Kara is a digital editor covering the nexus of science, social justice, and the natural world.

Alex Clark is the Digital Video Producer for the NOVA Science Studio. He produces original videos for the program and leads video production training for site coordinators and students. Alex is a video journalist, cinematographer, and instructor of documentary filmmaking and he holds a degree in journalism from Columbia University. He has created TV and digital content for PBS, NBC, and NowThis. A lover of all things science, he produced and co-hosted Vox’s Emmy-nominated YouTube series, Glad You Asked.

Dasia Taylor pictured in a science lab classroom with a microscope

High school senior Dasia Taylor was named a national finalist in the Regeneron Science Talent Search for her invention of color-changing sutures that can detect infection. Image Credit: Science for Society

<p data-block-key="k7wxq">High school scientists dazzled us with their innovations—while new studies revealed insights about math mastery and how we can prepare young people for real-world challenges.</p>

<p data-block-key="r1gt0">High school scientists dazzled us with their innovations—while new studies revealed insights about math mastery and how we can prepare young people for real-world challenges.</p>

NOVA's top science education stories of 2021

Black Hole Animation/NASA/JPL/Caltech.png

This artist's conception illustrates one of the most primitive supermassive black holes known at the core of a young, star-rich galaxy. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

<p data-block-key="hb7i2">Join NOVA for several new events which highlight some of the most surprising characters in the cosmos as seen in the new space series<i> NOVA Universe Revealed</i>.</p>

<p data-block-key="3v0gk">Join NOVA for several new events which highlight some of the most surprising characters in the cosmos as seen in the new space series <i>NOVA Universe Revealed</i>.</p>

Journey into the vastness of space with NOVA Universe Revealed events

Cannabinoid receptors, named after cannabis, are found in nearly every organ in the body. Image Credit: NOVA/GBH

<p data-block-key="kyq4s">Tune in for three cannabis events exploring the nexus of cannabis science and policy.</p>

<p data-block-key="q1wtm">Tune in for three cannabis events exploring the nexus of cannabis science and policy.</p>

Join the cannabis conversation with NOVA

In the NOVA Exoplanet Lab, you'll meet a variety of alien creatures that need your help in finding a new planet to call home.

<p data-block-key="5q76o">You&#x27;ve been selected to be the lead scientist for the NOVA Space Center’s Galactic Resettlement team, with the job of finding suitable exoplanets for displaced aliens desperately seeking new homes. Are you up to the challenge?</p>

<p data-block-key="ao9rs">You&#x27;ve been selected to be the lead scientist for the NOVA Space Center’s Galactic Resettlement team, with the job of finding suitable exoplanets for displaced aliens desperately seeking new homes. Are you up to the challenge?</p>

Search for Exoplanets with the NOVA Exoplanet Lab

A celestial sea of stars. Image Credit: NASA/JPL/Caltech/University of Wisconsin

<p data-block-key="j6szy">The<i> NOVA Universe Revealed</i> Community Outreach Toolkit contains strategies for organizing events around the content of the five-part series as well as examples of hands-on activities and a wide range of multimedia educational resources aligned to the content of each episode.</p>

NOVA Universe Revealed Outreach Toolkit

The cannabis plant contains over 400 chemicals, including the cannabinoids tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive compound, and cannabidiol (CBD). Image Credit: NOVA/GBH

The Cannabis Question Outreach Toolkit and Community Events

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<p data-block-key="up7r5">NOVA Education tailors NOVA&#x27;s digital resources for educators in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Our free educator library is produced according to teaching standards and includes videos, audio segments, lesson plans, and interactives designed to facilitate effective classroom integration. Please let us know how we&#x27;re doing and what you might like to see. NOVA Education is committed to creating digital learning resources that work for you.</p>

NOVA Education supports STEM education and engagement nationwide through the creation of resources from NOVA's broadcast and digital productions.

NOVA Education

<p data-block-key="fbtvz">NOVA Education supports STEM education and engagement nationwide through the creation of resources from NOVA&#x27;s broadcast and digital productions.</p>

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      <p data-block-key="ylu6g"><br/>In 2021, a high schooler invented a beet juice-infused suture thread that changes color when it detects infection in a surgical wound. Adding basketball movements to math instruction boosted mastery and perceived autonomy in students. And a medical student in London developed a visual handbook to provide doctors and patients with a greater range of images to identify skin conditions on darker skin tones. As the year wraps up, the NOVA Education team shares its favorite stories, studies, and resources from 2021.</p>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="ylu6g"><a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/high-schooler-invented-color-changing-sutures-detect-infection-180977345/"><b>Meet the high schooler who invented color-changing sutures to detect infection | Smithsonian Magazine</b></a></p><p data-block-key="785f4">Seventeen-year-old Dasia Taylor was named one of 40 finalists in the Regeneron Science Talent Search for her suture thread that changes color when it detects infection in a wound.</p><p data-block-key="b4ipj">“I found that beets changed color at the perfect pH point,” Taylor told Smithsonian Magazine. “Bright red beet juice turns dark purple at a pH of nine, that&#x27;s perfect for an infected wound.”</p><p data-block-key="d05p8">Taylor was inspired by high tech smart sutures that can sense changes in a wound and send signals to a doctor or patient&#x27;s smartphone. However, realizing that this expensive tech might not be accessible in situations and countries where internet access and mobile technology are limited, Taylor decided to focus on a more equitable solution. Taylor believes this new suture could be particularly useful for quickly identifying surgical infections after Cesarean sections. About 11% of surgical wounds in low- and middle-income countries develop an infection, according to the <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/global-guidelines-for-the-prevention-of-surgical-site-infection-2nd-ed">World Health Organization</a>, compared to 2% to 4% of surgeries in the U.S. Surgical wound infections contribute to U.S. patients spending more than 400,000 extra days in the hospital and cost an additional $10 billion per year.</p><p data-block-key="diqif">Taylor hopes her sutures will help patients and doctors detect infections as early as possible, so they can get medical attention quickly.<br/></p><p data-block-key="b8tl7"><a href="https://www.edutopia.org/article/basketball-mathematics-and-4-other-ways-mix-movement-and-learning"><b>Where movement meets mathematics | Edutopia</b></a></p><p data-block-key="7kbi0">In an effort to make math instruction more active and less sedentary for students, researchers from the University of Copenhagen took their study to the basketball court. Over the course of six weeks, 750 children ranging in age from 7 to 12 years were randomly selected to participate in math sessions either while playing basketball or in a traditional classroom without physical activity. Over the course of the study, researchers measured students’ level of intrinsic motivation—how much they engaged in activities due to sheer enjoyment—and feelings of competence after every lesson using an Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) questionnaire. They found that students who engaged in basketball-based learning experienced significant cognitive and academic benefits including a boost in math mastery, intrinsic motivation, and perceived autonomy compared with peers learning in the classroom without physical activity.<br/></p><p data-block-key="3otqb"><a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210423085727.htm"><b>Teach students to think like da Vinci | ScienceDaily</b></a></p><p data-block-key="3mofe">What if we taught school subjects around common themes like climate change or food security instead of in subject silos? This is exactly what education researchers from the Universities of Cambridge and Edinburgh are recommending. They argue that subjects should not be taught independently of one another. Instead, they propose that the arts and sciences should “teach together” around real-world problems, and in a manner rooted in students&#x27; lived experiences. This builds on the body of research surrounding <a href="https://www.edutopia.org/integrated-studies-history">integrated learning</a>, which educational theorists have been advocating for since the 20th century. However, in most American high schools, subjects remain siloed in <a href="https://casn.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/resource_files/6_Period_Bell_Schedule_May2014.pdf">50-60 minute intervals</a>, with math and reading receiving the bulk of the attention due to their importance in standardized testing.</p><p data-block-key="1il5g">In a STEAM project cited by the researchers students were assigned an art project that connected math to the world around them. The results showed that students engaged deeply with the meaning of mathematical concepts at a level rarely seen in traditional lessons.</p><p data-block-key="dcorv">Inspired by Renaissance intellectuals like Leonardo da Vinci who worked across disciplines, this model also echoes the youth campaign Teach the Future, which aims to break down barriers to teaching climate change.</p>
  

  
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      <p data-block-key="ylu6g"><a href="https://theconversation.com/heroes-villains-biology-3-reasons-comic-books-are-great-science-teachers-143251"><b>Teaching science through superheroes | The Conversation</b></a></p><p data-block-key="1l1ok">Classic comic book characters that are inspired by biology, such as Spider-Man, Ant-Man, and Poison Ivy, can act as educational tools to help students learn about the natural world, writes Caitlyn Forster, a Ph.D. candidate studying bee behavior at the University of Sydney. In this article, Forster examines how comic book superheros can help make biology and other areas of science more intriguing by humanizing scientists and providing visual insights into the life cycles of animals.<br/></p><p data-block-key="db541"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/29/learning/mycowood-violins-a-different-kind-of-time-machine.html"><b>Natalia Araña, 16, from Quezon City, Philippines wins the New York Times’ STEM Writing Contest | The Learning Network</b></a></p><p data-block-key="l35v">The New York Times’ STEM Writing Contest invites students to investigate a STEM-related question, concept, or issue, and explain it to a general audience in 500 words. Natalia Araña was one of the top 11 winners of the annual <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/23/learning/our-2nd-annual-stem-writing-contest.html">STEM Writing Contest</a>. Her story examined why Stradivarius violins are worth millions. For years, many have tried to identify and recreate the “brightness” and “brilliance” emanating from these instruments. In her winning essay, Araña takes readers back in time and reveals the mystery of why this violin’s sound is superior and difficult to replicate: global warming.<br/></p><p data-block-key="cpb9g"><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/confront-science-misinformation-in-your-classroom-with-nova/"><b>Build a strong foundation in science media literacy | NOVA Education</b></a></p><p data-block-key="e6cp0">Analyzing science media can help prepare students to critically engage with scientific issues and give them strategies to evaluate claims they encounter online. New research suggests that without a foundation in science media literacy,<a href="https://ed.stanford.edu/news/national-study-high-school-students-digital-skills-paints-worrying-portrait-stanford"> students might overestimate the validity of scientific statements</a> or be unable to distinguish between evidence-based statements and opinion.<br/></p><p data-block-key="dohki"><a href="https://bit.ly/3rqMmu9"><b>Uncertainty on climate change in textbooks linked to uncertainty in students | ScienceDaily</b></a></p><p data-block-key="9l5h1">The words we use to write about climate change matter. A September study from ​​North Carolina State University suggests textbook wording that portrays climate change information as uncertain leads to a decrease in certainty among middle and high school students, even if they report they already know about climate change and its human causes. However, students’ certainty increased when textbook wording indicated greater certainty. This study has implications for how teachers can prepare students to confront misinformation around climate change. A report from the National Center for Science Education found that 10 states received a grade of D or worse for their standards in climate change education.<br/></p><p data-block-key="64em0"><a href="https://time.com/6074742/angelina-jolie-malone-mukwende-hutano-mind-the-gap/"><b>Medical schools usually don&#x27;t teach how conditions look on different skin tones. Malone Mukwende is trying to change that | TIME</b></a></p><p data-block-key="anrca">When Malone Mukwende started medical school in London, he identified a major health gap: Almost all the images and data used in his classes came from white patients. But medical symptoms for conditions from <a href="https://www.blackandbrownskin.co.uk/mindthegap">fungal infections to meningitis</a> can look different on Black and brown skin, which may lead to misdiagnosis, prolonged hospital stays, and even death. With this in mind, he developed a visual handbook, <a href="https://www.blackandbrownskin.co.uk/">Mind the Gap: A handbook of clinical signs in Black and Brown skin</a>, to provide doctors and patients with a greater range of images to identify conditions on darker skin tones.<br/></p><p data-block-key="5tvgj"><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/texas-winter-storm-uri/"><b>Integrating climate science into energy systems and planning | NOVA Education</b></a></p><p data-block-key="ekrge">Educators have used gaming as a <a href="http://www.gamesandlearning.org/2014/06/09/teachers-on-using-games-in-class/">teaching tool</a> for years. Coupled with real world examples, it can help students think critically about issues that affect their communities and model solutions. In February, Winter Storm Uri left dozens of Texans dead and millions without power—and exposed an aging energy grid unprepared for a changing climate. <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/labs/lab/energy/">NOVA’s Energy Lab</a> game gives students the power to decide their city’s energy future with interactive tools to build a more resilient energy grid in the face of climate change.<br/></p><p data-block-key="b0gue"><a href="https://time.com/5916772/kid-of-the-year-2020/"><b>Kid of the year | TIME</b></a></p><p data-block-key="all7j">At 15 years old, Gitanjali Rao is not your typical teenager. She was named TIME’s first Kid of the Year, out of more than 5,000 nominees. She spoke to Angelina Jolie about her work using technology to tackle issues like <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/poisoned-water/">contaminated drinking water</a>, <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/addiction/">opioid addiction</a>, and cyberbullying, and she’s only getting started. Rao dreams of creating a global community of young innovators to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges.</p>
  

  
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      <p data-block-key="gz2z2">The<i> NOVA Universe Revealed</i> Community Outreach Toolkit contains strategies for organizing events around the content of the five-part series as well as examples of hands-on activities and a wide range of multimedia educational resources aligned to the content of each episode. <br/><b><br/></b><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GzgOy_xp5JESUXBHSNdLvceD-A6ZepQT/view"><b>EXPLORE THE NOVA UNIVERSE REVEALED OUTREACH TOOLKIT</b></a><b><br/></b><br/>Interested in hosting an event around the five-part series? Please complete the form below and include information about the community event you would like to organize. <br/><b><br/></b><a href="https://forms.gle/5fdwvkmdyMJc9TMBA"><b>PROVIDE YOUR EVENT INFORMATION HERE</b></a></p>
  

  
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      <p data-block-key="b28jg"></p><p data-block-key="fd783"></p><p data-block-key="9rvpc"><b>About</b> <b><i>NOVA Universe Revealed<br/></i></b>In this five-part series, NOVA delves into the vastness of space to capture moments of high drama when the universe changed forever. State-of-the-art animation gives us astonishing, photorealistic glimpses of the birth of a star in a stellar nursery, the chaos created as two galaxies collide, and the power of a supermassive black hole as it flings a star across space so violently that it’s still traveling 10 million years later. NOVA even takes viewers back on the ultimate time travel voyage, to witness the birth of space and time itself. Informed by huge advances in scientific understanding, the series brings us face-to-face with the most surprising characters in the cosmos and reveals how their fates are intertwined with our own. Take a ringside seat for the greatest show in the universe.</p><p data-block-key="efrb">Stream <i>NOVA Universe Revealed</i> on the <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/series/nova-universe-revealed/">NOVA website.</a></p>
  

  
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      <p data-block-key="hk4dm"><i>The Cannabis Question</i> Community Outreach Toolkit contains resources for community organizations to engage more deeply with the film and the issues it addresses through screenings and community discussions. These events can engage local scientists, healthcare workers, patients, public officials, and others in conversations that explore the science of cannabis, the risks and benefits of its use, and the impacts of criminalization of cannabis. The toolkit contains a background essay, strategies for planning different formats of events, discussion questions, a social media guide, and more.</p><p data-block-key="2f3iu">If you are interested in hosting an event with the film at your organization, please use the Google Form below to share information about your event with NOVA. We will be in touch to share promotional resources and can promote your event on this page.</p>
  

  
      <h3 data-block-key="hk4dm"><a href="https://forms.gle/DZsrCwujaYM5F34R6">Click here to register community event</a></h3><hr/><h3 data-block-key="5aadr"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iXKNYPMDeoe9eMQI9QHvOcjUiLrwqb4m/view?usp=sharing">Click here to download <i>The Cannabis Question</i> Outreach Toolkit</a></h3>
  

  
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      <p data-block-key="5n9je"><b>About NOVA’s</b> <b><i>The Cannabis Question</i></b></p><p data-block-key="85rgo">NOVA investigates the story of cannabis from the criminalization that has disproportionately harmed communities of color to the latest medical understanding of the plant. What risks does cannabis pose to the developing brain? How much do we know about its potential medical benefits? As cannabis becomes socially accepted, scientists are exploring its long-term health consequences.</p><p data-block-key="ejkqo">Stream <i>The Cannabis Question</i> on the <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/the-cannabis-question/">NOVA website</a> or on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-dxMTDzMLY">NOVA’s YouTube channel</a>.</p>
  

  
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      <p data-block-key="aaq1m">As state-legalized cannabis spreads, NOVA explores its little-known risks and benefits. Join us for three virtual cannabis conversations which explore the intersection of cannabis science and policy. To learn more, register for the events listed below.</p>
  

  
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      <h3 data-block-key="h9h25"><b>Cannabis Genomics and Cannabinoid Genes</b></h3>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="43guq">Wednesday, November 3<br/>6:30pm ET / 3:30pm PT<br/><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6t76R6HQIs"><b>Watch Here</b></a></p>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="s4yvx">What do we know about the cannabis genome and how are cannabis strains related to one another? Join Dr. Daniela Vergara, emerging crops specialist at Cornell University, to discover what the genome can tell us about cannabis strains, their relationship, and the genes associated with CBD &amp; THC production.<br/><br/>Learn more about the risks and benefits of cannabis in NOVA’s <b><i>The Cannabis Question</i></b>, streaming on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-dxMTDzMLY">YouTube</a> and the <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/the-cannabis-question/">NOVA website</a>.</p>
  

  
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      <h3 data-block-key="ik41x"><b>Investigating Medicinal Uses of Cannabis</b></h3>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="lcua4">Tuesday, November 9<br/>6:30pm ET / 3:30pm PT<br/><a href="https://wgbh.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MN3y80omQO2Bp1fAKgppjg"><b>Register Here</b></a></p>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="ds5c3">Cannabis is legal for medicinal use in 38 states, yet it is still unclear how effective cannabis is in treating the wide range of physical and mental health conditions people are using it for. Join Dr. Staci Gruber, director of the Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Core (CCNC) and the Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery (MIND) program at McLean Hospital, to learn about her research with people using medical cannabis for anxiety, chronic pain, and other conditions and discuss new opportunities for medical research on cannabis based on these findings.</p>
  

  
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      <p data-block-key="romlc"><b>Stay tuned for more cannabis conversations highlighting the new series!</b></p>
  

  
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      <p data-block-key="28p0k">Join NOVA for a new season of stellar virtual events which highlight the new five-part series <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/series/nova-universe-revealed/"><b><i>NOVA Universe Revealed.</i></b></a> Take a ringside seat as NOVA captures moments of high drama when the cosmos changed forever and register for the events listed below.</p>
  

  
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      <h3 data-block-key="ru5ow"><b>NOVA Universe Revealed Trivia Night</b></h3>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="dccva">Tuesday, October 26<br/>7pm ET / 4pm PT</p>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="3nnck">Does your knowledge of the cosmos rival the vastness of space? Put your expertise to the test with an all things space trivia night to celebrate the premiere of <i>NOVA Universe Revealed</i>!</p><p data-block-key="9qu4n">Test your knowledge of the universe with questions surrounding exoplanets, stars, the big bang, and more, for a competition that will truly be out of this world. This virtual event will feature opportunities for competition, both individually or as a team.</p><p data-block-key="26cv6">Don&#x27;t miss the premiere of <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/series/nova-universe-revealed/"><b><i>NOVA Universe Revealed</i></b></a> on Wednesday 10/27 at 9/8c on PBS.</p>
  

  
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      <h3 data-block-key="tn46k"><b>The Dynamic Universe: Variable Stars and Their Stories</b></h3>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="tn46k">Wednesday, October 27<br/>1pm ET / 10am PT<b><br/></b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkeNnDLKpFY"><b>Watch Here</b></a></p>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="33v76">Join Dr. Stella Kafka, the CEO and Executive Director of the American Association of Variable Stars Observers (<a href="https://www.aavso.org/"><b>AAVSO</b></a>), as she explains what variable stars are and how to find and record them in the night sky from your home. Tune in to find how our Sun misbehaves, why stars throw up, and if there is such a thing as a &quot;zombie star&quot;!<br/><br/>This event is the first in a series of three virtual field trips highlighting<i> NOVA Universe Revealed</i>. We invite you to join the conversation with your students via the <a href="http://links.nova.wgbh.org/u/click?_t=ec210e94258b4741874e196b0b576467&amp;_m=1k87PxZgEiKulR94H0uKu64PdVLibofL&amp;_e=GBS7ObIR7kN6XqMEbH1bMwncGBigV8TUEs8tr3C67u92_6h-wZZNMq-67FkZI8pzt05dHEthYFCbWGI-VDFjj8m8SV2gr_z5iyI7DTcp5zWVUSExCZE-gdWlf96AOvBO10BSxXcEPDRdVYe_bOLybwNLXnz8VdjCgEJFUMzULxRQECupAxYg2CUNyUgh9as5MkqmbisWDAyWs6lf2cXruXZDEgaCmzxin2gGDNGst0n1E_TzZxjnHug0fFDf_P3DaKK4ou_e2Ye5YvMHosheTw%3D%3D"><b>NOVA Education Facebook page</b></a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/NOVAEducation"><b>YouTube channel</b></a> where we will be streaming the virtual field trips<b>.</b></p>
  

  
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      <h3 data-block-key="d9dg1"><b>NOVA Universe Revealed Segment on All Space Considered</b></h3>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="d9dg1">Friday, November 5<br/>10:30pm ET / 7:30pm PT<br/><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALC7uUIH2P4"><b>Watch Here</b></a></p>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="d9dg1"><i>All Space Considered</i> is a free public program from Griffith Observatory held on the first Friday of every month. The program currently runs online on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/GriffithObservatory">Griffith Observatory&#x27;s official YouTube Channel</a>. This month, Dr. Gibor Basri (UC Berkeley) and Dr. Courtney Dressing (UC Berkeley), featured experts in the new 5-part NOVA series <i>NOVA Universe Revealed</i>, will join the <i>All Space Considered</i> team with topics from <i>Alien Worlds</i> to <i>Black Holes</i>. Join the Observatory’s curatorial staff as they examine and explain the most-talked-about subjects in astronomy and space science.</p>
  

  
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    <iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ALC7uUIH2P4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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      <h3 data-block-key="17xwg"><b>NOVA Universe Revealed National Screening Event</b></h3>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="17xwg">Tuesday, November 16<br/>6pm ET / 3pm PT</p>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="17xwg">Join NOVA for a panel discussion and highlights from the five-part series <i>NOVA Universe Revealed</i> followed by a live audience Q&amp;A.</p><p data-block-key="6opba"><b>Moderator:<br/></b>Dr. Alok Patel, Physician and Host of NOVA Now Podcast</p><p data-block-key="cmsj0"><b>Panelists:</b></p><ul><li data-block-key="8ts3r">Dr. Grant Tremblay, Astrophysicist, Center for Astrophysics | Harvard &amp; Smithsonian</li><li data-block-key="ctqkp">Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi, Astrophysicist &amp; Science Communicator, George Mason University</li><li data-block-key="f55j9">Dr. Anjali Tripathi, Science Ambassador, NASA Exoplanet Exploration Program</li><li data-block-key="al9o">Professor Priyamvada Natarajan, Astrophysicist, Yale University<br/><br/></li></ul>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="824rg"></p><div>
    <iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WfKGQhjBymc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
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      <h3 data-block-key="9bkn4"><b>The James Webb Space Telescope, Go for Launch!</b></h3>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="9bkn4">Wednesday, December 16<br/>1pm ET / 10am PT<br/><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtChf9NmvHc"><b>Watch Here</b></a></p>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="26nkw">Later this month, the James Webb Space Telescope—the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope—will be launched. The James Webb Space Telescope will look backwards in time to find the first galaxies that formed after the Big Bang, trace their evolution into galaxies like our own Milky Way, and connect the formation of stars and planets with the history of our own solar system.</p><p data-block-key="3p2po">Join Jonathan P. Gardner, Deputy Senior Project Scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope, on a virtual field trip where he explains how his team studies the universe as a whole, from its dramatic beginnings in the Big Bang, to the mysterious dark energy that will determine its future!</p>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="9wb4s"></p><div>
    <iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wtChf9NmvHc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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      <h3 data-block-key="o0fzk"><b>Searching for Life on Exoplanets</b></h3>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="o0fzk">Tuesday, January 11<br/>1pm ET / 10am PT<br/><a href="https://wgbh.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KQDwnIWbSpukDvtLYEv04g"><b>Register Here</b></a></p>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="rley4">Over the last few decades, scientists have found thousands of planets beyond our own. Some of those planets might be habitable, and perhaps even inhabited already; but how can we tell?<br/><br/>Clara Sousa-Silva (Center for Astrophysics | Harvard- Smithsonian) looks for signs of life on other planets, using astronomical tools such as spectroscopy to detect the faint signals emitted by potential alien biospheres. In this presentation, she will answer the question: “Would we know life if we saw it?”, drawing on her experience investigating strange molecules on strange planets, such as her recent work trying to detect phosphine on Venus.</p>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="9jss3"></p>
            <figure class="richtext-image full-width">
            <img alt="Exoplanet illustration in a sea of stars" class="richtext-image full-width" height="450" width="800"
            src="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/media/images/Exo_VFT_graphic_1280x720.width-800.png"/>
            <figcaption><div class="credit"></div></figcaption>
            </figure>
            <p data-block-key="cogc6"></p>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="vuauy"><b>Stay tuned for more virtual field trips and screening events highlighting the new series!</b></p>
  

  
      <div class="newsletter"></div>
  



<p data-block-key="7ud77">This collection contains video excerpts from the film, <i>The Cannabis Question</i>, contextualized with teaching tips, discussion questions, and background essays for classroom use.</p>

The Cannabis Question PBS LearningMedia Collection





  
      <div class="related"></div>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="on0vk">As we return to in-person learning in schools across the country, the realities of the pandemic are as complicated as ever. With the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/29/us/delta-100000-covid-patients.html">Delta variant surging</a>, many educators are asking: How can I protect myself and my students? What do I do if any of us are exposed to the virus? What will we do if we have to return to virtual learning?<br/><br/> Public health officials have provided guidance on how<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-guidance.html"> to bring kids back to the classroom safely</a>, and though vaccines are available for children over 12, the transition to the classroom has still been a challenge—one made worse by <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/health-departments/addressing-vaccine-misinformation.html">misinformation and disinformation about COVID-19 vaccines</a> and face masks.</p>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="j4hy3"><a href="https://newslit.org/educators/resources/how-to-know-what-to-trust/">Misinformation</a> is incorrect information that&#x27;s spread without intent to deceive but is inaccurate nonetheless. However, <a href="https://newslit.org/updates/distinguishing-among-news-opinion-and-propaganda/">disinformation</a> is inaccurate information deliberately created and disseminated with malicious intent. The difference comes down to a matter of intent and who is sharing this information and why, according to the News Literacy Project.</p>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="on0vk">Scientific information does not exist in a vacuum of peer-reviewed journals and textbooks. It is shared through news articles, advertisements, and social media platforms by sources that possess differing intentions and levels of expertise. This media can be a powerful resource for teaching material, but it can also confuse students who may not possess the skills to analyze the sources.</p><p data-block-key="39bvl">Over the summer, your students might have come across misinformation surrounding the pandemic, both online and among family and friends. It is important to prepare them to be critical consumers of science content because misinformation is not just distracting, it’s dangerous.</p>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="on0vk"></p>
            <figure class="richtext-image full-width">
            <img alt="Four sixth-grade male students researching a science project on a laptop" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" width="800"
            src="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/media/images/Allison_Shelley_for_EDUimages.width-800.jpg"/>
            <figcaption><p data-block-key="aayee">Without a foundation in science literacy, students might overestimate the validity of scientific statements they read online, or be unable to distinguish between evidence-based statements and opinion. Image Credit: Allison Shelley, EDUimages, CC BY-NC 2.0</p><div class="credit"></div></figcaption>
            </figure>
            <p data-block-key="3ofn7"></p>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="on0vk">Analyzing science media helps prepare students to critically engage with scientific issues by empowering them with strategies to evaluate claims they encounter online. Without a foundation in science media literacy,<a href="https://ed.stanford.edu/news/national-study-high-school-students-digital-skills-paints-worrying-portrait-stanford"> students might overestimate the validity of scientific statements</a> or be unable to distinguish between evidence-based statements and opinion.</p><p data-block-key="dmkrs">NOVA is committed to providing educators with STEM resources that make learning as engaging as possible during an unprecedented time in which back-to-school is anything but back to normal. Whether students are curious about how vaccines work with the immune system or want a deeper understanding of how trust in science and medicine is built, we have put together a collection of resources to help students develop science media literacy skills!</p>
  

  
      <div class="ad"></div>
  

  
      <h3 data-block-key="vdzav">Why Misinformation Matters: from the Coronavirus to the Capitol Riots</h3>
  

  
      <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vqNxR43IGHk" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="wdcvf">In the new digital series,<i> Misinformation Nation</i>, NOVA producer Alex Clark traces misinformation on mask-wearing from internet circles to social media influencers, and back to the CDC. Use this resource to help students identify evidence-based science in media, define misinformation and disinformation, and develop critical thinking skills as they analyze the events and media rhetoric surrounding the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic from multiple perspectives.</p>
  

  
      <h3 data-block-key="00mm8">Fact or CAP? How to Deal With Clickbait</h3>
  

  
      <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OZM1c7EHVNI" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="00mm8">Teach students how to fact check like GBH journalists Alex Clark and Arun Rath using the CAP test! Use this <i>Misinformation Nation</i> resource to help students verify information by checking the source, analyzing the evidence, and processing the purpose. It can also help students identify inaccurate or misleading science and discuss the problematic nature of clickbait.</p>
  

  
      <h3 data-block-key="00mm8">COVID Vaccines &amp; Variants: What will it take to get out of this pandemic?</h3>
  

  
      <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5lacEwwB0g4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="35t3e">With the emergence of new variants of the coronavirus, including Delta, COVID-19​​ continues to spread rapidly across much of the world. In most U.S. states, a surge in cases is reigniting conversations about the country’s response to the pandemic. In this <i>NOVA Now</i> podcast episode, Dr. Alok Patel speaks with a leading epidemiologist and a specialist in infectious diseases to gain perspective on pressing concerns, from vaccine effectiveness and boosters to vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, and inequity at a national and global scale. Use this resource to help students identify credible sources, understand the difference between efficacy and effectiveness, and get up to speed on the latest information about vaccines.</p>
  

  
      <h3 data-block-key="35t3e">Sciencing Out: Building Trust in Science and Medicine</h3>
  

  
      <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ftLFaJGzTqw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="35t3e">Trust can be a delicate matter—especially when it’s related to science and medicine. And when scientific or medical trust is built successfully, outcomes can be life-changing. In the digital series, <i>Sciencing Out</i>, introduce your students to two women science communicators—one historical and one contemporary—to explore how their remarkable work is inspiring future generations of scientists. Use this resource to showcase how public trust in science is built, gained, and kept.</p>
  

  
      <h3 data-block-key="tjisa">Vaccines—Calling the Shots</h3>
  

  
      <p data-block-key="vadwg"></p>
            <figure class="richtext-image full-width"><a href="https://ny.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/nvvs-sci-immunity/immunity-vaccines/" target="_blank">
            <img alt="illustration of Immunity cells ganging up on a flu virus" class="richtext-image full-width" height="300" width="800"
            src="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/media/images/800x300.width-800.png"/></a>
            <figcaption><div class="credit"></div></figcaption>
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      <p data-block-key="tjisa">NOVA&#x27;s <i>Vaccines—Calling the Shots</i> takes viewers around the world to track epidemics, explore the science behind vaccinations, hear from parents wrestling with vaccine-related questions, and shed light on the risks of opting out. This video is one of four (along with “<a href="https://ny.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/nvvs-sci-spox/the-smallpox-vaccine/">The Smallpox Vaccine</a>,” “<a href="https://ny.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/nvvs-sci-herdimmune/herd-immunity/">Herd Immunity</a>,” and “<a href="https://ny.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/nvvs-sci-autism/autism-vaccines/">Autism &amp; Vaccines</a>”) that discuss the history and effects of vaccination. Use these videos to educate students about how the body detects and fights viruses, how vaccines prepare the body to detect future infections, and the impact of vaccination at personal and societal levels.</p>
  

  
      <div class="newsletter"></div>
  



A teacher pointing out an image on a student's iPad

Science educators can use science media as an informal pathway to explore science concepts beyond textbooks. Image Credit: Allison Shelley, EDUimages, CC BY-NC 2.0

<p data-block-key="cb6hs">Prepare students to make informed judgements about the science media they encounter, both online and at home.</p>

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