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By now, most of us know what the Earth looks like from space. But what it sounds like is another matter. Scientists have long known that radiation belts surrounding our planet—also called the Van Allen belts—produce a storm of electromagnetic waves across a range of frequencies. When reproduced as sound instead of radiation, the result is a string of chirps, chatters, whoops, and whistles reminiscent of an extraterrestrial jungle from a sci-fi movie. Yet despite their otherworldly tenor, they are perhaps the most earthly of sounds.

Twin satellites probing the Earth's radiation belts return the clearest recordings yet of a "chorus" of radio waves.

Tim De Chant

What Does the Earth Sound Like?

Space & Flight

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US & Territories

NOVA investigates the story of cannabis from the criminalization that has disproportionately harmed communities of color to the latest medical understanding of the plant. What risks does cannabis pose to the developing brain? How much do we know about its potential medical benefits? As cannabis becomes socially accepted, scientists are exploring its long-term health consequences. (Premiered September 29, 2021)Check out a previously recorded panel discussion and audience Q&amp;A featuring experts and producers from "The Cannabis Question" <a href="https://youtu.be/nSTT5RZ_hxA">here</a>.

As state-legalized cannabis spreads, NOVA explores its little-known risks and benefits.

The Cannabis Question

A 2006 composite image from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and Spitzer Telescope shows the chaos of baby stars in the Orion nebula some 1,500 light-years away. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/STScI

With the upcoming launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, the Hubble era is gradually drawing to a close. Here are some highlights from the countless wonders Hubble has shown us during its 31 years in space.

10 spectacular Hubble Space Telescope images

A statue of Zheng He at the Sam Poo Kong Temple in Java, Indonesia. Image Credit: Budianto Santosa, Shutterstock

In the 1400s, Zheng He sailed thousands of miles around Asia and Africa in ships the size of soccer fields, spreading Chinese innovations like compasses and gunpowder in the process.

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