Some of the Things That Molecules Do

Today on Far Future Horizons we present the second episode of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey ~ “Some of the Things That Molecules Do” hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson.

The second installment of this acclaimed television series, covers several facets of the origin of life and evolution.

Tyson describes both artificial selection via selective breeding, using the example of mankind's domestication of wolves into dogs, and natural selection that created species like polar bears.

Tyson uses the Ship of the Imagination to show how DNA, genes, and mutation work, and how these led to the diversity of species as represented by the Tree of Life, including how complex organs such as the eye came about as a common element. Tyson describes extinction of species and the five great extinction events that wiped out numerous species on Earth, while some species, such as the tardigrade, were able to survive and continue life.

Tyson speculates on the possibility of life on other planets, such as Saturn's moon, Titan, as well as how abiogenesis may have originated life on Earth.

The episode concludes with an animation from the original Cosmos showing the evolution of life from a single cell to mankind today.

If you want to learn more about the scientists mentioned in this and other episodes in the series here is a very good reference page ~ The Scientists of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey. 

This installment of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey can be purchased directly from Amazon Instant Video.

Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey ~ "Some of the Things That Molecules Do"
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