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A fleet of ships is forced to do battle with an armada of unknown origins in order to discover and thwart their destructive goals.

Astronomers discover wobbling stars with planets where the ice is hot and the rain is made of iron.

Join astronomers as they enter the final lap in a race to find a planet capable of sustaining life, a world like ours, the next Earth. See the launch of Frances CoRot and Americas Kepler missions, and the smoking hot worlds they discover. See a controversial and tantalizing discovery of a planet where life could exist in a strange twilight zone, that is, if the planet really exists. Astronomers are working to determine what conditions are necessary for life to exist, and they are building the radical James Webb Space Telescope, a spacecraft that can look at the atmosphere around a planet and reveal whether or not life as we know it actually exists. It could be the greatest discovery in human history and it could change how we see ourselves.

30 million years after Earth's birth a cataclysmic collision almost destroyed the planet completely. Instead this chance collision formed the moon, triggering an extraordinary sequence of events that formed this unique planet teaming with life.

The most catastrophic extinction event in the history of the earth was the Permian Extinction 250 million years ago. Scientists believe this was caused by a massive half million year eruption in the Siberian traps that lead to wave after wave of toxic gases devastating life on the planet beginning with sulfur dioxide followed by carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and methane. Yet, some animals found sanctuaries where they could survive.

Inspired by ideas about nuclear war, a theory that the Earth was encased in ice 650 million years ago has gained popularity in the science community. This program explains how this condition came about, how it ended, the impact on the evolution of animal life and presents the evidence for these conclusions.

Dinosaurs arose as rulers of the Earth 250 million years ago, but their reign soon ended in catastrophe, paving the way for mammals and eventually humans to flourish. Evidence shows that a cosmic impact was responsible, but where did it hit Earth?

The succession to the crown of England is in doubt and causes King Henry's daughter and nephew to compete for the throne. Church politics see Philip, a monk, elected the new prior, which leaves him indebted to Deacon Waleran.

Construction of the new church at Kingsbridge Priory is underway. They have too few men and Prior Philip hopes the sale of this year's wool will give them the money they need to hire more workers. When the time comes to quarry the stone William Hamleigh prevents Tom Builder from starting working leading to a major confrontation with the monks of the Priory.

William applies to have his father's title of Earl transferred to him, and discovers a mysterious knight is also a rival for the Earldom. King Stephen, frightened by Jack's appearance, orders an assassin to kill him. The battle between King Stephen and Maud sees each side's leader being taken hostage.

Princess Maude seems to have gained the upper hand having defeated King Stephen on the battlefield and taken him prisoner. However, her brother, Gloucester, has been taken prisoner by the other side, and a prisoner exchange is arranged. It doesn't go well and the self-styled Empress Maude and King Stephen are again at war.

The war is over and Maud has returned to France leaving King Stephen once again unchallenged. Richard returns to Kingsbridge just after William Hamleigh's attack on the market. Aliena has lost everything and can no longer support Richard's knighthood. Alfred sees an opportunity and asks Aliena to marry him, promising to support Richard as well.

As a result of his journeys, Jack has learned how to fulfill Tom Builder's dream of a cathedral filled with light. Aliena tracks Jack by following the trail of his carvings. Waleran offers Philip a new position, but it means that Philip must always obey Waleran.

Eight years later, Jack's fixation with the cathedral leaves him little time or energy for anything else, while Aliena's fixation with the distant Earldom of Shiring has married her to Alfred, a man she hates. Waleran and Alfred develop a plot to get rid of Jack for good and it seems to be working until evidence comes to light that makes all wrongs rectified.

Monty Don is on a grand tour around Italy, this time visiting gardens both in Florence and around the sun-scorched Tuscan countryside.

Monty Don takes a tour around Italy's gardens. He begins his journey in Rome, power base of emperors and popes, to explore some of the most extravagant gardens ever created.

The kingdom of Naples, covering southern Italy, had truly royal gardens. The Bourbon dynasty rivaled Versailles' gardens at Caserta, just before the geometrical fashion ended. Later gardens followed the English style of 'fake nature', only adapted to the Mediterranean climate.

Italy north of Rome, mainly city states and the larger ones' hinterland, like Venice's, has many gardens belonging to country homes of rich patrician or merchant families. An impressive front and vista could impress, more intimate elements like mazes allowed for party and more private fun.