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Beyond the Elements: Life
February 17, 2021
Without the chemistry of photosynthesis, ozone, and a molecule called Rubisco, none of us would be here. So how did we get so lucky? To find out, host David Pogue investigates the surprising molecules that allowed life on Earth to begin, and ultimately thrive. Along the way, he finds out what we’re all made of—literally.
TV Schedule
2023 Season
Lee and Liza's Family Tree Preview
November 22, 2023
A family turns to science in their struggle to rediscover a history obscured by slavery.
Inside China's Tech Boom
November 8, 2023
The inside story of China’s meteoric rise to the forefront of global innovation.
Ancient Earth: Humans
November 1, 2023
How did Earth give rise to humans? See what made our species' existence possible.
Ancient Earth: Inferno
October 25, 2023
How did life bounce back after a cataclysmic extinction wiped out some 90% of all species?...
Ancient Earth: Life Rising
October 18, 2023
See how life made the leap to land, turning a barren landscape into a lush, green world.
Ancient Earth: Frozen
October 11, 2023
How did life survive on a planet covered in ice from pole to pole?
Ancient Earth: Birth of the Sky
October 4, 2023
See how Earth transformed from a barren hellscape to a planet capable of sustaining life.
Your Brain: Who's in Control?
May 24, 2023
Dive into the subconscious to see what’s really driving the decisions you make.
Hidden Volcano Abyss
May 10, 2023
Investigate one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions in recorded history.
Saving the Right Whale
May 3, 2023
Follow scientists determined to save the critically endangered right whale.
Weathering the Future
April 12, 2023
Americans use ancient wisdom and new technology to fight extreme weather.
New Eye on the Universe
February 22, 2023
See the latest stunning images and discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope.
Ancient Builders of the Amazon
February 15, 2023
Archaeological discoveries reveal traces of ancient civilizations in the Amazon.
Star Chasers of Senegal
February 8, 2023
A visionary scientist investigates the deep history of astronomy in West Africa.
London Super Tunnel
February 1, 2023
Thousands race to build Europe's biggest construction project–London's new railroad.
2022 Season
Zero to Infinity
November 16, 2022
Discover how the concepts of zero and infinity revolutionized mathematics.
Nazca Desert Mystery
November 2, 2022
Who created the Nazca lines and why? New clues to one of the greatest ancient enigmas.
Ocean Invaders
October 26, 2022
Meet one of the ocean’s most beautiful and destructive species: Lionfish.
Can Psychedelics Cure?
October 19, 2022
Psychedelics are unlocking new ways to treat conditions like addiction and depression.
Computers v. Crime
October 12, 2022
Is artificial intelligence making policing and courts fairer, or is it increasing bias?
Ending HIV in America | Preview
September 21, 2022
Can innovative drugs and therapies finally end HIV?
Ultimate Space Telescope
July 13, 2022
Discover how NASA engineers built and launched the most ambitious telescope of all time.
Ice Age Footprints
May 25, 2022
Ancient footprints provide new evidence of humans and extinct giant beasts of the Ice Age....
Why Ships Crash
May 18, 2022
How could a single ship cause a major supply chain crisis around the globe?
Determined: Fighting Alzheimer's
April 6, 2022
Follow three women enrolled in a new study to try to prevent Alzheimer’s.
Augmented
February 23, 2022
An ingenious new technology allows prosthetic legs to move and feel like the real thing.
Secrets in the Scat
February 9, 2022
Join biologists on an ingenious hunt for the clues hidden in animal poop.
Arctic Sinkholes
February 2, 2022
In the Arctic, enormous releases of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, threaten the climate...
Ancient Maya Metropolis
January 26, 2022
Explore great ancient Maya cities and why their inhabitants abandoned them.
Alaskan Dinosaurs
January 19, 2022
Intrepid paleontologists discover that dinosaurs thrived in the Arctic’s cold and dark.
More Episodes
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.
Operation Lighthouse Rescue
May 4, 2016
Join engineers as they race to rescue a historic lighthouse from certain doom.
NOVA Universe Revealed
Universe Revealed: Big Bang
November 24, 2021
Venture back to the birth of space and time as NOVA probes the mystery of the Big Bang.
Universe Revealed: Black Holes
November 17, 2021
Take a seat on the ultimate thrill ride as NOVA explores the universe’s strangest objects....
NOVA Universe Revealed: Alien Worlds
November 10, 2021
Visit exotic worlds orbiting distant suns as NOVA tackles the big question: are we alone?
NOVA Universe Revealed: Milky Way
November 3, 2021
Explore the wonders and mysteries of our galaxy—the giant city of stars we call home.
NOVA Universe Revealed: Age of Stars
October 27, 2021
Voyage to discover the sun’s place in a grand cycle of birth, death and renewal.
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