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: S51 E15

53m 40s / TV-G

Floating Buildings

1m 37s

For generations, the Dutch have regarded the water surrounding them as an enemy, building dams and dykes to fend it off. But with climate scientists predicting sea level rises and increased flooding, some engineers are taking a different approach. Their solution? Floating buildings, which work with the water rather than against it, creating a real-life water world.

Making Stuff Colder Preview

30s

Cold is the new hot in this brave new world. For centuries we've fought it, shunned it, and huddled against it. Cold has always been the enemy of life, but now it may hold the key to a new generation of science and technology that will improve our lives. In "Making Stuff: Colder," David Pogue explores the frontiers of cold science from saving the lives of severe trauma patients to ultracold physic

Making Stuff Safer Preview

30s

The world has always been a dangerous place, so how do we increase our odds of survival? In "Making Stuff: Safer," David Pogue explores the cutting-edge research of scientists and engineers who want to keep us out of harm’s way. Some are countering the threat of natural disasters with new firefighting materials and safer buildings. Others are at work on technologies to thwart terrorist attacks.

Carnivorous Plants and Killer Ants

3m 3s

Gross Science: These flesh-eating plants usually prey on unsuspecting insects. But one species of ant calls this plant home. Watch the drama unfold...through watercolor animation! For media credits, visit: pbs.org/nova/nature/plants-killer-ants.html

RoboBees to the Rescue

2m 24s

Could tiny drones be the pollinators of the future? Credits Animated and Narrated by Anna Rothschild Cinematography by Steve McCarthy Original Footage ©WGBH Educational Foundation 2013 Additional Footage Courtesy Harvard's Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering SLOW MOTION: Flying Hoverfly ©iStockphoto/Schroptschop

16th Century Nose Jobs

2m 19s

Losing one's nose was not completely uncommon in 16th century Europe. To replace their lost sniffers, some brave patients underwent an early form of rhinoplasty, which was performed without antibiotics or anesthesia.

Oklahoma's Deadliest Tornadoes Preview

30s

On May 20, 2013, a ferocious EF5 tornado over a mile wide tore through Moore, Oklahoma, inflicting 24 deaths and obliterating entire neighborhoods. It was the third time an exceptionally violent tornado had struck the city in 14 years. Yet predicting when and where these killer storms will hit still poses a huge challenge. Why was 2011—the worst ever recorded tornado season?

Meteor Strike Preview

2m 26s

A blinding flash of light streaked across the Russian sky, followed by a shuddering blast strong enough to damage buildings and send more than 1,000 people to the hospital. On the morning of February 15, 2013, a 7,000-ton asteroid crashed into the Earth's atmosphere. According to NASA, the Siberian meteor exploded with the power of 30 Hiroshima bombs.

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