World-renowned physicist Brian Cox has a rare gift: he can explain complicated scientific concepts in a way that even I—a mere mortal and science novice—can understand. Specializing in particle physics, Professor Cox has dedicated much of his career to studying black holes and astrophysics more broadly.

If you’re a normie like me and not quite sure what astrophysics is, let me break it down quickly:

Astrophysics is a branch of science that applies the laws of physics and chemistry to understand the universe and our place in it. It involves studying the formation, evolution, and behavior of stars, planets, galaxies, black holes, and other cosmic structures. Astrophysicists explore phenomena like star formation, galaxy evolution, dark matter, dark energy, and the possibility of life on other planets.

There isn’t a strong enough word to describe how cool that is.

Yes—science is cool. At least this branch of it, anyway.

But let’s be real: the cosmos is complicated. The physics involved in measuring and understanding cosmic structures is incredibly complex. Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking—names you’ve probably heard—made legendary contributions to physics and astrophysics. They were the brains. Professor Brian Cox is the translator—the one who helps the rest of us understand and appreciate their groundbreaking work.

Horizons: A 21st Century Space Odyssey

Horizons: A 21st Century Space Odyssey is an international stage tour in which Professor Cox unpacks the latest in astrophysics with clarity, wonder, and mind-bending visuals.

I’ve followed him for years—mostly on YouTube and through TED Talks. So when he announced a world tour a couple of years ago, I was ecstatic. I rushed online to buy a ticket, only to find the first leg of the tour was primarily in Europe. So I waited. Patiently. For nearly two years.

Then, this past winter, he announced a show in Chicago for May 2025. I snagged a ticket as soon as they went on sale. And on Saturday, May 3rd, I finally attended.

Here’s my short review:

It was amazing. And inspiring.

With his signature soothing voice and his talent for breaking down complex topics, Professor Cox guided us through the mysteries of the universe. But he didn’t come alone—he brought stunning visuals: ultra high-resolution, vibrant images and videos of distant planets, black holes, galaxies, and more. All of it projected onto a jaw-dropping 30-meter-wide, 10-meter-high LED screen.

I would’ve taken photos—but they weren’t allowed in the theater. (Trust me, someone tried and was nearly escorted out.) This physics stuff must be highly classified, huh.

Throughout the show, he covered all the major topics in astrophysics and walked us through the history of the field, frequently quoting and honoring pioneers like Carl Sagan, Albert Einstein, Edwin Hubble, and others.

At one point, he even did live math on screen—to the audience’s delight. Using a digital tool, he wrote out formulas that demonstrated the mind-bending reality of time dilation and Einstein’s theory of relativity. It was equal parts brain-busting and exhilarating.

He shared updates on the frontiers of space exploration, including current NASA missions and the ongoing journeys of the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecrafts, which are now 16 and 13 billion miles from Earth, respectively. These marvels of engineering are still transmitting data and photos from the edge of our solar system.

Below is a link to NASA’s webpage on Voyager 1 and 2, where you can view the data and photographs that these spacecraft have transmitted back to Earth. It’s interesting, beautiful, and frightening all at the same time. I encourage you to check out the the link below
🔗 Where Are Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 Now?

Over the course of two hours, Professor Cox masterfully blended a PhD-level lecture on black hole cosmology with thought-provoking reflections on space exploration and humanity’s place in the universe.

Honestly, I’d probably struggle in a university-level course taught by him. I would give professor Cox an A+ grade for this lecture, though. Not only did he explain complex physics in a way that the average joe can understand, but he did so in a way that was artistic and inspiring. He are links to a couple of videos that I think are worth your time watching, if you’re interested in becoming as inspired as I am:

https://youtu.be/urFIHf5coxE?si=1VQMQG4m0bvq5A63

https://youtu.be/pGsbEd6w7PI?si=8KhEuoShlPFRcTbO

For my right-wing readers (if you exist lol), below are links to Professor Cox’s two appearances on the Joe Rogan Podcast that are actually quite engaging and informative. Oops, am I allowed to say that as a leftist?

https://www.youtube.com/live/wieRZoJSVtw?si=0fiDi3t5D-MLcUij

https://youtu.be/Rc7OHXJtWco?si=Ub8W9La9fXDIushd

Thank you for reading :)

-Justin McMaster

My Review of Professor Brian Cox’s Horizons: A 21st Century Space Odyssey

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