Since the earliest primitive societies, humankind has pondered how the universe came into being and how it has evolved into the reality we know today. We can see this in the creation myths of every human culture that invariably looks to the supernatural for answers. But today we can look to modern science to provide explanations for these enduring enigmas. In this course, you will investigate the origin of the universe, the formation of the earth, the development of life, the evolution of human beings, the rise of civilization, and the discovery of the mind. Along the way, you will learn about several key scientific theories in various disciplines, including cosmology, geology, biology, chemistry, physics, paleontology, anthropology, and neurobiology. The course seeks to enrich the study of this scientific timeline with a historical and philosophical perspective, through an investigation of humanity’s never-ending quest to explore and make sense of the world around it.