With the infrared gaze of the Infrared Astronomical Satellite, IRAS, NOVA surveys the cosmos, unveiling a wealth of previously unseen phenomena: comets, stars, galaxies, and other celestial marvels and mysteries.

Nova explores a contentious hypothesis suggesting that all modern humans descend from a limited population of women who inhabited Africa approximately 300,000 years ago.

Pilot error accounts for a significant proportion—between sixty and eighty percent—of commercial airplane accidents. NOVA investigates disturbing cases of pilot negligence and examines the measures airlines are taking to address this critic…

Nova cameras journeyed to Borneo, a dwindling refuge for wild orangutans, where researchers observe the critically endangered apes. The lines of observation are often blurred; it is not always certain who is watching whom.

Half a century after his passing, Sigmund Freud, the originator of psychoanalysis, remains a figure of fervent discussion. *NOVA* explores the complex personality of this enigmatic man and the enduring controversy surrounding his work.

The research vessel *NOVA* journeyed to Antarctica on an urgent scientific mission: to investigate a perplexing void in the Earth’s protective ozone layer.

George Kistiakowsky, a Harvard chemist, embodied a life of remarkable contrasts. He began his career as an anti-Bolshevik soldier in Russia in 1919, later becoming a pivotal figure in the development of the atomic bomb at Los Alamos. He su…

NOVA offers a two-hour retrospective of its most compelling science programming from fourteen seasons. The collection features highlights such as a chimpanzee trained to communicate, footage of a volcanic eruption, and an immersive audio-vi…

Across the globe, agricultural practices increasingly extract from the earth without replenishment. NOVA examines the escalating soil crisis in global farming – a hardship that has already contributed to widespread hunger.

Across the globe, in regions both affluent and impoverished, once-fertile farms are succumbing to desert, a consequence of unsustainable water management. NOVA investigates the origins and potential remedies for this growing environmental c…

NOVA examines the triumphs and tribulations of the American space program in a detailed case study, focusing on the Galileo mission to Jupiter. The program's ambitious endeavor, initially slated for launch in May 1986, remains grounded, its…

What causes stars to explode, and how is such immense energy unleashed? What becomes of the particles scattered across the cosmos in the wake of these events? *Nova: Death of a Star* is a 60-minute science documentary that delves into rare …

Marking the 25th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis, NOVA examines the pivotal role played by spy planes and satellites in this defining moment of history, and their enduring impact on contemporary arms control efforts.

Nature harbors a wealth of powerful compounds, crafted by plants to defend themselves against illness. *NOVA* journeys to the forefront of this vital quest, documenting the race to discover novel medicines within the natural world.

Detroit inventor Stanford Ovshinsky is being compared to Thomas Edison. Across Japanese industries, a sense of anticipation has grown, fueled by the belief that the mind behind amorphous materials – a potentially simpler and more affordable…

Completed in 1914 after three decades of relentless work, the Panama Canal’s construction surpassed even the monumental undertaking of building the pyramids. In this account, historian David McCullough journeys through the canal, illuminati…

Millions live in the shadow of nature’s volatile forces—volcanoes. *NOVA* journeys with scientists pioneering new methods to forecast eruptions and gauge their potential intensity.

Robert Mark, a Princeton professor and author, delves into the hidden engineering marvels behind some of the world's most stunning structures. His investigations encompass iconic landmarks like Notre Dame in Paris, St. Paul's Cathedral in L…

Nova accompanies underwater archaeologists in their exploration of the oldest shipwreck yet recovered: a merchant vessel laden with treasures, dating back to the reign of King Tutankhamun.

From a medieval abbey to a quiet town in Connecticut, a thread of evidence emerges, illuminating the complexities of rheumatoid arthritis—a debilitating condition marked by joint inflammation, for which no cause or remedy remains fully unde…

In NOVA, we journey with archaeologists as they excavate evidence of a long-lost people. These discoveries, dating back approximately 7,000 years, reveal details about a mysterious and sophisticated seafaring culture that once thrived along…