Koch Foundation

NOVA Science Trust Logo

Image courtesy of the Alfred I. duPont Award committee.

NOVA’s ‘Decoding COVID-19’ receives 2021 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award

<p>The Columbia School of Journalism announced yesterday that the <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/">PBS science series NOVA</a> was the recipient of a 2021 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award for its 2020 documentary “Decoding COVID-19.” </p><p>NOVA was one of 15 winners of this year’s awards, presented during a special virtual ceremony highlighting outstanding reporting in the public interest. The hour-long event, “The duPont-Columbia Awards: Honoring the Best of Journalism,” premiered on PBS digital platforms last night at 8:00 p.m. ET. You can watch the ceremony <a href="https://www.pbs.org/show/2021-dupont-columbia-awards/">here</a>.</p>
<div class="related"></div>
<p>Written, produced, and directed by <a href="https://holtproductions.org/">Sarah Holt</a>, “Decoding COVID-19” is a scientific investigation into the coronavirus that has caused an international public health crisis and turned the world upside down. Filmed in April and May of 2020, during the early weeks of the pandemic’s impact on the U.S., the one-hour documentary reveals the biology of the tiny pathogen devastating lives from Wuhan, China to New York City and follows the unprecedented collaboration among scientists who were racing to develop a vaccine. </p><p>Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award special guest <a href="https://www.niaid.nih.gov/about/anthony-s-fauci-md-bio">Dr. Anthony Fauci</a>, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in "one masterful hour," the film explains how the coronavirus infects and affects the body, and how it can be fought with a vaccine. "Decoding COVID-19" also presents harrowing, humanizing chronicles from the frontlines, following the health care providers, patients, and families battling the disease.</p>
<div class="pullquote">
<p>NOVA’s “Decoding COVID-19” premiered May 13, 2020, on PBS and is available for <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/decoding-covid-19/">streaming online</a> and via the <a href="https://www.pbs.org/pbs-video-app/">PBS Video app</a>.</p>
</div>
<p>The duPont-Columbia Jurors recognized “Decoding COVID-19” for its reporting on the coronavirus epidemic, adding, “NOVA combined stunning graphics and expert medical analysis with moving human stories in this hour-long primer on the coronavirus, the doctors on its frontlines, and researchers in the race for its cure.”</p>
<div class="ad"></div>
<p>“We are honored to be recipients of this year’s duPont-Columbia Award, particularly for our reporting on and during the coronavirus pandemic,” said NOVA Co-Executive Producer Julia Cort. “We are grateful for this tremendous acknowledgement of NOVA’s commitment to providing accessible, critical scientific information to the public, especially during such uncertain times—and perhaps when it is most needed.”</p><p>“We are thrilled to have received this prestigious award alongside our extraordinary PBS colleagues at “American Experience,” “Frontline,” and “Independent Lens,” said NOVA Co-Executive Producer, Chris Schmidt. “We are proud of our role in public media, which continues to be a most-trusted source for crucial reporting to audiences across the country.”  </p>
<div class="newsletter"></div>

<p>The PBS science series was recognized for its 2020 documentary during last night’s ceremony “honoring the best in journalism.”</p>

Joint statement against anti-AAPI racism

<div class="related"></div>
<p>We are outraged and heartbroken by the murders of eight people in Georgia, including six women of Asian descent. Anti-Asian racism has deep roots in our country’s history, but should have no place in our country’s future. In these challenging times, with anti-Asian sentiment on the rise nationwide, we believe that silence itself can be a form of violence. As leaders in public media, we feel it is imperative for us to clearly state our opposition to misogyny, hatred and racism in all forms. And we join our chief executive, Jon Abbott, in extending heartfelt support for our Asian American/Pacific Islander friends and family, colleagues, staff and the communities we serve.</p>
<div class="ad"></div>
<p>John Bredar, VP for National Programming, GBH</p><p>Raney Aronson-Rath, Executive Producer, FRONTLINE</p><p>Marsha Bemko, Executive Producer, ANTIQUES ROADSHOW</p><p>Julia Cort, Co-Executive Producer, NOVA</p><p>Denise DiIanni, Senior Executive in Charge, GBH STUDIO SIX</p><p>Laurie Donnelly, Executive Producer, GBH STUDIO SIX</p><p>Cameo George, Executive Producer, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE</p><p>Chris Schmidt, Co-Executive Producer, NOVA</p><p>Susanne Simpson, Executive Producer, MASTERPIECE</p><p>Judith Vecchione, Executive Producer, GBH STUDIO SIX</p>
<div class="newsletter"></div>

<p>This week’s tragic killings in Atlanta are a continuation of the anti-Asian racism the country has seen for the past year. The attached letter is a joint statement reflecting our collective stand against this racism and for a commitment to fostering inclusivity in our country.</p>

NOVA Marathons: Space & The Universe

<div class="related"></div>
<p>Hello, NOVA fans! We understand that many of you may be spending more quality time at home than usual. And, as schools across the country close, fostering student learning at home is a top priority.</p><p>In the upcoming weeks, we’ll be sharing collections of some of our favorite NOVA films—all organized by subject to make online bingeing, learning, and entertainment as easy as possible for science lovers of all ages.</p><p>Astronomy-aficionados get ready: The subject of this collection is “Space &amp; The Universe.” And starting Thursday, April 2, come back to our home planet for a collection of NOVA shows that explore what makes it such a unique and powerful place: Planet Earth.</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/series/planets/episodes/"><i>The Planets</i> series</a> (2019)</h3>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/FvibjeL8klt7Hf9IWWVjTQ==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p></p><p>The life of our solar system told in five dramatic stories spanning billions of years. In this five-part series, NOVA will explore the awesome beauty of “The Planets,” including Saturn’s 175,000-mile-wide rings, Mars’ ancient waterfalls four times the size of any found on Earth, and Neptune’s winds—12 times stronger than any hurricane felt on our planet. Using unique special effects and extraordinary footage captured by orbiters, landers, and rovers, we’ll treat viewers to an up-close look at these faraway worlds.</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/black-hole-apocalypse/">Black Hole Apocalypse</a> (2018)</h3>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/SUMhfAdAoxLpLOlZxIPQVw==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p></p><p>Black holes are the most enigmatic and exotic objects in the universe. They’re also the most powerful, with gravity so strong it can trap light. And they’re destructive, swallowing entire planets, even giant stars. Anything that falls into them vanishes…gone forever. Now, astrophysicists are realizing that black holes may be essential to how our universe evolved—their influence possibly leading to life on Earth and, ultimately, us. In this two-hour special, astrophysicist and author Janna Levin takes viewers on a journey to the frontiers of black hole science.</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/apollos-daring-mission/">Apollo’s Daring Mission</a> (2018)</h3>
<div class="cove-video">
</div>
<p></p><p>Apollo astronauts and engineers tell the inside story of Apollo 8, the first manned mission to the moon. The U.S. space program suffered a bitter setback when Apollo 1 ended in a deadly fire during a pre-launch run-through. In disarray, and threatened by the prospect of a Soviet Union victory in the space race, NASA decided upon a radical and risky change of plan: turn Apollo 8 from an earth-orbit mission into a daring sprint to the moon while relying on untried new technologies. Fifty years after the historic mission, the Apollo 8 astronauts and engineers recount the feats of engineering that paved the way to the moon.</p>
<div class="ad"></div>
<h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/nova-wonders-whats-the-universe-made-of/">NOVA Wonders: What’s the Universe Made Of?</a> (2018)</h3>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/V5pkFExyV6BW6AIpbX6xdA==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p></p><p>The universe is hiding something. In fact, it’s hiding a lot. Everything we experience on Earth, the stars, and galaxies we see in the cosmos—all the “normal” matter and energy that we understand—make up only 5% of the known universe. The other 95% is made up of two mysterious components: “dark matter” and “dark energy.” We can’t see them, but we know they’re there. And what’s more—these two shadowy ingredients are locked in an epic battle to control the very fate of the universe.</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/finding-life-beyond-earth/">Finding Life Beyond Earth</a> (2011)</h3><p></p>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/pvW-axs76zXkBNwS6L91YA==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p></p><p>Take a spectacular trip to distant realms of our solar system to discover where secret forms of life may lie hidden. Combining the latest telescope images with dazzling animation, this program immerses audiences in the sights and sounds of alien worlds, while top astrobiologists explain how these places are changing how we think about the potential for life in our solar system. We used to think our neighboring planets and moons were fairly boring—mostly cold, dead rocks where life could never take hold. Today, however, the solar system looks wilder than we ever imagined.</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/series/the-fabric-of-the-cosmos/">Fabric of the Cosmos, hosted by Brian Greene</a> (2011)</h3><p></p>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/eo17-0EWPPyuvZ5Cfri_2A==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p></p><p>Acclaimed physicist Brian Greene reveals a mind-boggling reality beneath the surface of our everyday world. "The Fabric of the Cosmos," a four-hour series based on the book by renowned physicist and author Brian Greene, takes us to the frontiers of physics to see how scientists are piecing together the most complete picture yet of space, time, and the universe. With each step, audiences will discover that just beneath the surface of our everyday experience lies a world we'd hardly recognize—a startling world far stranger and more wondrous than anyone expected.</p>
<div class="newsletter"></div>

<p>Six episodes exploring the vast, mysterious, and powerful universe we live in.</p>

NOVA Marathons: Planet Earth

<div class="related"></div>
<p>Hello, NOVA fans! We understand that many of you may be spending more quality time at home than usual. And, as schools across the country close or remain closed, fostering student learning at home is a top priority.</p><p>In the upcoming weeks, we’ll be sharing collections of some of our favorite NOVA films—all organized by subject to make bingeing, learning, and entertainment as easy as possible for science lovers of all ages.</p><p>Ever wondered what makes our home planet such a unique and powerful place? Get ready: The subject of this collection is “Planet Earth.”</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/polar-extremes/">Polar Extremes</a> (2020)</h3>
<div class="cove-video">
</div>
<p>In this two-hour special, renowned paleontologist Kirk Johnson takes us on an epic adventure through time at the polar extremes of our planet. Following a trail of strange fossils found in all the wrong places—beech trees in Antarctica, hippo-like mammals in the Arctic—Johnson uncovers the bizarre history of the poles, from miles-high ice sheets to warm polar forests teeming with life. What caused such dramatic changes at the ends of the Earth? And what can the past reveal about our planet’s climate today—and in the future?</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/decoding-the-weather-machine/">Decoding the Weather Machine</a> (2018)</h3>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/H7q0rXRDFnfW4yA7OYTyjg==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p>Disastrous hurricanes. Widespread droughts and wildfires. Withering heat. Extreme rainfall. It is hard not to conclude that something’s up with the weather, and many scientists agree. It’s the result of the weather machine itself—our climate—changing, becoming hotter and more erratic. In this two-hour documentary, NOVA will cut through the confusion around climate change. Why do scientists overwhelmingly agree that our climate is changing, and that human activity is causing it? How and when will it affect us through the weather we experience? And what will it take to bend the trajectory of planetary warming toward more benign outcomes? Join scientists around the world on a quest to better understand the workings of the weather and climate machine we call Earth, and discover how we can be resilient—even thrive—in the face of enormous change.</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/rise-of-the-superstorms/">Rise of the Superstorms</a> (2018)</h3>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/LLBs2FGbRBULPX-Lvda84Q==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p>In just one devastating month, Houston, Florida, and the Caribbean were changed forever. In summer 2017, three monster hurricanes swept in from the Atlantic one after another, shattering storm records and killing hundreds of people. First, Harvey brought catastrophic rain and flooding to Houston, causing $125 billion in damage. Less than two weeks later, Irma lashed the Caribbean with 180 mile per hour winds—and left the island of Barbuda uninhabitable. Hot on Irma’s heels, Maria intensified from a Category 1 to a Category 5 hurricane in just 30 hours, then ravaged Puerto Rico and left millions of people without power. As the planet warms, are these superstorms the new normal? How well can we predict them? And as the U.S. faces the next hurricane season, does it need to prepare for the reality of climate refugees? NOVA takes you inside the 2017 superstorms and the cutting-edge research that will determine how well equipped we are to deal with hurricanes in the future.</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/killer-volcanoes/">Killer Volcanoes</a> (2017)</h3>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/pJbcEyLDTUdJWlYJ2tdNXA==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p>Follow a team of volcano sleuths as they embark on a worldwide hunt for an elusive volcanic mega-eruption that plunged medieval Earth into a deep freeze. The mystery begins when archaeologists find a hastily dug mass grave of 4,000 men, women, and children in London. At first they assume it’s a plague pit from the Black Death, but when they date the bones, they turn out to be too old by a century. So what killed off these families? The chronicles of that time describe a run of wild weather that devastated crops and spread famine across Europe. NOVA’s expert team looks for the signature of a volcanic eruption big enough to have blasted a huge cloud of ash and sulfuric acid into the atmosphere, which chilled the entire planet. From Greenland to Antarctica, the team finds telltale “fingerprints” in ice and soil layers until, finally, they narrow down the culprit to a smoldering crater on a remote Indonesian island. Nearly 750 years ago, this volcano’s colossal explosion shot a million tons of rock and ash every second into the atmosphere. Across the globe, it turned summer into winter. What would happen if another such cataclysm struck again today?</p>
<div class="ad"></div>
<h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/decoding-the-great-pyramid/">Decoding the Great Pyramid</a> (2019)</h3>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/nmqhp2k72C1d2o56dNn2Ww==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p>The 6 million-ton Great Pyramid of Giza is the last surviving wonder of the ancient world. How did the Egyptians engineer the mighty pharaoh Khufu’s tomb so precisely, with none of today’s surveying and power tools? And who were the thousands of laborers who raised the stones? Were they slaves or volunteers, and how were they housed, fed, and organized? "Decoding the Great Pyramid" presents the latest evidence from groundbreaking archaeological research that has transformed our understanding of the ancient world’s most ambitious engineering project, revealing a “lost city" and intimate details of the lives of the laborers and officials who toiled on the vast construction. Amazingly, French archaeologists recently found the logbook of a labor team that delivered limestone blocks to build the Great Pyramid, yielding crucial insights into the planning and logistics behind the operation. Beyond these construction secrets, "Decoding the Great Pyramid" traces how mobilizing the colossal labor and resources invested in the monument transformed ancient Egypt, uniting a nation behind the common goal of ensuring eternity for the pharaoh and continuing prosperity for everyone in this life and the next.</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/earth-from-space/">Earth from Space</a> (2013)</h3>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/QGQjF0tND6JtPH7_ixbs7Q==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p>"Earth From Space" is a groundbreaking two-hour special that reveals a spectacular new space-based vision of our planet. Produced in extensive consultation with NASA scientists, NOVA takes data from Earth-observing satellites and transforms it into dazzling visual sequences, each one exposing the intricate and surprising web of forces that sustains life on Earth. Viewers witness how dust blown from the Sahara fertilizes the Amazon; how a vast submarine "waterfall" off Antarctica helps drive ocean currents around the world; and how the sun's heating up of the southern Atlantic gives birth to a colossally powerful hurricane. From the microscopic world of water molecules vaporizing over the ocean to the magnetic field that is bigger than Earth itself, the show reveals the astonishing beauty and complexity of our dynamic planet.</p>
<div class="newsletter"></div>

<p>Six episodes exploring our unique and awe-inspiring planet.</p>

NOVA Marathons: Animals

<div class="related"></div>
<p>Hello, NOVA fans! We understand that many of you may be spending more quality time at home than usual. And, as schools across the country close and remain closed, fostering student learning at home is a top priority.</p><p>In the upcoming weeks, we’ll be sharing collections of some of our favorite NOVA films—all organized by subject to make bingeing, learning, and entertainment as easy as possible for science lovers of all ages.</p><p>Have you ever wanted to see the world through the eyes of nature's fastest animal or wondered if your dog really loves you? Get ready: The subject of this collection is “Nature and Animals.”</p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/cat-tales/">Cat Tales</a> (2020)</h3>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/tws7Wt377-eG25GE1Y0PbA==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p>Worshipped as a goddess, condemned as satanic, and spun into a stunning array of breeds, cats have long fascinated humans.<br/>But did we ever really domesticate them? And what can science tell us about our most mysterious companions?</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/dog-tales/">Dog Tales</a> (2020)</h3>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/mMXj-a-IJPTGuOWsCTy60Q==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p>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 domestication and intelligence offers clues into what the human-dog relationship is all about. And analyzing dogs’ brain activity and genes may even help answer the question of whether dogs are in it for the food—or if they really love us.</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/worlds-fastest-animal/">World's Fastest Animal</a> (2018)</h3>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/p_5jSLDZ5b7od3GEaSdsOA==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p>See the world through the eyes of nature’s fastest animal: the peregrine falcon. Though once perilously endangered in the U.S., this spectacular predator is now thriving again in American cities and on every continent but Antarctica. What is the secret to its predatory prowess? To find out, follow a young family of peregrines in urban Chicago as the chicks hatch and learn from their parents to fly and hunt. And join expert falconer Lloyd Buck as he trains a captive peregrine and puts its hunting skills to the test. What’s the secret behind the peregrine falcon’s blistering speed, able to reach nearly 200 mph?</p>
<div class="ad"></div>
<h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/nova-wonders-what-are-animals-saying/">NOVA Wonders: What Are Animals Saying?</a> (2018)</h3>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/XexiUXdPY4DWoCQML2ajcQ==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p>From singing whales and squeaking bats to thumping spiders and clicking dolphins, the world is filled with the exotic sounds of our fellow creatures. What are they saying? While we believe language sets us apart, some animals demonstrate they can learn our language—like Chaser the dog, who recognizes hundreds of words, and Kanzi the bonobo, who appears to have a sophisticated understanding of spoken English. But can we decode their own communications? <i>NOVA Wonders</i> follows researchers around the globe who are deciphering an amazing array of clues that reveal how animals share information critical to their survival. Will we one day be able to write the bat dictionary or decode the hidden sign language of chimps? And what can these findings tell us about the roots of our own language?</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/inside-animal-minds-whos-the-smartest/">Inside Animal Minds: Who's the Smartest?</a> (2013)</h3>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/LvU51_0NSnauxuDJgDct-Q==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p>What makes an animal smart? What forces of evolution drive brains to become more complex? Many scientists believe the secret lies in our relationships. Throughout the animal kingdom, some of the cleverest creatures—including humans—seem to be those who live in complex social groups, like dolphins, elephants, and apes. Could the skills required to keep track of friend and foe make animals smarter? To find out, NOVA goes inside the social lives of some of the smartest animals on the planet. Off the coast of Florida, we see dolphins team up to catch fish by whipping up a wall of muddy water that drives the meal right into their companions' waiting mouths. It seems that the dolphins are working together to plan their hunt. But are they really? Biologists go on a quest to decipher the secrets of animal societies, from the seas of the Caribbean to the plains of Africa. Do dolphins and elephants have "language?" Do chimps have a sense of fairness? And are any animals besides ourselves capable of feeling empathy?</p>
<div class="newsletter"></div>

<p>Five episodes exploring the companionship, communication, and amazingness of animals.</p>

NOVA Marathons: Health & Medicine

<div class="related"></div>
<p>Hello, NOVA fans! We understand that many of you may be spending more quality time at home than usual. And, as schools across the country remain closed, fostering student learning at home is a top priority.</p><p>In the upcoming weeks, we’ll be sharing collections of some of our favorite NOVA films—all organized by subject to make bingeing, learning, and entertainment as easy as possible for science lovers of all ages.</p><p>Whether you've ever been curious about the microscopic world of organisms living inside you or wanted a deeper understanding of the science of addiction, get ready: The subject of this collection is “Health and Medicine.”</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/decoding-covid-19/">Decoding COVID-19 (2020)</a></h3>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/HXkHLQage26PbuFC6kGJBA==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p>The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has upended life as we know it in a matter of mere months. But at the same time, an unprecedented global effort to understand and contain the virus—and find a treatment for the disease it causes—is underway. Join the doctors on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 as they strategize to stop the spread, and meet the researchers racing to develop treatments and vaccines. Along the way, discover how this devastating disease emerged, what it does to the human body, and why it exploded into a pandemic.</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/addiction/">Addiction (2018)</a></h3>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/nsAhJUwZeQjLlEe-tdOBhA==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p>Hear firsthand from individuals struggling with addiction and follow the cutting-edge work of doctors and scientists as they investigate why addiction is not a moral failing, but a chronic, treatable medical condition. Easy access to drugs like heroin, fentanyl, and even prescription medications like OxyContin has fueled an epidemic of addiction—the deadliest in U.S. history. Now, science is revealing how addiction affects the brain, and top experts are gathering evidence about how we should address our drug problem, from embracing evidence-based treatments, to rethinking public policies.</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/poisoned-water/">Poisoned Water (2017)</a></h3>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/3i4SjtYbvWRYYZzdbKMhKg==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p>Water. Turn on the faucet and it’s always there. Without it we perish. But how safe is our tap water?</p><p>In this special report narrated by Joe Morton, NOVA investigates what happened in Flint, Michigan, when local officials changed the city’s water source to save money, but overlooked a critical treatment process. As the water pipes corroded, lead leached into the system, exposing the community—including thousands of children—to dangerous levels of poison. NOVA uncovers the science behind this manmade disaster— from the intricacies of water chemistry to the biology of lead poisoning to the misuse of science itself. NOVA follows ordinary citizens and independent scientists who exposed the danger lurking in Flint’s water and confronted those who turned a blind eye. And discover the disturbing truth that reaches far beyond Flint—water systems across the country are similarly vulnerable. How can we protect ourselves from poisoned water?</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/vaccinescalling-the-shots/">Vaccines—Calling the Shots (2014)</a></h3>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/gV0oUYDf3Pn4kEkxKfiR6w==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p>Diseases that were largely eradicated in the United States a generation ago—whooping cough, measles, mumps—are returning, in part because nervous parents are skipping their children's shots. NOVA's "Vaccines—Calling the Shots" takes viewers around the world to track epidemics, explore the science behind vaccinations, hear from parents wrestling with vaccine-related questions, and shed light on the risks of opting out.</p>
<div class="ad"></div>
<h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/nova-wonders-whats-living-in-you/">NOVA Wonders: What's Living in You? (2018)</a></h3>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/1QpQ96_iPAGqlyj7Q9jMSw==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p>Whether they make you fat, fart, or freak out, microbes play a central role in your life.</p><p>Right beneath your nose—on your face, in your gut, and everywhere in between—trillions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi are so abundant in your body, they outnumber your human cells. But these aren’t just nasty hitch-hikers. Many are crucial to your survival. Evidence suggests that a diverse microbiome can keep you healthy and, conversely, a damaged one could kill you. <i>NOVA Wonders</i> peers into this microscopic world to discover the fascinating, bizarre, and downright surprising secrets of the human microbiome, including the world’s largest stool bank, which transforms raw stool into life-saving poop pills.</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/lifes-greatest-miracle/">Life's Greatest Miracle (2001)</a></h3>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/kObJ26XLrcH_9pTye1r3PA==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p>A sequel to one of the most popular NOVAs of all time, "Miracle of Life," this Emmy Award-winning program tracks human development from embryo to newborn using the extraordinary microimagery of Swedish photographer Lennart Nilsson.</p>
<div class="newsletter"></div>

<p>Six episodes exploring the fascinating science and innovations in health and medicine.</p>

Five Technology Documentaries Streaming Right Now

<div class="related"></div>
<p>Hello, NOVA fans! We understand that many of you may be spending more quality time at home than usual. And, as schools across the country remain closed, fostering student learning at home is a top priority.</p><p>In the upcoming weeks, we’ll be sharing collections of some of our favorite NOVA films—all organized by subject to make bingeing, learning, and entertainment as easy as possible for science lovers of all ages.</p><p>Have you ever wondered about the ethics of genetic engineering or considered whether autonomous vehicles will someday take over our roads? Get ready: The subject of this collection is “Technology.”</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/decoding-da-vinci/">Decoding da Vinci (2019)</a></h3>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/v7M7siwVEBVXuW-k5hBsYQ==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p>Leonardo da Vinci was a Renaissance genius. Not only did he paint masterpieces of art, but he was an obsessive scientist and inventor, dreaming up complex machines centuries ahead of his time, including parachutes, armored tanks, hang gliders, and robots. On the 500th anniversary of Leonardo’s death, with the help of biographer Walter Isaacson, NOVA investigates the secrets of Leonardo’s success. How did his scientific curiosity, from dissections of cadavers to studies of optics, shape his genius and help him create perhaps the most famous painting of all time, the "Mona Lisa"?</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/rise-of-the-rockets/">Rise of the Rockets (2019)</a></h3>
<div class="cove-video">
</div>
<p>Rockets are becoming cheaper and more powerful than ever before thanks to stunning new technologies. As companies like SpaceX and Virgin Galactic make space more accessible, and NASA returns to crewed spaceflight, a new era of space exploration seems to be on the horizon. But will this seeming rocket Renaissance become more than just hype? NOVA explores the latest rocket technologies and the growing role private citizens may have in space.</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/look-whos-driving/">Look Who's Driving (2019)</a></h3>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/EQ3HFDrDYpUJwdM5378-Ow==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p>After years of anticipation, autonomous vehicles are now being tested on public roads around the world. As ambitious innovators race to develop what they see as the next high-tech pot of gold, some experts warn there are still daunting challenges ahead, including how to train artificial intelligence to be better than humans at making life-and-death decisions. How do self-driving cars work? How close are we to large-scale deployment of them? And will we ever be able to trust AI with our lives?</p>
<div class="ad"></div>
<h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/school-of-the-future/">School of the Future (2016)</a></h3>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/wLUEkmSJfSPxk6Ma_G5gWg==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p>In a new age of information, rapid innovation, and globalization, how can we prepare our children to compete? Once the envy of the world, American schools are now in trouble. Test scores show our kids lag far behind their peers from other industrialized countries, and as the divide between rich and poor grows wider, the goal of getting all kids ready for college and the workforce gets harder by the day. How can the latest research help us fix education in America? Can the science of learning—including new insights from neuroscientists, psychologists, and educators—reveal how kids’ brains work and tell us which techniques are most likely to engage and inspire growing minds? What role should technology play in the classroom? Teachers, students, parents, and scientists take center stage as NOVA explores a new vision for the “School of the Future.”</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/nova-wonders-can-we-make-life/">NOVA Wonders: Can We Make Life? (2018)</a></h3>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/rYIl583jgSYkfInGyvisNA==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p>"It's alive!" Since Dr. Frankenstein spoke those famous words, we've been alternately enthralled and terrified by the idea of creating life in the lab. Now, a revolution in genetic engineering and thrilling innovations in synthetic biology are bringing that dream—or nightmare, as the case may be—closer to reality. New tools allow researchers to use cells to create their own DNA and edit it into existing genomes with more ease and less cost than ever before. Along with renewed hopes for treating some genetic diseases, there's serious talk of using the newest technologies to bring long-extinct animals back from the dead – like the team hoping to resurrect the woolly mammoth. Science fiction is quickly becoming science fact. Another daring genetic experiment to bioengineer animals could prevent Lyme disease. But the power to make life comes with deep ethical questions. What are the potential rewards—and dangers—of tinkering with nature? <i>NOVA Wonders</i> explores the benefits and the burden of risk surrounding the controversial new technology.</p>
<div class="newsletter"></div>

<p>Five episodes exploring the revolution and ethics of technology.</p>

NOVA STAFF

Articles