There are extremes in the universe that we barely know, but we're beginning to venture into places we never thought we'd reach. The most profound mysteries of science are now coming into view. Extreme Universe gives vital insights into a world we thought we knew, using an unprecedented combination of the most current scientific information, mind-blowing CGI and relevant comparisons and analogies. The night sky is a fascinating spectacle, but for ancient civilisations it was the key to their survival. Over thousands of years, there have been a lot of scientific discoveries, but it was our ancestors' first observations of the cosmos that put us on the path to modern civilisation which led to some of mankind s greatest creations. Are we alone in the vast expanse of the universe? It's a question people have been asking for thousands of years and we're closer than ever to finding the answers. We'll travel deep into the cosmos to witness the most violent impacts in the universe and take you into the heart of the universe's biggest space-storms - weather like 11,000-mile-per-hour winds or storms of raining liquid methane. Planets, moons, and stars are all at risk of violent upheaval. The violence unleashed on these worlds provides a frightening blueprint of what could happen closer to home. No matter how we try, there's no way to prepare for nature s cosmic fury.

• 2 discs; 312 minutes
• © 2010