Science and Nature

NOVA

NOVA brings you stories from the frontlines of science and engineering, answering the big questions of today and tomorrow, from how our ancestors lived, to whether parallel universes exist, to how technology will transform our lives. Visit the official website to watch full-length documentaries, or explore our world through short-form video, on our digital publication NOVA Next.

A.I. Revolution

53m 30s

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.

Episodes

  • Ancient Maya Metropolis: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Ancient Maya Metropolis

    S48 E22 - 53m 31s

    The ancient ancestors of today’s Maya people thrived in large sophisticated cities across Central America for centuries. Why, around 750 CE, did they begin to abandon many of their major cities? Archaeologists investigate dramatic new evidence of the catastrophic droughts and instability that pushed cities beyond their limits.

  • Alaskan Dinosaurs: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Alaskan Dinosaurs

    S48 E21 - 53m 21s

    A team of intrepid paleontologists discovers that dinosaurs thrived in the unlikeliest of places—the cold and dark of winter in the Arctic Circle. How did they survive year-round and raise their young in frigid and dark winter conditions?

  • Butterfly Blueprints: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Butterfly Blueprints

    S48 E20 - 53m 20s

    The hidden scientific secrets of butterflies reveal them to be more inventive and resilient than we ever imagined. Follow their extraordinary life cycle and migrations to tropical rainforests, windswept prairies, and even inside a chrysalis as it’s being spun.

  • High-Risk High-Rise: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    High-Risk High-Rise

    S48 E8 - 52m 36s

    Gleaming symbols of prestige, skyscrapers are an ingenious way to save space in dense urban areas. But even as we devise ways to defend them against fires, wind, and earthquakes, can we also make them more livable, interactive, and eco-friendly?

  • NOVA Universe Revealed: Big Bang: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    NOVA Universe Revealed: Big Bang

    S48 E19 - 53m 16s

    The Big Bang is when the cosmos started and time itself began. With stunning animation based on space telescope images, NOVA winds back the ages to discover new clues about this ultimate genesis and what happened in the universe’s first few seconds.

  • NOVA Universe Revealed: Black Holes: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    NOVA Universe Revealed: Black Holes

    S48 E18 - 53m 16s

    Take a seat on the ultimate thrill ride to explore nature’s strangest and most powerful objects. Discover new science showing how black holes reshape entire galaxies, warp the fabric of space and time, and might even be portals to another universe.

  • NOVA Universe Revealed: Alien Worlds: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    NOVA Universe Revealed: Alien Worlds

    S48 E17 - 53m 17s

    Ultra-sensitive telescopes have transformed alien planet-hunting from science fiction into enthralling hard fact. Join NOVA on a visit to exotic worlds orbiting distant suns to answer an age-old question with thrilling new science: are we alone?

  • NOVA Universe Revealed: Milky Way: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    NOVA Universe Revealed: Milky Way

    S48 E16 - 53m 17s

    Straddling the night sky, the Milky Way reminds us of our place in the galaxy we call home. But what shaped this giant spiral of stars and what will be its destiny? NOVA travels back in time to unlock the turbulent story of our cosmic neighborhood.

  • NOVA Universe Revealed: Age of Stars: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    NOVA Universe Revealed: Age of Stars

    S48 E15 - 53m 17s

    The sun is our life-giving source of light, heat, and energy, and new discoveries are unraveling its epic history. Join NOVA on a spectacular voyage to discover its place in a grand cycle of birth, death and renewal that makes this the age of stars.

  • Edible Insects: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Edible Insects

    S48 E14 - 53m 28s

    From crunchy crickets to nutty fly grubs, NOVA takes a tasty look at insect foods and how they could benefit our health and our warming planet.

  • Arctic Drift: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Arctic Drift

    S48 E13 - 53m 31s

    Join scientists on the biggest Arctic research expedition of all time. Facing hungry polar bears, perilous sea ice cracks, and brutal cold, the team strives to understand the forces that are changing the region—and the world—forever.

  • Particles Unknown: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Particles Unknown

    S48 E12 - 53m 28s

    Outnumbering atoms a billion to one, neutrinos are the universe’s most common yet most elusive and baffling particle. NOVA joins an international team of neutrino hunters whose discoveries may change our understanding of how the universe works.

Extras + Features

  • How to Make Birdwatching More Inclusive: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    How to Make Birdwatching More Inclusive

    S48 - 3m 7s

    New York City Audubon's Christian Cooper shares stories of his early days as a birdwatcher, and offers suggestions on how to get involved in birding and make it more accessible in your community.

  • Sciencing Out: What it Means to Make Information Tangible: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Sciencing Out: What it Means to Make Information Tangible

    S48 - 14m 22s

    In this episode of Sciencing Out, host Reyhaneh Maktoufi introduces you to two of these experts—statistician and pioneer of modern nursing Florence Nightingale, and modern-day data journalist Mona Chalabi, who’s used her illustrations and graphics to visualize everything from how hairy you are to healthcare inequities.

  • Ship That Changed the World Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Ship That Changed the World Preview

    S48 E9 - 29s

    The Age of Exploration and Europe’s imperial colonization of far-off lands was launched by a revolution in ship design that made long-distance voyages practical. A newly discovered 500-year-old wreck offers vital clues to this momentous innovation.

  • A Woman's Journey with Infertility and Adoption: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    A Woman's Journey with Infertility and Adoption

    S48 E5 - 1m 52s

    Mia Fassi’s infertility journey started when she was in her mid-30s. After unsuccessful in vitro treatments, adopting a child felt like an easy transition to consider.

  • Sciencing Out: How Trust in Medicine and Science is Built: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Sciencing Out: How Trust in Medicine and Science is Built

    S48 - 14m 11s

    In the second episode of Sciencing Out, host Reyhaneh Maktoufi introduces us to two women: 18th-century Lady Mary Wortley Montagu and modern-day wildlife conservationist Paula Kahumbu. By dedicating time to build public trust, both Lady Mary and Paula made major positive changes in their communities.

  • You Could Take a Flying Car to Work Someday: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    You Could Take a Flying Car to Work Someday

    S48 E7 - 5m 23s

    As electric vehicle technology takes off—literally—how will the logistics of air traffic work? Watch how NASA researchers are writing the rules that will make air travel via electric vehicles safe.

  • Great Electric Airplane Race Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Great Electric Airplane Race Preview

    S48 E7 - 29s

    Can new emission-free electric planes replace our polluting airliners and revolutionize personal transportation in our cities? NOVA takes a ride in some quiet, energy-efficient, prototypes that are vying for success as electric flight takes off.

  • Hindenburg: The New Evidence Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Hindenburg: The New Evidence Preview

    S48 E6 - 30s

    80 years after the world’s largest airship ignited in a giant fireball, newly discovered footage sparks a reinvestigation of what exactly caused the Hindenburg disaster.

  • Newly Analyzed Footage Helps Solve Hindenburg Mystery: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Newly Analyzed Footage Helps Solve Hindenburg Mystery

    S48 E6 - 6m 45s

    Newly analyzed amateur footage of the crash shows the airship’s final seconds from a fresh angle—allowing historians for the first time to see the airship from nose to tail just after the fire breaks out.

Schedule

  • Image
    NOVA: TVSS: Iconic

    NOVA

    Picture a Scientist

    Friday
    Mar 29

    2 Hours

    Women make up less than one-quarter of the amount of people employed in STEM, and the number is even smaller for women of color.
  • Image
    NOVA: A.I. Revolution: TVSS: Banner-L1

    NOVA

    A.I. Revolution

    Sunday
    Mar 31

    1 Hour

    The power and potential of artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
  • Image
    NOVA: TVSS: Iconic

    NOVA

    Star Chasers of Senegal

    Sunday
    Mar 31

    1 Hour

    Senegalese astronomer Maram Kaire investigates his nation's history of astronomy, which stretches back thousands of years.
  • Image
    NOVA: TVSS: Iconic

    NOVA

    Star Chasers of Senegal

    Sunday
    Mar 31

    1 Hour

    Senegalese astronomer Maram Kaire investigates his nation's history of astronomy, which stretches back thousands of years.
  • Image
    NOVA: A.I. Revolution: TVSS: Banner-L1

    NOVA

    A.I. Revolution

    Sunday
    Mar 31

    1 Hour

    The power and potential of artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
  • Image
    NOVA: TVSS: Iconic

    NOVA

    Picture a Scientist

    Sunday
    Mar 31

    2 Hours

    Women make up less than one-quarter of the amount of people employed in STEM, and the number is even smaller for women of color.
  • Image
    NOVA: A.I. Revolution: TVSS: Banner-L1

    NOVA

    A.I. Revolution

    Sunday
    Mar 31

    1 Hour

    The power and potential of artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
  • Image
    NOVA: TVSS: Iconic

    NOVA

    Star Chasers of Senegal

    Sunday
    Mar 31

    1 Hour

    Senegalese astronomer Maram Kaire investigates his nation's history of astronomy, which stretches back thousands of years.
  • Image
    NOVA: TVSS: Iconic

    NOVA

    Picture a Scientist

    Monday
    Apr 1

    2 Hours

    Women make up less than one-quarter of the amount of people employed in STEM, and the number is even smaller for women of color.
  • Image
    NOVA: A.I. Revolution: TVSS: Banner-L1

    NOVA

    A.I. Revolution

    Tuesday
    Apr 2

    1 Hour

    The power and potential of artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
  • Image
    NOVA: A.I. Revolution: TVSS: Banner-L1

    NOVA

    A.I. Revolution

    Wednesday
    Apr 3

    1 Hour

    The power and potential of artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
  • Image
    NOVA: TVSS: Iconic

    NOVA

    Star Chasers of Senegal

    Wednesday
    Apr 3

    1 Hour

    Senegalese astronomer Maram Kaire investigates his nation's history of astronomy, which stretches back thousands of years.
  • Image
    NOVA: A.I. Revolution: TVSS: Banner-L1

    NOVA

    A.I. Revolution

    Wednesday
    Apr 3

    1 Hour

    The power and potential of artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
  • Image
    NOVA: Great American Eclipse: TVSS: Iconic

    NOVA

    Great American Eclipse

    Wednesday
    Apr 3

    1 Hour

    Scientists prepare new experiments to study the solar eclipse.
  • Image
    NOVA: Great American Eclipse: TVSS: Iconic

    NOVA

    Great American Eclipse

    Wednesday
    Apr 3

    1 Hour

    Scientists prepare new experiments to study the solar eclipse.
  • Image
    NOVA: Secrets of the Forbidden City: TVSS: Iconic

    NOVA

    Secrets of the Forbidden City

    Wednesday
    Apr 3

    1 Hour

    The architectural design of Beijing's ancient complex of palaces and temples enabled it to survive centuries of earthquake shocks.
  • Image
    NOVA: Secrets of the Forbidden City: TVSS: Iconic

    NOVA

    Secrets of the Forbidden City

    Wednesday
    Apr 3

    1 Hour

    The architectural design of Beijing's ancient complex of palaces and temples enabled it to survive centuries of earthquake shocks.
  • Image
    NOVA: Great American Eclipse: TVSS: Iconic

    NOVA

    Great American Eclipse

    Thursday
    Apr 4

    1 Hour

    Scientists prepare new experiments to study the solar eclipse.
  • Image
    NOVA: Great American Eclipse: TVSS: Iconic

    NOVA

    Great American Eclipse

    Thursday
    Apr 4

    1 Hour

    Scientists prepare new experiments to study the solar eclipse.
  • Image
    NOVA: Secrets of the Forbidden City: TVSS: Iconic

    NOVA

    Secrets of the Forbidden City

    Thursday
    Apr 4

    1 Hour

    The architectural design of Beijing's ancient complex of palaces and temples enabled it to survive centuries of earthquake shocks.

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