Episode guide
NOVA: Season 47
16 episodes · premiered Feb 5, 2020
TMDB has no overview for this season.
- Episode 1: Polar Extremes Feb 5, 2020 · 55m Following a trail of fossils found in all the wrong places–beech trees in Antarctica, redwoods and hippo-like mammals in the Arctic–NOVA uncovers the bizarre history of the poles, from…
- Episode 2: Dog Tales Feb 12, 2020 · 55m Dogs have long been dependable companions by our sides. But it wasn’t always that way, and a look at their closest living relative, the wolf, makes it clear why. Research into dog…
- Episode 3: Cat Tales Feb 19, 2020 · 55m Worshipped as a goddess, condemned as satanic, and spun into a stunning array of breeds, cats have long fascinated humans. But did we ever really domesticate them? And what can science…
- Episode 4: Mysteries of Sleep Feb 26, 2020 · 55m From fruit flies to whales, virtually every animal sleeps. But why? Why do we need to spend nearly a third of our lives in such a defenseless state? Scientists are peering more deeply into…
- Episode 5: Cuba's Cancer Hope Apr 1, 2020 · 55m When the U.S. trade embargo left Cuba isolated from medical resources, Cuban scientists were forced to get creative. Now they’ve developed lung cancer vaccines that show so much promise…
- Episode 6: The Truth About Fat Apr 8, 2020 · 55m The mysteries of fat and its role in hormone production, hunger and pregnancy.
- Episode 7: Decoding COVID-19 May 13, 2020 · 55m The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has upended life as we know it in a matter of months. But at the same time, an unprecedented global effort to understand and contain the virus—and find a…
- Episode 8: Eagle Power May 20, 2020 · 55m Eagles dominate the skies. But what makes these predators so special? Researchers study one special bird—and stunning up-close footage reveals her exceptional strength, eyesight, and…
- Episode 9: Human Nature / Gene-Editing Reality Check Sep 9, 2020 · 1h 30m With an extraordinary new technology called CRISPR, we can now edit DNA—including human DNA. But how far should we go? Gene-editing promises to eliminate certain genetic disorders like…
- Episode 10: Secret Mind of Slime Sep 16, 2020 · 55m Scientists investigate the bizarre “intelligence” of slime molds, which appear to learn and make decisions—without a brain. These cunning, single-celled blobs can navigate mazes and create…
- Episode 11: A to Z: The First Alphabet Sep 23, 2020 · 55m 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…
- Episode 12: A to Z: How Writing Changed the World Sep 30, 2020 · 55m Just as writing changed the course of human history, the evolution of paper and printing revolutionized the spread of information. The printing press kicked off the Industrial Revolution…
- Episode 13: Nature's Fear Factor Oct 14, 2020 · 55m For animals in Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park, the normal balance of competition and predation was upended when a war wiped out the top predators. The remaining animals didn’t simply…
- Episode 14: Touching the Asteroid Oct 21, 2020 · 55m In October 2020, a NASA spacecraft called OSIRIS-REx attempts to reach out and grab a piece of an asteroid named Bennu to bring it back to Earth. The OSIRIS-REx team has just three chances…
- Episode 15: Can We Cool the Planet? Oct 28, 2020 · 55m As global temperatures continue to rise, scientists are wondering if we need solutions beyond reducing emissions. Enter geoengineering. From sucking carbon straight out of the air to…
- Episode 16: Saving Notre Dame Nov 25, 2020 · 55m When the roof of Notre Dame Cathedral erupted in flames in April of 2019, firefighters battled for nine grueling hours to save the historic landmark. Still, Paris came alarmingly close to…