Episode 1
Most Amazing Discoveries
42m
From the furthest reaches of space to our own cosmic backyard, we count down the discoveries that changed everything we know about our universe.
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.
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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 5 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 2
Mystery of Planet 9
42m8.0 / 10
Scientists have discovered a mysterious ninth planet on the very edge of our solar system. Ten times the size of Earth, this strange world could have moons with extraterrestrial life.
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Episode 3
Black Holes: The Secret Origin
42m
Recent discoveries could explain how supermassive black holes grow so big, one of the universe's most mysterious questions. Neither dark matter nor cannibalism can fully explain these monsters, but the latest science might finally provide an answer.
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Episode 4
Secret History of Pluto
42m8.5 / 10
The first close-up images of Pluto revealed unimaginable secrets of this mysterious frozen world. Now, scientists investigate if Pluto is home to a warm ocean of liquid water beneath its surface, and whether this underground ocean could harbor life.
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Episode 5
Stars That Kill
42m
The universe is home to real-life Death Stars that could destroy planet Earth. The latest science reveals the terrifying secrets of NASA's six deadliest: vampire stars, supernovas that can vaporize a planet, and unpredictable stars gone rogue.
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Episode 6
The Universe's Deadliest
42m8.0 / 10
The universe is a dangerous place, and we explore the deadliest spots in the cosmos. Between earth and the edge of the universe, there are a million ways to die, and our crash test dummy is on a mission to reveal the worst.
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Episode 7
Life and Death on the Red Planet
42m
Life once existed on Mars, but a series of devastating mass extinctions have made present-day life nearly impossible. The latest science shows how Martian life keeps bouncing back as it transforms from a watery world like Earth into a desert planet.
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Episode 8
The Dark Matter Enigma
42m
Dark matter is the biggest mystery of the cosmos. Scientists know that it has been vital to our universe since its birth, and new discoveries reveal that it could create black holes, cause mass extinctions, and might even shape life on Earth itself.
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Episode 9
Strangest Alien Worlds
42mfinale
Discoveries of new planets have revealed countless worlds much stranger than Earth. Some of these worlds don't have stars, others are made out of diamonds. Will we ever find a planet like Earth, or are these distant worlds stranger than fiction?
Where to watch How the Universe WorksEpisode information updated Jul 24, 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
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