Cosmic Front

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) orbits 600 kilometers above the Earth's surface, beyond the planet's image-distorting atmosphere. It provides clear images of our universe and can even take vivid photographs of galaxies with hundreds of billions of stars at the outer reaches of the cosmos. Recently over 100 scientists from around the world gathered for the most ambitious HST observation project to date. They were trying to work out the structure of the galaxies. Near Earth, many galaxies are clustered together like soap bubbles. Will these bubbles continue expanding far into the universe? Using the HST, scientists at the frontline of space exploration try to find the answer.

Extraterrestrial life = Science Fiction. Not so fast! -- the Cassini probe has provided photos of Enceladus, where scientists have found geysers of water vapor. And then there is Gliese 581g, a planet with Earth-like conditions....what would life forms look like in these watery environments?

Material called "dark matter" could hold the key to understanding the creation of the universe. Although its composition is completely unknown, dark matter is believed to have more than five times the mass of existing elements like hydrogen and oxygen. Using highly specialized observation devices, scientists around the world are vying to be the first to uncover the secret of dark matter. How do these scientists form their hypotheses and attempt to validate them? Will they ever find out what dark matter is? This program focuses on this fascinating competition among some of the world's top scientists.

Telescopes on six solar observation satellites are currently monitoring the sun. The satellites include Japan's Hinode and the SDO developed by the United States. Solar activity (flares, sunspots) is at its lowest since modern observation began - what implications does this have for our Earth?

Betelgeuse is a first-magnitude red star in the Orion constellation. This massive star -- 1,000 times the size of the Sun -- is aging and facing imminent death. The latest observations show what appears to be a huge bump on one side of the star, and giant plumes of gas spewing out with ferocious force. Scientists predict Betelgeuse will soon meet its end in a huge explosion. They say that viewed from Earth three hours after this explosion, the supernova will appear almost 100 times brighter than a full moon, and be visible even during the day. As it nears the end of its life, this red supergiant star is grabbing the attention of scientists around the world.

The Maya civilization, which flourished for 2,000 years in Central America, developed a sophisticated understanding of astronomy. Without the use of telescopes, or even the metal to build them, the Maya unlocked the mysteries of the movements of the heavens, and developed a very precise solar calendar that was "not off a day in 4,000 years." Some people say the Maya predicted the end of the world as we know it in 2012. This episode uses new investigations of Maya ruins and recent breakthroughs in deciphering their hieroglyphics to reveal the astronomical secrets of this great civilization.

In the summer of 2011, the Space Shuttle fleet was retired after leading international missions for three decades. Despite two tragedies, the Space Shuttle rose like a phoenix from its ashes to realize humankind's dream of space exploration. Its notable missions included providing crucial support to the construction and maintenance of the Hubble Space Telescope and the International Space Station. Behind the development and operation of the Space Shuttle project was a history of struggles unknown to the public. This program traces both the glory and tribulations of the Space Shuttle, and how it helped broaden our view of the possibility of space travel.

An astral body colliding with the Earth is not a Hollywood fantasy. NASA estimates that some 20,000 small astral bodies could smash into the Earth. Any one of these impacts could pose a serious threat to civilization. Observatories around the world are working together to protect our planet. They scan the universe to detect potentially dangerous asteroids as early as possible. NASA is also studying how the paths of asteroids could be changed to prevent them from hitting the Earth. This episode looks at the frontline research being carried out to better understand the little-known phenomenon of astral collision and prevent a potentially catastrophic impact with the Earth.