ARTE Distribution

If light could talk, what would it tell us?

From the Big Bang to the emergence of life, this poetic and scientific series explores, through never-before-seen images created by artist Roman Hill, the forms and movements of the entities in our universe, from the Dark Age to planet Earth. Created by screenwriter Thomas Cadène, astrophysicist David Elbaz, and journalist Corentin Duval, this eight-episode series explores the genesis of the Universe.

By promising to colonize the cosmos, the space industry is fueling dangerous illusions that accelerate the destruction of the only habitable planet we know of: Earth. Scientists, climate activists, and Indigenous peoples are speaking out against this new vision of space exploration, and calling for space to remain the shared domain of all humanity. What are the consequences of this new space conquest? Are we really on the path to becoming a multi-planetary civilization, or is this just a fantasy shaped by our cultural and historical narratives? And if it is all just a lie, who stands to win and who stands to lose?

By the end of the century, humanity will become an interplanetary civilization, with millions living in autonomous colonies on the Moon, Mars, and massive orbiting space stations, while pioneers journey toward distant stars. Once pure science fiction, these ambitions are now promoted by wealthy entrepreneurs, governments, and powerful networks who see space as both humanity’s next frontier and a lucrative solution to Earth’s limited resources. This vision fuels the booming “New Space” industry, driven by dreams of astronomical profits and fears about our planet’s future.
But for a growing number of space professionals, these projects are nothing more than dangerous illusions. Human biology is deeply tied to Earth’s atmosphere, gravity, and magnetic field, while space remains a hostile and deadly environment. Even in the face of climate catastrophe, overpopulation, and resource depletion, Earth is far more hospitable than any other place in the solar system. There is no Planet B, they insist. Instead of chasing fantasies of distant colonization, humanity should focus on making Earth livable again.
Yet in pursuit of these illusions, the New Space industry contributes to its own doomsday narratives by damaging the atmosphere, disrupting astronomy with satellite pollution, and threatening ecosystems and communities near launch sites.
Resistance is growing. Activists, astronomers, and scientists are working to reframe space exploration within a broader cultural, ecological, and scientific context, and to remind us that, ultimately, we are just a tiny speck in the vast universe whose survival depends on caring for the one fragile planet we already call home.
 

Stars, galaxies, black holes… For 13.8 billion years, light has been the source of all things, shaping the universe’s grandest structures. Born in the chaos of the Big Bang, it remained trapped within matter for a long time, until the day it finally lit up the cosmos with its first burst of brightness.

Light wanders alone through a vast, cold universe. Indifferent, the universe expands and sweeps it away. But the light senses an invisible presence lurking nearby, secretly weaving a mysterious web across the cosmos that traps matter. Then everything changes: the light seizes this matter, sets it ablaze, and rewrites its destiny.

At the cosmic dawn of the universe, light shaped the first stars—true furnaces that gave rise to the first complex atoms. But these stars, too fragile, were born only to die. From their ashes, a new generation of celestial bodies would soon emerge, forming structures even more luminous: the first galaxies.

The universe is running out of steam. The galaxies have burned through matter and exhausted space. Light awakens it and draws the stars into a frenzied dance. Little by little, the cosmic noon approaches—a golden age in which stars are born in abundance and galaxies blossom.

Light uncovers terrifying figures in the shadows of the cosmos: ancient stars forging a new destiny for themselves—black holes. In their presence, light flickers. Nothing escapes their intense gravity, not even its own photons. Yet, against all odds, light turns them into powerful allies.

Light dives into a black hole. Absorbed by the abyss, beyond everything, it catches a glimpse of the universe’s fate: the death of stars and galaxies, and black holes that gradually fade away. What remains of the universe, billions and billions of years after the Big Bang? Could this be the beginning of a new cycle? ​

On a distant rock, nestled in the heart of a young spiral galaxy, light uncovers the tiny, wondrous spark of a new day. Life, one of the brightest forms in the universe, prospers there, a fragile breath that nevertheless seems to want to dominate the very force that sustains it…

The behind-the-scenes footage of Origins traces the project's genesis and offers a glimpse into the creation of Roman Hill's visuals.
The team discusses the series' creative process, reflecting on the challenges of writing a poetic epic that had to remain faithful to a scientific narrative, as well as the ambition to create a sonic, vocal, and visual embodiment of light.

Discover the Science Collection !

CLICK HERE TO DISCOVER THE INTERACTIVE COLLECTION

Volcanoes dominate human life in the most surprising ways. Half a billion people live at their feet. They are essential to our existence but may cause our doom.

This blue chip 4 x 52' (and more to come) takes us to 40 volcanoes filmed across 6 continents over 2 years to learn about sacred volcanos, beneficial volcanos, and destructive volcanos to tell the amazing story of the symbiotic link between men and these fire mountains.
Volcanoes led to dinosaurs’ extinction and wiped entire civilizations – like the Minoans in Crete and Santorini in 1450 BCE. Today, the lives of 600 million people are threatened by 1670 active volcanoes. The entire planet is affected: when Mount Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines, global temperatures fell by nearly 1°C for three years. Recent studies suggest that humankind will eventually be wiped out by a gigantic volcanic eruption…
But volcanoes are not just destroyers of world, they also nurture life. It is thought that they may have helped creating life on Earth. Even today, certain wildlife species such as the giant Galápagos tortoise are only found on particular volcanoes. Human beings have always flocked to settle volcanoes in huge numbers to take advantage of their fertile soil, pleasant climate and natural heat sources. Many are even worshipped as deities.