Nova Season 36 Episodes

Episode 1

The Incredible Journey of the Butterflies

Tue, Jan 27, 200955 mins

NOVA flies along with the monarch butterflies, visiting the spectacular locations they call home and meeting the dangers they encounter along the way.

Episode 2

The Spy Factory

Tue, Feb 3, 200955 mins

Nova examines the clandestine practices of the National Security Agency and investigates changes in the Agency that are the result of 9/11.

Episode 3

Rat Attack

Tue, Feb 24, 200955 mins

Every 48 years, swarms of rodents invade homes and attack crops in the northeastern Indian state of Mizoram. Nova follows investigators as they try to determine why.

Episode 4

Extreme Ice

Tue, Mar 24, 200955 mins

Nova offers a glimpse at the breathtaking wonders of the extreme North. The time-lapsed images collected by photojournalist James Balog show the alarming effects of climate change.

Episode 5

Megabeasts' Sudden Death

Tue, Mar 31, 200953 mins

Thirteen thousand years ago a great tragedy in North American history caused the extinction of 35 species of large mammals. Scientists are divided on whether the cause was climate change or human predation. Nova follows the investigation of the evidence supporting a third controversial hypothesis; comet impact.

Episode 6

Doctors' Diaries: Part One

Tue, Apr 7, 2009107 mins

NOVA returns one last time to get an update on the seven doctors they've documented since 1987.

Episode 7

Doctors' Diaries: Part Two

Tue, Apr 14, 2009

Episode 8

Musical Minds

Tue, Jun 30, 2009

Episode 10

Darwin's Darkest Hour

Tue, Oct 6, 2009104 mins

Charles Darwin is taken aback when he receives a manuscript from a colleague, Alfred Wallace, which contains many of the same conclusions as he on evolution and the development of various species. Darwin's theory was developed over a great many years and in flashbacks, the manner in which it developed is shown. He had many supporters and likely more critics. He knew that his ideas were radical and that they would conflict with religious thought on the subject of creation. In reviewing his thoughts however, he realizes that he can without much difficulty claim to have been the first to develop the theory. These events spur him on to publish his findings in his now famous book.

Episode 11

Hubble's Amazing Rescue

Tue, Oct 13, 200960 mins

Nova takes an inside look at space shuttle mission STS-125 and the efforts to service the almost two decade old Hubble Space telescope.

Episode 12

Lizard Kings

Tue, Oct 20, 200943 mins

This program reviews the monitor lizard genus which, dispute the incredible diversity between species, share common traits such as the ability to count, that lead biologists to peg them as the most evolutionarily advanced of the lizards. Dr. Eric Pianka, who studied lizards for forty years in Australia, serves as guide. Program concludes with the customary, trite comment on human impact on climate change and the environment.

Episode 13

Becoming Human: First Steps

Tue, Nov 3, 200954 mins

Nova examines the early ancestors of mankind and considers whether climate change was the driving force behind our early evolution.

Episode 14

Becoming Human: Birth of Humanity

Tue, Nov 10, 200954 mins

Nova examines the ancestors of man by attempting to to reconstruct what they look like, what tools they used, and how they lived. Special focus is given to Homo erectus.

Episode 15

Becoming Human: Last Human Standing

Tue, Nov 17, 200954 mins

Nova examines the early ancestors of mankind and examines why Homo sapiens won out over Neanderthals in the evolutionary race.

Episode 16

What Are Dreams?

Tue, Nov 24, 200952 mins

To sleep researchers the various aspects of sleep and dreams make no sense unless they have a purpose. What that purpose is is fertile ground for research, speculation and disagreement. This program presents the ideas and research methods of several active sleep researchers.

Episode 17

What Darwin Never Knew

Tue, Dec 29, 2009113 mins

A look at Charles Darwin, his book On The Origin of Species, and how his theory of evolution is explained. It includes Darwin's observations through work on the Human Genome Project.