Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious Universe
Season 1
"Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious Universe" was a 26-part television series looking at unexplained phenomena across the universe.
Where to Watch Season 1
26 Episodes
- Snake Charmers, Wolf Children and Holy MenE1
Snake Charmers, Wolf Children and Holy MenThis episode investigates mystical Indian snake charmers and the legendary Indian rope trick. Does the cobra truly dance to the charmer's tune? What about the story of two young children who were said to have been brought up by wolves? And what has preserved a saint's body for more than 400 years? - On the Trail of the Big CatsE2
On the Trail of the Big CatsClarke examines evidence of the existence of giant cats such as the Beast of Bodmin Moor. Was a man indeed attacked by a Tasmanian Tiger, even though those animals are supposed to have died out sixty years earlier? Sightings are reported, but confirmation is difficult to come by. - Where Giants WalkedE3
Where Giants WalkedThe Moai are monolithic human statues that lie on Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island - one of the most mysterious and also most investigated places on earth. Theories surrounding the purpose and construction of the Moai are investigated, as well as questions about what made the builders abandon the work. - Mysteries of the SeaE5
Mysteries of the SeaThe compelling tale of the vanishing crew of the Marie Celeste and the fate of the disappearing three-man crew of the Flannan Isles lighthouse are probed. The existence of mermaids is also questioned. And how did an egg from an extinct bird that lived only in Madagascar come to be buried 4,000 miles away on a beach in Australia? - Keys to the PastE7
Keys to the PastArchaeologists have helped solve many baffling mysteries. This episode investigates three such mysteries: The Plain of Jars in Laos - who put the jars there, and why? Is there knowledge hidden in the stones of ancient architecture to tell us how the great buildings of classical times were constructed? And who really discovered America? Do stones found off the coast of California suggest that the Chinese got here first? - The Burning QuestionE8
The Burning QuestionBizarre tales of spontaneous human combustion are investigated. One man seeks to learn how his mother had been reduced to ashes. And how did a house remain undamaged even as a man inside was consumed by flames? Scientists share some possible clues that they have uncovered during their research. - A Crop of CirclesE9
A Crop of CirclesWhat force or unseen hand in the night creates crop circles? Are fields of energy, as yet unknown to science, generated within the circles? The global phenomenon of crop circles has intrigued scientists, parapsychologists and new age enthusiasts alike. This episode attempts to determine the real causes behind them while distinguishing the hoaxes from the authentic circles. - At Death's DoorE10
At Death's DoorWho can tell us the truth about life after death? Meet a minister who claims he was swallowed up by the fires of all, and a girl who says she saw her grandmother in the gardens of heaven. Arthur C. Clarke reviews claims of near-death and out-of-body experiences made by people who have seen the lights at the end of a dark tunnel. - Callers from the CosmosE11
Callers from the CosmosWho or what sent an explained signal to a radio telescope that scans the universe for extra-terrestrial intelligence? The existence of aliens, extra-terrestrials and life beyond Earth are investigated. Tales of contact, abduction and witnesses are heard first hand. - Secrets of the PyramidsE13
Secrets of the PyramidsThe pyramids of Egypt have long been a subject of scrutiny and awe. Yet there are still unanswered questions surrounding them. Some 5,000 years later, their secrets are still being explored. There are those who claim the ancient architects drew their inspiration from outer space. Arthur C. Clarke digs deep to determine the facts behind one of the wonders of the ancient world. - Mysteries of the MayaE14
Mysteries of the MayaThe Maya are one of the most intriguing and spectacular civilizations known to man. Many centuries ago in Central America they built cities full of secrets. Archaeologists who have reclaimed and studied the landscape and numerous artifacts have only uncovered a tiny fraction of the whole picture. Clarke examines the available facts. - Squaring the Bermuda TriangleE15
Squaring the Bermuda TriangleThe Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil's Triangle, has been a site for bizarre disappearances and wreckage for ships and aircraft. Scientists are baffled trying to determine the reasons behind the phenomenon, but there are some plausible hypotheses. - Doom of the DinosaursE16
Doom of the DinosaursFor millions of years, dinosaurs walked the earth - the largest creatures ever to walk the face of the planet. Today, only their fossilized bones remain, yet they still have the power to fascinate. What made them disappear? The theory that a huge meteorite crash on earth sent up dust that was enough to blot out the sun and wipe the planet's entire ecosystem including dinosaurs is analyzed. - Cracking Codes: Writings, Runes and Other RiddlesE17
Cracking Codes: Writings, Runes and Other RiddlesThe Vinland Map is one of the most controversial artifacts in the field of cartography. It was supposedly drawn in a pre-Columbian era depicting a portion of the Americas. The Kensington Runestone is a giant slab with runes on it claiming that Scandinavian explorers reached the Americas in the 14th century. This, and similar mysteries, are investigated in this episode. - Zombies, The Living Dead?E18
Zombies, The Living Dead?This episode examines tales of the living dead. Haiti has long been known for its sinister Voodoo rituals where witch doctors supposedly enslave people through potions and spells, turning them into zombies. Skeptical of these claims, Arthur C. Clarke examines the theories surrounding the cult. - The Strange Powers of AnimalsE19
The Strange Powers of AnimalsClaims that some animals have extraordinary psychic abilities are investigated. We meet woman whose dog is credited with diagnosing her cancer, a man whose dog foresaw a heart attack that otherwise would have killed her, an indoor cat who makes its way across central London and then 70 miles of countryside to the home it lived in six months earlier, and a cow that traveled 7 miles in search of her calf that had been sold at the market. - Into Thin AirE20
Into Thin AirThis episode details the stories of people who supposedly saw buildings and other structures only for them to disappear afterwards. We meet a woman who saw a burning house in an empty field; was she witnessing a tragedy yet to happen? How did an arctic explorer come to map a land that never was? - Meeting Mary: Visions Of The VirginE22
Meeting Mary: Visions Of The VirginClarke investigates modern-day apparitions of the Virgin Mary in three distinct locations. Was a vision of the Virgin Mary really seen in Fatima, Portugal? In Ireland, believers and non-believers say they've seen a statue move. And is there a secret to the apparition of the Virgin Mary on a church wall in another part of Ireland? Does a video create doubt about the claims by young people in Bosnia Herzegovina of seeing visions? - Secrets Of Ancient WorldsE23
Secrets Of Ancient WorldsPre-historic archaeological phenomena such as the lost city of Atlantis have long been the subject of interest for scientists and many creative writers. Are stones under the sea off the Bahamas remnants of Atlantis? And who or what created the mystery tracks in Malta? Clarke investigates various claims for the site of Atlantis among other megalithic sites in the world. - Mysteries Of The NorthE26
Mysteries Of The NorthThis episode explores mysteries of northern regions where the mercury is at sub-zero levels. Is there really a wild man in the northern Russian forest? What unknown forces doomed the Norse settlements in Greenland at the end of the 14th century? Can a monster have survived in the depths of a Swedish lake for 900 years?
