How old is the universe? How do scientists even begin to answer the question? Producer David Barrett Wilson explores these questions with some of the leading astrophysicists and researchers of their time. Nobel Laureates Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson describe their groundbreaking work at Bell Labs to identify the remnants of the Big Bang. Cosmologist Wendy Freedman discusses how she and her team working with the Hubble Space Telescope narrowed down the age of the universe. MacArthur Fellow and astrophysicist David Spergel of Princeton University helps us understand why scientists want to study micro-fluctuations in cosmic radiation in order to conceptualize the shape of the universe. Other scientists give us some ways to visualize how researchers approach questions about the ultimate fate of the universe.

Winner of the 2000 AAAS-Whitaker Science Award for excellence in radio journalism.

The Soundprint documentary series features the best work of top radio producers. The award winning documentaries are renowned for drawing the listener into the story with compelling interviews, authentic voices and rich sound. From memoirs to science, health and popular culture, Soundprint creates a powerful experience the listener will not soon forget.

”The Fate of the Universe” is part of a Soundprint mini-series called Exploring the Universe supported in part by the National Science Foundation. Here are the other programs in the series.

”Einstein’s Blunder” Produced by: David Barrett Wilson

”Gamma Ray Skies” Produced by: David Barrett Wilson

Soundprint Executive Producer: Moira Rankin

Technical Director: Anna Maria de Freitas

Science Editors: Julian Krolik and Robert Smith

Audio Engineer: Alexandra Gardner

Associate Producer: Gemma Hooley