Did the scorching summer of 1988 foreshadow a future of escalating crises? NOVA examines the greenhouse effect, a phenomenon signaling hotter temperatures, rising oceans, and a cascade of other environmental calamities.

NOVA turns its attention to Richard Feynman, the scientist, adventurer, safecracker, and captivating storyteller. He is perhaps best known recently for his sharp, incisive questioning as a member of the Presidential Commission investigating…

NOVA explores "chaos," an emerging scientific field that is revealing unexpected order within seemingly random events in the natural world—from meteorological patterns to the complexities of brain activity.

Correspondent Bill Kurtis accompanies NOVA to the Soviet Union for an in-depth investigation of the world’s most devastating nuclear power accident.

In an Idaho classroom, teacher Phil Gerrish offers a surprising perspective on the day's biology lesson. While students record notes, he explains that creationism presents a legitimate scientific account of life's origins. Having once prima…

NOVA delves into the profound significance of the Gulf Stream, examining its influence on marine ecosystems, global climate patterns, and the course of human history.

This two-part series from NOVA delves into the enigma of Easter Island, a remote land in the South Pacific. It seeks to unravel the question that has long captivated scholars: who erected the island's iconic statues, and what motivated thei…

The second installment of this two-part exploration sees NOVA examining whether ancient legends offer insight into the tumultuous past of Easter Island in the South Pacific.

Driven by a blend of scientific rigor and inventive spirit, geoscientists pursue the hidden veins of oil beneath the earth's surface.

Arlo, Nancy, and Janice all face an equal risk – fifty percent – of developing a debilitating nerve disorder. A laboratory test offers the possibility of revealing their fate. Faced with such a choice, would you undergo the examination? Tho…

Judd Hirsch lends his voice to this intimate glimpse beneath the surface of New York City, revealing the essential mechanisms that drive its vibrant existence. The city’s lifeblood – water, electricity, and waste disposal – typically functi…

NOVA offers an intimate glimpse into the current affairs surrounding the former Surgeon General, charting developments with a distinctive behind-the-scenes perspective. The program reveals a man known for his forthright views on contentious…

In a contest to design Chicago's next public library, five architects vie for the favor of the city’s discerning architectural community. *NOVA* examines the merits and shortcomings of each surprisingly diverse proposal.

Though the atomic bomb brought a swift conclusion to World War II, it was radar that quietly secured countless victories on the battlefield. NOVA unveils the little-known history of this pivotal technology during wartime.

Across the globe, biologists prepare to decipher the three billion letters of the human genome – the very blueprint of our being. Meanwhile, ethicists voice cautions about the potential consequences of such profound knowledge.

NOVA scientists investigate hurricanes—those immense, brooding forces poised to devastate countless coastal regions—by deliberately flying directly into their paths. Such intimate studies are intended to yield the data necessary for more ac…

Venice, a city steeped in romance, faces an escalating threat from rising tides and is pinning its hopes on advanced floodgates for salvation. However, environmentalists express concern that these technological defenses could irrevocably da…

The nineteenth century witnessed a sharp clash between East and West, a struggle for dominance in commerce and influence. Ultimately, the West prevailed. NOVA examines the contrasting fates of Japan and China, exploring Japan's subsequent a…

Though the 1988 Yellowstone fire ranks among the most devastating ever recorded, such conflagrations are a recurring element in the natural world’s long history. *NOVA* journeys with researchers investigating the unexpectedly swift resurgen…

In a recreation of a quintessential classroom mystery, *NOVA* follows a group of English schoolboys as they uncover a clandestine Soviet launch facility. This docudrama captures the essence of a classic investigation.