The atmosphere in the foyer and Windsor Hall auditorium before Professor Brian Cox’s sell out Universal show was buzzing.

The beautiful opening sequence set the scene for an evening of spellbinding cosmology, with majestic high definition images and motion graphics narrated with exerts from some of the most respected poets, engineers, astronomers and theoretical physicists that have ever lived, including Carl Sagan, Wordsworth, Richard Feynham and Scott Carpenter.

We were taken on a magical deep dive through the universe; it’s origins 13.8 billion years ago, the causal structure of space time, black holes, singularities and event horizons, our surrounding two trillion galaxies, Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity, supernovas and gravitational fields. It was both awe-inspiring and humbling to witness the enormous scale of our observable universe. We were in the presence of true greatness.

Unafraid to discuss big questions about what it means to be human and the fragility and finiteness of Planet Earth, Professor Brian Cox OBE was a smart and sincere orator who had a natural ability to take unfathomable concepts and make them super cool. He is the undisputed Fonz of physics.

By contrast, comedian Robin Ince lightened the mood intermittently and gave our brains a moment to breathe. Together they had a great camaraderie on stage.

It fills me with joy that so many thousands of people around the world are so invested in cosmology at such a divisive and turbulent time. Planet Earth is a rare and delicate flower. We must all learn to respect it and make the most of it. Perhaps taking a moment to appreciate the wonder of our cosmos, and how infinitely miniscule we are, is the opportunity the world needs to unite us all.