Astronomers and space scientists have made astonishing progress in probing our cosmic environment, thanks to advanced technology. We can trace cosmic history from some mysterious "beginning" nearly 14 billion years ago, and understand in outline the emergence of atoms, galaxies, stars and planets - and how, on at least one planet, life emerged and developed a complex biosphere of which we are part. But these advances pose new questions: What does the long-range future hold? How widespread is life in our cosmos? Is physical reality even more extensive than the domain that our telescopes can probe? This illustrated lecture will attempt to address such issues.