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: S51 E16

53m 40s / TV-G

How Psychedelics Change the Brain

4m 11s

Psychedelics might interact with the brain by turning off the brain’s default mode network and affecting a thin sheet of gray matter called the claustrum. This could shake up communication between different regions of the brain.

Can Psychedelics Cure? Preview

30s

Hallucinogenic drugs—popularly called psychedelics—have been used by human societies for thousands of years. Today, scientists are taking a second look at many of these mind-altering substances – both natural and synthetic – and discovering that they can have profoundly positive clinical impacts, helping patients struggling with a range of afflictions from addiction to depression and PTSD.

How Scientists Developed a Drug to Prevent HIV

3m 5s

Here's how scientists developed a once-a-day pill that reduced the risk of sexually transmitted HIV transmission by 99%, a breakthrough that transformed the course of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Watch the DART Spacecraft Smash into an Asteroid

51s

Could we deflect an asteroid barreling toward Earth? NASA’s DART mission--the first test of its kind--showed that we may be able to knock an asteroid off its path, if we ever need to.

Computers v. Crime Preview

30s

In police departments and courts across the country, artificial intelligence is being used to help decide who is policed, who gets bail, how offenders should be sentenced, and who gets parole. But is it actually making our law enforcement and court systems fairer and more just? This timely investigation digs into the hidden biases, privacy risks, and design flaws of this controversial technology.

Saving Notre Dame’s Iconic Stone Vaulting

2m 53s

The water used to fight a fire at Paris’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral and months of rainwater damaged the Cathedrals’ stonework but a team of geologist have a plan to save it.

Rebuilding Notre Dame

30s

In April 2019, the world watched as a devastating fire almost destroyed Paris’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral. Go behind the scenes with a team of engineers, masons, and timber workers tackling the daunting challenges of restoring the historic landmark.

Saving Venice Preview

30s

Rising seas and sinking land threaten to destroy Venice. Can the city’s new hi-tech flood barrier save it? Discover the innovative projects and feats of engineering designed to stop this historic city from being lost to future generations.

Ending HIV in America Preview

30s

Almost 40 years after the discovery of HIV, could we be on the verge of ending the AIDS epidemic in America? How did scientists tackle one of the most elusive deadly viruses to ever infect humans? Can innovative drugs bring new infections to zero?

The Hidden Cause of Traffic Jams—and How to Solve Them

6m 5s

Some traffic jams seem to happen out of nowhere—it’s not rush hour, no construction, no accidents. These are called phantom traffic jams, generally caused by drivers tapping the brakes on and off. Could autonomous vehicles eliminate these traffic jams, and make our roads safer? Some researchers think so.

The False Promise of Cloning Your Pet

6m 37s

Departed pets can now live on through reproductive cloning. But many owners have been surprised to find that genetics aren’t everything—Fluffy the second turns out to be an animal all its own.

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