Stephen Hawking draws on 40 years of research to answer some of life's most compelling questions.

In the early 1900s, Albert Einstein developed an idea - called Relativity - that changed our understanding of reality. It explained how both space and time were flexible - and how the Universe was made of a four-dimensional fabric called space-time. This single idea gave us a new way to understand the force of gravity, explained how the stars were born and introduced us to the concept of the big bang. And, in the hands of Stephen Hawking, it allowed us to understand the most extreme monsters in the Universe - black holes. This two-part BBC documentary explores how two of the most famous scientists of the 20th Century transformed our understanding of the Universe - thus changing the world.

In this two-part series, we take a look at the monumental discoveries underway, specifically surrounding black holes and meteorites. Black holes have been revealed as one of the foundations for the basic conditions of life. Through black holes, life is possible in an infinite number of places in space. We also follow how meteorites brought the basic substances of life to our planet, allowing for its creation. The films describe the latest findings concerning cosmic events in relation to the origin of life, providing a grandiose perspective of what makes life possible.

This series explores the lives and work of noted modern-day astronomers, taking the viewer into the farthest reaches of outer space in search of black holes, quasars, dark matter, gravity waves, stars and evidence of planets outside our solar system. Intriguing celestial phenomena are examined from the perspectives of the experts: the men and women that are uncovering the secrets of the cosmos. Further, the series focuses not only on professional achievements, but on the scientists' personal lives as well.