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Back to: NOVA
A to Z: The First Alphabet
September 23, 2020
Writing shaped our world and the rise of human knowledge, from the trading of goods to tales of ancient goddesses and kings. Follow the evolution of the written word, from 4,000-year-old carvings in an Egyptian turquoise mine to modern-day alphabets.
TV Schedule
Full Episodes
Ship That Changed the World
June 2, 2021
As we excavate a 500-year-old wreck, learn the secrets behind historys great ships.
Great Electric Airplane Race
May 26, 2021
Will electric planes replace polluting airliners and lead to flying taxis in our cities?
Hindenburg: The New Evidence
May 19, 2021
A revealing new investigation of one of historys most iconic aviation disasters.
Fighting for Fertility
May 12, 2021
Meet people struggling with infertility and the challenges of assisted reproduction.
Reef Rescue
April 21, 2021
Scientists race to help corals adapt to warming oceans through assisted evolution.
Beyond the Elements: Life
February 17, 2021
Discover the fascinating chemistry that makes our world and everything in itincluding us.
Beyond the Elements: Indestructible
February 10, 2021
Discover the fascinating chemistry that makes our world and everything in itincluding us.
Beyond the Elements: Reactions
February 3, 2021
Discover the fascinating chemistry that makes our world and everything in itincluding us.
Can We Cool the Planet?
October 28, 2020
Scientists look to geoengineering and other methods to cool the planet.
Touching the Asteroid
October 21, 2020
Spacecraft OSIRIS-REx attempts to grab a piece of an asteroid to bring it back to Earth.
Nature's Fear Factor
October 14, 2020
Can bringing predatorsand fearback into an ecosystem help restore its natural balance?
A to Z: How Writing Changed the World
September 30, 2020
The creation of printing, the first information technology, drove empires and revolutions....
Secret Mind of Slime
September 16, 2020
Meet slime molds: the brainless blobs that can learn, make decisions, and navigate mazes.
Human Nature
September 9, 2020
We can now edit the human genome with a tool called CRISPR. But how far should we go?
Eagle Power
May 20, 2020
Follow eagles from the nest to the skies to see what makes these predators so remarkable.
Decoding COVID-19
May 13, 2020
Scientists race to understand and defeat the coronavirus behind the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Truth About Fat
April 8, 2020
Could it be that body fat has more to do with biological processes than personal choices?
Cuba's Cancer Hope
April 1, 2020
Can Cuba's innovative lung cancer vaccines give new hope to patients across the world?
Clips and Previews
Emperor's Ghost Army | Preview
July 26, 2021
Explore the buried clay warriors, chariots, and bronze weapons of China's first emperor.
Creatures of Light | Preview
July 26, 2021
Deep in the ocean, animals that flash, sparkle, and glow use light to survive in the dark....
Meteor Strike | Preview
July 12, 2021
A meteor burst into a fireball over Siberia. Can we spot the next deadly asteroid in time? ...
Ship That Changed the World | Preview
June 2, 2021
As we excavate a 500-year-old wreck, learn the secrets behind historys great ships.
Great Electric Airplane Race Preview
May 26, 2021
Will electric planes replace polluting airliners and lead to flying taxis in our cities?
Hindenburg: The New Evidence Preview
May 19, 2021
A revealing new investigation of one of historys most iconic aviation disasters.
Fighting for Fertility Preview
May 12, 2021
Meet people struggling with infertility and the challenges of assisted reproduction.
Reef Rescue | Preview
April 21, 2021
Scientists race to help corals adapt to warming oceans through assisted evolution.
Picture a Scientist | Preview
April 14, 2021
Researchers expose longstanding discrimination against women in science.
Looking for Life on Mars | Preview
February 24, 2021
NASA launches its most ambitious search yet for traces of ancient life on Mars.
Forgotten Genius | Preview
January 26, 2021
Explore the amazing life story of Percy Julian an African American Scientist who many believe...
Secrets in our DNA | Preview
January 13, 2021
What can DNA testing companies reveal about our ancestry and health, and at what risk?
Bird Brain Preview
December 7, 2020
Watch as birds solve puzzles and challenge our basic notions of intelligence.
Saving Notre Dame Preview
November 25, 2020
Scientists and engineers fight to save Notre Dame Cathedral after the 2019 fire.
Petra - Lost City of Stone | Preview
November 9, 2020
How did early engineers carve tombs into rock cliffs and funnel water to this desert city?...
Colosseum: Roman Death Trap
November 2, 2020
1500 years ago, how did the Romans engineer bloody spectacles and reenact sea battles?
Can We Cool the Planet? Promo
October 28, 2020
Scientists look to geoengineering and other methods to cool the planet.
Nature's Fear Factor Preview
October 14, 2020
Can bringing predatorsand fearback into an ecosystem help restore its natural balance?
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