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 E6

53m 32s

What You’re Probably Seeing If You Spot a UFO

2m 17s

When you spot a UFO, are you really seeing something unknown? You can actually see things in Earth's orbit like weather balloons, the International Space Station, and a 60-satellite system called Starlink. Technology has created more clutter in the sky — and a much greater chance for us to misinterpret what we're seeing.

Area 51: UFO Sightings and an Infamous Government Cover-Up

2m 35s

For decades, rumors of alien spacecraft at Area 51 have captivated the public imagination. In what is now known as one of the most infamous government cover-ups, an absence of information fueled wild speculation. Discover how UFO stories may have served as a convenient smokescreen for secret testing of advanced military technology.

Is the Government Hiding Information on UFOs?

1m 3s

The government does keep secrets about aerospace technology, but are those linked to UFO sightings? How much do they really know? With growing concerns about national security and more citizen sightings of unidentified objects in our airspace, the need to identify these unknown objects is greater than ever before.

The Physics of Breaking, a New Olympic Sport

1m 19s

The 2024 Olympics in Paris debuted a new sport: breaking (also known as breakdancing, but don't call it that). Here are three moves that appear to defy the laws of physics, and how they work.

What Happens to Your Body During a Speed Eating Competition?

5m 16s

Competitive eaters train to stretch their stomachs far beyond normal limits, allowing them to consume massive amounts of food in minutes. But this extreme practice takes a toll on the body. Here’s how they do it - and what happens inside their bodies.

Who is the Mystery Man Buried Under Notre Dame?

3m

A mysterious coffin found beneath the damaged floor of Notre Dame is full of unexpected discoveries. The lead sarcophagus appears to have been moved and there are no identifying markers. Who is the John Doe buried inside? Follow scientists on a forensic journey as they collect enamel from the teeth and a few grams of bone to try to discover the identity of the mystery man buried under Notre Dame.

Lost Tombs of Notre Dame Preview

30s

After the Notre Dame fire in 2019, two mysterious coffins were found buried beneath its floor. Where did they come from and who was inside? Follow scientists and historians as they investigate what their stories reveal about this iconic cathedral.

The $8 Billion Overhaul of LaGuardia Airport: Engineering a New Era

2m 12s

The redevelopment of LaGuardia was nothing short of remarkable: almost every aspect of the airport was renovated while flights were still coming and going, and architects took special care to future-proof their work through innovative and forward-thinking designs. Over the course of 8 years, engineers rebuilt Terminals B&C, constructed two massive pedestrian walkways, and made key improvements.

Extreme Airport Engineering Preview

30s

In New York City, a team of elite engineers and construction workers are on a mission to build the ultimate airport. Follow their ups and downs as they race to build a new, world-class LaGuardia on the site of one of America’s busiest aviation hubs.

What Happens to Your Checked Bag at the Airport?

2m 34s

Have you ever wondered what happens to your checked bag at an airport? At LaGuardia Airport, their new, state-of-the-art tracking system was designed to process 40 million bags a year— up to 6,000 bags every hour. Discover how this ingenious system works.

Building Stuff: Reach It! Preview

30s

Born to explore, we’re constantly inventing new ways to go beyond our comfort zones. From deep sea subs to next-gen space habitats, see how engineers are building the tools humans need to go where we’ve never gone before.

Creating a Robotic Double Dutch Machine

5m 8s

Double Dutch is a jump rope game that requires two people spinning ropes in opposite directions and at least one person to jump. Engineers Tahira Reid Smith and Sky Leilani are building a machine that would allow a single person to play whenever they wanted.

Building Stuff: Boost It! Preview

30s

How are leading innovators supercharging our natural abilities? From slingshots that can throw rockets into space to the latest in artificial sight, see how engineers are amplifying the human body’s powers.

Decoding the Universe: Quantum Preview

30s

When we look at the world at the tiniest scales, things get very weird. Take a wild ride through the quantum world, from the discoveries that reveal its strange rules to the amazing technologies it unlocks – with more powerful possibilities to come.

How Atomic Clocks Keep Perfect Time

2m 15s

Modern timekeeping relies on the accuracy of atomic clocks, which revolutionized timekeeping by using the quantum behavior of atoms to measure time. Discover how these incredibly precise clocks work, and how they ensure global synchronization in everything from GPS to scientific research.

The Most Baffling Idea in Physics, Explained

3m 33s

Quantum entanglement is one of the strangest and most fascinating phenomena in physics. Even Einstein didn’t believe it - he called it “spooky action at a distance” - but science has proven it true. Here’s a simple explanation of the most baffling concept in physics.

How Medieval Armorers Made Knights Bulletproof

2m 15s

A select few suits of armor were crafted with secret techniques that made them stronger than others, possibly even bulletproof. Historians and ballistics experts reconstructed the amor of an elite knight and tested its strength by shooting it with a musket.

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