Synopsis
James May explains how our solar system began as a solar nebula, a formation of clouds and dust.
- 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
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James May explains what elements our universe is made up of.
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James May explores the clues left in outer space that are proof of the Big Bang's occurrence.
How the sun creates energy | James May's Things You Need to Know
How the sun creates energy | James May's Things You Need to Know
James May explains how stars work and the difference between fission and fusion.
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.
More resources about The Solar System and Universe
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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: A Moment in the Sun - The Terrestrial Planets | The Planets
01: A Moment in the Sun - The Terrestrial Planets | The Planets
The rocky planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars were born at the same time from the same material - yet hav...
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.
03: Falling | Wonders of the Universe
03: Falling | Wonders of the Universe
Series in which Professor Brian Cox explores the laws of the universe. In this episode, Brian takes on the story of the force that scul...
04: Messengers | Wonders of the Universe
04: Messengers | Wonders of the Universe
Professor Brian Cox explores the laws of the universe. He shows how light holds the key to our understanding of the whole universe, ...
06: An Answer to Everything | Stephen Hawking's Universe
06: An Answer to Everything | Stephen Hawking's Universe
Professor Stephen Hawking explains how scientists are trying to unite the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics...
An introduction to the planets in the Solar System | The Planets
An introduction to the planets in the Solar System | The Planets
A short explanation of the planets and their order away from the Sun.
The Sun's empire | Wonders of the Solar System
The Sun's empire | Wonders of the Solar System
Professor Brian Cox explains the immense power of the Sun, and the extent of its gravitational influence.
01: Seeing is Believing | Stephen Hawking's Universe
01: Seeing is Believing | Stephen Hawking's Universe
Professor Stephen Hawking explains the history of mankind's quest to explain the Universe. He shows how advances in tech...
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Why Do Cats Have Nine Lives? | James May's Things You Need to Know
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James May explains about speed, using a fast-moving mix of animation and graphics. Here he explores why te...
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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
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Dara O Briain and his expert team examine the science behind music. James May explores how music is linked to our emotions and M...
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James re-forms some impractical kitchen items into the perfect lemon squeezer in his very own foundry.
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