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Nova Season 43 Episodes
Season 43 Episode Guide
20 Episodes 2016 - 2016
Episode 1
Secret Tunnel Warfare
Wed, Jan 6, 201653 mins
To avoid trampling historical "World War I trench warfare tunnels" in Belgium archaeologists were brought to clear a path for the construction of a pipeline.
Episode 2
Life's Rocky Start
Wed, Jan 13, 201653 mins
Four and a half billion years ago, the young Earth was a hellish place-a seething chaos of meteorite impacts, volcanoes belching noxious gases, and lightning flashing through a thin, torrid atmosphere. Then, in a process that has puzzled scientists for decades, life emerged. But how? NOVA joins mineralogist Robert Hazen as he journeys around the globe. From an ancient Moroccan market to the Australian Outback, he advances a startling and counterintuitive idea-that the rocks beneath our feet were not only essential to jump-starting life, but that microbial life helped give birth to hundreds of minerals we know and depend on today. It's a theory of the co-evolution of Earth and life that is reshaping the grand-narrative of our planet's story.
Episode 3
Mystery Beneath the Ice
Wed, Jan 20, 201653 mins
What happened to a quarter quadrillion krill and what does it mean for some of our favorite animals; penguins, whales and seals. Scientists are determined to find out if we should relax, worry or panic.
Episode 4
Himalayan Megaquake
Wed, Jan 27, 201653 mins
On April 25, 2015 a devastating earthquake rocked Nepal, wiping out villages and leaving thousands dead. Through eyewitness footage, expert interviews, and stunning graphics, NOVA reveals the anatomy of this megaquake while scientists race to answer urgent questions: Is another big one coming?
Episode 5
Creatures of Light
Wed, Feb 3, 201653 mins
Examination of oceanic creatures that light up, whether to scare predators, lure prey or attract mates. And efforts to harness nature's light to track cancer cells, detect pollution, illuminate cities and map the inner workings of the brain are also examined.
Episode 6
Memory Hackers
Wed, Feb 10, 201653 mins
Memory is the glue that binds our mental lives. But how does it work? Neuroscientists using cutting-edge techniques are exploring the precise molecular mechanisms of memory. By studying a range of individuals ranging-from an 11-year-old whiz-kid, Jake Hausler, who remembers every detail of his life to a woman who had memories implanted-scientists have uncovered a provocative idea.
Episode 7
Iceman Reborn
Wed, Feb 17, 201653 mins
Murdered more than 5,000 years ago, Otzi the Iceman is the oldest human mummy on Earth. Now, newly discovered evidence sheds light not only on this mysterious ancient man, but on the dawn of civilization in Europe.
Episode 8
Rise of the Robots
Wed, Feb 24, 201652 mins
Machines with human-like capabilities have long been the stuff of science fiction. Until now. Meet the world's most advanced humanoid robots as they leave the lab, battle real-world challenges, and endeavor to become part of our everyday lives.
Episode 9
Vikings Unearthed
Wed, Apr 6, 2016113 mins
They were pioneering warriors, expert seafarers, and colonists of the North Atlantic realm. The Vikings even claimed in their sagas to have reached America. Now, renowned archaeologist Sarah Parcak uncovers new clues about their legendary expeditions and settlements.
Episode 10
Can Alzheimer's Be Stopped?
Wed, Apr 13, 201653 mins
Alzheimer's disease ravages the minds of over 40 million victims worldwide. The cause of Alzheimer's disease and whether it can be stopped is one of the greatest medical mysteries of our time. Join courageous patients participating in clinical trials, and then go behind the scenes of the major drug trials to see how researchers target and test therapies that may slow and even prevent Alzheimer's disease.
Episode 11
Wild Ways
Wed, Apr 20, 201652 mins
From Yellowstone to the Yukon, to Southern Africa's elephant highways stretching across five nations, explore how newly established wildlife corridors may offer a glimmer of hope to some of our planet's most cherished-but endangered-species.
Episode 12
Operation Lighthouse Rescue
Wed, May 4, 201653 mins
Engineers work to save historic Gay Head Lighthouse on Martha's Vineyard, which is falling victim to the ocean's erosion of the island's cliffs.
Episode 13
Bombing Hitler's Supergun
Wed, May 11, 201653 mins
Historians and engineers investigate how Allied forces conspired to destroy Hitler's "supergun".
Episode 14
15 Years of Terror
Wed, Sep 7, 201654 mins
Investigate the psychology of a terrorist and examine how radical organizations have grown to make use of modern propaganda and social media tools in order to cultivate an army of self-radicalized killers.
Episode 15
School of the Future
Wed, Sep 14, 2016113 mins
Once the envy of the world, American schools are now in trouble. Can the science of learning- including new insights from neuroscientists, psychologists, and educators-reveal how kids' brains work and tell us which techniques are most likely to engage and inspire growing minds? Teachers, students, parents, and scientists take center stage as NOVA explores a new vision for the School of the Future.
Episode 16
Great Human Odyssey
Wed, Oct 5, 2016113 mins
Numbering no more than a few thousand, tiny groups of intrepid humans began to move out of Africa-eventually dominating the planet. How did these early humans acquire the skills, technology, and talent to thrive in every environment on earth? Takes a global journey through the past, following our ancestors' footsteps out of Africa along a trail of scientific clues to help unravel the mystery of how we got where we are.
Episode 17
Super Tunnel
Wed, Oct 12, 201653 mins
Follow an army of engineers and designers as they tackle the complex challenge of building Crossrail, a massive new subterranean railway deep beneath the streets of London.
Episode 18
Treasures of the Earth: Gems
Wed, Nov 2, 201653 mins
This program explains the formation, chemistry, variations and allure of the most notable gemstones; diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, rubies, jade and opals.
Episode 19
Treasures of the Earth: Metals
Wed, Nov 9, 201653 mins
Metals are crucial to the technologies that are the foundations of our civilization. These are the stories of the metals and alloys that most transformed our live styles: gold, copper, bronze, iron, steel and aluminum with a bit of speculation about the materials that may transform the future.
Episode 20
Treasures of the Earth: Power
Wed, Nov 16, 201653 mins
Drill down to discover the treasures beneath our feet that power our world. Fossil fuels-coal, oil, and natural gas-powered the industrial revolution and allowed us to build a way of life that many cherish today. Personal cars, planes, lights, hot showers-all of these are gifts from our fossil fuels... but they have a dirty dark side in that they are polluting the planet. What is it about these natural resources that has allowed them to fuel our civilization? What secrets are locked in their molecules? Where did that energy come from, and can we find alternative energy resources that come in a cleaner form? The hunt is on for new treasures that might allow us to power our modern way of life without damaging the environment. Join NOVA as we explore the resources that both power and pollute, from modern-day oil prospecting in California, to a mega-city utility company struggling to keep the lights on during hot summer days, to China where an engineer strives to solve one of the greatest obstacles to the success of solar power. Travel the globe to see how our energy treasures are changing-and if they can keep the lights on