Sustaining @ The Universe

Introduction

Science and technology have contributed to our understanding of the universe and have started a new chapter in the sustainable development of human civilisation.

Humans have been studying the universe since ancient times. Advances in science and technology have allowed us to make large ground-based optical telescopes, radio telescopes and the Hubble Space Telescope, which is orbiting the Earth. These tools help us understand the birth and death of stars, unravel the process of planet formation, and explore the structure and calculate the age of the universe. The development of aviation technology and space science has allowed us to overcome gravity to y in the sky, and even leave the Earth, walking in space and landing on the Moon.

Phenomena in the universe also affect the sustainability of humans and the Earth. The latest research reveals that three-fourths of the plant and animal species, including dinosaurs, became extinct about 66 million years ago as a result of an asteroid hitting the Earth. The Sun and its activities, such as solar storms, can interfere with our electronic equipment and communication devices, thus affecting our daily lives. Recent advances in astrobiology and the discovery of exoplanets are opening up windows in search for extraterrestrials and new human habitats on other celestial bodies. All these discoveries provide new insights into the sustainability of human civilisation in the universe.

The programmes in the “Sustaining @ The Universe” series show how science and technology contribute to our exploration of the universe.

Click here to view "Sustaining @ The Universe" programmes