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NOVA Season 39 Episodes
Season 39 Episode Guide
16 Episodes 2012 - 2012
Episode 1
Deadliest Volcanoes
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 57 mins
Examining the work of scientists who are studying active volcanoes in an attempt to learn how likely they are to erupt, when eruptions might happen and how deadly they could be.
Episode 2
Bombing Hitler's Dams
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 117 mins
A 1943 Allied raid that employed a revolutionary bouncing bomb to destroy its targets, two gigantic dams in German's industrial heartland, is recalled. Included: the technical challenges of making and dropping such an explosive are replicated with a vintage World War II DC4, an oil drum-sized bomb and a 1:6 scale model of one of the dams.
Episode 3
3D Spies of WWII
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 57 mins
A WWII Allied initiative to locate Nazi rocket bases is recalled. The program brought together experts from British universities and Hollywood to study 3-D stereoscopic photos of German territory that had been shot by specially converted Spitfires. The result: Allied bombing raids that set back the German rocket program and helped ensure the success of the D-Day landings. The episode includes 3-D graphics that recreate what the photo spies saw.
Episode 4
Mystery of a Masterpiece
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 57 mins
Examining the work of art sleuths who tackle "cold-case" art mysteries as well as the criminal market in stolen and fraudulent art. Included: cutting-edge imaging analysis reveals a portrait purchased for $20,000 to be a lost work of Leonardo da Vinci, which revalues the painting at than $100 million.
Episode 5
Ice Age Death Trap
Wed, Feb 1, 2012 57 mins
Archaeologists discover a site in the Rockies that features preserved bones of mammoths, mastodons and other extinct beasts. The find provides a glimpse of life during the Ice Age.
Episode 6
Separating Twins
Wed, Feb 8, 2012 57 mins
The story of conjoined twins Trishna and Krishna, who were left at a Bangladesh orphanage shortly after birth. In 2009, just shy of their third birthdays, they underwent a marathon surgery at an Australian hospital so that they could live separate lives.
Episode 7
Cracking Your Genetic Code
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 57 mins
The ability for people to have their genetic codes analyzed is examined, as are the moral aspects that come with access to such information. Included: a cancer patient who may have cheated death and a cystic fibrosis sufferer who's doing breathing easier because scientists neutralized the genetic abnormalities underlying their conditions.
Episode 8
Hunting the Elements
Wed, Apr 4, 2012 117 mins
New York Times technology reporter David Pogue delves into the periodic table, which consists of the elements that are the building blocks of everything in the universe. Along the way, he explains why some elements, such as gold and platinum, are relatively stable and others, including phosphorus and potassium, are explosive; visits a New Mexico Tech research lab; and joins scientist Theodore Gray for several experiments, including one that combines sodium and chlorine gases.
Episode 9
Deadliest Tornadoes
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 57 mins
The science behind the April 2011 tornado outbreak in the U.S., which saw more than 360 people killed from hundreds of twisters, is examined. Included: what caused the tornadoes; whether the tornado-prediction process can be improved.
Episode 10
Why Ships Sink
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 57 mins
The safety of cruise ships is investigated. Included: the 2012 sinking of the Costa Concordia off the coast of Italy; the 2007 sinking of the Sea Diamond near the Greek island of Santorini; and the 1991 sinking of the Oceanos off the coast of South Africa.
Episode 11
Secrets of the Sun
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 57 mins
Examining the sun, which is 27 million degrees Fahrenheit at its core. Included: spacecraft- and Earth-based telescopes that are enabling scientists to glean information about how the sun works; research that may help scientists predict and track solar storms, which can play havoc with power grids, satellites and air travel.
Episode 12
Secrets of the Viking Sword
Wed, Oct 10, 2012 57 mins
The secrets behind the design and construction of the Vikings' Ulfberht sword, which was made between A.D. 800-1000, are revealed by master blacksmith Ric Furrer, who reverse engineers the sturdy weapon in the Season 40 premiere. Experts have also wondered where the high-carbon steel used in the blade came from, given that it wasn't used elsewhere in Europe at the time. Clues unearthed from Viking graves, however, point to an answer: traders who ventured to Persia or Afghanistan.
Episode 13
Forensics on Trial
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 57 mins
An examination of modern forensic science, which is a far cry from what's presented in crime dramas. Few established scientific standards, no central oversight and poor regulation of examiners have led to many wrongful convictions. Of the more than 200 inmates exonerated by DNA testing since 2000, for instance, more than half were initially found guilty in part due to invalid and/or improperly utilized forensic science. Included: high-tech solutions that could put the real criminals behind bars.
Episode 14
Mystery of Easter Island
Wed, Nov 7, 2012 57 mins
Examining Easter Island, the remote island in the middle of the Pacific that is home to almost 900 giant statues known as moai. How the island, which was once a pristine paradise, devolved into a treeless wasteland is investigated, as is the manner in which the islanders moved the moai.
Episode 15
Ultimate Mars Challenge
Wed, Nov 14, 2012 57 mins
A look at NASA's Curiosity mission to Mars. Included: remarks from Mars Science Laboratory personnel, including chief engineer Rob Manning, chief scientist John Grotzinger, deputy scientist Ashwin Vasavada and mission manager Michael Watkins.
Episode 16
Inside the Megastorm
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 57 mins
Examining Hurricane Sandy, its impact and the future of storm protection. Included: first-person accounts from survivors; remarks from experts and scientists.
