Origins - Formation of the Universe, Solar System, Earth and Life
- 4.7
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Approx. 23 hours to complete
Course Summary
Explore the origins of the universe and the solar system in this fascinating course. Learn about the Big Bang theory, the formation of stars and planets, and the search for extraterrestrial life.Key Learning Points
- Discover the scientific theories about the origin of the universe and solar system
- Understand the formation of stars and planets through scientific evidence
- Explore the possibility of extraterrestrial life
Job Positions & Salaries of people who have taken this course might have
- USA: $96,460
- India: INR 8,00,000
- Spain: €32,000
- USA: $96,460
- India: INR 8,00,000
- Spain: €32,000
- USA: $122,220
- India: INR 14,00,000
- Spain: €39,000
- USA: $96,460
- India: INR 8,00,000
- Spain: €32,000
- USA: $122,220
- India: INR 14,00,000
- Spain: €39,000
- USA: $105,680
- India: INR 10,00,000
- Spain: €33,000
Related Topics for further study
Learning Outcomes
- Develop a deep understanding of the origins of the universe and the solar system
- Be able to explain the scientific theories behind the Big Bang, the formation of stars and planets, and the search for extraterrestrial life
- Gain knowledge about recent discoveries and developments in the field of astronomy
Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course
- Basic knowledge of Physics and Mathematics
- An interest in astronomy and cosmology
Course Difficulty Level
IntermediateCourse Format
- Online self-paced
- Video lectures
- Assignments and quizzes
Similar Courses
- Introduction to Astronomy
- The Evolving Universe
- Astrobiology and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
Related Education Paths
Notable People in This Field
- Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Stephen Hawking
Related Books
Description
The Origins course tracks the origin of all things – from the Big Bang to the origin of the Solar System and the Earth. The course follows the evolution of life on our planet through deep geological time to present life forms.
Outline
- Origin of the Elements, the Solar System and the Planets
- Course intro – Henning Haack
- Introduction to time lines – Henning Haack
- 1.1 Nucleosynthesis: the origin of elements in our Solar System - Part 1 – Jim Connelly
- 1.2 Nucleosynthesis: the origin of elements in our Solar System - Part 2 – Jim Connelly
- 1.3 Origin of the Elements, the Solar System and the Planets - Origin of the Solar System – Henning Haack
- 1.4 Origin of the Elements, the Solar System and the Planets - Meteorites – Henning Haack
- 1.5 Origin of the Elements, the Solar System and the Planets - Mars and the Moon – Henning Haack
- 1.6 Origin of the Elements, the Solar System and the Planets - Exoplanets – Henning Haack
- 1.7 The Worlds Largest Meteorite Slice – Henning Haack
- 1.8 Allende - A World Famous Meteorite – Henning Haack
- 1.9 Imilac - An Exceptionally Beautiful Meteorite Slice – Henning Haack
- Lecturers
- Recommended resources – Module 1
- Quiz 1
- The early Earth and origin of life
- 2.1 The early Earth and origin of life - Uniformitarianism and the Basics of How the Earth Works - Emily Pope
- 2.2 The early Earth and origin of life - Geologic Time and the Origin of Earth - Emily Pope
- 2.3 The early Earth and origin of life - Finding Evidence for the Origin of Life - Emily Pope
- 2.4 The early Earth and origin of life - How to Make Life (or at Least a Best Guess) - Emily Pope
- 2.5 The early Earth and origin of life - Geology of the Precambrian: The Mantle and Crust - Emily Pope
- 2.6 The early Earth and origin of life - Geology of the Precambrian: The Hydrosphere and Atmosphere - Emily Pope
- Recommended resources – Module 2
- Quiz 2
- Origin of the microbial world / The Cambrian Explosion and Exceptional Preservation
- 3.1 Origin of the microbial world: Part 1 - Jan Audun Rasmussen
- 3.2 Origin of the microbial world: Part 2 - Jan Audun Rasmussen
- 3.3 Origin of the microbial world: Part 3 - Jan Audun Rasmussen
- 3.4 Origin of the microbial world: Part 4 - Jan Audun Rasmussen
- 3.5 Origin of the Metazoans and evolution of life at small scale - Danny Eibye-Jacobsen
- 3.6 The Cambrian Explosion and exceptional preservation: Part 1 - Danny Eibye-Jacobsen
- 3.7 The Cambrian Explosion and exceptional preservation: Part 2 - Danny Eibye-Jacobsen
- 3.8 The Cambrian Explosion and exceptional preservation: Part 3 - Danny Eibye-Jacobsen
- Recommended resources – Module 3
- Quiz 3
- Transition from Microbial to Macrobial Life: Snowball Earth and the Ediacara Biota / Eukaryotic Evolution and the Phylogeny of All Life
- 4.1 Transition from microbial to macrobial life: Snowball Earth and the Ediacara Biota - Part 1 - Svend Stouge
- 4.2 Transition from microbial to macrobial life: Snowball Earth and the Ediacara Biota - Part 2 - Svend Stouge
- 4.3 Eukaryotic Evolution and the Phylogeny of All Life - The Transition from the Prokaryotic to the Eukaryotic Cell and the Endosymbiont Theory - Martin V. Sørensen
- 4.4 Eukaryotic Evolution and the Phylogeny of All Life - The Eukaryotic Tree of Life and the Six Super Kingdoms: Archaeplastida - Martin V. Sørensen
- 4.5 Eukaryotic Evolution and the Phylogeny of All Life - The Six Super Kingdoms: Excavata and Rhizaria - Martin V. Sørensen
- 4.6 Eukaryotic Evolution and the Phylogeny of All Life - The Six Super Kingdoms: Chromalveolata - Martin V. Sørensen
- 4.7 Eukaryotic Evolution and the Phylogeny of All Life - The Six Super Kingdoms: Amoebozoa and Opisthokonta - Martin V. Sørensen
- Recommended resources – Module 4
- Quiz 4
- Origin of the marine Cambrian and Palaeozoic Evolutionary Faunas / Diversity in deep time / Origin of predation and the Mesozoic Arms race
- 5.1 Ancient biodiversity: Origin of the Cambrian Evolutionary Fauna - Arne Thorshøj Nielsen
- 5.2 Ancient biodiversity: Origin of the Palaeozoic Evolutionary Fauna - Arne Thorshøj Nielsen
- 5.3 Ancient biodiversity: Origin of the Modern Evolutionary Fauna - Part 1 - Jan Audun Rasmussen
- 5.4 Ancient biodiversity: Origin of the Modern Evolutionary Fauna: Part 2 - Jan Audun Rasmussen
- 5.5 Ancient biodiversity: Origin of predation and the Mesozoic Arms Race - Jan Audun Rasmussen
- Recommended resources – Module 5
- Quiz 5
- Oxygenation and Animals
- 6.1 Oxygenation and Animals: The O2 Cycle on Earth - Tais Wittchen Dahl
- 6.2 Oxygenation and Animals: Evidence for O2 levels on Early Earth - Tais Wittchen Dahl
- 6.3 Oxygenation and Animals: Feedbacks between life and O2 - Tais Wittchen Dahl
- Recommended resources – Module 6
- Quiz 6
- Origins and Early Development of Plants / The Origin and Diversification of Flowering Plants
- 7.1 Origins and early development of plants: Evolution of plants - Vivi Vajda
- 7.2 Origin and early development of plants: Ferns - Vivi Vajda
- 7.3 Origin and early development of plants: Conifers - Vivi Vajda
- 7.4 The origin and diversification of flowering plants: The Origin - Gitte Petersen
- 7.5 The origin and diversification of flowering plants: Diversification of Flowering Plants - Gitte Petersen
- 7.6 The origin and diversification of flowering plants: The Impact of Flowering Plants on Earth - Gitte Petersen
- Recommended resources – Module 7
- Quiz 7
- The Evolution of Insects and their Role in Terrestrial Ecosystems
- 8.1 The evolution of insects and their role in terrestrial ecosystems: Paleozoic insects - Lars Bjørn Vilhelmsen
- 8.2 The evolution of insects and their role in terrestrial ecosystems: Paleozoic winged insect - Lars Bjørn Vilhelmsen
- 8.3 The evolution of insects and their role in terrestrial ecosystems: The Rise of the Holometabolan Insects - Lars Bjørn Vilhelmsen
- 8.4 The evolution of insects and their role in terrestrial ecosystems: Insects and Flowering Plants - Lars Bjørn Vilhelmsen
- Recommended resources – Module 8
- Quiz 8
- Colonization of the continents and the Origin of the Dinosaurs and Birds/Mass Extinction Events and Their Causes
- 9.1 Origin of the dinosaurs and birds: When Life Went Ashore – Jesper Milán
- 9.2 Origin of the dinosaurs and birds: Mammals versus Dinosaurs - Gilles Cuny
- 9.3 Origin of the dinosaurs and birds: The end-Triassic Mass Extinction - Gilles Cuny
- 9.4 Origin of the dinosaurs and birds: Birds are Dinosaurs - Gilles Cuny
- 9.5 Mass Extinction Events and Their Causes Part 1 - Bent Lindow
- 9.6 Mass Extinction Events and Their Causes Part 2 - Bent Lindow
- 9.7 Mass Extinction Events and Their Causes Part 3 - Bent Lindow
- 9.8 Mass Extinction Events and Their Causes: The Cretaceous-Tertiary Mass Extinction Part 4 - Bent Lindow
- Recommended resources – Module 9
- Quiz 9
- Origin of Recent Climate Change / The Molecular Clock
- 10.1 Origin of Recent climate change: Earth today and yesterday - Michael Houmark-Nielsen
- 10.2 Origin of Recent climate change: The changing face of the Earth - Michael Houmark-Nielsen
- 10.3 Origin of Recent climate change: The green house world around the North Atlantic - Michael Houmark-Nielsen
- 10.4 Origin of Recent climate change: Drifting towards the ice house - Michael Houmark-Nielsen
- 10.5 Origin of Recent climate change: On the door step of the ice house - Michael Houmark-Nielsen
- 10.6 Origin of Recent climate change: The ice house world of the Pleistocene - Michael Houmark-Nielsen
- 10.7 The Molecular Clock: Discovery of the Molecular Clock Part 1 - Ole Seberg
- 10.8 The Molecular Clock: Phylogeny and Molecular Data Part 2 - Ole Seberg
- 10.9 The Molecular Clock: Explanations Part 3 - Ole Seberg
- Recommended resources – Module 10
- Quiz 10
- Primate Origins and Evolution / Human Origins and Evolution
- 11.1 Primate Systematics: Primates, Origins and Evolution Part 1 - Bent Lindow
- 11.2 Primate Systematics: Primates, Origins and Evolution Part 2 - Bent Lindow
- 11.3 Primate Systematics: Human Evolution Assignment Part 3 - Bent Lindow
- 11.4 Human Origins and Evolution: The Global Dispersal of Anatomically Modern Humans - Tom Gilbert
- 11.5 Human Origins and Evolution: Leaving Africa - Tom Gilbert
- 11.6 Human Origins and Evolution: Multiple dispersals from Africa - Tom Gilbert
- Recommended resources – Module 11
- Quiz 11
- Modern Diversity
- 12.1 Modern diversity: Part 1 - Jon Fjeldså
- 12.2 Modern diversity: Part 2 - Jon Fjeldså
- 12.3 Modern diversity: Part 3 - Jon Fjeldså
- 12.4 Modern diversity: Part 4 - Jon Fjeldså
- 12.5 Modern diversity: Part 5 - Jon Fjeldså
- 12.6 Modern diversity: Part 6 - Jon Fjeldså
- 12.7 Modern diversity: Part 7 - Jon Fjeldså
- 12.8 Modern diversity: Part 8 - Jon Fjeldså
- Recommended resources – Module 12
- Quiz 12
Summary of User Reviews
The Origins of the Universe and the Solar System course on Coursera has received positive reviews from students. Many users found the course to be engaging and informative with easy-to-understand explanations of complex topics.Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course
The course is well-structured and covers a wide range of topics related to the origins of the universe and the solar system.Pros from User Reviews
- Engaging and informative lectures
- Easy-to-understand explanations of complex topics
- Course is well-structured and covers a wide range of topics
- Course includes interactive quizzes and assignments
- Instructor is knowledgeable and responsive to student questions
Cons from User Reviews
- Some users found the course content to be too basic and not challenging enough
- Some users experienced technical issues with the online platform
- Course may not be suitable for those with no prior knowledge of astronomy or physics
- Course requires a significant time commitment
- Some users found the course to be too theoretical and lacking in practical applications
Henning Haack
4.7 Raiting
Journey of the Universe: The Unfolding of Life
- 4.7
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Journey of the Universe weaves together the discoveries of the evolutionary sciences together with humanities such as history, philosophy, art, and religion....
Journey Conversations: Weaving Knowledge and Action
- 4.8
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Journey of the Universe weaves together the discoveries of the evolutionary sciences together with humanities such as history, philosophy, art, and religion....
Astronomy: Exploring Time and Space
- 4.8
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
This course is designed for anyone who is interested in learning more about modern astronomy. Astronomy: Exploring Time and Space Welcome Video...
Imagining Other Earths
- 4.7
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Are we alone? All the features of this course are available for free. It does not offer a certificate upon completion....
