NOVA Presents

Latest Episodes:

Black Hole Geometry Will Warp Your Brain | Janna Levin Feb 18, 2026

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Black holes can be bigger on the inside than they are on the outside. Astrophysicist Janna Levin explains how this is possible, and what that means about how black holes work.

For more, check out the extended interview with Janna Levin.

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Your Brain: Perception and Control Feb 17, 2026

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Are we really in control of our own minds? Research suggests our sense of control may be far more fragile – and far stranger – than we imagine. From moments when the body seems to act without us, to the eerie ways our brains can warp what we think we’ve heard, scientists are uncovering a picture of the mind that’s anything but straightforward. And beneath it all lies a surprising discovery: the brain is less an observer of reality than a prediction engine, forever guessing what comes next.

To watch the full film, visit https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/series/your-brain/

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What Exactly Is a Law of Nature? | Robert Hazen & Michael Wong Feb 11, 2026

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What’s the difference between a fact, a law, and a theory? Mineralogist Robert Hazen and astrobiologist Michael Wong unpack the hierarchy of scientific ideas and reveal how laws of nature elegantly unify the universe.

For more, check out the extended interview with Robert Hazen and Michael Wong.

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How Many Microbes Live on Earth? | Peter Girguis Feb 04, 2026

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Sorry, Beyoncé, it turns out microbes rule the world. Microbiologist Peter Girguis explains how to conceptualize just how many microbes are on Earth… and how understanding this helps us look for life on other worlds.

For more, check out the extended interview with Peter Girguis.

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Hunt for the Oldest DNA Feb 03, 2026

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Scientists have discovered the oldest DNA ever found: tiny fragments hidden in the dirt. The idea that soil could hold genetic traces from creatures that vanished millions of years ago seemed impossible – until one researcher had the wild idea to go and look. But how did he find DNA that most scientists thought could never survive? What forgotten worlds can this buried DNA reconstruct? And what might these revelations tell us about our own future on a rapidly changing planet?

To watch the full film, visit here.

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Why Tropical Trees Don’t Have Rings | Kirk Johnson Jan 28, 2026

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Growth rings on trees can measure time, allowing scientists to date things from the deep past. But, paleobotantist Dr. Kirk Johnson explains why, in the tropics, some trees have no rings.

For more, check out the extended interviewwith Kirk Johnson.

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How Weight Loss Drugs Were Inspired by Gila Monsters | Sean B. Carroll Jan 21, 2026

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Nature has been solving problems for billions of years. Evolutionary biologist Sean B. Carroll reveals why scientists still turn to evolution’s inventions for life-saving breakthroughs, from GLP-1 drugs to statins.

For more, check out the extended interview with Sean B. Carroll.

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Introducing NOVA Remix Jan 20, 2026

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Science's most astonishing breakthroughs, from whale evolution and thawing permafrost to black holes and quantum entanglement, to the hidden chambers of the Great Pyramid. NOVA Remix transforms decades of award-winning storytelling into immersive audio adventures. Discoveries that don't just change science, they change how you see the world. Whether you're a diehard nerd or just curious by nature, subscribe and hear it like never before.

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De-Extincted” Dire Wolf Pups Are Growing Up | Beth Shapiro Jan 14, 2026

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In 2024, scientists claimed they achieved the unthinkable: the birth of dire wolf pups, reviving a species that vanished thousands of years ago. Now, those pups are growing—and changing. Evolutionary biologist Beth Shapiro reveals what it’s like to watch these predators mature into modern beasts.

For more, check out the extended interview with Beth Shapiro.

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How AI Is Taking “Future-Proof” Jobs | Hany Farid Jan 07, 2026

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Is AI coming for your job? AI Expert Hany Farid breaks down how AI is taking jobs once considered “future-proof” and shares his advice to prepare young people for the future.

For more, check out the extended interview with Hany Farid.

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