42 minJan 17, 2017

    The universe is a dangerous place, and we explore the deadliest spots in the cosmos. Between earth and the edge of the universe, there are a million ways to die, and our crash test dummy is on a mission to reveal the worst.

  7. 7Life and Death on the Red Planet

    42 minJan 24, 2017

    Life once existed on Mars, but a series of devastating mass extinctions have made present-day life nearly impossible. The latest science shows how Martian life keeps bouncing back as it transforms from a watery world like Earth into a desert planet.

  8. 8The Dark Matter Enigma

    42 minJan 31, 2017

    Dark matter is the biggest mystery of the cosmos. Scientists know that it has been vital to our universe since its birth, and new discoveries reveal that it could create black holes, cause mass extinctions, and might even shape life on Earth itself.

  9. 9Strangest Alien Worlds

    42 minFeb 7, 2017

    Discoveries of new planets have revealed countless worlds much stranger than Earth. Some of these worlds don't have stars, others are made out of diamonds. Will we ever find a planet like Earth, or are these distant worlds stranger than fiction?

Where to watch How the Universe Works

Free with ads

No subscription needed

Availability from JustWatch, via TMDB. Full listing for United States

Series cast

Mike RoweNarrator38 episodes
Michelle ThallerHerself25 episodes
Phil PlaitHimself25 episodes
Nina LanzaSelf - Planetary Scientist19 episodes
Hakeem Muata Oluseyi19 episodes
Moogega Cooper19 episodes
Jani RadebaughSelf - Planetary Scientist19 episodes
Dan DurdaSelf - Planetary Scientist19 episodes
Kevin J. Walsh19 episodes
Paul M SutterSelf - Astrophysicist19 episodes
Erik DellumsHimself - Narrator17 episodes
Chris MckaySelf - Astrobiologist10 episodes
Carly HowettSelf - Planetary Scientist10 episodes
Amber StraughnSelf - Astrophysicist10 episodes
Max TegmarkSelf - Theoretical Physicist10 episodes
Alex PhilippenkoSelf - Astrophysicis10 episodes
Katie FreeseSelf - Cosmologist10 episodes
Grant TremblaySelf - Astrophysicist10 episodes

More like thisShows TMDB viewers also watched