NOVA

Science and Nature Series / 24 Seasons

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.

Watch Latest: S52 E8

53m 41s / TV-PG

Was Eating Insects Key to Human Brain Evolution?

3m 32s

Our ancient ancestor Australopithecus likely foraged for termite larvae using tools made from bone. This source of fat could have helped brain development and growth, anthropologists believe.

Insects Make Protein More Efficiently Than Mammals

5m 14s

Unlike mammals—including those we raise to eat—insects can't generate their own body heat. This physiological difference has a major effect on the quantity of resources they need to grow.

Can this Cuttlefish Pass an Intelligence Test?

9m 51s

Following days of training, the cuttlefish is faced with the decision to strike and devour one of two tempting prey: Will it wait for the live crayfish or immediately strike the shrimp? Its intriguing behavior is challenging our understanding of the origins of intelligence.

Arctic Drift Preview

30s

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 Preview

30s

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.

CBD Helps Anxiety Patients in a Clinical Trial

3m 4s

Are the chemical compounds found in cannabis, including CBD, a potential treatment for reducing anxiety? Here's what one clinical study is finding—and the story of one of its patients.

How Cannabis Affects Teens' Brains

3m 28s

To understand the effects cannabis has on the function and development of adolescents' brains, a clinical psychologist performs brain scans on teenagers that use the drug and those that don't.

How Some Parents Brought CBD to Market to Treat Epilepsy

7m 1s

Discover how a group of parents brought a controversial epilepsy treatment — CBD tinctures — to market, and ultimately helped a child reduce how often they got seizures.

What is the Endocannabinoid System?

3m 49s

THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis, binds to receptors in and outside of the brain, causing cells to behave differently. Cannabinoid receptors, named after cannabis, are found in nearly every organ of the human body.

A Veteran's Story of Medical Cannabis Use and Arrest

5m 34s

To manage his post-traumatic stress after serving in Iraq, Sean Worsley got a medical cannabis card in Arizona. Then he and his wife were charged with possession in Alabama, which changed the course of their lives.

The Cannabis Question Preview

30s

As state-legalized cannabis spreads, NOVA investigates the latest scientific evidence for its potential benefits and risks, and how criminalization has disproportionately harmed communities of color.

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