The evolving universe and the origin of life : the search for our cosmic roots Pt.1. The widening world view. When science was born Science in Athens Planetary spheres and the size of the universe Medieval cosmology The roots of the Copernican Revolution The true laws of planetary motion revealed Galileo Galilei and his successors How far away are the stars The scale of the solar system Pt.2. Physical laws of nature. Newton Celestial mechanics Nature of light Electricity and magnetism Time and space Curved space and gravity Atoms and nuclei Strange microworld Elementary particles Pt.3. The universe. Stars: cosmic fusion reactors The riddle of the Milky Way Entering the galaxy universe Large scale structure of the universe Finite or infinite universe: cosmological models When it all began: big bang The dark side of the universe Active galaxies: messages through radio waves Origin of galaxies Pt.4. Life in the universe. The nature of life The origin of earth and its moon Emergence and evolution of life Life and our solar system Extrasolar planetary systems and life in other solar systems Humans role in the universe