A new documentary television program about cutting-edge theories and developments in the world of physics premiered Wednesday, June 9th, on the Science Channel. Through the Wormhole is narrated by Morgan Freeman, and its eight episodes have their initial run Wednesday nights through July 28th. The show can next be seen this Sunday night (June 27) at 9 pm. Although not yet scheduled for another rerun, I am sure Episode One will be repeated eventually. Here is the upcoming lineup, so set your TiVo:

1. “Is There a Creator?” originally aired June 9
2. “The Riddle of Black Holes” airs again June 30, July 1 and 2
3. “Is Time Travel Possible?” airs again June 27, 28, and 29
4. “What Happened Before the Beginning?” airs June 30
5.

“How Did We Get Here?” airs July 7
6. “Are We Alone?” airs July 14
7. “What Are We Made Of?” airs July 21
8. “Dark Matter: Beyond the Darkness” airs July 28

Of course there is a companion website with summaries of the episodes, videos, informative articles, and some interactive stuff. The producers of the show introduce it in this way:

“What are we made of? What was there before the beginning? Are we really alone? Is there a creator? These questions have been pondered by the most exquisite minds of the human race. Now, science has evolved to the point where hard facts and evidence may be able to provide us with answers instead of philosophical theories.”

The show is not test tubes and lab coats. It takes us to the frontiers where science and philosophy meet. Recall what Hamlet said to his best friend: “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” Hamlet was referring to “natural philosophy,” which back then meant what we today call “science.” Somewhere along the line, we separated the two and created different realms for science and philosophy, what Stephen Jay Gould called “non-overlapping magisteria.” Perhaps now we are at long last attaining the knowledge and the wisdom to realize that everything is connected in ways beyond our former capacity to imagine.