When I was younger, science seemed to be something far away. While we were surrounded by the products of science, we rarely witnessed the creation event of life changing technology or advancement. With the Internet, we see products months or even years before they arrive and can often access media detailing how they were invented, designed and manufactured.

That said, there are some theoretical sciences that remain beyond most mortals. Physics, cosmology, relativity, quantum mechanics? I've read enough to get a general idea, but some details are so far beyond me I can barely manage to smile and nod at appropriate times.

Professor Brian Green, from Columbia University, offers World Science U as an online portal through which we will be able to explore a wide range of science topics and, eventually, earn university credit through 8-10 week courses. Watch the video below for what they offer and hope to achieve.

Why is this important? A Carl Sagan quote sums it up pretty well:

We live in a society absolutely dependent on science and technology and yet have cleverly arranged things so that almost no one understands science and technology. That's a clear prescription for disaster.