Preface : A meditation on the origins of science and the science of origins
Overture : The greatest story ever told
pt. 1. The origin of the universe. In the beginning
pt. 2. The origin of galaxies and cosmic structure. Discovering galaxies
pt. 3. The origin of the stars. Dust to dust
pt. 4. The origin of planets. When worlds were young
Worlds unnumbered : planets beyond the solar system
pt. 5. The origin of life. Life in the universe
The origin of life on Earth
Searching for life in the solar system
Searching for life in the Milky Way galaxy
Coda : The search for ourselves in the cosmos.