About this season
PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and technology, and highlights the people involved in scientific pursuits.
Episodes (8)
1. Asteroids: Spark of Life?
5.5Aired 21 January 2026 • 54 min
What if asteroids, long feared as destroyers of life, were key to our existence? Explore a revolutionary theory that these violent collisions provided the essential ingredients – water, minerals, and energy – needed to jumpstart life on Earth.
2. Angkor: Hidden Jungle Empire
5.5Aired 28 January 2026 • 54 min
Deep in the Cambodian jungle lie the ruins of Angkor, a marvel of urban engineering and seat of the once-mighty Khmer Empire. New discoveries are revealing how this ancient metropolis was built – and what likely led to its devastating collapse.
3. Can Dogs Talk?
1.0Aired 4 February 2026 • 54 min
Can dogs understand what we say—and talk back? Witness amazing moments from a major experiment, as thousands of dogs use speech buttons. Pet owners are convinced, but are our furry friends really communicating their thoughts and desires with us?
4. Mammal Origins
1.0Aired 11 February 2026 • 54 min
The surprising story of mammal evolution begins long before the age of dinosaurs. Witness how some of our prehistoric mammal relatives survived global catastrophes, defying extinction and evolving into the vast array of mammals we know today – including us.
7. Rain Bombs
Aired 22 April 2026 • 54 min
An invisible force is causing chaos around the globe. Follow scientists racing to understand the catastrophic "rain bombs" that are sinking ships and downing planes. Can they learn to predict these devastating weather events and save lives?
5. Stone Age Temple Mystery
3.5Aired 25 February 2026 • 54 min
Surprising evidence at the world's oldest temple overturns our understanding of human history. The latest excavations at the 12,000 year-old Göbekli Tepe in Turkey are making archaeologists rethink the roots of civilization.
6. Return to the Moon
10.0Aired 15 April 2026 • 54 min
A half-century after Apollo, the Artemis missions aim to bring astronauts back to the Moon and establish a lunar space station. Follow the Artemis II engineers and crew on the perilous 10-day journey to orbit the Moon.
8. Athens: Birth of Democracy
Aired 29 April 2026 • 54 min
Follow archaeological investigations into the dramatic origins of democracy in Greece 2,500 years ago. Mass graves and ancient ruins where tyrants were murdered shine new light on the birth of a revolutionary form of government.