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Inside the Megafire Image

From the front line of the Camp Fire, the deadliest wildfire in California history, NOVA tells the stories of residents who had to flee for their lives during the 2018 fire season. Scientists race to understand what’s behind the rise of record-breaking megafires across the American West take to the forest, and even a fire lab, in search of answers. They investigate how forestry practices, climate change, and the physics of fire itself play a role in the dramatic increase in wildfires in recent decades. (Premiered May 8, 2019)

Scientists investigate what was behind the deadly megafires that swept through California in 2018.

Inside the Megafire

Building the Great Cathedrals Hero

Take a dazzling architectural journey inside those majestic marvels of Gothic architecture, the great cathedrals of Chartres, Beauvais and other European cities. Carved from 100 million pounds of stone, some cathedrals now teeter on the brink of catastrophic collapse. To save them, a team of engineers, architects, art historians, and computer scientists searches the naves, bays, and bell-towers for clues. NOVA investigates the architectural secrets that the cathedral builders used to erect their towering, glass-filled walls and reveals the hidden formulas drawn from the Bible that drove medieval builders ever upward. (Premiered October 19, 2010)

How did medieval engineers construct magnificent skyscrapers of glass and stone?

Building the Great Cathedrals

Saving the Dead Sea image

The Dead Sea is dying: Since 1976, its level has dropped more than 100 feet, leaving its coastline pockmarked with thousands of sinkholes. But after more than a decade of research and debate, scientists, engineers, and political leaders have come up with a daring plan: connect the Red Sea to the Dead Sea by way of a massive desalination plant. If it’s successful, the project could not only revive the sea, but also help ease political tensions and water shortages in the region. NOVA follows this unprecedented endeavor—perhaps the world’s largest water chemistry experiment—as scientists race to save the Dead Sea and bring water to one of the driest regions on Earth. (Premiered April 24, 2019)

Can a daring water engineering project revive the Dead Sea without altering its unique chemistry?

Saving the Dead Sea

NOVA Wonders Can We Make Life? Hero

&quot;It&#x27;s alive!&quot; Since Dr. Frankenstein spoke those famous words, we&#x27;ve been alternately enthralled and terrified by the idea of creating life in the lab. Now, a revolution in genetic engineering and thrilling innovations in synthetic biology are bringing that dream—or nightmare, as the case may be—closer to reality. New tools allow researchers to use cells to create their own DNA and edit it into existing genomes with more ease and less cost than ever before. Along with renewed hopes for treating some genetic diseases, there&#x27;s serious talk of using the newest technologies to bring long-extinct animals back from the dead – like the team hoping to resurrect the woolly mammoth. Science fiction is quickly becoming science fact. Another daring genetic experiment to bioengineer animals could prevent Lyme disease. But the power to make life comes with deep ethical questions. What are the potential rewards—and dangers—of tinkering with nature? NOVA Wonders explores the benefits and the burden of risk surrounding the controversial new technology.

A revolution in gene editing enables scientists to create and edit DNA like never before.

Can We Make Life?

Black Hole Apocalypse Hero

Black holes are the most enigmatic and exotic objects in the universe. They’re also the most powerful, with gravity so strong it can trap light. And they’re destructive, swallowing entire planets, even giant stars. Anything that falls into them vanishes…gone forever. Now, astrophysicists are realizing that black holes may be essential to how our universe evolved—their influence possibly leading to life on Earth and, ultimately, us. In this two-hour special, astrophysicist and author Janna Levin takes viewers on a journey to the frontiers of black hole science. Along the way, we meet leading astronomers and physicists on the verge of finding new answers to provocative questions about these shadowy monsters: Where do they come from? What’s inside? What happens if you fall into one? And what can they tell us about the nature of space, time, and gravity?

Take a mind-blowing voyage to the most powerful and mysterious objects in the universe.

Black Hole Apocalypse

First Face of America Hero

One unlucky day 13,000 years ago, a slight, malnourished teenager missed her footing and tumbled to the bottom of a 100-foot pit deep inside a cave in Mexico’s Yucatán. Rising seas flooded the cave and cut it off from the outside world—until a team of divers chanced upon her nearly complete skeleton in 2007. Intricate detective work reveals that the young woman’s bones are among the earliest known human remains in the Americas. What drove her to venture nearly a mile underground inside a vast cave? Where did her people come from, and why does she look so distinct from today’s Native Americans? From a stunning Mexico cave to the wilderness of the Yukon, from the genetics lab to the forefront of forensics, NOVA pursues tantalizing new clues that are rewriting the story of the forgotten first people who ventured into our continent. (Premiered February 7, 2018)

Discover remains of a 13,000 year-old teenager in an underwater cave in Mexico.

First Face of America

first-horse-warriors

The advent of horse riding was a momentous step in human history. But when and how did our ancestors first learn to master these animals? In a spectacular adventure, NOVA unlocks the mystery on the vast, grassy plains of Kazakhstan, where wild horses still roam free, and nomadic herders follow their traditional way of life. Investigating clues from archaeology and genetics, researchers reveal vivid evidence of the very first horsemen. They also discover warriors who swept across Europe, and turn out to be the ancestors of millions today. (Premiered May 15, 2019)

The advent of horse riding changed the course of human history and the genetic makeup of humankind.

First Horse Warriors

NOVA revolves around a simple premise: the world of science is exciting! For NOVA viewers, science means adventure and exploration--because from ants to aliens, this weekly documentary series probes the far reaches of earth, sea and stars.  NOVA proves that science is neither secret lore nor sacred ritual but rather, at its heart, a lifelong journey of discovery.

Milking a Horse is Harder than You Think Hero

Anthropologist and filmmaker Niobe Thompson attempts to milk a horse, and discovers that the process is a lot more difficult than it sounds. Milking a mother horse, he explains, is all about tricking her. The process begins by having her foal suckle. Then, the foal is taken away and a human rushes in to take its place. But if the mother horse suspects anything is different, things can go awry.

To milk a horse, one must trick a mother horse—and trick her well.

Milking a Horse is Harder than You Think

As Megafires Have Become More Common, So Have Fire Tornadoes Hero

Scientists used to think fire tornadoes were rare, even unlikely, but as megafires become more common, that is no longer the case. Fire tornadoes begin with turbulent, strong winds that send a lopsided current of air into the flames. As the inflow begins to swirl around, the flames themselves become quite organized. Air then streams in faster from the bottom, fanning the flames and strengthening the whirl.

Northern California’s Carr Fire spawned a deadly fire tornado with incredibly powerful winds. But what caused its flames to start spinning?

As Megafires Have Become More Common, So Have Fire Tornadoes

Why Fires Move Faster Up a Hill than Down Hero

Unlike the humans that fight them, wildfires move much faster uphill. On a slope, air rushes in more easily from the downhill than the uphill side. If the slope is sufficiently steep, all of the air may come in from the downhill side, pushing the flames into the slope and putting them in contact with more fuel.

Paradise, California&#x27;s Camp Fire accelerated as it moved uphill. U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists conduct an experiment to discover why.

Why Fires Move Faster Up a Hill than Down

To Save Water, Women in Jordan Learn to Plumb Hero

Many Muslim women are not permitted to be home alone with a male who is not a family member, making it tough to schedule home repairs. Now, in Jordan, billions of gallons of already-scarce water is being lost to leaky pipes. In an effort to take matters into their own hands, many Muslim Jordanian women are learning to do their own plumbing.

In Jordan, households receive water once a week. Can women tackle the country&#x27;s water shortage by learning a new trade?

To Save Water, Women in Jordan Learn to Plumb

Deepfake Videos Are Getting Terrifyingly Real Hero

Deepfakes are an increasingly popular editing technique that uses artificial intelligence to alter faces and voicesin videos. Part of the name comes from the AI used to create them, deep learning. Similar technology has been used in Hollywood for years, but with AI getting better and more accessible, today they’re all over the internet.

Artificially intelligent face swap videos, known as deepfakes, are more sophisticated and accessible than ever.

Deepfake Videos Are Getting Terrifyingly Real

How the Magnus Force Curves Soccer and Baseballs Hero

When a ball traveling through the air is spinning, some physics known as the magnus force kicks in to make it bend or curve. The magnitude of the magnus force depends on the ball’s rate of spin as well as its mass, velocity, radius, and the density of the air around it.

Baseball vs. Soccer: Which sport has the best curves?

How the Magnus Force Curves Soccer and Baseballs

Lost Viking Army

Forty years ago, hundreds of skeletons were unearthed in a mass grave in an English village. Bioarchaeologist Cat Jarman believes these bones are the last remains of the “Great Heathen Army,” a legendary Viking fighting force that invaded England in the ninth century and has long been lost to history. Armed with the latest scientific methods, Cat’s team uncovers extraordinary human stories from the front line, including evidence of women fighters and a lost warrior reunited with his son in death.

Bioarchaeologists investigate a ninth-century mass grave thought to hold a lost Viking army.

Inside Einstein's Mind Hero

On November 25th, 1915, Einstein published his greatest work: general relativity. The theory transformed our understanding of nature’s laws and the entire history of the cosmos, reaching back to the origin of time itself. NOVA tells the inside story of Einstein’s masterpiece. The story begins with the intuitive thought experiments that set Einstein off on his quest and traces the revolution in cosmology that is still playing out in today’s labs and observatories. Discover the simple but powerful ideas at the heart of relativity, illuminating the theory—and Einstein’s brilliance—as never before. From the first spark of an idea to the discovery of the expanding universe, the Big Bang, black holes, and dark energy, NOVA uncovers the inspired insights and brilliant breakthroughs of “the perfect theory.”

Retrace the thought experiments that inspired his theory on the nature of reality.

Inside Einstein's Mind

The Impossible Flight Hero

On March 9, 2015, Solar Impulse II took off from Abu Dhabi on one of the greatest aviation adventures of our time: the first solar-powered flight around the world. Together with a team of brilliant engineers, two visionary pilots—Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg—designed and built Solar Impulse from scratch, even though top airplane manufacturers told them it would be “impossible to control.” To pull it off, they had to re-invent everything, from innovative solar cells and batteries to massive carbon-fiber wings. Despite all their efforts, the performance of the plane was balanced on a knife-edge, demanding near-perfect weather conditions and hour after hour of vigilant, skillful piloting. The longest nonstop leg, from Japan to Hawaii, lasted five days and set a new world solo flight record. NOVA captures an insider’s view of the Solar Impulse pilots and ground team as they experience moments of hair-raising crisis, remarkable endurance, and ingenious problem-solving.

For the first time, two intrepid pilots fly a solar-powered airplane around the world.

The Impossible Flight

Asteroid: Doomsday or Payday? Hero

The asteroid that exploded 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, these space rocks 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. Some asteroids are loaded with billions of dollars&#x27; worth of elements like iron, nickel, and platinum. NASA is planning an ambitious mission to return samples from a potentially hazardous asteroid, and 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? (Premiered November 20, 2013)

Will future asteroids trigger massive extinctions—or be mined for precious minerals?

Asteroid: Doomsday or Payday?

First Man on the Moon Hero

Everyone knows Neil Armstrong was the first to set foot on the moon. But this modest and unassuming man was determined to stay out of the spotlight. Now, for the first time, NOVA presents an intimate portrait of Armstrong through interviews with his family and friends, many of whom have never spoken publicly before. Discover and relive Armstrong&#x27;s achievements before and after Apollo, from his time as a Navy combat veteran and later as a pioneer of high-speed flight to his leading role in the inquiry into the Challenger disaster and his efforts to encourage young people to take to the skies. Along the way, we learn how Armstrong&#x27;s life became the inspiring story of heroic risk-taking and humble dedication that ultimately advanced humanity&#x27;s adventure in space.

He risked his life for the nation and became a world icon, but who was Neil Armstrong?

First Man on the Moon

Back to the Moon

On the 50th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 Moon landing, NOVA looks ahead to the hoped-for dawn of a new age in lunar exploration. This time, governments and private industry are working together to reach our nearest celestial neighbor. But why go back? The Moon can serve as a platform for basic astronomical research; as an abundant source of rare metals and hydrogen fuel; and ultimately as a stepping stone for human missions to Mars and beyond. Join the next generation of engineers that aim to take us to the Moon, and discover how our legacy of lunar exploration won&#x27;t be confined to the history books for long. (Premiering July 10 at 8 pm on PBS)

Discover why scientists and entrepreneurs alike have their sights set on the Moon once again.

apollo-daring-mission-img.jpg

Apollo astronauts and engineers tell the inside story of Apollo 8, the first manned mission to the moon. The U.S. space program suffered a bitter setback when Apollo 1 ended in a deadly fire during a pre-launch run-through. In disarray, and threatened by the prospect of a Soviet Union victory in the space race, NASA decided upon a radical and risky change of plan: turn Apollo 8 from an earth-orbit mission into a daring sprint to the moon while relying on untried new technologies. Fifty years after the historic mission, the Apollo 8 astronauts and engineers recount the feats of engineering that paved the way to the moon. (Premiered December 26, 2018)

Apollo astronauts and engineers tell the inside story of the first manned mission to the moon.

Apollo's Daring Mission

The Planets - Overview

Among the stars in the night sky wander the eight-plus worlds of our own solar system—each home to truly awe-inspiring sights. Volcanoes three times higher than Everest, geysers erupting with icy plumes, cyclones larger than Earth lasting hundreds of years. Each of our celestial neighbors has a distinct personality and a unique story. In this five-part series, NOVA will explore the awesome beauty of “The Planets,” including Saturn’s 175,000-mile-wide rings, Mars’ ancient waterfalls four times the size of any found on Earth, and Neptune’s winds—12 times stronger than any hurricane felt on our planet. Using unique special effects and extraordinary footage captured by orbiters, landers and rovers, we’ll treat viewers to an up-close look at these faraway worlds. We’ll stand on the dark side of Pluto, lit only by the reflected light of its moons, watch the sun set over an ancient Martian waterfall, and witness a storm twice the size of Earth from high above Saturn. And, we’ll reveal how each of them has affected our own planet: Earth. (A five-part series premiering July 24, 2019 at 9 pm on PBS)

The life of our solar system told in five dramatic stories spanning billions of years.

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Hero Area

First Horse Warriors

Upcoming Schedule

Lost Viking Army

Inside Einstein's Mind

The Impossible Flight

Episodes

Inside the Megafire

Building the Great Cathedrals

Saving the Dead Sea

Can We Make Life?

Black Hole Apocalypse

First Face of America

Shorts

Milking a Horse is Harder than You Think

As Megafires Have Become More Common, So Have Fire Tornadoes

Why Fires Move Faster Up a Hill than Down

To Save Water, Women in Jordan Learn to Plumb

Deepfake Videos Are Getting Terrifyingly Real

How the Magnus Force Curves Soccer and Baseballs

Watch Page

Hero Area

First Horse Warriors

Upcoming Schedule

Lost Viking Army

Inside Einstein's Mind

The Impossible Flight

Episodes

Inside the Megafire

Building the Great Cathedrals

Saving the Dead Sea

Can We Make Life?

Black Hole Apocalypse

First Face of America

NOVA Newsletter Signup

Follow NOVA on Facebook

Shorts

Milking a Horse is Harder than You Think

As Megafires Have Become More Common, So Have Fire Tornadoes

Why Fires Move Faster Up a Hill than Down

To Save Water, Women in Jordan Learn to Plumb

Deepfake Videos Are Getting Terrifyingly Real

How the Magnus Force Curves Soccer and Baseballs