New Foxtel Series: "How The Universe Works."

Suzy · #1 07-09-2010, 03:06 PM

If you have Foxtel, a new series on the Discovery channel has just started to air on Monday nights, titled "How The Universe Works". I didn't know this was going to be on last night, otherwise I would have notified you'll. But don't despair, you can catch the repeat of last night's episode on Saturday at 10.30am.
This hourly series airs on Monday nights at 7.30pm.
I watch a multitude of space documentaries, and I have to say, that in mine and hubby's opinions, this has been by far the most informative documentary we have seen yet.

Last night's episode was entitled "Stars". At the beginning, was a terrific presentation on the scale of stars which left me gasping and I learned more from this one episode than I ever have from other shows on the same topic. Even Eta Carinae gets a little more than just a passing mention. I can't wait for next week's episode - "Black Holes".

This new show is presented in such a way that it is easy to understand but at the same time targets a more intelligent audience. Unlike "The Universe" series (which I did indeed enjoy), I however found it to be a little simplistic and over dramatic (esp. in later episodes), in my opinion.

Being a "Discovery" series, I am certain that soon enough this series will be available on DVD.

Kind regards,
Suzy.

CraigS · #2 07-09-2010, 03:30 PM

I'll confess .... I'm a Universe documentary junkie !

I look forward to seeing it. I might have to brawl to get hold of my TV on Saturday morning, though.

I wish I'd known it was on last night ... instead of wrangling about philosophy in the Science Forum !

Thanks for the 'heads-up' Suzy !

Cheers

renormalised (Carl) · #3 09-09-2010, 06:20 PM

I'm a huge science doco fan as well. Have quite a few of the astronomy ones, as well as others such as "Walking with Dinosaurs/Beasts/Cavemen". I also like your history, UFO's, paranormal series etc.

Suzy · #4 09-09-2010, 06:36 PM

Carl, do you have Foxtel? You would love the History & Discovery Channels. They play a lot of the stuff that you're interested in.

renormalised (Carl) · #5 09-09-2010, 06:41 PM

I have Austar, so I'm fine with these

CraigS · #6 09-09-2010, 06:49 PM

I'm looking to try and Get The History Channel's "The Universe" Season 2 &/or Season 3 DVD. ABC doesn't seem interested in releasing an Oz region copy of these and the other region discs seem to be disappearing.

Any hints where I could get these copies ?

Cheers

renormalised (Carl) · #7 09-09-2010, 07:02 PM

Another thing I like too from Discovery....their series on warplanes

CraigS · #8 09-09-2010, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by renormalised

Another thing I like too from Discovery....their series on warplanes

Suzy's a warplanes guru too, aren't you Suzy ?

What is it with warplanes you guys ??

Have ya ever read Chuck Yeager's autobiography ?? Now there's a real eye-popper

Cheers

Suzy · #9 09-09-2010, 07:47 PM

Carl, are you watching the war planes series currently on the History Channel? The last few were "Air Australia" and the one before that was on the Kitty Hawk, and the one before that was on James Jabara, and I need to take a breath, I'm in war plane heaven this month.

Oh, I think I need to watch Top Gun now for the zillionth time...

Craig, the Universe Series is produced by the "History Channel", you could be barking up the wrong tree at the Abc shop perhaps

. Ring JB Hi Fi, Sanity, Hmv. I see they have release the blue ray version in the UK and States of the full series. Is your player zone limited is it?

EDIT: I hope I don't get into trouble for going off topic..

CraigS · #10 09-09-2010, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suzy

Carl, are you watching the war planes series currently on the History Channel? The last few were "Air Australia" and the one before that was on the Kitty Hawk, and the one before that was on James Jabara, and I need to take a breath, I'm in war plane heaven this month.

Oh, I think I need to watch Top Gun now for the zillionth time...

Craig, the Universe Series is produced by the "History Channel", you could be barking up the wrong tree at the Abc shop perhaps

. Ring JB Hi Fi, Sanity, Hmv. I see they have release the blue ray version in the UK and States of the full series. Is your player zone limited is it?

EDIT: I hope I don't get into trouble for going off topic..

Ha !! Top Gun ?? "The need for speed" (& Kelly McGillis !) an oldy but a goody!
But what about Chuck Yeager's autobiography ??? Top read, that one.

I'm afraid to say that the only peace and quiet I get, (when it comes to watching movies), at our place, is when I sneak off into a quiet room and watch my own personal, portable 7 inch DVD player (which is also fairly temperamental) ! Ie: it seems to work best for Region 4 DVDs.

Have tried JB Hifi, EzyDVD, ABC, Sanity etc. Could order them off the web but I haven't had much success that way, in the past.

Cheers
PS: Yes, we're off topic but... hey that's the norm 'round here ain't it ?
PPS: Carl only reads textbooks ... he's data reductionist at the moment !! (Whatever that means !!)

Suzy · #11 09-09-2010, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraigS

Have ya ever read Chuck Yeager's autobiography ?? Now there's a real eye-popper

Cheers

No I haven't Craig - I'll certainly be chasing it up, thank you.

renormalised (Carl) · #12 09-09-2010, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suzy

Carl, are you watching the war planes series currently on the History Channel? The last few were "Air Australia" and the one before that was on the Kitty Hawk, and the one before that was on James Jabara, and I need to take a breath, I'm in war plane heaven this month.

Oh, I think I need to watch Top Gun now for the zillionth time...

Not at present, I'm too busy with uni work.

I've seen Top Gun that many times, I could fly an F14 in my sleep!!!....if I could find one that was flying, that is

Jen · #13 09-09-2010, 09:47 PM

yes i am enjoying this show too

Jen · #14 09-09-2010, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraigS

I'm looking to try and Get The History Channel's "The Universe" Season 2 &/or Season 3 DVD. ABC doesn't seem interested in releasing an Oz region copy of these and the other region discs seem to be disappearing.

Any hints where I could get these copies ?

Cheers

yes the universe is my favourite series i downloaded them all from the internet shhhhhhhhhhhh

Esseth (Alan) · #15 09-09-2010, 10:10 PM

Yeah i loved The Universe as well, as well as Cosmos all saved on IQ from when it aired on like Hallmark channel or something random like that.

CraigS · #16 10-09-2010, 08:00 AM

I only have Season One DVDs of "The Universe". The best episode for me, was "Beyond the Big Bang" ... probably because it's what The History channel does best ... History !
Great episode that one .. done with lots of respect for our forebears !!
I think the BBC seems to do the best at docos. That's also been said before, somewhere at IIS.

Sorry 'bout clogging up your thread Suzy.

Getting back to the topic :

Quote:

Discovery channel has just started to air on Monday nights, titled "How The Universe Works" ... this Monday at 7:30pm

Cheers & Rgds

Suzy · #17 10-09-2010, 10:55 PM

Bump - Don't forget this is on Saturday Morning.

I welcome your feedback on this episode when you have watched it.

astroron (Ron) · #18 11-09-2010, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suzy

Bump - Don't forget this is on Saturday Morning.

I welcome your feedback on this episode when you have watched it.

I can't watch this series, but I have just finished watching Carl Sagen's COSMOS episodes One and Two

, only Eleven more to go

this will be about the fourth time.

CraigS · #19 11-09-2010, 12:40 PM

Ok. Just watched "Stars". Absolutely fantastic graphics !! Best I've seen so far!
Material was great. Plenty of details, and I couldn't find anything in the commentary/points they made, that I could find fault with.

The astronomer types were all good. Kaku seems to make it into everything thesedays .. Krauss turned up and made his points ...liked Michelle Thaller (Astronomer) and Eve Stenson. Good balance of Astros and Physicists !

Good coverage of the end-to-end main sequence.

Hows about that laser gizmo at Oxford which induces Fusion (albeit, only momentarily) ? There's no doubt about it, the Americans might have the money, but I really do think that the English Physics research guys still lead the charge when it comes to the in-depth research ! Whenever they turn up in docos, the credibility of what they're talking about just shoots up, doesn't it ?

Great one Suzy ! Thank you.

Looking forward to Mondays .. on Black Holes, eh ?

Cheers & Rgds.

CraigS · #20 14-09-2010, 11:14 AM

Ok. Just watched 'Black Holes' (BH).
My initial impression is that it was a little shallower than 'Stars'. Perhaps this is because of the need to reduce the complexity on the theoretical side, which at this stage, is mostly where the interesting bits of information about BHs are, for me. My views:

- I cracked up at Kaku's comment that the first thing he teaches is that "Gravity Sucks !". We have one enthusiast here who denies it (even presents the opposite view in his Avatar/header) !
- They seemed to 'hype' the impending threats/doom, unnecessarily.
- Phil Plat (Astronomer) seemed to be a big 'hyper', surprisingly.
- They skirted Gamma Ray Burst (GRB) a little - pity.
- Kaku again - "we are completely clueless when it comes to singularities" .. some theoretical types might take offence to this comment

- Covered Andrea Ghez's (Astronomer) discoveries on central Milky Way SMBH fairly well. (Best photo I've ever seen here - thanks to multiweb Marc, by the way)
- Covered the main observing platforms briefly - SWIFT, Chandra, Keck, etc.
- Physicist 'Shep Doeleman' seemed well grounded (compared to the 'hyper' types).
- More could be said about quasar light but again, perhaps this aspect was 'dumbed down a bit for the target audience/demographic.
- Awesome graphics - yet again ! Best I've seen so far !

Thanks again Suzy, for the 'heads-up'. Overall, I'm finding the series entertaining and of very good quality.

Cheers & Rgds