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The Big History of Everything

Aired on Feb 28, 20131h 27m

Crisscross billions of years of time and space to see how everyone, and everything, is linked in one universal story, and how an epic series of improbable events connected in order to make life possible.

S1 E16

Silver Supernova

Aired on Dec 21, 201321m

At critical moments in history, our second-place metal was the most important on Earth. How did this one metal save democracy and connect the world?

S1 E15

H2O

Aired on Dec 21, 201321m

Water is the miracle molecule, and mankind has used its perfect properties to revolutionize our lives. Explore how the science behind water is the driving force of our history.

S1 E14

Rise of the Carnivores

Aired on Dec 14, 201321m

The human need for beef has driven history across the hemispheres, but how did we turn an ancient mega-beast into the cow we have today? Trace all the beef on earth back to a single prehistoric herd.

S1 E13

The Sun

Aired on Dec 14, 201321m

The Sun is our master and creator, shaping our perception of time and, by extension, powering our lives. Big History sheds new light on our nearest star.

S1 E12

Deadly Meteors

Aired on Dec 07, 201321m

Discovering the impact that space has had on our planet and how quickly they could snuff it all out.

S1 E11

Decoded

Aired on Feb 07, 201321m

Questioning the possibility that the entire universe is built off binary code.

S1 E10

Pocket Time Machine

Aired on Nov 30, 201321m

How cell phones link to the big bang,the human memory and the Titanic disaster.

S1 E9

Mountain Machines

Aired on Nov 30, 201321m

They form boundaries, create natural defenses, and control our weather. Mountains make civilization possible, yet we were never designed to live in their extreme environments.

S1 E8

Brain Boost

Aired on Nov 23, 201321m

The molecule that gives your morning cup its kick is caffeine, the most popular drug in history. How did a plant poison became our drug of choice, and stimulate revolutions around the planet?

S1 E7

World of Weapons

Aired on Nov 23, 201321m

Humans have small teeth and no claws or armor, so how do we project our power? Warfare has defined traditional history, but Big History digs deeper to reveal how it all began.

S1 E6

Defeating Gravity

Aired on Nov 16, 201321m

Flight takes more than wings. We need the right kind of air, the perfect materials cooked up over billions of years, and cosmic forces that are just right for us to leave the ground without tumbling off into space. Big History reveals how planet Earth is the perfect planet for flight.

S1 E5

Megastructures

Aired on Nov 16, 201321m

Humans have engineered massive constructions for at least 5,000 years. But why? How do biology and human emotions affect our desire to build gigantic structures?

S1 E4

Below Zero

Aired on Nov 09, 201321m

For thousands of years, cold controls the fate of our species by changing our bodies, our skin, and even the metals we use to fight our wars. Only by taking control of the cold do we learn to dominate the planet.

S1 E3

Gold Fever

Aired on Nov 09, 201321m

Why is mankind is gold crazy? There's a hard-wired reason we lust after it, and a microscopic explanation for why it shines.

S1 E2

Horse Power Revolution

Aired on Nov 02, 201321m

The horse has been a revolutionary animal in unexpected ways. How did a changing planet turn the horse into man's best friend?

S1 E1

The Superpower of Salt

Aired on Nov 02, 201321m

See how a simple molecule launched wars, built monuments, sparked revolutions, and underpins our civilization even now.