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NOVA airs Wednesday nights at 9PM on most PBS stations. See the national schedule or check local listings.

Canada

United States

Northern Mariana Islands

Puerto Rico

American Samoa

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U.S. Virgin Islands

U.S. Minor Outlying Islands

US, US Territories, Canada

General - US & Territories

Albania

Algeria

Andorra

Angola

Antigua and Barbuda

Argentina

Armenia

Australia

Austria

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Central African Republic

Chad

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China

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Congo, (Congo ха Kinshasa)

Congo, (Congo ха Brazzaville)

Costa Rica

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Croatia

Cuba

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Djibouti

Dominica

Dominican Republic

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Eritrea

Estonia

Ethiopia

Fiji

Finland

France

Gabon

Gambia, The

Georgia

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Exclude Pakistan & Afghanistan

Across the Arabian Desert lie colossal, enigmatic structures, some stretching for miles, visible only from the sky. Rediscovered a century ago and once believed to be defensive or ritualistic in nature, new technology is finally uncovering their true purpose and the secrets of the Stone Age people who engineered them. What were these immense, sophisticated constructions used for? Join scientists as they unearth groundbreaking clues, including evidence of a previously unknown culture and their astonishing methods for survival, revealing a monumental story etched into the very stones of the desert. (Premiered October 22, 2025)

Explore mysterious 9,000-year-old Stone Age megastructures found in the Arabian Desert.

Ancient Desert Death Trap

US & Territories

What caused humans to stop roaming and start building? How did we transform from a tiny, fragile population of Homo sapiens into the 8 billion strong, globally interconnected species we are today? Discover pivotal moments that set humanity on a new path – toward cities and modern civilizations. What role did the domestication of plants and animals play in this transformation? And how did the invention of writing begin to reshape how we shared knowledge and organized society? From ancient temples like Göbekli Tepe in Turkey to the Egyptian Empire that built the Pyramids along the banks of the Nile, witness the birth of cities, the dawn of communication, and the inherent human drive to build, connect, and thrive against all odds. (Premiering October 15, 2025 at 9 pm on PBS)

Discover how two revolutionary ancient inventions changed the course of humanity forever.

Human: Building Empires

Journey back to when humans first ventured into the Americas, a world teeming with colossal megafauna and dramatic climate shifts. Witness their ingenious survival tactics against formidable predators, and uncover the mystery of ancient footprints in the desert of White Sands. See how these pioneers transformed from nomads to living in rooted communities, forever altering our world. (Premiered October 8, 2025 at 9 pm on PBS)

Follow ancient humans’ journey into an icy and perilous new land.

Human: Into the Americas

Massive flood going through road and cars

The deadly flash floods in Texas over the 2025 Fourth of July weekend were just the latest reminder of an alarming new reality: Once-rare "superfloods" are striking with unprecedented ferocity, devastating communities around the globe. Join investigators as they piece together a moment-by-moment account of the Asheville, North Carolina disaster in 2024, when Hurricane Helene triggered flash floods and mudslides in a city 2,000 feet above sea level and more than 250 miles inland. Discover how hidden atmospheric phenomena, combined with a warming planet, are creating a new era of risk. Can science offer a lifeline to communities facing an increasingly dangerous future? (Premiering October 29, 2025)

Find out why deadly flash floods are on the rise and how we can protect ourselves from them.

Superfloods

Witness an unprecedented feat of engineering: the construction of the International Space Station, a habitable space lab hurtling around Earth at 17,000 mph. Every step of this ambitious project unfolds against the backdrop of a merciless vacuum, dangerous radiation, and extreme temperatures. Experience high-stakes drama as astronauts confront life-threatening malfunctions, including a toxic ammonia leak during a critical spacewalk. And see how each time, a combination of quick thinking and nerves of steel help the crew survive and thrive in a hostile environment – a testament to international collaboration and the relentless pursuit of scientific discovery. (Episode one of a two-part series, premiering November 5, 2025 at 9 pm on PBS)

Astronauts and Mission Control relive terrifying moments during construction of the ISS.

Operation Space Station: High-Risk Build

International Space Station floating above the Earth

Imagine a place where more than 280 people have defied Earth's gravity, risking their lives to do science 250 miles above us. Here, on the International Space Station, unexpected challenges are a daily threat, from an astronaut's helmet filling with water on a spacewalk, to the entire station spinning out of control. Witness the ingenuity, courage, and international cooperation required to overcome these life-threatening emergencies. And discover how this unique orbiting laboratory continues to push the boundaries of science, uniting humanity in a shared pursuit of knowledge beyond our planet, even as its own incredible journey approaches its fiery conclusion. (Episode two of a two-part series premieres November 12 at 9 pm on PBS.)

See how ingenuity and teamwork keep the crew alive and doing science 250 miles above Earth.

Operation Space Station: Science and Survival

Schedule

Schedule

Upcoming Episodes

Superfloods

Operation Space Station: High-Risk Build

Operation Space Station: Science and Survival

Recent Episodes

Ancient Desert Death Trap

Human: Building Empires

Human: Into the Americas

Upcoming Episodes

Superfloods

Operation Space Station: High-Risk Build

Operation Space Station: Science and Survival

Recent Episodes

Ancient Desert Death Trap

Human: Building Empires

Human: Into the Americas

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