For 11 episodes now, the groundbreaking Fox and National Geographic Channel series Cosmos has taken a deep look at some of science’s most thorny aspects – from creationism and evolution, to industry funded science denial, giving science teachers something new and cool to show in class on Monday mornings. This coming Sunday will be the most staggereing episode of all – dedicating the whole episode to climate change.
Week after week, the show has drawn 3 million viewers every Sunday night – which for a science show, is quite a respectable figure. Many also watched it online, or on Youtube. Cosmos certainly hasn’t shied away from controversy, diving right into the midst of things – but that was just the beginning. I don’t want to spoil anything, but this Sunday’s episode is going to be mind blowing for climate change deniers. Here’s the description revealed by National Geographic:
“Our journey begins with a trip to another world and time, an idyllic beach during the last perfect day on the planet Venus, right before a runaway greenhouse effect wreaks havoc on the planet, boiling the oceans and turning the skies a sickening yellow. We then trace the surprisingly lengthy history of our awareness of global warming and alternative energy sources, taking the Ship of the Imagination to intervene at some critical points in time.”
It gives me great pleasure to report this episode. After all, Carl Sagan, the creator of the original Cosoms series, spent a lot of time researching the effects of greenhouse gases on Venus, and he was deeply concerned with climate change caused by greenhouse gases. I think he’d be proud and happy to see this new episode; it’s safe to say that this new Comos is living up to the legacy of its original creator.
Note: For those who miss it on Sunday, Cosmos also airs Monday, June 2nd at 9 pm on National Geographic Channel with additional footage.