Secrets in our DNA
Some 30 million Americans have sent their DNA to be analyzed by companies like 23andMe and AncestryDNA. But what happens once the sample is in the hands of testing companies, and how accurate are their results? NOVA explores the power of genetic data to reveal family connections, ancestry, and health risks—and even solve criminal cold cases.
PBS’ premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA programs demystify science and technology and highlight the people involved in scientific pursuits.
NOVA Episodes
S47 Ep1 | 1h 53m 6s
Paleontologist Kirk Johnson explores the dynamic history—and future—of ice at the poles.
S47 Ep2 | 54m 11s
Follow the epic journey of dog domestication and see what science says about dogs’ love.
S47 Ep3 | 53m 40s
Goddess, demon, house pet? What does science say about the human relationship with cats?
S47 Ep4 | 53m 14s
Why do we sleep? And what does sleep have to do with memory, trauma, and our emotions?
S47 Ep5 | 53m 45s
Can Cuba's innovative lung cancer vaccines give new hope to patients across the world?
S47 Ep6 | 53m 38s
Could it be that body fat has more to do with biological processes than personal choices?
S47 Ep10 | 53m 38s
Scientists race to understand and defeat the coronavirus behind the COVID-19 pandemic.
S47 Ep7 | 53m 40s
Follow eagles from the nest to the skies to see what makes these predators so remarkable.
CRISPR Gene-Editing Reality Check
S47 Ep111 | 19m 13s
CRISPR gene-editing technology is advancing quickly. What can it do now—and in the future?
S47 Ep11 | 1h 33m 41s
We can now edit the human genome with a tool called CRISPR. But how far should we go?
S47 Ep12 | 53m 17s
Meet slime molds: the brainless blobs that can learn, make decisions, and navigate mazes.
S47 Ep13 | 54m 1s
The birth of writing and the first alphabet were among the world’s most vital inventions.
A to Z: How Writing Changed the World
S47 Ep14 | 53m 31s
The creation of printing, the first information technology, drove empires and revolutions.
S47 Ep9 | 53m 31s
Can bringing predators—and fear—back into an ecosystem help restore its natural balance?
S47 Ep15 | 54m 3s
Spacecraft OSIRIS-REx attempts to grab a piece of an asteroid to bring it back to Earth.
S47 Ep16 | 53m 31s
Scientists look to geoengineering and other methods to cool the planet.
S47 Ep8 | 53m 47s
Scientists and engineers fight to save Notre Dame Cathedral after the 2019 fire.
S46 Ep1 | 53m 51s
The New Horizons spacecraft zooms toward an object 4 billion miles from Earth.
S46 Ep2 | 53m 34s
Join scientists as they grab light from across the universe to prove quantum entanglement.
S46 Ep3 | 53m 21s
Journey to Kīlauea volcano to investigate the eruptions that shook Hawaiʻi in 2018.
S46 Ep4 | 53m 4s
New archeological evidence shows the stunning engineering of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
S46 Ep5 | 53m 30s
New technologies are promising a new renaissance in space travel.
S46 Ep6 | 53m 10s
In the shadow of Vesuvius and Pompeii, a lesser-known volcano puts Naples at risk.
S46 Ep7 | 53m 15s
Can a daring water engineering project revive the Dead Sea without altering its chemistry?
S46 Ep8 | 53m 16s
Scientists investigate the deadly megafires that swept through California in 2018.
S46 Ep9 | 53m 9s
The advent of horse riding changed the course of human history and our genetic makeup.
S46 Ep10 | 53m 9s
Bioarchaeologists investigate a 9th-century mass grave thought to hold a lost Viking army.
S46 Ep11 | 53m 39s
Discover why scientists and entrepreneurs alike have their sights set on the Moon again.
S46 Ep12 | 53m 49s
The rocky planets have similar origins, but only 1 supports life. Was it always this way?
S46 Ep13 | 53m 54s
Before it was a dry planet, Mars was a wet world that may have hosted life.
S46 Ep14 | 53m 18s
Jupiter's massive gravitational force has made it a wrecking ball and a protector of Earth
S46 Ep15 | 53m 54s
NASA's Cassini reveals the mysteries of Saturn's rings—and new hope for life on a moon.
S46 Ep16 | 52m 48s
Beyond icy worlds of Uranus and Neptune, Pluto dazzles with its mysterious ocean.
S46 Ep18 | 53m 9s
Can new engineering techniques help prevent deadly bridge collapses?
S46 Ep19 | 53m 21s
As self-driving cars take to the streets, investigate how they work, and if they are safe.
S46 Ep17 | 53m 26s
Amazing fossils reveal how mammals took over after an asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs.
S46 Ep20 | 53m 25s
New technologies unravel the Dead Sea Scrolls’ mysteries and uncover million-dollar fakes.
S48 Ep1 | 53m 26s
What can DNA testing companies reveal about our ancestry and health, and at what risk?
S47 Ep8 | 53m 47s
Scientists and engineers fight to save Notre Dame Cathedral after the 2019 fire.
S47 Ep16 | 53m 31s
Scientists look to geoengineering and other methods to cool the planet.
S47 Ep15 | 54m 3s
Spacecraft OSIRIS-REx attempts to grab a piece of an asteroid to bring it back to Earth.
NOVA Extras
This University Monitors COVID-19 Through Saliva Testing
6m 53s
The University of Illinois is trying to control the spread of COVID-19 by collecting spit.
S48 Ep1 | 27s
What can DNA testing companies reveal about our ancestry and health, and at what risk?
Beyond the Elements: Indestructible Preview
S47 Ep18 | 30s
Discover the fascinating chemistry that makes our world and everything in it—including us.
Beyond the Elements: Reactions Preview
S47 Ep17 | 30s
Discover the fascinating chemistry that makes our world and everything in it—including us.
The Biggest Space News Stories of 2020
5m 27s
Discover three of the greatest space developments of the year and what 2021 may bring.
Saving Notre Dame's Stained Glass Masterpieces
S47 Ep8 | 3m 2s
Could the cathedral's beautiful stained glass collection survive the 2019 fire intact?
Stabilizing Notre Dame's Famous Buttresses
S47 Ep8 | 3m 3s
If the vaulting collapses, the weight of the buttresses will push in the 100-foot walls.
S47 Ep8 | 28s
Scientists and engineers fight to save Notre Dame Cathedral after the 2019 fire.
The Science of the COVID-19 Treatments Trump Received
6m 37s
In early October 2020, President Trump tested positive for COVID-19.
What is Solar Geoengineering and Why is it Controversial?
S47 Ep16 | 4m 16s
Solar geoengineering is like drawing a curtain over the face of the Earth.
How Much Coal Do People Burn Each Year?
S47 Ep16 | 2m 13s
See how much CO2 we add to the atmosphere each year.
The Tech Behind Mail-In Voting
6m 20s
Due to the pandemic, millions are voting by mail in the 2020 presidential election.
S47 Ep16 | 28s
Scientists look to geoengineering and other methods to cool the planet.
Inside OSIRIS-REx’s Mission to Tag Asteroid Bennu
S47 Ep15 | 4m 38s
Learn more about OSIRIS-REx’s mission to an asteroid 200 million miles away.
Asteroids Provide Hints About the "Ingredients" in Planets
S47 Ep15 | 4m 30s
By studying asteroids, researchers can learn about the formation of planets.
Did This Asteroid Just Turn into a Comet?
S47 Ep15 | 4m 24s
Everything in the solar system is dynamic—you can watch it evolve in real time.
Lions Return to Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park
S47 Ep9 | 6m
Gorongosa National Park was once one of the most species-rich places in Africa.
Meet Gorongosa National Park’s Head Veterinarian
S47 Ep9 | 8m 18s
Hear what it’s like to be a vet for wild animals.
S47 Ep9 | 27s
Can bringing predators—and fear—back into an ecosystem help restore its natural balance?
How Medieval Parchment is Made
S47 Ep14 | 3m 4s
Learn about the preparation and use of parchment paper in medieval Europe.
Einstein's Quantum Riddle Preview
S46 Ep2 | 27s
Join scientists as they grab light from across the universe to prove quantum entanglement.
S46 Ep1 | 26s
The New Horizons spacecraft zooms toward an object 4 billion miles from Earth.
New Horizons Makes Historic Flyby on New Year's Day
S46 Ep1 | 2m 9s
The New Horizons spacecraft made history by conducting the farthest ever flyby.
Days Before Flyby, Ultima Thule Still Mysterious
S46 Ep1 | 1m 45s
NASA's New Horizons spacecraft is about to visit the most distant object ever explored.
Ultima Thule Comes Into Focus as New Images Reveal Secrets
S46 Ep1 | 1m 13s
NASA scientists received the most detailed images from its spacecraft, New Horizons.
Kīlauea: Hawaiʻi on Fire Preview
S46 Ep3 | 25s
Scientists journey to Kīlauea volcano to investigate the eruptions that shook Hawaiʻi.
Decoding the Great Pyramid Preview
S46 Ep4 | 28s
New archeological evidence shows the stunning engineering of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Why Kicking a Field Goal is Harder Than it Looks
3m 28s
Kicking a field goal is tough. But why? (Hint: It's physics.)
Ultima Thule is Surprisingly Flat
S46 Ep1 | 1m 38s
This discovery could have a big effect on how scientists think about planet formation.
S46 Ep5 | 29s
New technologies are promising a new renaissance in space travel.
How Do You Get a Rocket to Land Back on Earth?
S46 Ep5 | 2m 23s
There's a reason why so few rockets are designed to come back to their launch sites.
S46 Ep6 | 29s
In the shadow of Vesuvius and Pompeii, a lesser-known volcano puts Naples at risk.
Volcanologists Descend into Mt Vesuvius' Crater
S46 Ep6 | 2m 58s
Gas samples from Mt. Vesuvius can reveal how close magma is to the volcano's surface.
2m 29s
It changes the dynamic of the entire reefscape, and can be detrimental to corals.
Clues from a Giant Volcanic Eruption Exist Beneath Naples
S46 Ep6 | 2m 59s
Dwelling beneath Naples, is Campi Flegrei—a volcano capable of a very large eruption.
3m 29s
Scientists are trying to help reefs around the world the world by identifying super corals
Did Climate Change Cause Hurricane Harvey?
2m 32s
Climate models can be used to analyze rainfall, heatwaves, and even coral bleaching events
Climate Change Flooding: A Threat to National Security?
4m 1s
Sea level rise and heavy rains pose logistical challenges to Norfolk, Virginia's Navy.
Why Hurricane Florence Caused So Much Flooding
3m 2s
Warming air and sea surface temperatures are making storms wetter and more intense.
The World Wide Web Celebrates its 30th Birthday
2m 39s
Without it, you wouldn't be able to watch this video.
