Theoretical physicist Jim Al-Khalili takes us through a crash course on string theory, the important role of chaos in the natural world and fresh theories on the origins of life, the universe and everything. Along the way, he slips in a few quick-hit biographies on the men behind some major steps forward in these novel ways of thinking.

Though the concepts are often quite nebulous and difficult to pin down, Khalili and his talking-head cohorts are able to cover a lot of ground in a way that doesn't seem too intellectual or technical for the uninitiated. Good visual examples are a key component of their lesson, and with the limitless stock library of the BBC at their disposal, they come up with a few inventive, dazzling exercises. There's only so much you can do with just an hour on such a boundless, wide-ranging subject, but as a thorough introduction it performs admirably. I'd watch a follow-up.