Nova chronicles the century-long legacy of mining pollution, a blight that continues to taint the pristine waters of the Rocky Mountain states. Adding to the strain on the West’s already limited water resources are acid rain and the demands…

With some of the largest machines ever constructed, physicists from America and Europe are engaged in a fervent pursuit: to uncover one of nature's most fundamental and stubbornly hidden constituents – the top quark.

A half-century after efforts to outlaw them, chemical weapons represent a growing danger. NOVA examines the challenge of containing substances readily manufactured and devastatingly potent.

In eastern Washington state, the Hanford Nuclear Reservation presents a stark and troubling challenge. NOVA investigates the escalating crisis of nuclear waste there, a consequence of four and a half decades of inadequate management within …

NOVA examines the Exxon Valdez oil spill of the previous year from a perspective largely untouched by previous reporting: the failures of technology in preventing, containing, and ultimately remediating the Alaskan catastrophe.

In the 13th century, China stood as the world's wealthiest, most influential, and technologically sophisticated civilization. This exploration by NOVA examines the factors that propelled China to such prominence, and the internal dynamics o…

NOVA explores the remarkable shift that drove Europe's expansion across the globe between the 15th and 18th centuries, a period in stark contrast to China's self-contained existence. This is the second installment in a four-part exploration…

Have you ever considered the curious path of unwanted mail? NOVA delves into the concealed mechanisms of direct marketing, revealing the extent to which advertisers possess knowledge of our lives.

NOVA chronicles China’s protracted journey toward economic and technological parity with the West, a path marked by recurring obstacles, most notably the 1989 suppression of pro-democracy protests in Beijing. This is the fourth installment …

The documentary recounts the remarkable story of an ordinary systems administrator who unexpectedly uncovered a clandestine KGB operation. Clifford Stoll, in a pioneering feat of digital investigation, traced the movements of Markus Hess, a…

Voyager 1 took twelve years to reach Neptune, a world shrouded in mystery at the solar system's distant edge. Explore the wonders surrounding this vast, azure planet, guided by host Patrick Stewart.

NOVA charts the course of the Voyager space mission, a journey from our planet to the farthest reaches of the solar system. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and countless moons feature in this grand expedition of discovery. The program is hosted by…

A generation has passed since efforts were made to outlaw them, yet chemical weapons now represent a heightened danger. NOVA examines the challenge of containing these substances, readily manufactured and devastatingly potent.

NOVA explores the complex history and potential future of airships – blimps, zeppelins, cyclocranes, and their kin. The spirit of these venerable craft endures.

NOVA examines the demanding pursuit of earthquake prediction. Though history offers little cause for optimism, geologists persist in the hope of discerning the signs that precede nature’s most powerful shifts.

Autonomous weapons systems, designed to identify and eliminate targets such as ships, aircraft, and ground vehicles, represent a significant advancement in military technology. In this context, NOVA considers whether the increasing availabi…

Does the prohibition of ivory truly serve the best interests of the elephant? NOVA examines the contentious approaches being employed to safeguard the survival of the planet's largest terrestrial mammal.

How does unwanted mail consistently reach your doorstep? NOVA delves into the unseen mechanisms of direct marketing, revealing the surprising extent of what advertisers know about our lives.

Nova explores the lives of the llama, alpaca, vicuña, and guanaco, the camelids native to South America. Once teetering on the brink of extinction, these four species have evolved remarkable adaptations for thriving in the high Andes mounta…

A strange illness has descended upon a small Brazilian town, claiming the lives of its children with alarming speed. The source of the affliction remains unknown, prompting the arrival of experts from the Centers for Disease Control in Atla…