NOVA
Season 43

s43e01 / Dawn of Humanity

17th Sep '15 - 1:00am
Dawn of Humanity Summary

Deep in a South African cave, an astounding discovery reveals clues to what made us human.

137 have watched this episode

s43e02 / Arctic Ghost Ship

24th Sep '15 - 1:00am
Arctic Ghost Ship Summary

The discovery of one of the two lost ships of the ill-fated Franklin Expedition, which set out to chart the Northwest Passage in the Arctic in 1845.

136 have watched this episode

s43e03 / Secrets of Noah's Ark

8th Oct '15 - 1:00am
Secrets of Noah's Ark Summary

A team of historians and expert boat builders investigates the fascinating Noah's Ark flood legend and sets out to rebuild a tantalizing, ancient forerunner of the Ark.

146 have watched this episode

s43e04 / Cyberwar Threat

15th Oct '15 - 1:00am
Cyberwar Threat Summary

NOVA examines the science and technology behind cyber warfare and asks if we are already in the midst of a deadly new arms race.

135 have watched this episode

s43e05 / Animal Mummies

29th Oct '15 - 1:00am
Animal Mummies Summary

NOVA joins a team of leading Egyptologists who deploy the latest medical imaging to peer beneath the wrappings of Egyptian mummified beasts without damaging the animal bodies inside. The results are enlightening, often surprising insights into the weird beliefs and practices that clung to the Egyptian quest for immortality.

122 have watched this episode

s43e06 / Making North America: Origins

5th Nov '15 - 2:00am
Making North America: Origins Summary

The epic 3 billion-year story of how our continent came to be. From the palm trees that once flourished in Alaska to titanic eruptions that nearly tore the Midwest in two, discover how forces of almost unimaginable power gave birth to North America.

132 have watched this episode

s43e07 / Making North America: Life

12th Nov '15 - 2:00am
Making North America: Life Summary

How did life emerge on our primeval continent? Why was North America home to so many iconic dinosaurs like T. rex? And how did a huge sea filled with giant marine reptiles end up covering Kansas? We tell the surprising intertwined story of life and the landscape in North America.

135 have watched this episode

s43e08 / Making North America: Human

19th Nov '15 - 2:00am
Making North America: Human Summary

The history of North America since the arrival of humans is chronicled. Natural resources, including gold and oil, have enabled humans to transform the land almost as much as the geological forces that created it. However, geology may, some day, play another role in reshaping the continent: the Cascadia fault line in the Pacific Northwest could unleash a massive earthquake and tsunami; and the super-volcano beneath Yellowstone could obliterate half the continent if it erupts.

126 have watched this episode

s43e09 / Inside Einstein's Mind

26th Nov '15 - 2:00am
Inside Einstein's Mind Summary

On November 25th, 1915, Einstein published his greatest work: general relativity. The theory transformed our understanding of nature's laws and the entire history of the cosmos, reaching back to the origin of time itself. Now, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Einstein's achievement, NOVA tells the inside story of Einstein's masterpiece. The story begins with the intuitive thought experiments that set Einstein off on his quest and traces the revolution in cosmology that is still playing out in today's labs and observatories. Discover the simple but powerful ideas at the heart of relativity, illuminating the theory-and Einstein's brilliance-as never before. From the first spark of an idea to the discovery of the expanding universe, the Big Bang, black holes, and dark energy, NOVA uncovers the inspired insights and brilliant breakthroughs of "the perfect theory".

126 have watched this episode

s43e10 / Secret Tunnel Warfare

7th Jan '16 - 2:00am
Secret Tunnel Warfare Summary

During WWI, the Allies devised a devastating plan, planting 600 tons of explosives in secret tunnels driven under German trenches. Uncover traces of the operation and learn why it failed to break the lethal deadlock of trench warfare.

133 have watched this episode

s43e11 / Life's Rocky Start

14th Jan '16 - 2:00am
Life's Rocky Start Summary

Four and a half billion years ago, the young Earth was a hellish place-a seething chaos of meteorite impacts, volcanoes belching noxious gases, and lightning flashing through a thin, torrid atmosphere. Then, in a process that has puzzled scientists for decades, life emerged. But how? NOVA joins mineralogist Robert Hazen as he journeys around the globe. From an ancient Moroccan market to the Australian Outback, he advances a startling and counterintuitive idea-that the rocks beneath our feet were not only essential to jump-starting life, but that microbial life helped give birth to hundreds of minerals we know and depend on today. It's a theory of the co-evolution of Earth and life that is reshaping the grand-narrative of our planet's story.

125 have watched this episode

s43e12 / Mystery Beneath the Ice

21st Jan '16 - 2:00am
Mystery Beneath the Ice Summary

Tiny, transparent, and threatened, krill are crucial to the Antarctic ecosystem. But the population of krill is crashing for reasons that continue to baffle the experts. A leading theory says that krill's life cycle is driven by an internal body clock that responds to the waxing and waning of the Antarctic ice pack, and as climate change alters the timing of the ice pack, their life cycle is disrupted. To test it, NOVA travels on the Polarstern, a state-of-the-art research vessel, to the frigid ice pack in the dead of winter. From camps established on the ice, scientists dive beneath the surface in search of the ice caves that shelter juvenile krill during the winter. There, they hope to discover what's causing the krill to vanish and, ultimately, how the shifting seasons caused by climate change could disrupt ecosystems around the world.

124 have watched this episode

s43e13 / Himalayan Megaquake

28th Jan '16 - 2:00am
Himalayan Megaquake Summary

On April 25, 2015, a devastating earthquake rocked Nepal. As it ripped across the Himalayas, it wiped out villages and left thousands dead. Hear the harrowing stories of the Nepalese people who lived near the epicenter and of survivors trapped on Everest. Through dramatic eyewitness footage, expert interviews, and stunning graphics, NOVA reveals the anatomy of this megaquake while scientists race to answer urgent questions-Is another big one just around the corner? What can we learn from the deadly combination of earthquakes and landslides? And can we rebuild to survive the next big one?.

123 have watched this episode

s43e14 / Creatures of Light

4th Feb '16 - 2:00am
Creatures of Light Summary

On a summer's night, there's nothing more magic than watching the soft glow of fireflies switching on and off. Few other life forms on land can light up the night, but in the dark depths of the oceans, it's a different story: nearly 90% of all species shine from within. Whether it's to scare off predators, fish for prey, or lure a mate, the language of light is everywhere in the ocean depths, and scientists are finally starting to decode it. NOVA and National Geographic take a dazzling dive to this hidden undersea world where most creatures flash, sparkle, shimmer, or simply glow. Join deep sea scientists who investigate these stunning displays and discover surprising ways to harness nature's light-from tracking cancer cells to detecting pollution, lighting up cities, and even illuminating the inner workings of our brains.

129 have watched this episode

s43e15 / Memory Hackers

11th Feb '16 - 2:00am
Memory Hackers Summary

Memory is the glue that binds our mental lives. Without it, we'd be prisoners of the present, unable to use the lessons of the past to change our future. From our first kiss to where we put our keys, memory represents who we are and how we learn and navigate the world. But how does it work? Neuroscientists using cutting-edge techniques are exploring the precise molecular mechanisms of memory. By studying a range of individuals ranging-from an 11-year-old whiz-kid who remembers every detail of his life to a woman who had memories implanted-scientists have uncovered a provocative idea. For much of human history, memory has been seen as a tape recorder that faithfully registers information and replays intact. But now, researchers are discovering that memory is far more malleable, always being written and rewritten, not just by us but by others. We are discovering the precise mechanisms that can explain and even control our memories. The question is-are we ready?.

127 have watched this episode

s43e16 / Iceman Reborn

18th Feb '16 - 2:00am
Iceman Reborn Summary

He was stalked, attacked and left to die alone. cuddleed more than 5,000 years ago, Otzi the Iceman is Europe's oldest known natural mummy. Miraculously preserved in glacial ice, his remarkably intact remains continue to provide scientists, historians, and archeologists with groundbreaking discoveries about a crucial time in human history. But in order to protect him from contamination, this extraordinary body has been locked away, out of reach, in a frozen crypt-until now. NOVA joins renowned artist and paleo-sculptor Gary Staab as he has been granted rare access into the Iceman's frozen lair. Gary has been charged with creating an exact replica of the mummy, which scientists and the public alike can then study up close and in person. As we see the Iceman reborn from 3D printing, resin, clay and paint, new revelations about Otzi's life and legacy come to light, including surprising secrets hidden in his genetic code.

120 have watched this episode

s43e17 / Rise of the Robots

25th Feb '16 - 2:00am
Rise of the Robots Summary

Machines are everywhere. They run our factory assembly lines and make our coffee. But humanoid robots-machines with human-like capabilities-have long been the stuff of science fiction. Until now. Fueled by an ambitious DARPA challenge, the race is on to design a robot that can replace humans in disaster relief situations. Follow the robots and the engineers that program them as they strive to make their way out of the lab and into the real world. But how capable are they, really? How close are we to a future where humanoid robots are part of our everyday lives? And what will the future look like with robots that can do a human's job? NOVA investigates the cutting-edge technologies that are advancing robotics-and the enormous challenges that robots still face.

120 have watched this episode

s43e18 / Vikings Unearthed

7th Apr '16 - 1:00am
Vikings Unearthed Summary

Sarah Parcak looks at new details about the expeditions and settlements of the Vikings.

122 have watched this episode

s43e19 / Can Alzheimer's Be Stopped?

14th Apr '16 - 1:00am
Can Alzheimer's Be Stopped? Summary

Alzheimer's ravages the minds of over 40 million victims worldwide. Join scientists as they untangle the cause of this tragic illness and go behind the scenes of major drug trials to discover the therapies that may slow and even prevent the disease.

119 have watched this episode

s43e20 / Wild Ways

21st Apr '16 - 1:00am
Wild Ways Summary

Newly established wildlife corridors have been offering some hope to endangered species around the globe.

110 have watched this episode

s43e21 / Operation Lighthouse Rescue

5th May '16 - 1:00am
Operation Lighthouse Rescue Summary

On the picturesque bluffs at the very tip of the island of Martha's Vineyard, disaster looms. The historic Gay Head Lighthouse is soon to become the next victim of the persistent erosion of the island's cliffs. Built in 1856, the more than 400-ton structure soars 175 feet above the sea. But over the years, storms and the raging ocean have eroded the headland away. With fierce storms and hurricanes only intensifying as the global climate warms, this historic landmark is precipitously close to toppling into the ocean. Now, an epic rescue is underway as a team of engineers attempts to move the iconic red brick structure 134 feet inland to safety. As they race to save this national treasure, discover the geology they encounter, the archeology they discover, and technology they employ in this Lighthouse Rescue.

109 have watched this episode

s43e22 / Bombing Hitler's Supergun

12th May '16 - 1:00am
Bombing Hitler's Supergun Summary

Engineers and World War II historians investigate Hitler's fearsome bank of "superguns".

109 have watched this episode
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