NOVA - Season 43

NOVA - Season 43

Season 43

Network
DatesSep 16, 2015 - May 11, 2016
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Episodes

Dawn of Humanity
Season 43Episode 1120 min

Dawn of Humanity

NOVA and National Geographic present exclusive access to a unique discovery of ancient remains. Located in an almost inaccessible chamber deep in a South African cave, the site required recruiting a special team of experts slender enough to wriggle down a vertical, pitch-dark, seven-inch-wide passage. Most fossil discoveries of human relatives consist of just a handful of bones. But down in this hidden chamber, the team uncovered an unprecedented trove—so far, over 1,500 bones—with the potential to rewrite the story of our origins. They may help fill in a crucial gap in the fossil record and tell us how Homo, the first member of the human family, emerged from ape-like ancestors like the famous Lucy. But how did hundreds of bones end up in the remote chamber? The experts are considering every mind-boggling possibility. Join NOVA on the treacherous descent into this cave of spectacular and enigmatic finds, and discover their startling implications for the saga of what made us human.

Sep 16, 2015
Arctic Ghost Ship
Season 43Episode 260 min

Arctic Ghost Ship

NOVA presents "Arctic Ghost Ship" an exclusive breakthrough in the greatest unsolved mystery in Arctic exploration. In 1845, British explorer Sir John Franklin set off to chart the elusive Northwest Passage, commanding 128 men in two robust and well-stocked Royal Navy ships, the Erebus and Terror. They were never heard from again. Eventually, searchers found tantalising clues to their fate: a hastily written note left on an island, exhumed bodies suggesting lead poisoning, discarded human bones with marks of cannibalism and Inuit legends of ghost ships. But no trace of the ships was ever found. Then, in 2014, after seven years of searching, an official Parks Canada expedition finally located the Erebus, intact and upright on the sea floor. With exclusive access, NOVA tells the inside story of the risky Canadian expedition, which involved constant battles with crushing sea ice, bad weather, and disappointing dead ends. Culminating in the historic discovery of the Erebus, NOVA tells the gripping story of the ill-fated expedition and reveals exclusive new clues from the sea floor that may finally unravel what happened to Franklin's men more than 160 years ago.

Sep 23, 2015
Secrets of Noah's Ark
Season 43Episode 360 min

Secrets of Noah's Ark

In 1948, a British pilot serving in Iraq acquired a clay tablet with an intriguing, 3,700-year-old inscription. The ancient writing tells the story of how the god Enki warns a Sumerian king named Atra-Hasis of a future flood that will destroy mankind; Enki gives him instructions for building a boat to save his family and livestock. If that sounds like a familiar tale, it's because this was one of several ancient flood traditions that, centuries later, would inspire the biblical story of Noah. But the tablet's inscription describes a boat very different from the traditional image of the Ark—it's said to be circular and made of reeds. Is this nothing more than a fanciful myth? Or could such a reed boat have carried Atra-Hasis' family of more than one hundred and his many animals? Join NOVA as a team of historians and expert boat builders investigates this fascinating flood legend and sets out to rebuild a tantalizing, ancient forerunner of the Ark.

Oct 7, 2015
Cyberwar Threat
Season 43Episode 460 min

Cyberwar Threat

Through startling, previously unreported detail, delve into the chilling new reality of cyberwar, in which cyber weapons can inflict physical damage on our factories, power plants and pipelines ... leaving us vulnerable to crippling attacks.

Oct 14, 2015
Animal Mummies
Season 43Episode 560 min

Animal Mummies

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.

Oct 28, 2015
Making North America: Origins
Season 43Episode 660 min

Making North America: Origins

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

Nov 4, 2015
Making North America: Life
Season 43Episode 760 min

Making North America: Life

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, splitting the continent in two? We tell the surprising intertwined story of life and the landscape in North America.

Nov 11, 2015
Making North America: Human
Season 43Episode 860 min

Making North America: Human

Explore the intimate connections between the landscape, the colonizing of the continent, and the emergence of our industrial world. Beginning with Native American ancestors who crafted hunting weapons from stone traded across hundreds of miles, the program shows how pre-Columbian civilizations developed an expert knowledge of the landscape and its resources. With the arrival of Europeans, North America's hidden riches became to key to prosperity, from the gold rush to today's oil and gas boom. As a result, human activity has transformed the continent on a scale that rivals the geological forces that gave birth to it billions of years before. Yet, scientists warn of sleeping giants like the Cascadia fault, and the earthquake/tsunami one-two punch it could unleash on the Pacific Northwest. Even as we re-mold the continent to suit our needs, geologic processes inexorably continue, and they raise potential risks of catastrophe to our human civilization.

Nov 18, 2015
Inside Einstein's Mind
Season 43Episode 960 min

Inside Einstein's Mind

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." "Inside Einstein's Mind" was nominated for an Emmy Award.

Nov 25, 2015
Secret Tunnel Warfare
Season 43Episode 1060 min

Secret Tunnel Warfare

Join archaeologists who reveal traces of WWI's most devastating, ultra-secret tunneling operation.

Jan 6, 2016
Life's Rocky Start
Season 43Episode 1160 min

Life's Rocky Start

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.

Jan 13, 2016
Mystery Beneath the Ice
Season 43Episode 1260 min

Mystery Beneath the Ice

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.

Jan 20, 2016
Himalayan Megaquake
Season 43Episode 1360 min

Himalayan Megaquake

Investigate the devastating quake that rocked Nepal, from Mt. Everest to the streets of Kathmandu. This includes the science and anatomy of the April 2015 earthquake in Nepal, as well as stories from survivors who were on Mount Everest and from residents who live near the epicenter.

Jan 27, 2016
Creatures of Light
Season 43Episode 1460 min

Creatures of Light

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.

Feb 3, 2016
Memory Hackers
Season 43Episode 1560 min

Memory Hackers

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?

Feb 10, 2016
Iceman Reborn
Season 43Episode 1660 min

Iceman Reborn

He was stalked, attacked and left to die alone. Murdered 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.

Feb 17, 2016
Rise of the Robots
Season 43Episode 1760 min

Rise of the Robots

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.

Feb 24, 2016
Vikings Unearthed
Season 43Episode 18120 min

Vikings Unearthed

Search for the truth behind the legends of the Vikings and their epic journey to the Americas. Bloody raids. Merciless pillaging. Loathsome invasions. The Vikings are infamous for their fearsome conquests—but they were also expert seafarers, skilled traders, and courageous explorers. They traveled far and wide, crisscrossing the known world from Scandinavia to Europe and into Asia, leaving a trail of evidence that suggests they were far from just vicious warriors. Through stunning CGI recreations and careful investigation of archeological evidence, "Vikings Unearthed" unravels the secrets of these intrepid adventurers. And now, new evidence is coming to light that these pioneering people may have ventured even farther than we had suspected. Renowned space archeologist Sarah Parcak takes up the case and is on the trail of the Vikings. What she discovers might rewrite history.

Apr 6, 2016
Can Alzheimer's Be Stopped?
Season 43Episode 1960 min

Can Alzheimer's Be Stopped?

Join investigators as they untangle the cause of Alzheimer's and race to develop a cure.

Apr 13, 2016
Wild Ways
Season 43Episode 2060 min

Wild Ways

Explore how newly established wildlife corridors offer hope to our planet's endangered species.

Apr 20, 2016
Operation Lighthouse Rescue
Season 43Episode 2160 min

Operation Lighthouse Rescue

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.

May 4, 2016
Bombing Hitler's Supergun
Season 43Episode 2260 min

Bombing Hitler's Supergun

Growing desperate in 1943, Hitler hatches a diabolical weapon: a bank of "superguns" housed in a massive underground complex in Nazi-occupied northern France. Together the guns would be able to pump 600 high explosive shells 100 miles into downtown London every hour. This weapon could spell doom for the allies. But how can such a massive gun possibly work? Join NOVA as engineers, archaeologists and WWII historians investigate this fearsome weapon. And discover the two audacious missions designed to destroy the seemingly impregnable supergun complex, one of which is led by Joseph Kennedy, Jr.

May 11, 2016

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