Scattered in the sand of the Sahara are chunks of glass so old that they predate the ancient Egyptians - but the origin of this matter has been a scientific enigma, ever since a piece was found in Tutankhamun's tomb. Now a team of scientists has set out to finally solve the mystery. Their quest takes them on a perilous journey into the Great Sand Sea and the wastes of Siberia to gather evidence, and on to the test site of the world's first atomic bomb in New Mexico. What their search uncovers is a devastating new natural phenomenon - yet another cosmic threat to inspire the Hollywood scriptwriters.
(Lost in Egypt - Decoding the Papyri is at 11.20pm)