Famed for their ability to inflict Armageddon from outer space, asteroids are now revealing the secrets of how they are responsible for both life and passing on our planet. Armed with an array of powerful telescopes, scientists are finding up to 3000 new asteroids every night. And some are heading our way. But astronomers have discovered that it's not the giant rocks that are the greatest danger - it's the small asteroids that pose a more immediate threat to Earth. Researchers have explained the photon propulsion that propels these rocks across space, and have discovered that some asteroids are carrying a mysterious cargo of frost and ice across the solar system that could have helped start life on earth.

Episode Viewers and Ratings

Season 49 Episode 6 of Horizon resulted in a 0.00 rating in the 18-49 demographic.

Horizon Season 49 Episodes...

• s49e01 - Back from the Dead
• s49e02 - The Death of the Oceans?
• s49e03 - What Happened Before the Big Bang?
• s49e04 - Is Seeing Believing?
• s49e05 - A Miracle Cure? A Decade of the Human Genome
• s49e06 - Asteroids
• s49e07 - Deepwater Disaster: The Untold Story
• s49e08 - What is One Degree?
• s49e09 - What Is Reality?
• s49e10 - Science Under Attack
• s49e11 - The Secret World of Pain
• s49e12 - Surviving a Car Crash
• s49e13 - How to Mend a Broken Heart
• s49e14 - Are We Still Evolving?
• s49e15 - Predators in the Backyard

Horizon Show Summary

Horizon is BBC Two's flagship 50-minute science documentary series.

Recognised as the world leader in its field, it regularly wins a sweep of international science, medical and environmental film accolades, and has recently won the Royal Television Society Award and the Prix Italia.

In 2002, the British Academy of Film & Television Arts presented Horizon with the BAFTA Television Award for Best Factual Series or Strand.

In 2003 it won the prestigious Images et Science award for best medical documentary and the Carl von Linne Award at the Living Europe film festival in Sweden. That year, a Horizon co-production with WGBH Boston won the Emmy for best documentary.

In September 2014 it celebrated its 50th anniversary and it continues to enjoy outstanding critical acclaim.