How Does a Brain on THC Compare to a Brain on CBD?
A University of Utah study is analyzing the effects that two cannabinoids—psychoactive THC and non-intoxicating CBD—may have on the brain.
Was Eating Insects Key to Human Brain Evolution?
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
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.
Edible Insects Promo
From crunchy crickets to nutty fly grubs, NOVA takes a tasty look at insect foods and how they could benefit our health and our warming planet.
Can this Cuttlefish Pass an Intelligence Test?
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.
MOSAiC Scientists Measure Arctic Sea Ice Volume
Scientists on the most ambitious Arctic research expedition of all time use remote sensing to help determine the volume of the Arctic's sea ice.
The Arctic Jet Stream Affects Global Climate. Here's Why.
A team of scientists explore the skies to learn how the Arctic atmosphere can have global implications.
This Detector Can Catch Cosmic Neutrinos
In Antarctica, scientists have built the largest neutrino detector, which can catch cosmic neutrinos from billions of light-years away.
Arctic Drift Preview
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
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.
Why is Researching Cannabis so Hard?
Cannabis is labeled as a Schedule 1 drug—the same category as heroin and LSD—and, despite being legal in many states, is illegal on a federal level.
CBD Helps Anxiety Patients in a Clinical Trial
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.
Incarcerated for Cannabis: Who's Still in Prison and Why?
The majority of Americans now live in a state or territory where cannabis is legal for medical use. But many people remain incarcerated for cannabis possession.
Cannabis Reverses Brain Aging in Mice
Low doses of THC from cannabis can help older mice learn faster, researchers found. Could it have the same effect in humans?
How Cannabis Affects Teens' Brains
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
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?
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
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
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.
Genetically Modifying Mosquitoes to Reduce their Numbers
In an attempt to reduce the number of disease-carrying mosquitoes in Florida, scientists turn to genetic modification.
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