Nova

Nova By Episode

• Forgotten Genius (#3403)

  NOVA presents the remarkable life story of Percy Julian -- not only one of the great African-American scientists of the 20th century, but an industrialist, self-made millionaire, humanitarian and civil rights pioneer. The grandson of Alabama slaves, Julian won worldwide acclaim for his research in chemistry and broke the color barrier in American science more than a decade before Jackie Robinson did so in baseball. He discovered a way to turn soybeans into synthetic steroids on an industrial scale, enabling drugs like cortisone to be widely available to millions. In a special two-hour presentation, NOVA traces the vivid and moving saga of Julian's dazzling scientific achievements and sometimes stormy personal life. His largely unknown story is brought to life with vivid period re-enactments based on newly accessible family archives and interviews with dozens of colleagues and relatives. Tony Award-winning actor Ruben Santiago-Hudson stars as Julian. Courtney B. Vance narrates.

• Building The Great Cathedrals (#3711)

  Gothic cathedrals are marvels of human achievement and artistry. On this dazzling journey inside the jewels of Gothic architecture, discover how medieval builders, drawing from hidden formulas in the Bible itself, reached such spectacular heights.

• Japan's Killer Quake (#3810)

  In its worst crisis since World War II, Japan faces disaster on an epic scale: a rising death toll in the tens of thousands, massive destruction of homes and businesses, shortages of water and power, and the specter of nuclear reactor meltdowns. The facts and figures are astonishing. The March 11th earthquake was the world's fourth largest earthquake since record keeping began in 1900 and the worst ever to shake Japan. The seismic shock wave released over 4,000 times the energy of the largest nuclear test ever conducted; it shifted the earth's axis by 6 inches and shortened the day by a few millionths of a second. The tsunami slammed Japan's coast with 30 feet-high waves that traveled 6 miles inland, obliterating entire towns in a matter of minutes. JAPAN'S KILLER QUAKE combines authoritative on-the-spot reporting, personal stories of tragedy and survival, compelling eyewitness videos, explanatory graphics and exclusive helicopter footage for a unique look at the science behind the catastrophe.

• Iceman Murder Mystery (#3815)

  He's been dead for more than 5,000 years. He's been poked, prodded and probed by scientists for the last 20. And yet today, Otzi the Iceman, the famous mummified corpse pulled from a glacier in the Italian Alps nearly two decades ago, continues to keep many secrets. Now, through an autopsy like no other, scientists attempt to unravel more mysteries from this ancient mummy than ever before, revealing not only the details of Otzi's death, but an entire way of life. How did people live during Otzi's time, the Copper Age? What did we eat? What diseases did we cope with? The answers abound miraculously in this one man's mummified remains.

• Secrets of the Sun (#3907)

  It contains 99.9 percent of all the matter in our solar system and sheds hot plasma at nearly a million miles an hour. The temperature at its core is a staggering 27 million degrees Fahrenheit. It convulses, it blazes, it sings. You know it as the sun. Scientists know it as one of the most amazing physics laboratories in the universe. Now, with the help of new spacecraft and Earth-based telescopes, scientists are seeing the Sun as they never have before and even re-creating what happens at the very center of the Sun in labs here on Earth. Their work will help us understand aspects of the sun that have puzzled scientists for decades. But more critically, it may help us predict and track solar storms that have the power to zap our power grid, shut down telecommunications, and ground global air travel for days, weeks, or even longer. Such storms have happened before-but never in the modern era of satellite communication. SECRETS OF THE SUN reveals a bright new dawn in our understanding of our nearest star-one that might help keep our planet from going dark.

• Deadliest Tornadoes (#3910)

  In April 2011, the worst tornado outbreak in decades left a trail of destruction across the U.S., killing more than 340 people. Why was there such an extreme outbreak? How do such outbreaks form? With modern warning systems why did so many die? Is our weather getting more extreme -- and if so how bad will it get? This episode of NOVA looks at the science behind the April outbreak, meeting those affected and the scientists trying to predict tornadoes and understand whether this outbreak relates to global climate change.

• Mystery of Easter Island (#3914)

  How and why did the ancient islander inhabitants of Easter Island build and move nearly 900 giant statues weighing up to 86 tons? Join a team of investigators as they test a high-risk and seemingly unlikely theory with a 15-ton replica statue.

• Australia's First 4 Billion Years: Awakening (#4009)

  Of all the continents on Earth, none preserves a more spectacular story of its origins than Australia. NOVA's mini-series takes viewers on a rollicking adventure from the birth of the Earth to the emergence of the world we know today. With help from high-energy host and scientist Richard Smith, we meet titanic dinosaurs and giant kangaroos, sea monsters and prehistoric crustaceans, disappearing mountains and deadly asteroids. This is the untold story of the Land Down Under, the one island continent that has got it all. Hidden in the red hills of Australia are clues to the mysteries of Earth's birth, how life arose and how it transformed the planet into the world we now live in. Experts unveil the earliest forms of life: an odd assortment of bacterial slime. Life like this would flood the atmosphere with oxygen and spark the biological revolution that conquered the planet. Travel with NOVA and host Dr. Richard Smith to meet the cast in the first scenes of the great drama of life on earth.

• Australia's First 4 Billion Years: Life Explodes (#4010)

  Of all the continents on Earth, none preserves a more spectacular story of its origins than Australia. NOVA's mini-series takes viewers on a rollicking adventure from the birth of the Earth to the emergence of the world we know today. With help from high-energy host and scientist Richard Smith, we meet titanic dinosaurs and giant kangaroos, sea monsters and prehistoric crustaceans, disappearing mountains and deadly asteroids. This is the untold story of the Land Down Under, the one island continent that has got it all. How did life storm the beaches and dominate planet Earth? Ancient Australian fossils offer clues. While the oceans were teeming, the world above the waves remained an almost lifeless wasteland - until the Silurian period, when the conquest of the land began. Host Richard Smith introduces Earth's forgotten pioneers: the scuttling arthropod armies that invaded the shores and the waves of green revolutionaries whose battle for the light pushed plant life across the face of a barren continent. Join NOVA's prehistoric adventure as four-legged animals walk onto dry land, with the planet poised for disaster.

• Australia's First 4 Billion Years: Monsters (#4011)

  Of all the continents on Earth, none preserves a more spectacular story of its origins than Australia. NOVA's mini-series takes viewers on a rollicking adventure from the birth of the Earth to the emergence of the world we know today. With help from high-energy host and scientist Richard Smith, we meet titanic dinosaurs and giant kangaroos, sea monsters and prehistoric crustaceans, disappearing mountains and deadly asteroids. This is the untold story of the Land Down Under, the one island continent that has got it all. Host Richard Smith comes face-to-face with the previously unknown reptilian rulers of prehistoric Australia. NOVA resurrects the giants that stalked the land and discovers that some of them were among the largest ever to have walked the Earth. Others were some of the most dangerous. In the dry desert heart, scientists unearth an ancient inland ocean, full of sea monsters. But reptiles didn't have the world all to themselves. Mammals like the enigmatic platypus lived alongside them, ready for their day in the sun. And 65 million years ago, that day arrived.

• Australia's First 4 Billion Years: Strange Creatures (#4012)

  Of all the continents on Earth, none preserves a more spectacular story of its origins than Australia. NOVA's mini-series takes viewers on a rollicking adventure from the birth of the Earth to the emergence of the world we know today. With help from high-energy host and scientist Richard Smith, we meet titanic dinosaurs and giant kangaroos, sea monsters and prehistoric crustaceans, disappearing mountains and deadly asteroids. This is the untold story of the Land Down Under, the one island continent that has got it all.

• Meteor Strike (#4013)

  A blinding streak of light screaming across the Russian sky, followed by a shuddering blast strong enough to damage buildings and send more than 1000 people to the hospital. On the morning of February 15th, a 7000 ton asteroid crashed into the Earth's atmosphere, exploded and fell to earth across a wide swath near the Ural mountains. According to NASA, the Siberian Meteor, which exploded with the power of 30 Hiroshima bombs, was the largest object to burst in the atmosphere since a 1908 event near Siberia's Tunguska river. That time there were few eyewitnesses and no record of the event except for thousands of acres of flattened trees. This time however the event was captured by countless digital dashboard cameras, which have lately become a common fixture in Russian autos and trucks. Within days, armed with this unprecedented crowd-sourced material, NOVA crews hit the ground in Russia along with impact scientists as they hunt for debris from the explosion and clues to the meteor's origin and makeup. To understand how lucky we were this time, we explore even greater explosions in the past, from Tunguska to the asteroid that extinguished the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. "Russian Meteor Strike" puts it all together and asks: Is our solar system a deadly celestial shooting gallery - with Earth in the cross-hairs? What are the chances that another, even more massive asteroid is heading straight for us? Are we just years, months or days away from a total global reboot of civilization, or worse?

• Asteroid: Doomsday Or Payday? (#4024)

  The asteroid that exploded in the skies over Siberia injuring more than 1,000 and damaging buildings in six cities was a shocking reminder that Earth is a target in a cosmic shooting range. From the width of a football field to the size of a small city, the space rocks called asteroids have the potential to be killers: in a collision with Earth, they could set off deadly blast waves, raging fires and colossal tidal waves. But some audacious entrepreneurs look up at asteroids and see payday, not doomsday. That's because some asteroids are loaded with billions of dollars-worth of elements like iron, nickel and even platinum. While NASA plans an ambitious mission to return samples from a potentially hazardous asteroid, would-be asteroid miners are dreaming up their own program to scout for potentially profitable asteroids. Will asteroids turn out to be our economic salvation -- or instruments of extinction?

• Ghosts of Murdered Kings (#4103)

  NOVA follows archaeologists and forensic experts in Ireland's County Tipperary in their methodical hunt for clues to the identity and the circumstances of various violent deaths of bog body victims. A new theory emerges that they are those of ritually murdered kings, gruesomely slain to assure the fertility of land and people.

• Roman Catacomb Mystery (#4104)

  Beneath the streets of Rome lies an ancient city of the dead known as the Catacombs -- a labyrinth of tunnels, hundreds of miles long, lined with tombs. Now, NOVA goes inside a previously-unknown complex within the tunnel system: a mysterious mass grave, locked away for nearly 2000 years. NOVA's forensic investigation opens up fascinating new insights into the daily life and health of Roman citizens at the heyday of its mighty empire.

• Great Cathedral Mystery (#4105)

  The Duomo in Florence is a towering masterpiece of Renaissance ingenuity and an enduring source of mystery. A team of U.S. master bricklayers help build a unique experimental "mini-Duomo" using period tools and techniques. Will it stay intact during the final precarious stages of closing over the top of the dome?

• Inside Animal Minds: Bird Genius (#4108)

• Inside Animal Minds: Dogs & Super Senses (#4109)

  What would it be like to go inside the mind of an animal? We have all gazed into a creature's eyes and wondered: what is it thinking about? What does it really know? Now, the revolutionary science of animal cognition is revealing hard evidence about how animals understand the world around them, uncovering their remarkable problem-solving abilities and exploring the complexity of their powers of communication and even their emotions. In this mini-series, NOVA explores these breakthroughs through three iconic creatures: dogs, birds and dolphins. We'll travel into the spectacularly nuanced noses of dogs and wolves, and ask whether their reliance on different senses has shaped their evolution. We'll see through the eyes of a starling in flight and test the tool-using skills of the smartest of birds, the crow. We'll listen in as scientists track dolphins in the Caribbean and elephants on the African savannah, trying to unlock the secrets of animal communication. As we discover how researchers are pushing the animal mind to its limits, we'll uncover surprising similarities to -- and differences from -- the human mind. What is it like to be a dog, a shark or a bird? This question is now getting serious attention from scientists who study animal senses. Humans rely on smell, sight, taste, touch and sound; other animals have super-powered versions of these senses, and a few have extra senses we don't have at all. From a dog that seems to use smell to tell time to a dolphin that can "see" with its ears, discover how animals use their senses in ways we humans can barely imagine. But it's not just the senses that are remarkable - it's the brains that process them. NOVA goes into the minds of animals to "see" the world in an entirely new way.

• Inside Animal Minds: Who's The Smartest? (#4110)

  What would it be like to go inside the mind of an animal? We have all gazed into a creature's eyes and wondered: what is it thinking about? What does it really know? Now, the revolutionary science of animal cognition is revealing hard evidence about how animals understand the world around them, uncovering their remarkable problem-solving abilities and exploring the complexity of their powers of communication and even their emotions. In this mini-series, NOVA explores these breakthroughs through three iconic creatures: dogs, birds and dolphins. We'll travel into the spectacularly nuanced noses of dogs and wolves, and ask whether their reliance on different senses has shaped their evolution. We'll see through the eyes of a starling in flight and test the tool-using skills of the smartest of birds, the crow. We'll listen in as scientists track dolphins in the Caribbean and elephants on the African savannah, trying to unlock the secrets of animal communication. As we discover how researchers are pushing the animal mind to its limits, we'll uncover surprising similarities to -- and differences from -- the human mind. What makes an animal smart? Many scientists believe the secret lies in relationships. Throughout the animal kingdom, some of the cleverest creatures - including humans - seem to be those who live in complex social groups, like dolphins, elephants and apes. Could the skills required to keep track of friend and foe make animals smarter? To find out, NOVA goes inside the social lives of some of the smartest animals on the planet.

• Why Sharks Attack (#4111)

  In recent years, an unusual spate of deadly shark attacks has gripped Australia, resulting in five deaths in 10 months. At the same time, great white sharks have begun appearing in growing numbers off the beaches of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, not far from the waters where Steven Spielberg filmed the ultimate shark fright film, Jaws. What's behind the mysterious arrival of this apex predator in an area where they've rarely been seen for hundreds of years? Are deadly encounters with tourists inevitable? To separate fact from fear, NOVA teams up with leading shark experts in Australia and the United States to discover the science behind the great white's hunting instincts. Do sharks ever target humans or is each attack a tragic case of mistaken identity? Can a deeper understanding of shark senses lead scientists to design effective deterrents and help prevent future attacks? With shark populations around the world plummeting, scientists race to unlock the secrets of these powerful creatures of the deep in their quest to save people -- and sharks.

• Bigger Than T.rex (#4119)

  Almost a century ago, paleontologists found the first tantalizing hints of a monster even bigger than Tyrannosaurus Rex, perhaps the largest predator ever to walk the Earth: spectacular fossil bones from a dinosaur dubbed Spinosaurus. But the fossils were completely destroyed during a World War II Allied bombing raid, leaving only drawings, lots of questions, and a mystery: What was Spinosaurus? Now, the discovery of new bones in a Moroccan cliff face is reopening the investigation into this epic beast. What did it feed on and how? Why did it grow so big? We follow the paleontologists who are reconstructing this terrifying carnivore piece by piece, revealing a 53-foot-long behemoth with a huge dorsal sail, enormous, scimitar-like claws, and massive superjaws, tapered toward the front like a crocodile, hosting an army of teeth. It is a painstaking puzzle, and it is missing many of its pieces. NOVA follows researchers on the hunt for more fossils, tracing ancient history along with the very modern drama of how the bones of the Spinosaurus were discovered, seized, bombed, stolen and smuggled across international borders. Bringing together experts in paleontology, geology, climatology and paleobotany, this NOVA/National Geographic special brings to life the lost world over which Spinosaurus reigned more than 65 million years ago.

• Emperor's Ghost Army (#4120)

  Emperor Qin Shi Huang of China was buried in a mausoleum with around 9,000 terracotta statues. Investigate how and why the life-sized figures were made and the technology behind the crossbows, spears and swords carried by the clay warriors.

• First Man on the Moon (#4122)

  NOVA presents an intimate portrait of Neil Armstrong, the first person to set foot on the moon, through interviews with Armstrong's family and friends. The film reveals his achievements as a Navy combat veteran and pioneer of high-speed flight. NOVA revisits the final moments of the Apollo 11 landing, when Armstrong brought the Eagle down safely with seconds to spare. But he regretted that he got so much credit for the team effort that the lunar landing represented. In its exploration of this quietly effective man, NOVA explores his achievements following Apollo. This is an inspiring story of heroic risk-taking and humble dedication to advancing humanity's adventure in space.

• Sunken Ship Rescue (#4202)

  NOVA follows the epic operation to secure, raise and salvage the Costa Concordia cruise ship, which ran aground and tragically capsized off the coast of Italy on January 13th 2012, killing 32 passengers. Moving the ship - which stretches the length of three football fields, weighs over 114,000 tons and lies half submerged on the site of a protected reef with a 50-meter long hole in its hull - from its precarious perch on the edge of a 60 meter high underwater cliff will be a huge technical and logistical challenge. Now, NOVA joins a team of more than 500 divers and engineers working around the clock as they attempt the biggest ship recovery project in history.

• Building Wonders: Hagia Sophia - Istanbul's Ancient Mystery (#4204)

  Istanbul's magnificent Hagia Sophia has survived on one of the world's most active seismic faults, which has inflicted a dozen devastating earthquakes since Hagia Sophia was built in 537 AD. As Istanbul braces for the next big quake, a team of architects and engineers is investigating Hagia Sophia's seismic secrets. NOVA follows the team's discoveries as they examine the building's unique structure and other ingenious design strategies that have insured the dome's survival. The engineers build a massive eight-ton model of the building's core structure, place it on a motorized shake table and hit it with a series of simulated quakes.

• Petra - Lost City of Stone (#4205)

  More than two thousand years ago, the thriving city of Petra rose up in the bone-dry desert of what is now Jordan. An oasis of culture and abundance, the city was built by wealthy merchants whose camel caravans transported incense and spices across hundreds of miles from the Arabian Gulf. They carved spectacular temple-tombs into its soaring cliffs, raised a monumental Great Temple at its heart, and devised an ingenious system that channeled water to vineyards, bathhouses, fountains, and pools. But following a catastrophic earthquake and a slump in its desert trade routes, Petra's unique culture faded and was lost to most of the world for nearly a thousand years. Now, in a daring experiment, an archaeologist and sculptors team up to carve an iconic temple-tomb to find out how the ancient people of Petra built their city of stone. And beyond Petra's city of the dead, scientists using remote sensors and hydraulic flumes discover a city of the living-complete with a water system that not only supplied 30,000 people with enough to drink, but also filled bathhouses, fountains, and pools with such abundance that some scholars believe this desert metropolis may have been the Las Vegas of the ancient world. The race is on to discover how these nomads created this oasis of culture in one of the harshest climates on earth, and ultimately, why Petra disappeared.

• Colosseum - Roman Death Trap (#4206)

  The Colosseum is a monument to Roman imperial power and cruelty. Its graceful lines and harmonious proportions concealed a highly efficient design and advanced construction methods that made hundreds of arches out of 100,000 tons of stone. In its elliptical arena, tens of thousands of gladiators, slaves, prisoners and wild animals met their deaths. Ancient texts report lions and elephants emerging from beneath the floor, as if by magic, to ravage gladiators and people condemned to death. Then, just as quickly, the Colosseum could be flooded with so much water that ships could engage in sea battles. Could these legends be true? Now, with access to one of the world's most protected world heritage sites, archaeologists and engineers team up to re-create ancient Roman techniques to build a 25-foot lifting machine and trap-door system capable of releasing a wolf into the Colosseum's arena for the first time in 1,500 years.

• The Great Math Mystery (#4207)

  NOVA leads viewers on a mathematical mystery tour-a provocative exploration of math's astonishing power across the centuries. We discover math's signature in the swirl of a nautilus shell, the whirlpool of a galaxy, and the spiral in the center of a sunflower. Math was essential to everything from the first wireless radio transmissions to the prediction and discovery of the Higgs boson, and the successful landing of rovers on Mars. But where does math get its power? Astrophysicist and writer Mario Livio, along with a colorful cast of mathematicians, physicists, and engineers, follow math from Pythagoras to Einstein and beyond, all leading to the ultimate riddle: Is math an invention or a discovery? Humankind's clever trick, or the language of the universe? The Great Math Mystery is a show for everyone; whether we think we're good with numbers or not, we all use math in our daily lives. The Great Math Mystery sheds fascinating light on how math works in our brains and ponders the ultimate mystery of why it works so well when decoding the universe.

• Dawn of Humanity (#4209)

  From a deep cave in South Africa comes an astounding discovery of an unprecedented trove of fossils of human relatives. Join NOVA and National Geographic on a hair-raising descent into a cave that promises to rewrite the story of humanity's origins.

• Lethal Seas (#4211)

  A deadly recipe threatens the survival of countless creatures throughout Earth's oceans. We've known for years that oceans absorb about a quarter of the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. With carbon emissions sharply rising, the silent killer is entering the seas at a staggering rate - raising the oceans' acidity. As a result, the skeletons and shells of marine creatures that form the foundation of the web of life are dissolving. Follow scientists who are seeking solutions and making breakthrough discoveries, including a unique coral garden in Papua New Guinea that offers a glimpse of what the seas could be like in a half-century. Can experts crack the code of a rapidly changing ocean - before it's too late?

• Secrets of Noah's Ark (#4212)

  A 3,700-year-old inscribed clay tablet reveals a surprising new version of the Biblical flood story, complete with how-to instructions for assembling an ark. Following the directions, expert boat builders assemble and launch a massive reed boat.

• Arctic Ghost Ship (#4216)

  Unravel the greatest mystery in Arctic exploration: 160 years ago, the Franklin Expedition to chart the Northwest Passage vanished. Now, a Canadian team discovers one of Franklin's lost ships-a vital clue to the fate of the ill-starred expedition.

• Making North America: Origins (#4220)

  See the epic 3-billion-year story of how our continent came to be. From palm trees that once flourished in Alaska to huge eruptions that nearly tore the Midwest in two, discover how forces of almost unimaginable power gave birth to North America.

• Making North America: Life (#4221)

  Discover the surprising intertwined story of life and the landscape in North America-from origins to iconic dinosaurs to giant marine reptiles swimming in an ancient sea that once split the continent in two.

• Making North America: Human (#4222)

  From Ice Age to oil boom, discover the challenges faced and the wealth uncovered as humans take over the continent. How did we turn rocks into riches? And what catastrophic natural disasters could threaten the civilization we've built?

• Inside Einstein's Mind (#4223)

  Retrace Einstein's thought experiments as NOVA reveals the simple but powerful ideas that reshaped our understanding of gravity, illuminating the theory of general relativity-and Einstein's brilliance-as never before.

• Life's Rocky Start (#4302)

  From the first sparks of life to the survival of the fittest, unearth the secret relationship between rocks and life. NOVA goes around the world and back in time to investigate how minerals are vital to the origins and evolution of life.

• Mystery Beneath The Ice (#4303)

  Dive under the ice to explore Antarctica's under-ice landscape with a team of scientists as they search for the mystery killer that's decimating the population of delicate shrimp-like creatures at the foundation of the Antarctic food chain.

• Iceman Reborn (#4305)

  Murdered more than 5,000 years ago, Otzi the Iceman is the oldest human mummy on Earth. Now, newly discovered evidence sheds light not only on this mysterious ancient man, but on the dawn of civilization in Europe.

• Creatures of Light (#4309)

  NOVA and National Geographic take a dazzling dive to explore how and why so many of the ocean's creatures light up-revealing a hidden undersea world where creatures flash, sparkle, shimmer or simply glow.

• Wild Ways (#4311)

  From Yellowstone to the Yukon, to Southern Africa's elephant highways stretching across five nations, explore how newly established wildlife corridors may offer a glimmer of hope to some of our planet's most cherished - but endangered - species.

• Great Human Odyssey (#4312)

  Walk in the footsteps of our ancient ancestors as scientists trace the paths that led us out of Africa and around the world. From snowy Siberia to remote Pacific islands, discover how humans survived and thrived in every corner of the planet.

• Operation Lighthouse Rescue (#4313)

  The Gay Head Lighthouse, a historic landmark perched high on the cliffs of Martha's Vineyard, is soon to become the next victim of the ocean's relentless erosion of the island's cliffs. Join engineers as they race to rescue this national treasure.

• Bombing Hitler's Supergun (#4314)

  In the spring of 1943, Hitler hatched plans for a diabolical "supergun" in an effort to turn the tide of the war back in his favor. Now, follow historians and engineers as they retrace how such a weapon could work ... and how it could be destroyed.

• Super Tunnel (#4317)

  Follow an army of engineers and designers as they tackle the complex challenge of building Crossrail, a massive new subterranean railway deep beneath the streets of London.

• Treasures of the Earth: Gems (#4318)

  Gemstones like diamonds, rubies, opal and jade are the ultimate treasures. Delve into Earth's depths to discover how these precious stones are forged and what explains the unique allure of each captivating gemstone.

• Treasures of the Earth: Metals (#4319)

  Gold, bronze, iron, steel... metals are pillars of our civilization, but what makes them so special? Discover their unique properties and explore how our mastery of metals has led us from the stone age to today's hi-tech world.

• Treasures of the Earth: Power (#4320)

  Drill down to discover how Earth's natural treasures provide bountiful energy to power our modern world yet are also driving us to seek new, cleaner alternatives that can help us keep the lights on.

• Search for the Super Battery (#4403)

  Join renowned gadget geek and host David Pogue as he sets out on a quest to discover how batteries work and uncover what the future of batteries means for our gadgets, our lives and even our planet.

• Ultimate Cruise Ship (#4404)

  Weighing 54,000 gross tons and stretching over two football fields, the Seven Seas Explorer is no ordinary boat. Join pioneering shipbuilders as they endeavor to build the ultimate cruise ship.

• The Origami Revolution (#4405)

  The ancient art of paper folding is sparking scientific advances, affecting drug development and future NASA space missions. Discover how the art of origami is reshaping the world around us as scientists uncover the power of folding.

• Holocaust Escape Tunnel (#4407)

  In the heart of Lithuania, a Holocaust secret lies buried.? A team of archaeologists probes the ruins of a Nazi death camp to find the truth behind tales of a tunnel dug by desperate Jewish prisoners and their daring escape.

• Building Chernobyl's MegaTomb (#4408)

  Engineers race to build a massive dome to contain the crumbling remains of Chernobyl's reactor.

• Chinese Chariot Revealed (#4409)

  For over 1000 years, chariots thundered across China's battlefields-dominating warfare longer than anywhere else on earth. Now, a series of amazing archaeological findings enable a team of experts to reconstruct and test China's first super-weapon.

• Poisoned Water (#4410)

  The water contamination crisis in Flint, MI, has revealed a disturbing truth about the vulnerabilities of our aging drinking water infrastructure. Discover the chemistry, biology and engineering that led to this disaster.

• Secrets of the Shining Knight (#4413)

  Discover what it was like to be a knight in shining armor and follow the historic manufacturing process. Join master armorers as they re-engineer the Greenwich armor-considered some of the greatest armor ever made-and then put it to the test.

• Ghosts of Stonehenge (#4414)

  Who built Stonehenge and why? Discover how the last decade of groundbreaking archaeological digs has revealed major new clues to Britain's enigmatic 5,000-year-old site and the people who constructed it.

• Secrets of the Forbidden City (#4415)

  Discover the ingenious engineering of Beijing's Forbidden City, the power center of imperial China for nearly 500 years. Discover how the design of this vast complex of palaces and temples enabled it to survive centuries of earthquake shocks.

• Killer Volcanoes (#4416)

  Join NOVA and a team of volcanologists looking for an elusive volcanic mega-eruption that plunged the medieval earth into a deep freeze. Investigate the geologic evidence from Greenland all the way to Antarctica to identify the 750-year-old culprit.

• Killer Hurricanes (#4417)

  Follow a team of experts investigating the Great Hurricane of 1780 that killed more people than any other Caribbean hurricane. Discover what made the storm so deadly and whether mega-storms are more likely to strike in our rapidly changing climate.

• Killer Floods (#4418)

  Uncover geologic fingerprints of colossal floods that violently reshaped the ancient world. Follow geologists around the globe as they reconstruct catastrophic Ice Age floods more powerful than all the world's top ten rivers combined.

• Extreme Animal Weapons (#4419)

  Explore the secrets that underlie nature's battleground. Every animal has some kind of weapon, whether claws or horns, fangs or stings. But why are some armaments huge and extreme, far beyond any practical need?

• Bird Brain (#4420)

  Long mocked as empty-headed, birds hide surprisingly acute intelligence. But just how smart are they? As scientists test avian aptitude with brainteasers, discover how the genius of birds is leading us to rethink our basic notions of intelligence.

• Day The Dinosaurs Died (#4421)

  Investigate how an asteroid vanquished the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. Join scientists as they drill into the impact crater and, for the first time, reconstruct the hell on earth that unfolded in the minutes, hours and months after the impact.

• Black Hole Apocalypse (#4501)

  Join astrophysicist and novelist Janna Levin on a mind-blowing voyage to the frontiers of black hole science, which is shining new light on the most powerful and mysterious objects in the universe.

• Black Hole Universe (#4502)

• The Impossible Flight (#4503)

  Follow two intrepid pilots as they take on the greatest aviation adventure of our time, overcoming countless challenges as they construct and fly the first solar-powered airplane around the world.

• First Face of America (#4504)

  Take a risky dive into an underwater cave in Mexico to uncover the 13, 000 year-old skeleton of a prehistoric teenager. Follow forensic clues that reveal intimate details of her life and death, and how her people first ventured into North America.

• Great Escape at Dunkirk (#4505)

  Join archaeologists and divers recovering remains of ships and planes lost during World War II's epic Dunkirk operation. Discover new evidence of the ingenious technology that helped save Allied forces from defeat by the encircling Germans.

• Prediction by the Numbers (#4506)

  Discover how predictions underpin nearly every aspect of our lives and why some succeed spectacularly while others fail. Explore entertaining real-world challenges and join experts as they tackle that age-old question: Can we forecast the future?

• Decoding The Weather Machine (#4507)

  Join scientists on a quest to better understand the weather and climate machine we call Earth. Why do scientists overwhelmingly agree that our climate is changing, and how can we be resilient-even thrive-in the face of enormous change?

• Rise of the Superstorms (#4508)

  Dive into the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. How can scientists better predict these storms, and what does the 2017 season tell us about the likelihood of similar storms in the future?

• Transplanting Hope (#4509)

  Follow the patients who desperately need transplants to save their lives, see the profound decisions families face in donating the organs of loved ones who die, and learn about the critical shortage of organs and new research into "organs by design."

• Volatile Earth: Volcano On Fire (#4510)

  Climb up the cone of Nyiragongo, one of the world's least studied volcanoes, and join volcanologists as they descend into its crater, down towards its bubbling and seething lava lake, to discover when it will erupt next.

• Volatile Earth: Volcano on the Brink (#4511)

  Join a team of volcanologists as they explore one of the world's most active and mysterious volcanoes in central Africa: Nyamuragira. Learn what feeds its frequent eruptions and see the region's other hidden, life-threatening volcanic dangers.

• Addiction (#4512)

  Delve into America's opioid crisis - in a world in which many other diseases can be traced to addictive behavior, how do addictions work, and what can the science of addiction tell us about how we can resolve this dire social issue?

• Flying Supersonic (#4513)

  A history of the legendary Concorde, the passenger plane that flew from the late 70s till 2003 at twice the speed of sound. Designed and built by French and British engineers, the Concorde was the ultimate in speed and luxury for a select group of global jet setters, and the birthplace of many breakthroughs in aviation science. But ultimately it was not sustainable because of enormous fuel consumption and high ticket prices. Today, scientists at NASA and start-up companies like Boom Technology in Denver are trying to figure out ways to build a new generation of supersonic passenger planes that will be quieter, greener, and cheaper.

• Thai Cave Rescue (#4514)

  Follow the remarkable story of how a Thai boys' soccer team became trapped in a cave system, how they were located, and how rescuers worked against the clock to make a miraculous rescue of all 12 boys and their coach.

• Last B-24 (#4515)

  In 1944 a smoking, battle-scarred B-24 Liberator bomber known as the Tulsamerican crashed into the choppy seas off the coast of Croatia, entombing three of its occupants under 135 feet of water. For years they were lost to the world-and their families. But in 2010, nearly seventy years after the crash, divers located the plane. And in 2017, the Department of Defense, aided by the Croatian Navy and some of the world's leading underwater archaeologists, set to work investigating the wreckage. Were the B-24s truly as dangerous as the nickname "the Flying Coffin" suggested? And what does that mean for the recovery of the fallen airmen? Now, NOVA joins a team of archaeologists on a dangerous mission to recover and identify their remains. They will deploy advanced mapping and diving technologies and sift through tons of sediment-eventually to find artifacts and other tantalizing clues. From the recovery of the remains to the subsequent forensics and DNA analysis of the remains in the laboratory, the story of the Tulsamerican is riveting and emotional. NOVA documents it all, including the moment a family hears the words they never expected to hear: "On behalf of a grateful nation..."

• Operation Bridge Rescue (#4516)

  Follow the rebuilding of the 19th century Blenheim Covered Bridge. Watch elite craftsmen raise this engineering icon under grueling time pressure and witness traditional artisans in China restoring ancient covered bridges to ensure their survival.

• World's Fastest Animal (#4517)

  The Peregrine Falcon is famously the fastest bird on earth, capable of reaching speeds of up to 242 mph in a dive. But bird specialist and trainer Lloyd Buck is convinced his peregrine Moses can go faster. How might he do it, and how do Peregrines achieve such incredible speed? With jaw dropping blue-chip footage, NOVA follows a family of Peregrine Falcons to discover how and why these kings of the skies have adapted to be fastest animals on the planet. We dive beneath the skin to unravel the secrets of their anatomy that allow them to be so quick. And we take to the skies with Moses to see if he can push the envelope and become the World's Fastest Animal.

• Apollo's Daring Mission (#4518)

  Hear Apollo astronauts and engineers tell the inside story of how the first mission to the moon, Apollo 8, pioneered groundbreaking technologies that would pave the way to land a man on the moon and win the space race.

• Pluto and Beyond (#4601)

  Join the mission as the New Horizons spacecraft attempts to fly by NASA's most distant target yet. Since it explored Pluto in 2015, New Horizons is zooming toward Ultima Thule, an object four billion miles from Earth.

• Einstein's Quantum Riddle (#4602)

  Quantum entanglement is poised to revolutionize technology from networks to code breaking, but first we need to know it's real. Join physicists as they capture light from across the universe in a bid to prove Einstein's "spooky action at a distance."

• Kilauea: Hawaii On Fire (#4603)

  Journey to Hawai'i's Kilauea volcano, which sent rivers of lava through communities and into the sea when it erupted in 2018. Join a group of scientists and locals investigating the spike in volcano activity that turned paradise into an inferno.

• Decoding The Great Pyramid (#4604)

  Stunning new archaeological evidence provides clues about the Egyptians who built the Great Pyramid of Giza -- and how they did it. Join researchers as they delve into the logbook of a work crew and discover how the massive project transformed Egypt.

• Rise of the Rockets (#4605)

  Marvel at a new era of space exploration and accessibility, thanks to NASA's return to crewed spaceflight, as well as private companies like SpaceX and Virgin Galactic, and technologies that make rockets cheaper and more powerful than ever.

• The Next Pompeii (#4606)

  Discover Campi Flegrei, a lesser-known volcano in the shadow of Vesuvius. If it erupts, millions of lives could be at risk. Meet the scientists exploring its geography and developing a warning system to prevent Naples from becoming the next Pompeii.

• Saving The Dead Sea (#4607)

  There's no place on Earth like it. Cleopatra attributed her beauty to its secrets. King Herod built one of the world's first health spas on its shores. And as the biblical story goes, "rocks and fire falling from the sky" buried Sodom and Gomorrah and the sea became "the sea of salt" -- The Dead Sea. Now this wonder of the world is dying. Since 1976, its level has declined by more than sixty-five feet. Its coastline is pockmarked with thousands of sinkholes. Can the Dead Sea be saved? After more than a decade of research and debate, scientists, engineers and political leaders have come up with a daring plan, one that could not only save the sea but help bring stability to a region rife with conflict. NOVA follows this unprecedented endeavor - perhaps the world's largest water chemistry experiment ever - as scientists and engineers race to save the Dead Sea and help bring water to one of the driest regions on Earth.

• Inside The Megafire (#4608)

• First Horse Warriors (#4609)

  Horse riding played a key role in human expansion and civilization. But when and how did people first master these animals? Scientists use archaeology and genetics to uncover clues about the first horse riders and how they shaped the world.

• Lost Viking Army (#4610)

  Bioarchaeologists investigate a ninth-century mass grave in a rural English village. Will the remains unlock the mystery of the "Great Heathen Army," a legendary Viking fighting force that once invaded England?

• Back to the Moon (#4611)

  Fifty years after humans first set foot on the moon, new scientific discoveries are fueling excitement for a return to the lunar surface -- this time, perhaps, to stay. Join the scientists and engineers working to make life on the moon a reality.

• The Planets: Inner Worlds (#4612)

  The rocky planets - Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars - were born of similar material around the same time, yet only one supports life. Were Earth's neighbors always so extreme? Is there somewhere else in the solar system where life might flourish?

• The Planets: Mars (#4613)

  Mars was once a blue water world studded with active volcanoes. But when its magnetic field and protective atmosphere faded, it became the frozen desert planet we know today. With so many necessary elements in place, did life ever form on Mars?

• The Planets: Jupiter (#4614)

  Jupiter's massive gravitational force made it a wrecking ball when it barreled through the early solar system. But it also shaped life on Earth, delivering comets laden with water - and perhaps even the fateful asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs.

• The Planets: Saturn (#4615)

  NASA's Cassini explores Saturn for 13 years, looping through its icy rings and flying by its moons. The probe captures stunning ring-moon interactions, but when it finds the ingredients for life on the moon Enceladus, a bittersweet decision is made.

• The Planets: Ice Worlds (#4616)

  In the far reaches of the solar system, Uranus and Neptune dazzle with unexpected rings, supersonic winds and dozens of moons. And NASA's New Horizons gets a stunning up-close view of Pluto before venturing deep into the Kuiper Belt.

• Rise of the Mammals (#4617)

  Sixty-six million years ago, an asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs in a fiery global catastrophe. An amazing new trove of fossils reveals how mammals took over, ultimately evolving into the huge array of species, including us, that rule Earth today.

• Why Bridges Collapse (#4618)

  In 2018, Italy's Morandi Bridge collapsed, killing 43 people. NOVA investigates what went wrong and explores other bridge collapses across the United States. How can new engineering techniques make bridges safer and prevent such tragedies?

• Look Who's Driving (#4619)

  Tech giants and car manufacturers alike are developing self-driving cars - and some of them are already on public roads. But what must computers be capable of to truly take the wheel? And could they eventually be safer than human drivers?

• Dead Sea Scroll Detectives (#4620)

  What can new technology reveal about the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls? Join scientists as they investigate suspicious, newly surfaced fragments to see if they're forfeited, and use imaging techniques to digitally unravel the charred remains of a scroll.

• Decoding Da Vinci (#4621)

  Journey to Florence to discover how Leonardo da Vinci used science, from human dissections to innovative painting techniques, to create his legendary artwork. Learn why Mona Lisa's smile is so captivating - and what it took to create it.

• The Violence Paradox (#4622)

  Violence is all over the news. But some say we're living in the most peaceful time in history. Journey through time and the human mind to investigate whether-and how-violence has declined. And witness how people are working to stop violence today.

• Animal Espionage (#4623)

  Camera traps and drones are revolutionizing the study of wildlife by providing an up-close look at animals without disturbing them. See how these technologies are helping us understand everything from mysterious whale behavior to tiger migration.

• Polar Extremes (#4701)

  Following a trail of fossils found in all the wrong places -- beech trees in Antarctica, redwoods and hippo-like mammals in the Arctic -- uncover the bizarre history of the poles, from miles-thick ice sheets to warm polar forests teeming with life.

• Dog Tales (#4702)

  Dogs have long been dependable companions by our sides. But it wasn't always that way-and a look at their closest living relative, the wolf, makes it clear why. Researchers reveal how humans tamed fearsome canines over tens of thousands of years, and how modern dog intelligence and behaviors have made them indispensable companions.

• Cat Tales (#4703)

  Worshiped as a goddess, condemned as satanic and spun into a stunning array of breeds, cats have long fascinated humans. But did we ever really domesticate them? And what can science tell us about our most mysterious companions?

• Mysteries of Sleep (#4704)

  Like virtually every other animal, humans need sleep to survive. But why? Scientists peer into the brain to see what happens while we snooze and understand the powerful role that sleep - or lack of it - plays in memory, trauma and emotion regulation.

• Cuba's Cancer Hope (#4705)

  When the U.S. trade embargo left Cuba isolated from medical resources, Cuban scientists developed their own biotech industry - and promising lung cancer vaccines. Can they now team up with U.S. partners to make the treatments available to all?

• The Truth About Fat (#4706)

  Scientists are coming to understand fat as a system akin to an organ -- one whose size may have more to do with biological processes than personal choices. Explore the mysteries of fat and its role in hormone production, hunger and even pregnancy.

• Eagle Power (#4707)

  What makes eagles so remarkable? Researchers study one special bird, revealing her exceptional strength, eyesight and flying skills. Meanwhile, in-the-nest footage of a new bald eagle family captures the drama of chicks struggling to survive.

• Saving Notre Dame (#4708)

  When the Notre Dame cathedral caught fire in April 2019, Paris came perilously close to losing over 800 years of history. As engineers rebuild, researchers use cutting-edge technology to piece together what happened and restore the cathedral.

• Nature's Fear Factor (#4709)

  When top predators disappeared from Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park, other animals fell into unusual patterns. Now scientists are reintroducing wild dogs to restore the park's "landscape of fear" and with it the natural balance of the ecosystem.

• Decoding COVID-19 (#4710)

  The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has upended life as we know it in a matter of mere months. But at the same time, an unprecedented global effort to understand and contain the virus-and find a treatment for the disease it causes-is underway. Join the doctors on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 as they strategize to stop the spread, and meet the researchers racing to find treatments and vaccines. Along the way, discover how this devastating disease emerged, what it does to the human body, and why it exploded into a pandemic.

• Human Nature (#4711)

  Our DNA can determine attributes from eye color to medical predispositions. An extraordinary technology called CRISPR allows us to edit human DNA, possibly eliminating genetic diseases or choosing our children's features. But how far should we go?

• Secret Mind of Slime (#4712)

  Scientists investigate the bizarre "intelligence" of slime molds, which appear to learn and make decisions -- without a brain. These cunning, single-celled blobs can navigate mazes and create efficient networks. Can they also redefine cognition?

• A to Z: The First Alphabet (#4713)

  Writing shaped civilization itself, from the trading of goods to tales of ancient goddesses and kings. Follow the evolution of the written word, from millennia-old carvings in an Egyptian turquoise mine to our modern-day alphabets.

• A to Z: How Writing Changed The World (#4714)

  Just as handwritten records changed how societies work, the printing press transformed the spread of information, igniting the Industrial Revolution. How did technologies -- from pen to paper to printing press -- make it all possible?

• Touching The Asteroid (#4715)

  If spacecraft OSIRIS-REx can grab a piece of an asteroid and bring it back to Earth, scientists could gain great insight into our planet's origins, and even how to defend against rogue asteroids. But NASA only gets three shots at collecting a sample.

• Can We Cool The Planet? (#4716)

  As global temperatures rise, scientists are exploring geoengineering solutions, from planting trees to sucking carbon out of the air to physically blocking out sunlight. But would it work? And what are the risks of engineering Earth's climate?

• Secrets In Our DNA (#4801)

  Millions of Americans have sent their DNA to be analyzed by private companies, which are revealing customers' ancestry and family connections, and reporting health risks. But what are the pitfalls and unintended consequences of sharing genetic data?

• Looking for Life On Mars (#4802)

• Picture A Scientist (#4803)

  Women make up less than a quarter of STEM professionals in the United States, and numbers are even lower for women of color. But a growing group of researchers is exposing longstanding discrimination and making science more inclusive.

• Reef Rescue (#4804)

  If oceans continue to warm at the current pace, coral reefs could be wiped out by the end of the century. But scientists from around the globe are rushing to help corals adapt to a changing climate through assisted evolution.

• Fighting for Fertility (#4805)

  What causes infertility, and how can assisted reproductive technologies help? Follow the journeys of people navigating fertility challenges from structural inequalities and racism to falling sperm counts, egg freezing, and IVF.

• Hindenburg: The New Evidence (#4806)

• Great Electric Airplane Race (#4807)

• High-Risk High-Rise (#4808)

  Over the past few decades, the number of skyscrapers worldwide has climbed dramatically. And as developers look to maximize limited urban space, and nations vie for prestige, these shimmering towers are being built higher and higher. In China alone, dozens of buildings rise to over 1,000 feet, with a few approaching 2,000 feet. But for all their impressive engineering, are these buildings safe? And are building regulations keeping up with the soaring heights of new structures? In San Francisco, skyscrapers can be built on unstable, sinking ground. And internal sprinkler systems are the only hope for extinguishing fires that burn beyond the reach of firefighters' ladders. Now, NOVA explores the science behind the risks of sky-high buildings, from the structural limits of building materials to the threats presented by wind, fire, and earthquakes. Experts show how the science of evacuation has shaped buildings in recent years, and what we have-and haven't-learned from past tragedies.

• Ship That Changed The World (#4809)

  Some five centuries ago, a major revolution overturned traditional ship designs. Since the Roman era, ship builders in Europe and the Mediterranean had been turning out the same tried and true designs and engineering techniques. And then, in the 15th century, within the span of a few shor t years, ships were transformed from small coastal-bound transports into massive ocean-going vessels capable of long-distance exploration. The great Native American civilizations were brought down by invading colonists and European diseases. And once regular trans-oceanic travel became feasible, everything changed. Powerful navies arose and fought for supremacy over the land and sea. The influential-if destructive-European empires spread around the globe. The modern world was born. But exactly how did a seemingly modest change in ship design produce such transformative global upheaval? Modern scholars and historians trying to study exactly what happened at this crucial moment have always faced a problem: There's a hole in our history. All of the ships dating back to this key period of transformation have long ago disappeared, leaving behind only rough drawings and incomplete records. Now the wreck of one of these crucial transitional ships may have been found off the coast of Sweden. Built around the same time as Columbus' trio of ships, it may finally unlock the engineering secrets of those famous ships and provide physical evidence of the engineering breakthroughs that helped create the modern world. Dive with NOVA as we search underwater to reveal the secrets of this amazing discovery.

• Bat Superpowers (#4810)

  Bats have been implicated in deadly epidemics such as COVID-19 and Ebola, yet scientists are discovering evidence that they may hold a key to a longer and healthier life. From caves in Thailand and Texas to labs around the globe, NOVA meets the scientists who are decoding the superpowers of the bat.

• The Cannabis Question (#4811)

  Cannabis contains chemicals which mimic ones found in our brain. One is THC, which produces the high associated with pot use. Another, called CBD, shows promise for treating seizures, addiction, and insomnia. NOVA joins scientists and experts around the country. What risks does cannabis pose to the developing adolescent brain? Does heavy cannabis use impair intelligence, increase psychosis, or even put future generations at risk for addiction? As cannabis becomes socially accepted, scientists are racing to understand the long-term health consequences.

• Particles Unknown (#4812)

  What's the commonest-yet most elusive and least understood-particle in the universe? The neutrino. Starting with the invention of the nuclear bomb, billions of dollars have been spent in pursuit of this so-called ghost particle. Outnumbering atoms a billion to one, neutrons are preposterously plentiful, they hardly interact with anything, and they mystifyingly morph between three different forms. What's going on here? NOVA joins an international team of neutrino hunters as they try to capture an elusive fourth form of neutrino. The results of their investigation may force scientists to redraw their well-established blueprint of the subatomic world, the Standard Model of physics, and change our understanding of how the universe works.

• Arctic Drift (#4813)

  Journey to the top of the world with scientists as they embark on the most ambitious Arctic research expedition of all time. The Arctic - a vast frozen ocean, shrouded in darkness for half the year - is warming at twice the rate as the rest of the globe. Since the northern ice cap acts as a cooling system for the entire planet, what happens in the Arctic doesn't stay in the Arctic. As the ice cap melts, the world warms faster, disrupting weather patterns, diverting ocean currents, and endangering biodiversity. Yet because the Arctic is so inaccessible and inhospitable, establishing exactly what's going on and forecasting its future have proven elusive. Now, Arctic Drift takes viewers on a groundbreaking expedition that will bring vital new clarity to scientists' predictions of global change. Experts from twenty different nations join the voyage of the 12, 000-ton Polarstern icebreaker as it's gripped by the polar ice and drifts for an entire year. From this unique research station, they can make previously impossible long-term observations and experiments. But long hours in this harsh environment bring their own challenges, including hungry polar bears, perilous sea ice cracks, and equipment failure. With breathtaking cinematography, heart-wrenching personal stories, and high stakes science, Arctic Drift follows the scientists in their risky race against time to understand the Arctic before it changes our world forever.

• Edible Insects (#4814)

  From crunchy cricket chips to nutty black soldier fly grubs, Edible Insects leaps across cultural and culinary boundaries to explore the insect food industry and how it could benefit our health and our warming planet. From Thailand to Texas, cricket farmers are showing how the tiny critters stack up as an environmentally friendly alternative to beef protein. In fact, as one of the show's many gastro-surprises reveals, insects make animal protein vastly more efficiently than cows and, pound for pound, deliver far better nutritional value than the finest steak. Unappealing as an insect milkshake might sound, it may promote the growth of healthy gut bacteria that can help prevent inflammation and cancer. But what about the "ick" factor? NOVA invites a panel of volunteers to sample an invitingly prepared tasting menu of roasted crickets, ants, mealworms, and chipotle-flavored grasshoppers prepared by a New York chef, and, not surprisingly, some of the diners have trouble concealing their squeamishness. Yet all the evidence in this diverting show adds up to the idea that our aversion to insects is mostly a matter of attitude and cultural conditioning. So will your kitchen table soon host its very own savory insect feast?

• NOVA Universe Revealed: Age of Stars (#4815)

• NOVA Universe Revealed: Milky Way (#4816)

• NOVA Universe Revealed: Alien Worlds (#4817)

• NOVA Universe Revealed: Black Holes (#4818)

• NOVA Universe Revealed: Big Bang (#4819)

• Butterfly Blueprints (#4820)

  Investigate the hidden scientific secrets of butterflies that reveal them as more inventive and resilient than we imagined, and explore how they're inspiring cutting-edge technical innovations.

• Alaskan Dinosaurs (#4821)

  Wielding chainsaws to extract fossils frozen into the permafrost and flying drones to map thousands of footprints, intrepid paleontologists discover that dinosaurs thrived in the unlikeliest of places -- the cold and dark of the Arctic Circle.

• Ancient Maya Metropolis (#4822)

  The ancient Maya built large complex cities with towering pyramids and temples that served as centers for a thriving civilization. Follow archaeologists exploring new evidence into the mystery of why after hundreds of years the cities were abandoned.

• Arctic Sinkholes (#4901)

  Scientists investigate colossal explosions in Siberia and other evidence that rapidly melting soil in the Arctic is releasing vast amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. What are the implications for our climate future?

• Secrets in the Scat (#4902)

  Scott Burnett is "Scatman"-an Australian ecologist on the trail of the secrets of poop. By identifying and analyzing animal scat for DNA and hormones, he discovers essential details of their behavior, how they fit in the ecosystem, and how to protect them. From the mysterious cubic poop of wombats to the precious pink waste of whales, join scientists as they explore nature's smelliest secrets.

• Great Mammoth Mystery (#4903)

  Join Sir David Attenborough on a unique excavation of a site in southwest England with rare traces of ancient mammoths and Neanderthals. Featuring hands-on experiments with replicas of Neanderthal-era spears and photorealistic reconstructions of the site's ancient riverside setting, NOVA brings the world of prehistoric Britain vividly to life, illuminated by the inimitable thoughts and insights of Sir David Attenborough.

• Augmented (#4904)

  An inventor of bionic limbs teams up with an injured climber and a leading surgeon to test a new amputation technique that allows prosthetic limbs to move and feel like the real thing.

• Determined: Fighting Alzheimer's (#4905)

  Follow three women at risk of developing Alzheimer's as they join a groundbreaking study to try to prevent the disease - sharing their ups and downs, anxiously watching for symptoms, and hoping they can make a difference.

• Dinosaur Apocalypse: The New Evidence (#4906)

  Sir David Attenborough explores how a North Dakota fossil dig site could hold clues to what happened the day an asteroid struck Earth and wiped out the dinosaurs.

• Dinosaur Apocalypse: The Last Day (#4907)

  Sir David Attenborough explores fossils from a North Dakota site that could reveal what happened to the animals here the day an asteroid struck Earth and wiped out the dinosaurs.

• Ice Age Footprints (#4908)

  Thousands of prehistoric footprints in New Mexico's White Sands National Park capture moments when Ice Age humans crossed paths with enormous ground sloths and mammoths. What can this new evidence reveal about the peopling of the Americas?

• Why Ships Crash (#4909)

  When the colossal Ever Given container ship crashed into the bank of the Suez Canal in March 2021, international supply chains ground to a halt. How could such a disaster happen? And can the investigation help prevent future accidents?

• Ultimate Space Telescope (#4910)

  Explore the dramatic story of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope-the most ambitious observatory ever launched-through a series of high-stakes milestones, from its conception to completion.

• Ending HIV In America (#4911)

  Almost 40 years after the discovery of HIV could we be on the verge of ending the AIDS epidemic in America? How did scientists tackle one of the most elusive deadly viruses to ever infect humans? Can innovative drugs bring new infections to zero?

• Saving Venice (#4912)

  Rising seas and sinking land threaten to destroy Venice. Can the city's new hi-tech flood barrier save it? Discover the innovative projects and feats of engineering designed to stop this historic city from being lost to future generations.

• Rebuilding Notre Dame (#4913)

  In April 2019, the world watched as a devastating fire almost destroyed Paris's iconic Notre Dame Cathedral. Go behind the scenes with a team of engineers, masons, and timber workers tackling the daunting challenges of restoring the historic landmark.

• Computers V. Crime (#4914)

  Across the country, artificial intelligence is helping inform decisions about policing and criminal sentencing. This timely investigation digs into the hidden biases, privacy risks, and design flaws of this controversial technology.

• Can Psychedelics Cure? (#4915)

  Mind-altering drugs-or psychedelics-have been used for thousands of years. Today, scientists are discovering their potential for profoundly positive clinical impacts, helping patients struggling with afflictions like addiction and depression.

• Ocean Invaders (#4916)

  Lionfish-long prized in home aquariums-have invaded the Atlantic. Dive deep with host Danni Washington to investigate what makes the lionfish such a successful invasive species, how it's wreaking havoc, and what can be done about it.

• Nazca Desert Mystery (#4917)

  Who created the Nazca lines, one of archaeology's greatest enigmas, and why? Recent finds of long-hidden lines and figures etched into the Peruvian desert offer new clues to the origins and purpose behind these giant desert symbols.

• Crypto Decoded (#4918)

  From Bitcoin to NFTs, crypto is making headlines. But what exactly is it, and how does it work? Go beyond the hype and skepticism to unravel the truth behind a technology some say will revolutionize more than just money.

• Zero to Infinity (#4919)

  The concepts of zero and infinity didn't always exist. They've been invented and re-invented by different cultures over thousands of years. Discover the surprising story of these key concepts that revolutionized mathematics.

• London Super Tunnel (#5001)

  Thousands of engineers, technicians and workers race to build Europe's biggest construction project-London's new railroad, the Elizabeth Line.

• Star Chasers of Senegal (#5002)

  A visionary astronomer in West Africa attempts a high-stakes observation of a distant asteroid vital to a NASA mission. From prehistoric ruins to Islamic skywatchers, explore the heritage and future of African astronomy.

• Ancient Builders of the Amazon (#5003)

  Recent discoveries in archaeology are exploding the myth of the Amazon as a primeval wilderness, revealing traces of ancient civilizations that flourished for centuries, with prehistoric populations numbering in the millions.

• New Eye on the Universe (#5004)

  In July 2022, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope released its first images, looking further back in time than ever before to show our universe in stunningly beautiful detail. Within hours of the images' release, NOVA's Ultimate Space Telescope told the dramatic story of the decades-long development, exciting launch, and successful deployment of the most ambitious telescope ever made. But that was just the beginning: With tons of new data and spectacular images flooding in, Part II follows scientists as they peer deep in time to answer some of astronomy's biggest questions. How did the first stars and galaxies form? What role did supermassive black holes and dark matter play? And can we see the fingerprints of life in the atmospheres of distant exoplanets?

• Weathering The Future (#5005)

  It's hard not to notice: our weather is changing. From longer, hotter heat waves, to more intense rainstorms, to megafires and multi-year droughts - the U.S. is experiencing the full range of impacts from a changing global climate. But people on the front lines of these destabilizing weather trends around the country are coming up with new ways to adapt to the many challenges they bring. The lessons they're learning today can help all of us adapt in the years ahead, as the planet gets warmer and our weather gets weirder.

• Chasing Carbon Zero (#5006)

  The US recently set an ambitious climate goal: to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. But is that feasible? What exactly would it take? Chasing Carbon Zero takes a hard look at the problem and identifies the most likely real-world technologies that could be up to the task. From expanding renewable energy options and designing more energy-efficient buildings, to revolutionizing the transportation sector, to "negative emissions" technologies, the film casts a hopeful but skeptical eye. A wave of innovation is beginning to take hold, but can these solutions be scaled and made available and affordable across the country? The problem is vast, and time is running out. Find out why there is still hope that we can achieve Chasing Carbon Zero in time to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

• Saving The Right Whale (#5007)

  The North Atlantic right whale is on the brink of extinction. But a handful of specialists are determined to help save it as they discover new secrets about the lives of these giants of the sea.

• Hidden Volcano Abyss (#5008)

  In January 2022, one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions in recorded history rocked the islands of Tonga. Join scientists as they investigate what caused the blast, how it spurred a devastating tsunami, and if another eruption could be imminent.

• Your Brain: Perception Deception (#5009)

  Is what you see real? Join neuroscientist Heather Berlin on a quest to understand how your brain shapes your reality, and why you can't always trust what you perceive. Learn the surprising tricks and shortcuts the brain takes to help us survive.

• Your Brain: Who's In Control? (#5010)

  Are you in control of your brain, or is your brain controlling you? Dive into the latest research on the subconscious with neuroscientist Heather Berlin to see what's really driving the decisions you make.

• Ancient Earth: Birth of the Sky (#5011)

  Early Earth was a hellscape of molten lava and barren rock, bombarded by meteors, with no atmosphere at all. How did our familiar blue sky - the thin, life-giving band of gasses protecting our planet - come to be?

• Ancient Earth: Frozen (#5012)

  700 million years ago, Earth was a giant snowball cloaked in ice from pole to pole. How did life manage to hold on through this deadly deep freeze, find creative ways to bounce back, and thrive in the dramatically different world that emerged?

• Ancient Earth: Life Rising (#5013)

  For billions of years, life teemed in Earth's oceans while the land was desolate and inhospitable. See how life made the leap to land, transforming a barren, rocky landscape into the lush, green world we call home.

• Ancient Earth: Inferno (#5014)

  252 million years ago, a devastating mass extinction wiped out about 90% of all species on Earth. Follow scientists as they piece together evidence to discover how life survived and set the stage for a new dominant life form: the dinosaurs.

• Ancient Earth: Humans (#5015)

  How did Earth give rise to humans? With stunningly realistic animation, witness the asteroid strike that wiped out the dinosaurs, the spread of primates across the planet, and the geologic events that made our species' existence possible.

• Inside China's Tech Boom (#5016)

  The inside story of China's meteoric rise to the forefront of global innovation.

• The Battle to Beat Malaria (#5017)

  Are scientists on the verge of a breakthrough in the fight against malaria, one of humanity's oldest and most devastating plagues? Follow researchers as they develop and test a promising new vaccine on a quest to save millions of lives.

• Lee and Liza's Family Tree (#5018)

  With the help of scientists and genealogists, filmmaker Byron Hurt and his family members search for their ancestors. Follow their journey as they hunt for new details of a history long obscured by the enduring legacy of slavery.

• When Whales Could Walk (#5101)

  Egyptian desert fossils reveal clues to the evolution of the biggest animals on Earth.

• Easter Island Origins (#5102)

  The giant stone heads of Easter Island have inspired theories for centuries. Now, new research reveals intriguing evidence of the origins and inspirations of the ancient Rapanui people who created the iconic monoliths.

• Building The Eiffel Tower (#5103)

  Explore the revolutionary engineering behind Paris's iconic landmark. Completed in 1889, the iron tower smashed the record for the tallest structure on Earth, ushering in a new age of global construction that reached for the skies.

• Hunt for the Oldest Dna (#5104)

  For decades, scientists have tried to unlock the secrets of ancient DNA. Follow the dramatic quest to recover DNA millions of years old and reveal a lost world from before the last Ice Age.

• A.I. Revolution (#5105)

  A.I. tools like ChatGPT seem to think, speak, and create like humans. But what are they really doing? From cancer cures to Terminator-style takeovers, leading experts explore what A.I. can - and can't - do today, and what lies ahead.

• Great American Eclipse (#5106)

  Explore the spectacular cosmic phenomenon of a total solar eclipse.

• Secrets In Your Data (#5107)

  Find out who's using your personal data and what you - and a new kind of web - can do about it.

• Decoding The Universe: Cosmos (#5108)

  How big is the universe? Will it ever end? Why is so much of it made of mysterious dark matter and energy? See how mind-bending discoveries over the past 50 years have revolutionized our understanding of the universe.

• Solar System: Storm Worlds (#5109)

  Out in the solar system, the weather gets wacky - with globe-spanning dust storms, monsoons of liquid methane, and lightning 10 times stronger than here on Earth. Discover the forces driving the dramatic weather on neighboring planets and moons.

• Solar System: Strange Worlds (#5110)

  From a dwarf planet that looks like a deflated football, to a tiny moon with cliffs taller than Mt. Everest, to the spectacular rings of Saturn, discover how the effects of gravity produce the amazing variety of weird worlds in our solar system.

• Solar System: Volcano Worlds (#5111)

  Around our solar system, violent eruptions are shaping distant worlds. Discover the explosive forces that helped create some of the most dynamic worlds in our cosmic neighborhood - and what makes the volcanoes right here on Earth so special.

• Solar System: Icy Worlds (#5112)

  Out in the solar system, ice can get bizarre. Visit strange, frozen worlds - from Uranus's ultra-hot superionic ice, to glaciers of nitrogen ice on Pluto, to carbon dioxide snow on Mars - and discover why the ice here on Earth is so unique.

• Solar System: Wandering Worlds (#5113)

  From meteorites that impact Earth, to a moon that orbits backwards, to an imposter lurking in the asteroid belt, a variety of strange, wandering worlds are rewriting what we know - and even how we think about - our solar system.

• Decoding The Universe: Quantum (#5114)

  When we look at the world at the tiniest scales, the subatomic realm, things get weird - very weird. Welcome to the quantum universe, where particles can spin in two directions at once, observing something changes it, and a thing on one side of the galaxy can instantly affect something on the other, as if the space between them didn't exist. Buckle up for a wild ride through the discoveries that proved all of this to be true and paved the way for the digital technologies we enjoy today - and the powerful quantum sensors and computers of tomorrow.

• Building Stuff: Boost It! (#5115)

  Around the world, engineers are finding ingenious ways to amplify our abilities and senses - allowing us to access and shape the world way beyond our natural abilities. From helping a blind man see without the use of his eyes to building a sling so powerful it can shoot rockets into space, see why engineering just might be the closest thing to a superpower we humans have.

• Building Stuff: Reach It! (#5116)

  From the time our species first evolved, we've been on the move. Not content to stay in one place, we've schemed and invented and built our way from one place to the next. From affordable deep sea subs to flying taxis to next-gen space habitats, see how today's engineers are designing and building creative new ways for us to get all around - and even off - our planet.

• Building Stuff: Change It! (#5117)

  For as long as humans have been around, we've been altering the spaces around us to better suit our needs. From accessing ancient wisdom to build a better water filter to designing a robot that uses acoustics to bring coral reefs back to health, see how today's engineers are applying their craft to reshape the natural world and create new human-made environments to enhance our lives in amazing ways.

• Lost Tombs of Notre Dame (#5118)

  During restoration work after the devastating 2019 fire at Notre Dame de Paris, two lead sarcophaguses were discovered under the cathedral's stone floor. Who is buried in the anonymous sarcophaguses? And what secrets will these lead caskets reveal? Follow a team of archaeologists and historians as they attempt to solve centuries-old mysteries using the latest scientific investigation techniques. What can DNA and chemical analysis of the remains reveal about the history of Notre Dame and those who devoted their lives to it?

• What Are UFOs? (#5201)

  After decades in the shadows, UFOs are being studied seriously. Are they weather balloons, optical illusions, secret military technology? Or something else? Follow scientists as they try to unravel the mystery of the strangest objects in our skies.

• Extreme Airport Engineering (#5202)

  In New York City, a team of elite engineers and construction workers are on a mission to build the ultimate airport. Follow their ups and downs as they race to build a new, world-class LaGuardia on the site of one of America's busiest aviation hubs.

• Dino Birds (#5203)

  Why are birds the only dinosaurs still alive today? Rare fossil discoveries are revealing the secrets of bird evolution, telling the story of how some resilient feathered dinos became the vast array of colorful bird species that fill our skies.

• Egypt's Tombs of Amun (#5204)

  Follow archaeologists as they discover a long-lost ancient cemetery in Egypt's sacred desert. Treasures emerge unlike anything seen by the team, revealing details of a unique period when women had remarkable power.

• Pompeii's Secret Underworld (#5205)

  New archaeological finds in Pompeii are revealing that the city, hailed as a sophisticated jewel of the Roman Empire, hid a very dark side. As the evidence unfolds, a much more complex picture of the fated city comes into view.

• Baltimore Bridge Collapse (#5206)

  On March 26, 2024, a massive container ship plowed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, killing six highway workers. How did the ship lose control? Why did the bridge fail so catastrophically? And how many other bridges around the world are at risk?

• Revolutionary War Weapons (#5207)

  In April 1775, war breaks out in Britain's most troublesome territory. Now the American Colonial Army faces what seems like an impossible challenge - to militarily defeat the world's most powerful nation. We've all heard the stories of pluck and valor, but what really led to Britain's defeat and the birth of the United States? American and British archeologists and historians unpack the real story of technology, innovation, and luck that determined the outcome of key battles - from the Massachusetts militias who fired the first shots to the Naval clashes between British and American ships of the line. This unique film brings the latest science to bear to reveal the hidden history of the Revolutionary War.

• Secrets of the Forest (#5208)

  What would the restoration of Earth's forests mean in the fight against climate change? Follow researchers around the globe as they race to understand how nature processes and responds to carbon on the largest scales and how microorganisms, plants, animals, and humans combine to sustain healthy ecosystems. NOVA's cameras travel to spectacular forest landscapes in Costa Rica, Canada, Brazil, Madagascar, and other places as a global team of scientists gather data on how forests work and try to figure out how they can help tackle the twin threats of climate change and the existential threat of species extinction.

• Critical Condition: Health In Black America (#5209)

  This two-hour feature documentary produced by acclaimed Oscar-nominated filmmaker Stanley Nelson traces the roots of systemic racism in our medical system and the biological impacts of discrimination on the body to understand why Black Americans experience such disproportionately poor health outcomes - and did long before COVID-19 highlighted the devastating health disparities in our country.