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.

53m 40s

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.

Ultimate Space Telescope Preview

28s

Follow the dramatic story of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope – the most complex machine ever launched into space – in hopes of peering deeper back in time than ever before and answering some of astronomy’s biggest questions.

Why Distant Galaxies Look Red

3m 40s

The James Webb Space Telescope, a project 30 years in the making, launched in December 2021 and arrived at its destination point in January. The telescope will be able to see further into the infrared part of the spectrum than Hubble, and further back in time.

How Scientists Created JWST's First Test Image

4m 50s

A month after its launch, the next step for the James Webb Space Telescope was to align all 18 of its mirrors. Aligning the 18 mirrors of the James Webb Space Telescope took extreme precision and allowed it to take its first image—a star amongst many galaxies.

NASA Reacts to the James Webb Space Telescope Images

1m 55s

This team of space scientists, visual developers and science writers have been working together since early June processing the images of celestial objects, and the spectra of the atmosphere of an exoplanet, for release to the public, so the world can see what Webb can do. They are the only team members who’ve had the privilege of seeing the images.

This Device Smells Diseases by Imitating a Dog's Nose

4m 43s

By studying dog noses, scientists at MIT are building an electronic nose that is learning to analyze odors to sniff out diseases. Could this tech someday be integrated into smartphones?

Ice Age Footprints Preview

30s

Ancient footprints in New Mexico’s White Sands National Park reveal new evidence of Ice Age humans that walked the land alongside enormous ground sloths and mammoths—thousands of years earlier than archaeologists thought people were in the Americas.

The Crash That Shut Down the Global Economy, Explained

3m 31s

How could one ship shut down the global economy? An investigator shows why the Ever Given crashed into the bank of the Suez Canal, while the Cosco Galaxy—which passed through the waterway on the same day—did not.

Why Ships Crash Preview

29s

When the colossal Ever Given container ship crashed in the Suez Canal in March 2021, international supply chains ground to a halt. How did it happen? Follow the investigation into one of the most expensive shipping disasters ever.

Dinosaur Apocalypse: The Last Day

29s

The search continues for signs of what might have happened on the day the dinosaurs died. Scientists uncover remarkable evidence, including a near perfectly preserved dinosaur leg and what could be pieces of the asteroid itself.

Dinosaur Apocalypse: The New Evidence Preview

29s

In North Dakota, scientists use new fossils to reconstruct what life might have been like just before an asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs. The site reveals remarkable evidence, including the unhatched egg of a pterosaur, a huge flying reptile.

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