Who are we? Where do we come from? In this series, Professor Brian Cox presents scientific answers to humanity’s age old questions. In this episode, he seeks to understand the nature of time and its role in creating both the universe and ourselves. From an extraordinary calendar built into the landscape of Peru to the beaches of Costa Rica, Brian explores the cycles of time which define our experience of life on Earth. But even the most epic cycles of life can't begin to compare to the vast expanse of cosmic time. Ultimately, he discovers that time is not characterized by repetition but by irreversible change. The vast universe is subject to these same laws of change. As we look out to the cosmos, we can see the story of its evolution unfold, from the death of the first stars to the birth of the youngest. This journey from birth to death will ultimately lead to the destruction of the entire universe, and with it the end of time itself. Yet without this inevitable destruction, life wouldn’t exist. A BBC Production.

Originally released by BBC, 2011. Streaming video file encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on May 02, 2015.

Introduction: Destiny: Wonders of the Universe (2:31); --Chankillo Solar Calendar (5:15); -- Measurement of Time (2:09); -- Glacial Progression (3:47); -- "The Arrow of Time" (2:21); -- Earth's Tidal Effects (3:48); -- Death of a Giant Star (6:18); -- Camouflage Experts (4:53); -- Super Sensors (4:39); -- The Hunters (4:49); -- Angry Herbivores (3:35); -- The Lemur (2:11); -- Credits: Destiny: Wonders of the Universe (0:44); .