‘Cosmos’ Reboot Aims to Inspire New Generation of Scientists
21st Century Fox and National Geographic reboot the iconic series popularized by Carl Sagan
By now, you’ve likely heard about the resurrection of the classic series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage with new host, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.
What began in 1980 as a 13-part series designed to fan the flames of imagination and curiosity is now a 21st century vehicle that brings science to a new generation. A generation that is growing up in a world with no space race and no manned American space missions, yet many reasons to be excited about the exploration of our universe.
What made the original Cosmos series so unique, so groundbreaking, was the fact that Sagan made the study of the universe – an incredibly complex area of study – accessible and entertaining for millions. The show was produced in such a way that it was able to cut through the noise of pop culture to deliver real value to audiences young and old.
This is precisely the reason for the excitement surrounding the modern-day Cosmos. In a world seemingly more interested in zombies and vampires than science , the new Cosmos has a chance to again stand out amid the endless distractions of modern society.
The cosmos is all that is, or ever was, or ever will be
In this new series, Dr. Tyson takes viewers on a journey of discovery, from the smallest building blocks that make up the world around us, to the edge of the known universe. Tyson accurately describes Cosmos as “a journey that will take us from the infinitesimal, to the infinite. From the dawn of time, to the distant future.”
Truly, an adventure for the ages.
Staying true to the original Cosmos format, Tyson presents a visual odyssey, rich with high definition video and intelligent special effects that help illustrate the concepts being described.
In the premiere episode titled Standing up in the Milky Way, the journey begins by exploring our own solar system. To get around, Tyson utilizes the “Ship of the Imagination” as Sagan did more than 30 years ago, taking viewers to several planets, and the sun, on the way to the far reaches of our own galaxy, the Milky Way, and beyond. Far beyond.
Cosmos is a great way to get kids thinking
In a recent interview with National Geographic, Tyson shares his thoughts on the reason for the reboot:
“The purpose of Cosmos is not to be a textbook to tell people about the latest discoveries. The whole point of telling these stories is to allow you to understand that science, the scientific method, is central to all of our lives.”
While the show is largely based on the exploration of space, Tyson explains the bigger picture:
“The viewer will see the science all around us, will see that biology, that geology, that physics are all connected today.
Modern astrophysics is spreading into all sorts of fields. There is now astrobiology (the study of alien life), planetary geology (earth science on other planets), and even astroparticle physics, where we take advantage of astronomical observations to answer fundamental physics questions.”
How to view Cosmos
The first episode, which aired this past Sunday, is available in its entirety online.
Episodes of Cosmos air Sunday nights at 9/8c on Fox, with re-broadcasts occurring on National Geographic at 10/9c the following night. The National Geographic broadcasts will include extra content such as behind-the-scenes and bonus footage.
Download the Cosmos companion app for the iPhone, iPad, and Android to enjoy exclusive content and an interactive cosmic calendar.
The show is suitable for all ages, but as always, parents are encouraged to review the show before deciding whether it’s right for their children.
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Image by NASA/SDO/AIA/Goddard Space Flight Center, via Wikimedia Commons / Cropped from original
Scott Holm is a contributing writer for Learning Liftoff. Scott has more than 14 years of experience managing websites and publishing web content. As a tech-enthusiast, Scott enjoys writing about science and technology. Born and raised in the Portland, Oregon area, Scott is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys all kinds of outdoor activities, including hiking, snowboarding, wakeboarding, and summiting some of the tallest peaks in the Pacific Northwest. Scott is married to his high school sweetheart, Jennifer, and has two loving kids, a dog (Nemo), and a cat (Gizmo).