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 Went Wrong on the Dali Before the Baltimore Bridge Collapse

2m 57s

How did the massive container ship Dali drift into Baltimore’s Key Bridge, causing the deadly collapse? Just minutes before impact, the ship suffered two devastating blackouts, causing it to lose steering control and triggering disaster. Investigators piece together the chain of events that led to the catastrophic collapse.

What Caused Baltimore’s Key Bridge to Collapse?

2m 57s

On March 26, 2024, a container ship lost power and veered off course, striking a critical support of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. Engineers explain how a vulnerability in the bridge's design led to a devastating chain reaction, causing the bridge to collapse and blocking the busy Port of Baltimore for eleven weeks.

Baltimore Bridge Collapse Preview

30s

On March 26, 2024, the world collectively gasped as a massive container ship, the Dali, lost control and plowed into the landmark Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The busy four-lane bridge suffered a catastrophic collapse and crashed into the Patapsco River. How did a modern ship lose all power and propulsion? And why did the bridge fail so catastrophically?

This Asteroid Might Make Impact With Earth in 2032

3m 33s

An asteroid is on a collision course with Earth, possibly making impact in 2032. In the unlikely event that Asteroid 2024 YR does strike Earth, it would generate an explosion equal to nearly 8 million tons of TNT. That’s 500 times the power of the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima during WWII. But there’s no cause for alarm: Space agencies estimate there’s about a 2% chance of impact.

This Pompeii Priest Had an Unexpected Rise to Power

2m 58s

In a recently discovered tomb in Pompeii, archeologists made a startling discovery: partially mummified remains. The custom in the Roman Empire was for the dead to be cremated, not buried. The unusual choice reveals a surprising history and one man’s unexpected rise to power. Discover who this mysterious person was, and why did he decided to forgo tradition when he died.

A Brutal Gladiator Fight in Ancient Pompeii

2m 37s

Gladiatorial games were a vital part of ancient Roman life, and in Pompeii, the amphitheater was a stage for both bloodsport and spectacle. But the violence wasn’t always contained to the arena. Discover how tensions between rival towns turned deadly, spilling blood in the streets as the games devolved into a citywide riot.

Pompeii's Secret Underworld Preview

30s

For over two centuries, archaeologists have hailed Pompeii as a sophisticated city at the heart of an advanced ancient civilization. But a series of new excavations is painting a much more complex picture of the city tragically buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE.

Opening a Sealed Egyptian Tomb

2m 38s

Beneath the sand and mud bricks of Egypt, a sealed tomb reveals its secrets for the first time in centuries. As archaeologists carefully break through the entrance, they uncover an unusual vase that doesn’t resemble any known Egyptian artifact - but the most breathtaking discovery is a never-before-seen sculpture.

How the Afterlife Shaped Ancient Egypt

1m 15s

Were ancient Egyptians obsessed with death? That common misconception hides the true relationship between life and death in ancient Egypt. Discover how they thought about death, why they invested so much in life after death, and how their belief in the afterlife shaped Egyptian culture.

The God’s Wife of Amun: Powerful Women in Ancient Egypt

3m 3s

A monument from Ancient Egypt depicts an unusually powerful woman, standing alongside the king. Who was she? Discover the God’s Wife of Amun, a female role with extraordinary power, comparable to the medieval pope and endowed with great wealth.

Egypt's Tombs of Amun Preview

30s

Follow archaeologists as they discover a long lost ancient cemetery in Egypt’s sacred desert. Treasures emerge unlike anything seen by the team, revealing details of a unique period, when women had extraordinary power.

Dino Birds Preview

29s

Why are birds the only dinosaurs still alive today? Rare fossil discoveries are revealing the secrets of bird evolution, telling the story of how some resilient feathered dinos became the vast array of colorful bird species that fill our skies.

How Birds Evolved to Fly (feat. Slow-Mo Baby Birds)

2m 56s

Birds today make flight look effortless, but its evolution was complex. Scientists are still trying to discover exactly how birds took to the skies, and today, a new perspective has emerged by studying how flightless chicks become skilled flyers. With high-speed cameras and careful observation, discover how researchers are gaining insights into the development of bird flight.

How Birds Survived the Dinosaur Apocalypse

2m 48s

Birds are the only dinosaurs still alive today, but how did they survive the asteroid? Most birds were wiped out, along with the rest of the dinosaurs and 75 percent of all life on Earth, but one group of birds made it through. Discover how they endured, and which traits made them resilient in the brutal aftermath of the mass extinction event.

What Are UFOs? Preview

30s

After decades in the shadows, UFOs are being studied seriously. Are they weather balloons, optical illusions, secret military technology? Or something else? Follow scientists as they try to unravel the mystery of the strangest objects in our skies.

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.

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