Life: A Cosmic Story
November 5, 2010
“Everywhere we look, life surrounds us.
Here, in this redwood grove, we find an astonishing variety of species, woven into an elaborate tapestry of life…
And we are a part of it.
You and I and these trees—indeed, all living things—are related. Distant cousins who share a common origin.
We’ve grown up together, evolved together. We depend on one another.”
Thoughtful and reverent, these are the first words you hear from narrator Jodie Foster in Life: A Cosmic Story, the Academy’s new planetarium show.
This immersive, all-digital production opens in a grove of towering redwood trees—some of our most majestic relatives. The family resemblance may be hard to see, but we share a common ancestor, and a quick dive into the cells of a single leaf reveals that our building blocks are the same. How did those building blocks first combine to form life? To find that answer, you’ll be launched on a journey through 13.7 billion years, witnessing key events since the Big Bang that set the stage for life. Before your eyes, the first stars will ignite, galaxies will coalesce, and entire worlds will take shape. On the early Earth, you’ll explore two scenarios for the dawn of life: one near a deep-sea hydrothermal vent, and the other in a primordial “hot puddle” on a volcanic island. By the time the show ends 25 minutes later, you’ll have a new appreciation for the connectedness of all living things on Earth.
Watch the trailer below:
Life: A Cosmic Story is now playing 7-10 times a day, every day through late 2011. Pick up your show passes at the planetarium kiosk (opposite the giraffes).
