Do you ever wonder what space-time, that mystical fabric of the universe, really is? Have you heard of the more interesting effects of physics, stuff like time dilation and quantum tunneling, but just can’t wrap your mind around the ideas? Would you, in short, like a better picture of the universe?
Physicist and author Brian Greene will host a four-part NOVA series this November titled “The Fabric of the Cosmos.” // Photo courtesy of WGBH
Well, besides reading
Astronomy magazine every month, you can tune in to a special NOVA series airing in November titled
The Fabric of the Cosmos. Based on a book by physicist and science communicator Brian Greene, the shows will air the first four Wednesdays of November at 9 p.m. ET/PT on PBS, starting on the 2nd.
I got a chance to see some of these episodes early and, as usual with NOVA’s shows, was impressed. Greene has a knack for descriptions that just make sense, no matter how strange the phenomenon he’s talking about. A novice viewer will learn a surprising amount, and even those familiar with science will enjoy simple new ways to think about the strangest bits of the cosmos. Plus, the shows feature engaging sights and sounds among its interviews with scientists — a beautiful desert landscape one second, a visualization of the Big Bang the next — sure to hold any viewer’s interest.
The first episode investigates “What is space?” and how interesting a concept empty space can prove to be, while the following week’s show focuses on “The illusion of time,” with its many unexpected mysteries and paradoxes. The third episode, on November 16, takes a “Quantum leap” into the crazy quirkiness of the subatomic world, and the final episode ends on a grand note, asking “Universe or multiverse?”
Fans of NOVA, fans of science, and fans of entertainment alike should keep an eye out for this special series. And, after it airs, feel free to come back and share your thoughts in the comments section below.