Why are Bats Tolerant of the Diseases They Carry?
Laboratories around the world are mobilizing to find the answers because just how this stealthy nocturnal animal functions remains largely a mystery.
Unique Adaptations may Explain Bats' Resistance to Viruses
The heartbeats of some species of flying bat can reach 1,066 beats per minute. Could this level of activity — unrivaled by any other mammal — help explain bat super immunity?
Bat Superpowers Preview
Bats have been implicated in deadly epidemics such as COVID-19 and Ebola, yet scientists are discovering evidence that they may hold a key to a longer and healthier life. From caves in Thailand and Texas to labs around the globe, NOVA meets the scientists who are decoding the superpowers of the bat.
How Wildfires and Ozone Led to Terrible Air Quality
During summer 2021, cities like New York and Sacramento reported higher-than-normal air pollution — with Denver on Aug. 7 reporting the worst air quality in the world.
What will it take to get out of this pandemic?
In most U.S. states, a surge in cases is reigniting conversations about the country’s response to the pandemic. Dr. Alok Patel speaks with a leading epidemiologist and a specialist in infectious diseases to gain perspective on pressing concerns, from vaccine effectiveness and boosters to vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, and inequity at a national and global scale.
Toxic “Forever Chemicals” Found in Americans' Blood
What makes PFAS chemicals extremely useful — and extremely hard to get rid of — are bonds between carbon and fluorine atoms that are almost impossible to break.
How COVID-19 and Climate Change Affect Breathing
An ornithologist and conservationist shares how the coronavirus pandemic's effects on his ability to breathe has echoed the disproportionate effects of climate change on certain communities
The Science of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena
According to a recent report released by the U.S. government, nearly 150 aerial objects observed between 2004 and 2021 remain unidentified—with the exception of one large deflated balloon. But what if there’s another explanation out there? Could extraterrestrial intelligence explain some sightings? To find out, Dr. Alok Patel explores the possibilities with an astrophysicist and a NASA engineer.
Using Technology to Cope With Drought
With the help of hydrologists and innovators on the ground and in the lab, Dr. Alok Patel learns about the traditional ecological knowledge of the Navajo Nation in the especially hard-hit Southwest. And he speaks with innovators applying advanced technology to agricultural practices, like drone surveillance and artificial intelligence, to prepare for and cope with drought.
How California's Droughts Lead to Other Disasters
Each year, California and the Southwest break new records for droughts and high temperatures, which bring damaging heat waves, wildfires, and even flooding. Learn how these catastrophes operate together—and how engineers are working on new technologies to help us survive.
Preparing for the Pacific Northwest's Next Major Earthquake
An earthquake with a magnitude of 8 or higher hasn’t rumbled beneath the contiguous U.S. in more than 300 years. Now, the Pacific Northwest is due for another "big one."
Clues from the past, along with modern-day science, can help coastal Indigenous communities understand the risks and develop novel mitigation strategies.
Fact or CAP? How to Deal With Clickbait
Why do people make clickbait, and how do we identify false information in it? Sometimes it helps to have a system to ID the CAP.
Can Solar Storms Knock Out Our Power Grid?
Solar storms have the potential to affect our power grid and cause widespread blackouts. Watch how researchers and engineers are working together to make sure that doesn’t happen.
Can Humans Deflect an Asteroid?
NASA is launching a new spacecraft mission, DART, which will test scientists' ability to deflect asteroids at risk of colliding with Earth.
The Science of Exercise—and Getting Back in the Game
We’re stretching it out and exploring the science of exercise and—after more than a year of unexpected interruption—getting back in the game. Dr. Alok Patel checks in with an expert in exercise physiology and an Olympic athlete, biomechanist, and chiropractor.
How to Make Birdwatching More Inclusive
New York City Audubon's Christian Cooper shares stories of his early days as a birdwatcher, and offers suggestions on how to get involved in birding and make it more accessible in your community.
Sciencing Out: What it Means to Make Information Tangible
In this episode of Sciencing Out, host Reyhaneh Maktoufi introduces you to two of these experts—statistician and pioneer of modern nursing Florence Nightingale, and modern-day data journalist Mona Chalabi, who’s used her illustrations and graphics to visualize everything from how hairy you are to healthcare inequities.
Mysterious Bones Found in 500-Year-Old Shipwreck
Underwater archaeologists find mysterious bone fragments in a 500-year-old shipwreck off the coast of Sweden. What could they belong to?
Ship That Changed the World Preview
The Age of Exploration and Europe’s imperial colonization of far-off lands was launched by a revolution in ship design that made long-distance voyages practical. A newly discovered 500-year-old wreck offers vital clues to this momentous innovation.
Sciencing Out: How Trust in Medicine and Science is Built
In the second episode of Sciencing Out, host Reyhaneh Maktoufi introduces us to two women: 18th-century Lady Mary Wortley Montagu and modern-day wildlife conservationist Paula Kahumbu. By dedicating time to build public trust, both Lady Mary and Paula made major positive changes in their communities.
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