Episode 1
Big Bang
The programme investigates how the Universe came into existence out of nothing, and how it grew from a minuscule point, smaller than an atomic particle, to the vast cosmos we see today.
Where to watch How the Universe Works
TV series
How the Universe Works
2010TV-G11 seasons8.3 / 10
A users' guide to the cosmos, from the Big Bang to galaxies, stars, planets and moons: where did it all come from and how does it all fit together? A primer for anyone who has ever looked up at the night sky and wondered.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Where to watch in United States
Checked Jul 22, 2026
How the Universe Works is available to stream on DirecTV On Demand, Discovery+ (Via Amazon Prime), HBO (Via Hulu), HBO Max, Max (Via Amazon Prime), Philo, YouTube TV, and Plex in United States. You can also buy it from Amazon, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
Stream
Watch free
Synopsis
A users' guide to the cosmos, from the Big Bang to galaxies, stars, planets and moons: where did it all come from and how does it all fit together? A primer for anyone who has ever looked up at the night sky and wondered.
Season 1 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 2
Black Holes
Black Holes, the most powerful destroyers in the Universe, the most mysterious phenomena in the heavens. For years they were only speculation, now modern astronomy is proving them frighteningly real and showing that they may well shape everything we see.
Where to watch How the Universe Works
Episode 3
Galaxies
The evolution of galaxies, from clouds of cold gas floating in space 13 billion years ago, to the vast gravitationally bound systems of today.
Where to watch How the Universe Works
Episode 4
Stars
Examining the birth of stars, and how their creation changed the cosmos for ever, leading to planets and life itself.
Where to watch How the Universe Works
Episode 5
Supernovas
Stars are not eternal; they are dying in unimaginably large explosions called supernovas. Second only to the Big Bang, these explosions are where creation and destruction meet. Only now have we begun to understand how these wonders in our sky work.
Where to watch How the Universe Works
Episode 6
Planets
There are just eight planets in our solar system, but there could be a hundred billion planets in our Milky Way galaxy alone. This show follows the journey of planets as they grow from grains of dust to the magnificently diverse worlds we see today.
Where to watch How the Universe Works
Episode 7
Solar Systems
Is our solar system unique? Since the first discovery of a planet orbiting another star, some 280 alien solar systems have been identified. It's only by looking at solar systems far beyond our own, that we can understand how remarkable our universe is.
Where to watch How the Universe Works
Episode 8
Moons
Moons come in every possible shape and size. Home to incredible natural phenomena like gigantic geysers and colossal volcanoes, moons also offer perhaps the best chance of finding alien life in the Universe - and they probably exist in the billions.
Where to watch How the Universe WorksEpisode information updated Jul 22, 2026
More about How the Universe Works
Cast
Erik DellumsHimself - Narrator
Mike RoweNarratorChris MckaySelf - Astrobiologist
Carly HowettSelf - Planetary Scientist
Nina LanzaSelf - Planetary Scientist
Hakeem Muata OluseyiSelf - AstrophysicistAmber StraughnSelf - Astrophysicist
Max TegmarkSelf - Theoretical Physicist
Production details
- Status
- Ended
- Series type
- Documentary
- Episodes
- 93
- Original language
- English
Networks & production
ScienceUnited States
DiscoveryUnited States
DiscoveryUnited States
Themes
astronomyastrophysicscosmosdistant galaxygalaxymoonobservational documentaryphysics
You may also like
More shows like How the Universe Works.
