Galileo and the Telescope
Galileo’s early uses for the telescope weren’t so scientific, says historian of science Jim Bennett.
Search Results
Sort By:
- Audio
- Format:
- Audio Story
Galileo and the Telescope
Galileo’s observations of the night sky in the early 1600s confirmed a new model of the universe, in which the Earth orbited the sun—and not the other way around, as his contemporaries believed. But before he was studying the universe, Galileo was working on practical problems, and his early uses for the telescope weren’t so scientific, says science historian Jim Bennett.
- Audio
- Format:
- Audio Story
The Risks of Automated Flight
Most passenger jets today fly under computer control, at least to some extent. Usually, those computers make flying safer. But like any machine, they can sometimes break down, leading, in rare cases, to major accidents. In this interview, aviation expert Bill Voss explains why he thinks airlines should put more emphasis on solving computer automation problems during pilot training.
The Risks of Automated Flight
Aviation safety expert Bill Voss thinks airlines should change the way they train pilots.
- Audio
- Format:
- Audio Story
When Lightning Strikes Aircraft
After the crash of Air France Flight 447 in 2009, widespread debate appeared on the Internet about whether a lightning strike could have brought the plane down. Just how dangerous is lightning to an aircraft in flight?
When Lightning Strikes Aircraft
An aviation safety expert and a veteran airline pilot weigh in on the effects of lightning strikes during flight.
- Audio
- Format:
- Audio Story
Solar Sails
Some future spacecraft may not be propelled by rockets. If NASA engineer Dean Alhorn has his way, they'll be powered by solar sails—big silver kites in space that are pushed along by the sun's rays.
Solar Sails
NASA engineer Dean Alhorn says that some future spacecraft may be propelled by the sun’s rays.
- Audio
- Format:
- Audio Story
The Psychology of Spaceflight
Long-term isolation is something that Al Holland deals with every day. Holland is a psychologist for NASA and supports astronauts who work on the International Space Station in six-month rotations. In this interview, he tells NOVA about some of the mental challenges a crew would face during a mission to Mars—a trip that could take more than three years to complete.
The Psychology of Spaceflight
NASA psychologist Al Holland says that a three-year return trip to Mars would be a mental challenge for any astronaut.
- Audio
- Format:
- Audio Story
A Mission To Mars
As the second person to set foot on the moon, Buzz Aldrin knows a thing or two about visiting other planetary bodies. He's dismayed by the fact that astronauts haven't ventured farther than our closest celestial neighbor and wants to put humans permanently on Mars. In this interview, hear his ideas on how and why he thinks it should be done.
A Mission To Mars
Former astronaut Buzz Aldrin says that a human presence on Mars is inevitable.
- Audio
- Format:
- Audio Story
Better Forecasts for Aircraft
To keep airline flights safe, it's essential to give pilots and air traffic controllers accurate forecasts. That's not much of a problem over land, but over the ocean, a lack of surface weather sensors makes it a challenge. Engineer Bruce Carmichael from the National Center for Atmospheric Research thinks new supercomputer-based forecasting technology could help.
Better Forecasts for Aircraft
Could new weather forecasting technology make flights over oceans safer?
- Audio
- Format:
- Audio Story
In Defense of Pluto
Planetary scientist Alan Stern, director of NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto, makes a case for why Pluto deserves to be categorized as a planet. Stern says that Pluto not only meets what astronomers call the "geophysical planetary definition" but also passes the "Star Trek test."
In Defense of Pluto
Alan Stern, head of NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto, stands up for the little guy.
- Audio
- Format:
- Audio Story
Notes From the Pluto Files
To make their program "The Pluto Files," Neil deGrasse Tyson and NOVA producer Terri Randall took a trip from Boston to California, tracing the history of Pluto. Along the way, they met the family of Clyde Tombaugh, the man who discovered Pluto in 1930. In this podcast, Neil talks to Terri about their experience.
Notes From the Pluto Files
Neil deGrasse Tyson describes what it was like to meet Clyde Tombaugh's family and other people passionate about Pluto.
- Audio
- Format:
- Audio Story
Back to the Moon
If LCROSS were to find water on the moon, it may pave the way for our return there. But why would we want to go back? In this audio podcast, David Morrison, interim director of NASA's Lunar Science Institute, argues that we are a "multi-planet" species, and the moon could be a stepping-stone to the rest of the solar system, including Mars.
Back to the Moon
Hear David Morrison of NASA's Lunar Science Institute explain why we need to return to the moon.
- Audio
- Format:
- Audio Story
The Insider Who Knew
Hear Rodney Rocha, a chief structural engineer in the Space Shuttle program, describe the tense days leading up to the Columbia disaster. Rocha, who had reviewed videos of the launch, feared that the craft might be vulnerable upon reentry.
The Insider Who Knew
NASA engineer Rodney Rocha, whose warnings about the Space Shuttle Columbia went unheeded, looks back at the disaster.
- Audio
- Format:
- Audio Story
Eavesdropping on ET
Seth Shostak, Senior Astronomer at the SETI Institute, thinks it's just a matter of time before we find evidence of other intelligent life in the universe. Learn how he and other astronomers are conducting the search using radio telescopes, and why he thinks there's nothing odd about the endeavor.
Eavesdropping on ET
SETI astronomer Seth Shostak holds out hope that we will one day receive a signal from afar.
Narrow Results
Add filters to refine your search
NOVA Topics
Media Type
Subjects
- Earth Science (2)
- Engineering (5)
- Health Science (1)
- History (5)
- Science & Society (3)
- Space Science (10)
- Technology (12)
Format
- Audio Story (16)
Year
Haven't found what you're looking for on NOVA beta? Search all
