Synopsis
James May explores the clues left in outer space that are proof of the Big Bang's occurrence.
- Programme: James May's Things You Need to Know
- Series: 1
- Episode: ...about the Universe
- Channel: BBC Two
- Broadcast year: 2011
- Biology
Licence: ERA Licence required
UK only
Staff and students of licensed education establishments only
Cannot be adapted
Add Notes
More clips from James May's Things You Need to Know

An introduction to Dark Energy and Dark Matter | James May's Things You Need to Know
An introduction to Dark Energy and Dark Matter | James May's Things You Need to Know
James May explains what elements our universe is made up of.

How the sun creates energy | James May's Things You Need to Know
How the sun creates energy | James May's Things You Need to Know
James May explains how stars work and the difference between fission and fusion.

S1E2:...about the Universe | James May's Things You Need to Know
S1E2:...about the Universe | James May's Things You Need to Know
James May takes a journey of discovery across the universe, asking where it all began, how stars work, and w...

The death of a star | James May's Things You Need to Know
The death of a star | James May's Things You Need to Know
James May explains how as a star dies, it gets brighter, hotter and smaller.

The formation of our Solar System | James May's Things You Need to Know
The formation of our Solar System | James May's Things You Need to Know
James May explains how our solar system began as a solar nebula, a formation of clouds and dust.
More resources about The Solar System and Universe

1: A Moment in the Sun - The Terrestrial Planets | The Planets
1: A Moment in the Sun - The Terrestrial Planets | The Planets
The rocky planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars were born at the same time from the same material - yet have...

1: Destiny | Wonders of the Universe
1: Destiny | Wonders of the Universe
Professor Brian Cox explores the laws of the universe. In this episode, Brian looks at the nature of time and its role in creating both ...

1: Empire of the Sun | Wonders of the Solar System
1: Empire of the Sun | Wonders of the Solar System
Professor Brian Cox describes how the laws of nature have carved natural wonders across the solar system. He explores the ...

1: Seeing is Believing | Stephen Hawking's Universe
1: Seeing is Believing | Stephen Hawking's Universe
Professor Stephen Hawking explains the history of mankind's quest to explain the Universe. He shows how advances in techn...

1: The Sun: God Star | Universe
1: The Sun: God Star | Universe
Since the first star lit up the universe, they have been engines of creation. Professor Brian Cox reveals how, ultimately, stars brought life...

1: Volcano Worlds | Solar System
1: Volcano Worlds | Solar System
Professor Brian Cox explores planets and moons covered in volcanoes. He encounters alien landscapes bursting with fire and ice - eruptions s...

2: Alien Worlds: The Search for Second Earth | Universe
2: Alien Worlds: The Search for Second Earth | Universe
Professor Brian Cox questions whether we are alone in the universe. There might be more planets than stars in our gal...

2: Dark Worlds | Solar System
2: Dark Worlds | Solar System
Professor Brian Cox explores the solar system's hidden realms, between and beyond the planets, where countless worlds lie hiding in the darkness.

2: In the Beginning | Stephen Hawking's Universe
2: In the Beginning | Stephen Hawking's Universe
Professor Stephen Hawking looks at the mystery of how the Universe. He introduces the Big Bang theory and the scientists who...

2: Order out of Chaos | Wonders of the Solar System
2: Order out of Chaos | Wonders of the Solar System
Professor Brian Cox describes how nature has carved out the solar system. He looks at the rings of Saturn, explaining how...

2: Stardust | Wonders of the Universe
2: Stardust | Wonders of the Universe
Professor Brian Cox explores the laws of the universe. In this episode, he seeks to answer the biggest questions of all - what are we a...

2: The Two Sisters - Earth and Mars | The Planets
2: The Two Sisters - Earth and Mars | The Planets
Professor Brian Cox continues his tour of the solar system revealing that it was once home to not one, but two blue planets.

3: Cosmic Alchemy | Stephen Hawking's Universe
3: Cosmic Alchemy | Stephen Hawking's Universe
Professor Stephen Hawking looks at the search from ancient to modern times for the 'cosmic alchemy' that created all the matte...

3: Falling | Wonders of the Universe
3: Falling | Wonders of the Universe
Series in which Professor Brian Cox explores the laws of the universe. In this episode, Brian takes on the story of the force that sculp...

3: Storm Worlds | Solar System
3: Storm Worlds | Solar System
Professor Brian Cox explores the solar system's wildest weather, encountering powerful lightning, strange metallic frosts and monsoon rains on...

3: The Godfather: Jupiter | The Planets
3: The Godfather: Jupiter | The Planets
Brian Cox continues his exploration of the solar system with a visit to a planet that dwarfs all the others: Jupiter. Its size gives ...

3: The Milky Way: Island of Light | Universe
3: The Milky Way: Island of Light | Universe
A space mission discovers the dramatic history of the Milky Way. Professor Brian Cox reveals how our galaxy endured multiple col...

3: The Thin Blue Line | Wonders of the Solar System
3: The Thin Blue Line | Wonders of the Solar System
Professor Brian Cox reveals how something as flimsy as an envelope of gas - an atmosphere - can create some of the most w...

4: Black Holes and Beyond | Stephen Hawking's Universe
4: Black Holes and Beyond | Stephen Hawking's Universe
Professor Stephen Hawking looks at how radio astronomy and the discovery of quasars affected the debate about the exis...

4: Black Holes: Heart of Darkness | Universe
4: Black Holes: Heart of Darkness | Universe
Professor Brian Cox journeys into a supermassive black hole - a monster that can destroy worlds and stop time, and which is forc...
More from James May

Why Do Cats Have Nine Lives? | James May's Things You Need to Know
Why Do Cats Have Nine Lives? | James May's Things You Need to Know
James May explains about speed, using a fast-moving mix of animation and graphics. Here he explores why te...

S1E1 | James May's Cars of the People
S1E1 | James May's Cars of the People
James May discovers how cars became an everyday part of people's lives. His journey begins in Europe, where he reveals a tale of war, f...

S1E6: Music | Dara O'Briain's Science Club
S1E6: Music | Dara O'Briain's Science Club
Dara O Briain and his expert team examine the science behind music. James May explores how music is linked to our emotions and Mar...

Creating moulds | James May's Man Lab
Creating moulds | James May's Man Lab
James re-forms some impractical kitchen items into the perfect lemon squeezer in his very own foundry.

S2E3:…about Evolution | James May's Things You Need To Know
S2E3:…about Evolution | James May's Things You Need To Know
You might relish cabbage about as much as a two-month bout of chickenpox, but would you consider it as a leafy ...