Brian Cox explores the ingredients needed for an intelligent civilisation to evolve in the universe - the need for a benign star, for a habitable planet, for life to spontaneously arise on such a planet, and the time required for intelligent life to evolve and build a civilisation. Brian weighs the evidence and arrives at his own provocative answer to the puzzle of our apparent solitude.

Brian Cox looks at how we came to understand we are not at the centre of the universe.

Brian concludes his exploration of our place in the Universe, asking the question what is next for the ape that went to space. He visits Northern Spain, exploring a cave which was home to our ancient ancestors. He also heads to the Arctic, to see what sets us apart from other species. Brian heads to the top of the world - Svalbard, were he unlocks the secret to our long term survival.