Synopsis
James May explains how stars work and the difference between fission and fusion.
- Programme: James May's Things You Need to Know
- Series: 1
- Episode: 02:...about the Universe
- Channel: BBC Two
- Broadcast year: 2011
- Biology
Licence: ERA Licence required
Free to watch for UK schools, colleges and universities with an ERA Licence
UK only
Staff and students of licensed education establishments only
Cannot be adapted
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More clips from James May's Things You Need to Know
An introduction to Dark Energy and Dark Matter | James May's Things You Need to Know
An introduction to Dark Energy and Dark Matter | James May's Things You Need to Know
James May explains what elements our universe is made up of.
Evidence of the Big Bang | James May's Things You Need to Know
Evidence of the Big Bang | James May's Things You Need to Know
James May explores the clues left in outer space that are proof of the Big Bang's occurrence.
S01E02:...about the Universe | James May's Things You Need to Know
S01E02:...about the Universe | James May's Things You Need to Know
James May takes a journey of discovery across the universe, asking where it all began, how stars work, and...
The death of a star | James May's Things You Need to Know
The death of a star | James May's Things You Need to Know
James May explains how as a star dies, it gets brighter, hotter and smaller.
The formation of our Solar System | James May's Things You Need to Know
The formation of our Solar System | James May's Things You Need to Know
James May explains how our solar system began as a solar nebula, a formation of clouds and dust.
More resources about Space Physics
Episode 1 | Orbit: Earth's Extraordinary Journey
Episode 1 | Orbit: Earth's Extraordinary Journey
Kate Humble and Dr Helen Czerski follow the Earth's voyage around the sun for one complete orbit, travelling first from July...
How hurricanes are formed by Earth's rotation | Learning Zone
How hurricanes are formed by Earth's rotation | Learning Zone
Physicist Helen Czerski explains that hurricanes happen because the earth is rotating. She shows how, because t...
01: Deep Earth | How Earth Made Us
01: Deep Earth | How Earth Made Us
Series telling the story of how the development of civilisation was influenced by planetary forces. Professor Iain Stewart explores the ro...
Orbit: Earth's Extraordinary Journey | Learning Zone
Orbit: Earth's Extraordinary Journey | Learning Zone
Kate Humble and Dr Helen Czerski follow the Earth's voyage around the sun for one complete orbit, to witness the astonis...
01: Destiny | Wonders of the Universe
01: Destiny | Wonders of the Universe
Professor Brian Cox explores the laws of the universe. In this episode, Brian looks at the nature of time and its role in creating both...
02: Out of Sight | Richard Hammond's Invisible Worlds
02: Out of Sight | Richard Hammond's Invisible Worlds
Richard Hammond uses groundbreaking imaging technology to take the viewer on a journey of discovery beyond the visible ...
Episode 2 | Orbit: Earth's Extraordinary Journey
Episode 2 | Orbit: Earth's Extraordinary Journey
Kate Humble and Dr Helen Czerski follow the Earth's voyage around the sun for one complete orbit, this time travelling from ...
Evidence of the Big Bang | James May's Things You Need to Know
Evidence of the Big Bang | James May's Things You Need to Know
James May explores the clues left in outer space that are proof of the Big Bang's occurrence.
05: The Big Bang: Before the Dawn | Universe
05: The Big Bang: Before the Dawn | Universe
It's the ultimate question: why are we here? Brian Cox explores how cutting-edge space missions take us back 13.8 billion years ...
A Night with the Stars
A Night with the Stars
Professor Brian Cox takes an audience of famous faces, scientists and members of the public on a journey through some of the most challenging concepts...
Episode 3 | Orbit: Earth's Extraordinary Journey
Episode 3 | Orbit: Earth's Extraordinary Journey
Kate Humble is in the Arctic, where spring arrives with a bang. Helen Czerski chases a tornado to show how the earth's angle...
Evidence of the Big Bang | Wonders of the Universe
Evidence of the Big Bang | Wonders of the Universe
Brian Cox simply explains how light and colour are crucial evidence for the Big Bang.
01: Empire of the Sun | Wonders of the Solar System
01: Empire of the Sun | Wonders of the Solar System
Professor Brian Cox describes how the laws of nature have carved natural wonders across the solar system. He explores the...
01: Volcano Worlds | Solar System
01: Volcano Worlds | Solar System
Professor Brian Cox explores planets and moons covered in volcanoes. He encounters alien landscapes bursting with fire and ice - eruptions ...
02: Stardust | Wonders of the Universe
02: Stardust | Wonders of the Universe
Professor Brian Cox explores the laws of the universe. In this episode, he seeks to answer the biggest questions of all - what are we ...
03: Storm Worlds | Solar System
03: Storm Worlds | Solar System
Professor Brian Cox explores the solar system's wildest weather, encountering powerful lightning, strange metallic frosts and monsoon rains o...
04: Ice Worlds | Solar System
04: Ice Worlds | Solar System
Professor Brian Cox explores the solar system's ice giants, frozen moons and worlds where ice behaves in unimaginable ways.
05: Strange Worlds | Solar System
05: Strange Worlds | Solar System
Professor Brian Cox explores the solar system's misfits and oddballs and investigates the forces that sculpted the bizarre features on thes...
01: Space: How Far Can We Go? | Brian Cox's Adventures in Space and Time
01: Space: How Far Can We Go? | Brian Cox's Adventures in Space and Time
Brian Cox explores the latest science and takes a new look at his old films and asks: how far can we...
02: Dark Worlds | Solar System
02: Dark Worlds | Solar System
Professor Brian Cox explores the solar system's hidden realms, between and beyond the planets, where countless worlds lie hiding in the darkness.
More from James May
Why Do Cats Have Nine Lives? | James May's Things You Need to Know
Why Do Cats Have Nine Lives? | James May's Things You Need to Know
James May explains about speed, using a fast-moving mix of animation and graphics. Here he explores why te...
S01E01 | James May's Cars of the People
S01E01 | James May's Cars of the People
James May discovers how cars became an everyday part of people's lives. His journey begins in Europe, where he reveals a tale of war,...
S01E06: Music | Dara O'Briain's Science Club
S01E06: Music | Dara O'Briain's Science Club
Dara O Briain and his expert team examine the science behind music. James May explores how music is linked to our emotions and M...
Creating moulds | James May's Man Lab
Creating moulds | James May's Man Lab
James re-forms some impractical kitchen items into the perfect lemon squeezer in his very own foundry.
06: Big City, Bright Lights | James May's 20th Century
06: Big City, Bright Lights | James May's 20th Century
Each day 180,000 people move into a city somewhere on the planet. James May investigates how the high-rise urban livin...