Jim Al-Khalili Explains How We Measured the Universe

Editor's Take

Jim Al-Khalili narrates the long effort to measure the cosmos, from the parallax of nearby stars to the redshift of distant galaxies. The film's real subject is method, the ingenious chain of techniques by which we fixed the scale, age, and structure of the universe over centuries. His guidance keeps demanding physics unusually approachable. A lucid history of how astronomy learned to take the measure of everything.

In this documentary, physicist Jim Al-Khalili traces the astonishing story of how science measured the scale, age, and structure of the universe. From the parallax of nearby stars to the redshift of distant galaxies, he follows the ingenious methods that let us map the cosmos across 2,500 years. His clear guidance makes deep science approachable. Illuminating and engaging, it reveals how we came to know our place in space. Free to stream in 4K on Dr Documentary.

Courtesy of Documentary on YouTube. Watch on YouTube ↗

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