NOVA

1. S01E01The Making of a Natural History FilmMarch 3, 1974—NOVA premieres on public television with a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a nature film. Oxford Scientific Films Unit shows how it
2. S01E02Where Did the Colorado Go?March 10, 1974—NOVA explores the mighty Colorado River which today has become the life-blood of the Southwest, providing water and electricity to the farms
3. S01E03Whales, Dolphins, and MenMarch 17, 1974—NOVA explores the impact of whaling and the goods it produces for the industry, verses the grace and beatury of this intelligent mammal of t
4. S01E04The Search for LifeMarch 24, 1974—Does life exist outside this planet? The Viking lander will set down on Mars in July 1976 to try to find out just that. NOVA explores how li
5. S01E05Last of the CuivaMarch 31, 1974—How does a primitive nomadic tribe of the Amazon basin cope with the encroachment of Western settlers? NOVA looks at both sides of the story
6. S01E06Strange SleepApril 7, 1974—Medicine was transformed in the 19th century by the discovery of anesthesia; surgery, until then hasty, bloody and completely unable to deal
7. S01E07The Crab NebulaApril 14, 1974—In 1054 AD, the Chinese recorded the explosion of a star so bright that it lit the sky for three weeks, even during the day. It was the expl
8. S01E08Bird Brain: The Mystery of Bird NavigationApril 21, 1974—Birds migrate in search of perpetual summer, sometimes traveling as much as 20,000 miles every year. NOVA uses radar to track and identify m
9. S01E09Are You Doing This for Me, Doctor?April 28, 1974—The advance of medicine depends inevitably on the testing of experimental procedures on human volunteers from either the healthy or the sick
10. S01E10The First Signs of WashoeMay 5, 1974—Washoe is a chimp more like a person: she talks with her hands. NOVA visits with Washoe and her teachers—Professor Allen Gardner and Dr. Tri
11. S01E11The Case of the Midwife ToadMay 12, 1974—When Paul Kammerer committed suicide in 1926, it was taken by most of his fellow biologists as a tacit admission of guilt that he had faked
12. S01E12Fusion: The Energy of PromiseMay 19, 1974—Nuclear fusion offers the promises of an unlimited, clean source of energy. But achieving fusion has proved one of the most difficult and el
13. S01E13The Mystery of the AnasaziMay 26, 1974—Who were the people that built the first cities -- complete with apartment blocks -- in North America? They were the Anasazi Indians, who li

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

1. S02E01Why Do Birds Sing?November 3, 1974—NOVA travels to forests and marshes to discover why birds sing and finds surprising parallels with the acquisition of speech in humans.
2. S02E02How Much Do You Smell?November 10, 1974—Many insects and some mammals use smell as a primary means of communication. NOVA explains how, for example, the entire economy of an ant's
3. S02E03The Hunting of the QuarkNovember 17, 1974—Smashing matter into ever smaller pieces in an attempt to find its fundamental building blocks has produced a confused nightmare of particle
4. S02E04The Secrets of SleepNovember 24, 1974—Most of us spend one-third of our lives in a state of which we understand remarkably little—some people sleep for only a few minutes a night
5. S02E05Inside the Golden GateDecember 1, 1974—NOVA joins a team of U.S. Geological Survey scientists on a mission to find out just how San Francisco Bay works: its physics, its chemistry
6. S02E06The Men Who Painted CavesDecember 8, 1974—Just why did Cro-Magnon man living in France's Dordogne Valley some 15,000 years ago take time out from the desperate business of survival t
7. S02E07Red Sea CoralDecember 15, 1974—NOVA joins a group of English biologists living literally on a platform in the middle of the Red Sea, who for several years have been studyi
8. S02E08War from the AirJanuary 5, 1975—NOVA explores how science and technology play a major role in the design of weapons of war and the development of strategies for their use.
9. S02E09What Time Is Your Body?January 12, 1975—Have you ever sensed that your body reacts differently at different times of the day? NOVA examines the best and worse times for work, good
10. S02E10The Rise and Fall of DDTJanuary 19, 1975—Has the case against DDT been proven? A strange question, perhaps, to be asking one year after the US has banned the insecticide, but NOVA d
11. S02E11Take the World from Another Point of ViewFebruary 2, 1975—NOVA profiles two very different scientists: Richard Feynman, a theoretical physicist, at the pinnacle of his career—a Nobel prizewinner; an
12. S02E12The Lysenko AffairFebruary 9, 1975—NOVA explores T.D. Lynsenko's rise to power in the Soviet Union in the early 20th century, and how it affected plant genetic research in the
13. S02E13The TuaregsFebruary 16, 1975—High in the Hoggar Mountains, in the exact center of the Sahara desert, lives Sidi Mohammed and his family: children, grandchildren, cousins
14. S02E14The Plutonium ConnectionMarch 9, 1975—How likely is it that a terrorist group will steal plutonium intended for nuclear reactor fuel and put together a blackmail weapon of unprec
15. S02E15The Other WayMarch 16, 1975—Since the Industrial Revolution, bigger has been better. NOVA profiles E.F. Schumacher, the author of Small is Beautiful, who thinks that en
16. S02E16The Lost World of the MayaMarch 30, 1975—Since the Industrial Revolution, bigger has been better. NOVA profiles E.F. Schumacher, the author of Small is Beautiful, who thinks that en
17. S02E17Will the Fishing Have to Stop?April 6, 1975—Fish is an excellent source of protein; it could help ease the growing international food shortage. But in 1972 the total world fish catch d

Season 2 ranked & reviewed

1. S03E01Predictable DisasterJanuary 4, 1976—It is now possible to predict earthquakes. At least two successful predictions have already been made in the United States; and the NOVA cre
2. S03E02JoeyJanuary 11, 1976—NOVA takes viewers into the world of Joey Deacon, 54 years old and a spastic since birth. Joey has lived most of his life in institutions, u
3. S03E03Meditation and the MindJanuary 18, 1976—What do singer Peggy Lee, New York Jets Quarterback Joe Namath and Congressman Richard Nolas have in common? They all practice a ritual call
4. S03E04The PlanetsJanuary 25, 1976—The last fourteen years have been a revolution in our understanding of our place in the stars, the Solar System. Beginning in 1961 with a Ru
5. S03E05A Desert PlaceFebruary 1, 1976—NOVA explores the mysterious ecosystem of the desert: a snowstorm; a lashing summer monsoon; and the emergence—in a pool created only minute
6. S03E06A Small ImperfectionFebruary 8, 1976—Every year, some 5,000 babies are born in the US with spina bifida, a congenital abnormality of the central nervous system. NOVA explores th
7. S03E07Ninety Degrees BelowFebruary 15, 1976—There's one place on earth where no one will ever catch a cold. And the freezing waters are so bitter there that a fish has been discovered
8. S03E08The Race for the Double HelixMarch 7, 1976—Author Isaac Asimov joins NOVA in the retelling of the remarkable story of the discovery of the structure of DNA. James Watson and his ex-co
9. S03E09The Renewable TreeMarch 7, 1976—Each Sunday edition of the New York Times consumes 153 acres of trees. The paper packs, napkins, paper cups and packing used by McDonald's g
10. S03E10The Williamsburgh FileMarch 14, 1976—NOVA joins chief archaeologist, Ivor Noel Hume, of Colonial Williamsburg, VA, for a fascinating glimpse of the lifestyles of the founders of
11. S03E11The Overworked MiracleMarch 21, 1976—NOVA joins chief archaeologist, Ivor Noel Hume, of Colonial Williamsburg, VA, for a fascinating glimpse of the lifestyles of the founders of
12. S03E12The Transplant ExperimentApril 11, 1976—Dr. Norman Shumway of Stanford University has performed more heart transplants than any other heart surgeon. NOVA explores those extraordina
13. S03E13The Underground MovementApril 18, 1976—NOVA explores life underground, from foxes and badgers through moles and worms down to the myriad of micro-organisms that make soil the most
14. S03E14Hunters of the SealMay 2, 1976—NOVA shows the Netsilik eskimoes of Pelly Bay and their traditional way of life and what happens when Western civilization is imposed upon t
15. S03E15BenjaminMay 9, 1976—Benjamin is a healthy, normal baby, whom we meet at birth and whose first year of life provides the backbone of this revealing NOVA about ea
16. S03E16The Women RebelMay 23, 1976—Margaret Sanger was responsible almost single-handedly for changing the whole attitude of the male-dominated medical profession towards "wom
17. S03E17Death of a DiseaseJune 6, 1976—As late as 1967, smallpox struck as many as 15 million people in 43 countries and killed an estimated two or three million. Experts now beli
18. S03E18Inside the SharkJune 13, 1976—The "Jaws" phenomenon has given sharks a bad name. But is the shark really such a barbarian? NOVA looks at the lifestyle of this remarkable
19. S03E19The Genetic ChanceJune 20, 1976—Recent scientific developments have made it possible to detect a wide variety of defects in unborn babies. NOVA focuses on the ethical quest
20. S03E20The Case of the Bermuda TriangleJune 27, 1976—Since 1945, hundreds of ships and planes and thousands of people have mysteriously disappeared in an area of the Atlantic Ocean off of Flori

Season 3 ranked & reviewed

1. S04E01Hitler's Secret WeaponJanuary 5, 1977—NOVA traces the development of Hitler's V-2 rocket through rare footage obtained from the National Archives—some never broadcast before on t
2. S04E02The Hot Blooded DinosaursJanuary 12, 1977—If you were a dinosaur scientist, what would you do with a pile of fossil bones? How would you even start to put the giant jigsaw puzzle tog
3. S04E03What Price Coal?January 19, 1977—What is the price we are prepared to pay for coal? NOVA looks at the environmental and health safety issues raised by the government, indust
4. S04E04The Sunspot MysteryFebruary 2, 1977—NOVA explores the research on the 1976 drought in the western United States which led some solar scientists to discover the link between wea
5. S04E05The Plastic PrisonFebruary 9, 1977—NOVA follows the lives of three boys who have combined immunodeficiency—a disease that leaves its victims with no immune system.
6. S04E06Incident at Brown's FerryFebruary 23, 1977—NOVA recreates March 1975 at Brown's Ferry, an Alabama nuclear power plant—the largest in the world—that suffered a seven-hour fire which ca
7. S04E07Bye Bye BlackbirdMarch 2, 1977—NOVA looks at blackbirds, their winter habit of nesting in the millions, and the destruction they do to crops.
8. S04E08The Pill for the PeopleMarch 9, 1977—NOVA profiles chemist Russell Marker who made the birth control pill possible by discovering a synthetic substitute for the hormone progeste
9. S04E09The Gene EngineersMarch 16, 1977—NOVA explores the history of genetic engineering and the possible risks and benefits of this area of research.
10. S04E10The Human AnimalMarch 23, 1977—NOVA investigates the controversial theory of Harvard University biologist E.O. Wilson, that many aspects of human behavior are genetically
11. S04E11The Wolf EquationMarch 30, 1977—In the winter of 1976-77, 80 percent of the wolf population in Northwest Alaska was the target of aerial hunts. Although the area is roamed
12. S04E12The Dawn of the Solar AgeApril 20, 1977—Solar energy is increasingly popular as a home heating source. But only recently has it been seriously considered as a source of industrial
13. S04E13The Business of ExtinctionApril 20, 1977—NOVA explores the huge international illegal trade in animals, penetrates the thriving underworld of smugglers and assesses the effects on v
14. S04E14The Red PlanetApril 27, 1977—NOVA traces 300 years of speculation, investigation and discovery that have centered on Mars—particularly the theory that the planet could s
15. S04E15Tongues of Men (1)May 11, 1977—In part one of this two-part exploration of the diversity of world languages, NOVA examines how and why the bewildering confusion of languag
16. S04E16Tongues of Men (2)May 18, 1977—In part two of this two-part series on the diversity of language, NOVA explores how man has coped with the confusion of language and asks if
17. S04E17Linus Pauling: Crusading ScientistJune 1, 1977—NOVA profiles Linus Pauling—the only person to have received two unshared Nobel Prizes for his work in nuclear weapons.
18. S04E18Across the Silent BarrierJune 22, 1977—NOVA explores the different means by which hearing-impaired people have learned to penetrate the world of the hearing by visiting with Kitty
19. S04E19The New HealersJune 29, 1977—NOVA explores the debilitating diseases that are often caused by poverty and follows two paths to health care in Tanzania and the United Sta
20. S04E20The Green MachineJanuary 11, 1978—Botany is a neglected science and plants are all around us, but unfamiliar. NOVA examines our state of knowledge of how plants work: growth

Season 4 ranked & reviewed

1. S05E01In the Event of CatastropheJanuary 4, 1978—Can a nuclear war be survived? Some members of the defense community say yes. NOVA explores the possibility.
2. S05E02Blueprints in the BloodstreamJanuary 18, 1978—It has been known since the turn of the century that there are four human blood groups, based on different red cells and serum characteristi
3. S05E03One Small Step (1)January 25, 1978—Part one of a two-part series on the subject of man in space, NOVA examines the history of NASA—from the origin of the space race through th
4. S05E04The Final Frontier (2)February 1, 1978—Second of the two-part series on space programs, NOVA looks ahead to the future, post-Apollo and the role that man in space will play, inclu
5. S05E05BaMiki BaNdula: Children of the ForestFebruary 15, 1978—In the rain forests of Zaire, in the heart of Africa, live the Mbuti Pygmies. The Pygmy way of life has always been extraordinarily difficul
6. S05E06Trial of Denton CooleyFebruary 22, 1978—In a dramatic docudrama, NOVA reconstructs the controversial lawsuit raised against renowned heart surgeon Dr. Denton Cooley when one of his
7. S05E07The Great Wine RevolutionMarch 1, 1978—A science-based revolution in the making of wine is underway. NOVA traces the secrets of the aging process and science's involvement with th
8. S05E08The Case of the Ancient AstronautsMarch 8, 1978—NOVA investigates the theories of von Daniken and others that the Earth has been visited by intelligent beings from outer space. Among claim
9. S05E09The Mind MachinesMarch 22, 1978—Today's scientists may be creating their own successors. Work being done in Artificial Intelligence (AI), a branch of computer science, only
10. S05E10Icarus' ChildrenMarch 29, 1978—In the summer of 1977 Paul MacCready, a California scientist and businessman, won the coveted Kremer Prize. His achievement was to design an
11. S05E11Still WatersApril 12, 1978—NOVA shows a year in the life of a beaver pond and includes almost every life form that exists in, on, under, around and above the water, fr
12. S05E12Battle for the AcropolisApril 19, 1978—The fortified plateau above Athens known as the Acropolis is the site of some of the most remarkable architecture in the world: its marble s
13. S05E13Road to HappinessMay 3, 1978—Henry Ford, a great friend of Edison, was a film enthusiast who amassed some one and a half million feet of film during his lifetime. Deposi
14. S05E14Light of the 21st CenturyMay 10, 1978—When first invented 18 years ago, lasers were called "a solution looking for a problem;" nobody could think what to do with them. But in fac
15. S05E15The Insect AlternativeMay 24, 1978—In a world that each year loses up to 40 percent of its crops to insects, some form of pest control is desperately needed. But chemical pest
16. S05E16The Desert's EdgeMay 31, 1978—For thousands of years people have managed to live in deserts all over the world. But in recent years, a growing population and the demands
17. S05E17The Tse Tse TrapJune 7, 1978—NOVA explores Bovine sleeping sickness. Spread by a fly, it is a deadly disease that poses a threat to Africa's cattle.
18. S05E18Memories from EdenJune 14, 1978—Traditionally zoos were designed neither for people nor animals; barred cages taught people more about their separation from nature than abo
19. S05E19A Whisper from SpaceJune 21, 1978—In 1965, Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson, two radio astronomers at Bell Telephone Laboratories, discovered faint, but ever-present, microwave
20. S05E20Alaska: The Closing FrontierJune 28, 1978—Congress is currently considering a proposal that would double the size of America's national park system by designating a sizeable chunk of

Season 5 ranked & reviewed

1. S06E01Black TideJanuary 4, 1979—On the morning of March 16, 1978, the US owned, Liberian registered supertanker, the Amoco Cadiz, went aground off the coast of Brittany. Ov
2. S06E02Long Walk of Fred YoungJanuary 11, 1979—As a child, Fred Young hunted birds and wild animals with primitive weapons, spoke only the Indian languages Ute and Navajo, went to a medic
3. S06E03A World of DifferenceJanuary 18, 1979—In 1945, B.F. Skinner shocked the world by putting his 13 month-old daughter, Deborah, into a 'box.' The box was actually a climate-controll
4. S06E04Cashing in on the OceanFebruary 1, 1979—The bed of the northeast Pacific Ocean is covered with a "carpet" estimated to be worth a staggering ten million dollars. These manganese no
5. S06E05Patterns from the PastFebruary 8, 1979—Below the snow-capped peaks of the Peruvian Andes, the Q'eros Indians live a life patterned on that of their ancestors thousands of years ag
6. S06E06The Invisible FlameFebruary 22, 1979—Some day hydrogen may replace the gasoline that we are now using up so rapidly. NOVA looks at the potential of hydrogen as a zero-pollution
7. S06E07The End of the RainbowMarch 1, 1979—Is nuclear fusion the solution to the energy crisis? NOVA examines the promise—and problems—of fusion as a future energy source.
8. S06E08The Beersheva ExperimentMarch 8, 1979—Health care is the third largest industry in the US. As a result of billions of dollars spent for medical education in the 1960s, there are
9. S06E09EinsteinMarch 15, 1979—One hundred years after his birth, Albert Einstein remains an enigma to most Americans. NOVA presents an insightful portrait of the man and
10. S06E10The Keys of ParadiseMarch 29, 1979—
11. S06E11A Plague on our ChildrenOctober 2, 1979—Is the chemical industry a boom to modern civilization, or a major threat to our health and that of future generations? NOVA examines how to
12. S06E12Life on a Silken ThreadOctober 9, 1979—Sinister, sometimes even deadly, spiders have little popular appeal; yet their silken webs are among nature's loveliest creations. NOVA take
13. S06E13Sweet SolutionsOctober 16, 1979—NOVA views the history of sugar—from its scientific, religious and political history to its medical controversy.
14. S06E14Race for the GoldOctober 30, 1979—At the 1976 Olympics, East German athletes walked off with 40 of the coveted gold medals, though their country is only the size of New Jerse
15. S06E15All Part of the GameNovember 6, 1979—Thousands of amateur athletes are hurt every year, and many professional athletes suffer injuries that may mean the end of a career. NOVA lo
16. S06E16India: Machinery of HopeNovember 20, 1979—Most of India lives by the same rhythm, the same tools, as in centuries past. But there is another India—with thriving commercial centers, s
17. S06E17The Bridge that Spanned the WorldDecember 4, 1979—The Iron Bridge across the River Severn in Telford, England is two centuries old this year. It remains a monument to the Shropshire iron mas
18. S06E18Termites to TelescopesDecember 11, 1979—Dr. Philip Morrison, Institute Professor and Professor of Physics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, presents this thoughtful and pro
19. S06E19Blindness: Five Points of ViewsDecember 18, 1979—For many people the idea of life without vision is as fearful as death. NOVA looks at five people struggling to save their threatened vision

Season 6 ranked & reviewed

1. S07E01The Elusive IllnessJanuary 15, 1980—Aborigines in Australia, woodchucks in Pennsylvania, the Nobel Prize in Stockholm and the gay community in New York—what could possibily lin
2. S07E02A is for Atom, B is for BombJanuary 22, 1980—NOVA profiles Dr. Edward Teller, the "Father of the Hydrogen Bomb," an acclaimed scientific genius and brilliant theoretician, and a man con
3. S07E03Living MachinesFebruary 5, 1980—NOVA explores the science of natural engineering and asks the basic questions: what makes a good design in nature and why did a particular p
4. S07E04Portrait of a KillerFebruary 19, 1980—More than 40 million Americans are afflicted by cardiovascular disease. NOVA examines the new information on risk factors and possible preve
5. S07E05Umealit: The Whale HuntersMarch 4, 1980—Whaling is an integral part of Eskimo life, and a major source of food; even so, conservationists are seeking to restrict the hunting of bow
6. S07E06The Safety FactorMarch 11, 1980—Recent aircraft accidents have raised the question of just how safe modern commercial aviation really is. NOVA looks at some of the problems
7. S07E07A Mediterranean ProspectMarch 18, 1980—Every year, millions of tourists converge on the Mediterranean's sunny coasts, lured by the prospect of bathing in clear, azure waters and b
8. S07E08Mr. Ludwig's Tropical DreamlandMarch 25, 1980—NOVA explores the amazing Jari project of the Amazon basin. Eleven years ago, 3.5 million acres of virgin jungle were bought by the reclusiv
9. S07E09The Pinks and the BluesSeptember 30, 1980—NOVA explores the shaping and molding of the male and female personality. From infancy through childhood, the program documents the impact o
10. S07E10The Cancer Detectives of Lin XianOctober 7, 1980—In one of the first films ever to come out of modern China, NOVA sifts through clues that Chinese scientists have uncovered in their pursuit
11. S07E11The Sea Behind the DunesOctober 14, 1980—One year in the intricate life of a coastal lagoon unfolds in an hour's time when NOVA documents the fragile tidal ecosystem which supports
12. S07E12Do We Really Need the Rockies?October 28, 1980—Locked in the shale of the Western Rocky Mountains is more oil than in the Middle East—more than enough to solve our dependence on foreign c
13. S07E13The Big IFNovember 4, 1980—Is interferon—known as IF in medical shorthand—the wonder drug and cure for cancer that some doctors claim? NOVA travels to London, Stockhol
14. S07E14Voyager: Jupiter & BeyondNovember 11, 1980—On Wednesday, November 12, 1980, Voyager 1 is expected to arrive at Saturn for a first time ever extensive close-up investigation of the maj
15. S07E15The Wizard Who Spat on the FloorNovember 18, 1980—Thomas Edison is the quintessential American hero, the Wizard whose inventions revolutionized modern living. But there was always more to Ed
16. S07E16The Water CrisisNovember 25, 1980—Water, water everywhere...but just how useful is it? NOVA travels to the Adirondack Mountains where acid rain is killing many high elevation
17. S07E17Moving StillDecember 2, 1980—NOVA tells the story of still and cine photography in science—from the extraordinary work of the pioneers in the early 1800s to how the abil
18. S07E18A Touch of SensitivityDecember 9, 1980—The exquisite sensitivity of tough cells in the human skin makes it possible for us to discriminate with precision the slightest changes in
19. S07E19The Red Deer of RhumDecember 23, 1980—The cuddly image of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer has become an integral part of the jollity of the Christmas season. NOVA takes a timely l
20. S07E20It's About TimeDecember 30, 1980—Time—a concept which has baffled scientists and philosophers since time immemorial. Actor Dudley Moore hosts a funny, sobering and visually

Season 7 ranked & reviewed

1. S08E01Doctors of NigeriaJanuary 6, 1981—Is the fagara root a match for the stethoscope? This program looks at the contributions of both traditional herbal medicine and western orth
2. S08E02Message in the RocksJanuary 20, 1981—This program explores clues gathered from ancient rocks and meteorites in an attempt to piece together how our planet formed, what happened
3. S08E03The Dead Sea LivesJanuary 27, 1981—NOVA examines the Dead Sea. The lowest place on earth, at 1400 feet below sea level, it is jointly owned by Israel and Jordan. If used prope
4. S08E04Anatomy of a VolcanoFebruary 10, 1981—When Mt. St. Helens erupted earlier this year, it focused the attention of the whole world on the almost incredible destructive forces that
5. S08E05The Science of MurderFebruary 17, 1981—NOVA investigates what science can do in helping to solve murder—in understanding why it occurs, and how the rate might be reduced—and explo
6. S08E06The Malady of Health CareFebruary 24, 1981—NOVA investigates what science can do in helping to solve murder—in understanding why it occurs, and how the rate might be reduced—and explo
7. S08E07Beyond the Milky WayMarch 3, 1981—Sophisticated instruments used by astronomers enable earthlings to see beyond what was once the cloudy barrier of the Milky Way, to a univer
8. S08E08The Asteroid and the DinosaurMarch 10, 1981—For 150 million years, dinosaurs dominated the earth. Then, 65 million years ago, they suddenly vanished, along with a great deal of the pla
9. S08E09Animal OlympiansMarch 17, 1981—The beauty, endurance, and raw power of animals in the wild are captured on film as NOVA juxtaposes Olympic athletes performing feats which
10. S08E10Resolution on SaturnAugust 28, 1981—It's over 300 years since Galileo turned his new telescope on Saturn and first saw its spectacular rings. NOVA shows the beauty and new myst
11. S08E11Computers, Spies & Private LIvesSeptember 27, 1981—NOVA reports on the potential danger of modern computers that gather "routine" information about our daily lives as we buy things, go to the
12. S08E12Why America BurnsOctober 4, 1981—More people die in fires in the US than in any other industrialized country. In an alarming report that challenges the complacency of the US
13. S08E13The Great Violin MysteryOctober 11, 1981—A great secret lies locked inside the master violins created by Italian craftsmen like Antonio Stradivari in the 17th and 18th centuries. No
14. S08E14Cosmic FireOctober 18, 1981—A NOVA showing the extraordinary discoveries of X-ray astronomy. This new science has revealed that our universe is much stranger and more v
15. S08E15Locusts: War Without EndOctober 25, 1981—Called the "teeth of the wind" by those who have battled them for centuries, locusts continue to plague hundreds of millions of people. Rare
16. S08E16Did Darwin Get It Wrong?November 1, 1981—The controversy which exploded a century ago when Charles Darwin published "The Origin of Species" is erupting again with new facts and emot
17. S08E17Artists in the LabNovember 15, 1981—Many were delighted by the extraordinary special effects in movies like "2001" and" Star Wars," but few realized how their magic relied on t
18. S08E18Notes of a Biology Watcher: A Film with Lewis ThomasNovember 22, 1981—You are not alone! Like it or not, every human being and virtually every living creature is, in a sense, owned and operated by legions of pr
19. S08E19City Spaces, Human PlacesNovember 29, 1981—William H. Whyte's insightful and humorous look at city parks, plazas and streets, and the people who use them. Whyte shows the remarkable r
20. S08E20TwinsDecember 6, 1981—Ever thought what it's like having your mirror image talk back to you? It can be an everyday occurrence for identical twins. NOVA tells the

Season 8 ranked & reviewed

1. S09E01Salmon on the RunJanuary 10, 1982—NOVA captures the breathtaking power and determination of these amazing creatures and examines how business and technology are changing the
2. S09E02Test-Tube Babies: A Daughter for JudyJanuary 17, 1982—NOVA presents a dramatic, exclusive film of the first "test-tube" baby born in America, Elizabeth Jordan Carr. NOVA follows the pregnancy fr
3. S09E03Field Guide to Roger Tory PetersonJanuary 24, 1982—NOVA takes an intimate look at Robert Tory Peterson, the man whose best-selling guide books to ornithology have played a pivotal role in tur
4. S09E04The Hunt for the Legion KillerJanuary 31, 1982—One of the biggest investigations in medical history began when a mysterious killer disease broke out during independence celebrations in Ph
5. S09E05Finding a VoiceFebruary 7, 1982—What is it like not to be able to communicate with others? NOVA explores the severest of speech disabilities with Dick Boydell—born with cer
6. S09E06The Television ExplosionFebruary 14, 1982—NOVA explores the past, present, and future of American television including the potential of cable, the Columbus, Ohio, two-way TV experime
7. S09E07Life: Patent PendingFebruary 28, 1982—NOVA shows how scientists go about creating new forms of life, and investigates the impact of the gene bonanza on industry, medicine, and th
8. S09E08Palace of DelightsMarch 7, 1982—NOVA visits San Francisco's Exploratorium—part laboratory, part school, part three-ring circus—run by an unlikely collection of physicists a
9. S09E09Animal ImpostersMarch 14, 1982—In this vivid study of mimicry and camouflage NOVA shows dramatically how snakes, butterflies, fish, turtles and many other kinds of animals
10. S09E10Aging: The Methuselah SyndromeMarch 28, 1982—What is aging? Why does it happen? Can it be stopped? NOVA presents a startling report on research into the processes which make us age and
11. S09E11The Case of the UFOsOctober 12, 1982—For the first time on television a rigorous, scientific investigation into the fact, fiction, and hoax of unidentified flying objects. With
12. S09E12The Fragile MountainOctober 19, 1982—The Himalayas, highest peaks in the world, are crumbling. People are making them crumble, and people are the victims, as NOVA reveals in thi
13. S09E13Here's Looking at You KidNovember 9, 1982—Of the 70,000 Americans hospitalized annually for severe burns, one-third are children. NOVA tells the story of extraordinary personal resil
14. S09E14Adventures of Teenage ScientistsNovember 16, 1982—NOVA introduces some of the winners of the 1982 Westinghouse Science Talent Search: high school students whose interests range from silkworm
15. S09E15The Cobalt BluesNovember 23, 1982—An investigative report on US dependence on foreign sources of strategic minerals, vital to the aerospace and steel industries, which examin
16. S09E16Goodbye LouisianaNovember 30, 1982—NOVA reports on the staggering water problems of Southern Louisiana—where the mighty Mississippi is threatening to change its course, and wh
17. S09E17Whale WatchDecember 7, 1982—NOVA follows the great grey whales along their annual marathon migration from the Arctic to the Mexican coast and reveals little known facts
18. S09E18Tracking the SupertrainsDecember 14, 1982—While America's passenger-train service deteriorates, trains in Japan and Europe are speeding ahead at over 150 miles per hour. NOVA reports

Season 9 ranked & reviewed

1. S10E01Hawaii: Crucible of LifeJanuary 18, 1983—This land of fire and beauty is the most isolated island chain in the world. NOVA cameras uncover an extraordinary world far from the teemin
2. S10E02The Pleasure of Finding Things OutJanuary 25, 1983—NOVA captivates a remarkably candid portrait of Nobel prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman, a man of few pretensions and tremendous perso
3. S10E03Lassa FeverFebruary 8, 1983—A gripping docudrama about a mysterious, highly lethal disease which struck a village in Nigeria in 1969, and the frustrating, seesaw battle
4. S10E04The Miracle of LifeFebruary 15, 1983—NOVA presents the first film ever made of the incredible chain of events which turns a sperm and an egg into a newborn baby. Amazing photogr
5. S10E05Asbestos: A Lethal LegacyMarch 1, 1983—Every 58 minutes between now and the end of the century, one American will die from asbestos exposure. NOVA turns its spotlight on the tragi
6. S10E06City of CoralMarch 8, 1983—NOVA takes a spellbinding voyage through one of the world's most fascinating and colorful ecosystems: a coral reef, where the line between p
7. S10E07Fat Chance in a Thin WorldMarch 22, 1983—"Why can't I lose weight?" It's a question many Americans ask themselves everyday. NOVA comes up with some surprising answers about weight a
8. S10E08Sixty Minutes to MeltdownMarch 29, 1983—The accident at Three Mile Island made front page news all over the world and rocked the entire nuclear power industry. In this special 90-m
9. S10E09Signs of the Apes, Songs of the WhalesOctober 11, 1983—The dream of talking with animals has been with us for centuries. NOVA explores the latest research, from language experiments with dolphins
10. S10E10The Artificial HeartOctober 18, 1983—Seattle dentist Barney Clark received the first complete artificial heart implant in 1982 and lived on for three post-operative months. NOVA
11. S10E11Talking TurtleOctober 25, 1983—NOVA looks at computers in the classroom through the eyes of MIT's Seymour Papert, father of the Turtle—a computerized robot that crawls on
12. S10E12Papua New Guinea: Anthropology on TrialNovember 1, 1983—Remote tribes and exotic islanders have been made known to the world through the lens of anthropology. But in recent years, some of these pe
13. S10E13To Live Until You Die: The Work of Elizabeth Kubler-RossNovember 8, 1983—Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross has become a legend in her lifetime for her work with the dying. For the first time on American television, her ex
14. S10E14A Magic Way of Going: The Story of ThoroughbredsNovember 15, 1983—Can the thoroughbred horse run any faster? NOVA examines the billion-dollar horse racing industry in its search for the magic combination of
15. S10E15A Normal Face: The Wonders of Plastic SurgeryNovember 22, 1983—When plastic surgeons repair the shattered face of a soldier or rescue a child from a disfiguring disease, the victory is more than skin-dee
16. S10E16Captives of CareNovember 25, 1983—Patients at an Australian institution for the severely handicapped rebel against a pair of over-zealous custodians. This astonishing true st
17. S10E17Twenty-Five Years in SpaceDecember 6, 1983—As the American space program celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, NOVA chronicles the effects of the space age on earth, drawing on p
18. S10E18Nuclear Strategy for BeginnersDecember 13, 1983—As the American space program celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, NOVA chronicles the effects of the space age on earth, drawing on p
19. S10E19The Climate CrisisDecember 20, 1983—This summer's record temperatures may be one of the signs that the earth's atmosphere is warming up. NOVA looks at the climate predictions a
20. S10E20Eyes Over ChinaDecember 27, 1983—NOVA documents a dramatic encounter in international medicine when an American plane lands in China—equipped with a state-of-the-art eye-ope
21. S10E21Alcoholism: Life Under the InfluenceJanuary 10, 1984—In a culture laced with alcohol, the search for a scientific understanding of alcoholism is as complex as the disease. In an interdisciplina

Season 10 ranked & reviewed

1. S11E01The Case of ESPJanuary 17, 1984—In the past decade, a number of researchers have begun systematic laboratory research into extrasensory perception—ESP. NOVA considers the c
2. S11E02Antarctica: Earth's Last FrontierJanuary 31, 1984—An astronaut once observed a great white light shining out from the bottom of our world: Antarctica, the ice-covered continent we are only j
3. S11E03China's Only ChildFebruary 14, 1984—Efforts to control the population explosion are among the burning controversies of our time. NOVA looks at the one-child policy of the Peopl
4. S11E04Will I Walk Again?February 28, 1984—Is there a cure for paralyzing spinal injuries? Most neurosurgeons are doubtful, pointing to the central nervous system's most apparent inab
5. S11E05Visions of the Deep: The Underwater World of Al GiddingsMarch 6, 1984—Is there a cure for paralyzing spinal injuries? Most neurosurgeons are doubtful, pointing to the central nervous system's most apparent inab
6. S11E06Down on the FarmMarch 20, 1984—Agriculture is America's biggest industry. This productivity, envied around the world, is also depleting the most essential ingredients in f
7. S11E07Make My People Live: The Crisis in Indian Health CareMarch 27, 1984—What are America's obligations to its native population? As an important Indian health act comes up for renewal in Congress this Spring (198
8. S11E08The World According to WeiskoffApril 30, 1984—Victor Weisskoff: physicist, lover of music and citizen of the world. NOVA profiles the international statesman of science and learns that o
9. S11E09Space Bridge to MoscowOctober 2, 1984—At a time when scientific exchange between the United States and the Soviet Union is at its lowest since the 1950s, a special hookup will al
10. S11E10The National Science Test IOctober 16, 1984—NOVA departs from tradition with the first National Science Test. Viewers can match wits with celebrity panelists Jane Alexander, Jules Berg
11. S11E11Fountains of ParadiseOctober 20, 1984—NOVA explores the billion-dollar-plus Mahaweli Irrigation Project in Sri Lanka. Will this high-risk project prove to be a great leap forward
12. S11E12The Mystery of Yellow RainOctober 30, 1984—NOVA explores whether "yellow rain," described by members of the Hmong tribe of Laos, is a form of chemical warfare—or a naturally occurring
13. S11E13The Nomads of the Rain ForestNovember 6, 1984—NOVA visits a tribe of Ecuadoran Indians who still maintain traditions that date back to the Stone Age—thirty years after their first contac
14. S11E14Farmers of the SeaNovember 13, 1984—NOVA looks at the "blue revolution"—modern advances in the ancient art of raising aquatic animals and plants—in the United States, Japan, Sc
15. S11E15Frontiers of Plastic SurgeryNovember 20, 1984—NOVA's sequel to "A Normal Face" examines the merging of technology and art in modern reconstruction and cosmetic surgical techniques.
16. S11E16Space WomenNovember 27, 1984—They have been part of the United States' space program for more than 20 years. Who are these talented, courageous women? NOVA looks at astr
17. S11E17Jaws: The True StoryDecember 4, 1984—Acclaimed underwater cameraman Al Giddings takes NOVA viewers beneath the waves to explore the fact and fiction surrounding the Great White
18. S11E18Acid Rain: New Bad NewsDecember 11, 1984—The debate over acid rain continues to grow. NOVA travels to West Germany, the mid-Atlantic states and New England to examine the controvers
19. S11E19Stephen Jay Gould: This View of LifeDecember 18, 1984—What do dinosaurs, a panda's thumb and a peacock's tail have in common? Dr. Stephen Jay Gould, the internationally renowned paleontologist a
20. S11E20The Garden of InheritanceJanuary 8, 1985—In this docudrama presentation, NOVA looks at the life, times and work of Gregor Mendel, the 19th century Augustinian friar whose revolution

Season 11 ranked & reviewed

1. S12E01Edgerton and His Incredible Seeing MachinesJanuary 15, 1985—NOVA explores the fascinating world of Dr. Harold Edgerton, electronics wizard and inventor extraordinaire, whose invention of the electroni
2. S12E02Global VillageJanuary 22, 1985—NOVA presents an in-depth look at India's attempt to use satellite technology to leapfrog into the era of space-age communication and whethe
3. S12E03Conquest of the ParasitesJanuary 29, 1985—NOVA examines the complex world of parasites, parasitic diseases and the exciting work currently being done by a new breed of medical resear
4. S12E04In the Land of the Polar BearsFebruary 5, 1985—A rare look at the beautiful and desolate Wrangel Island-a Soviet possession 300 miles off the coast of Alaska-as seen through the eyes of S
5. S12E05AIDS: Chapter OneFebruary 12, 1985—Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS, is a deadly disease that has struck down some 2,000 people in the four years since its discove
6. S12E06The Shape of ThingsFebruary 19, 1985—Sea shells, crystals, honeycombs, eggs and seeds: They are shaped the way they are for a reason. NOVA takes viewers on a unique journey of d
7. S12E07Baby TalkFebruary 26, 1985—It's a mystery just how children acquire language. Does the process begin in the womb? And which comes first, language or thought? NOVA expl
8. S12E08The Mathematical Mystery TourMarch 5, 1985—Imagine a bottle with no inside or a number bigger than infinity or parallel lines that meet. Welcome to the world of pure mathematics. NOVA
9. S12E09Child's Play: Prodigies and PossibilitiesMarch 12, 1985—What do Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the painter Raphael and chess champion Bobby Fischer have in common? They were all child prodigies. NOVA ex
10. S12E10Monarch of the MountainsMarch 19, 1985—NOVA explores the breeding, migration and survival patterns of the Rocky Mountain elk in a unique film, made totally under natural condition
11. S12E11The National Science Test IIOctober 8, 1985—In NOVA's special sequel to1984's National Science Test, viewers can match wits with celebrity panelists David Attenborough, Michelle Johnso
12. S12E12Seeds of TomorrowOctober 15, 1985—NOVA examines worldwide efforts of scientists who employ aggressive agricultural technologies to ensure food for the future.
13. S12E13What Einstein Never KnewOctober 22, 1985—Albert Einstein did not live to find the answer. NOVA follows a new generation of physicists in their search to explain the mystery of the u
14. S12E14The Robot Revolution?October 29, 1985—How are the computer and the robot affecting the way we work? NOVA chronicles the new industrial revolution reshaping the American workplace
15. S12E15The Magic of Special EffectsNovember 5, 1985—NOVA cameras go behind-the-scenes to reveal the new art of illusion, Hollywood-style, focusing on three blockbuster films—"Return of the Jed
16. S12E16Child Survival: The Silent EmergencyNovember 12, 1985—NOVA charts the progress of an ambitious worldwide health program established to save the lives of millions of children who continue to die
17. S12E17Tornado!November 19, 1985—NOVA follows a chase team—a group of scientists who chart deadly tornadoes—in an effort to learn more about predicting nature's most powerfu
18. S12E18The Genetic GambleNovember 26, 1985—NOVA examines current research and its ethical implications as modern medicine confronts the era of human gene therapy.
19. S12E19Animal ArchitectsDecember 3, 1985—NOVA examines the intricate world of nature's construction industry and presents rare footage of unusual habits.
20. S12E20The Plane that Changed the WorldDecember 17, 1985—NOVA joins the 50th anniversary celebration of the DC-3—the plane that revolutionized commercial air travel, served gallantly in World War I

Season 12 ranked & reviewed

1. S13E01Halley's Comet: Once in a LifetimeJanuary 21, 1986—NOVA observes worldwide preparations as amateur comet hunters, astronomers and scientists armed with specialized cameras, high powered teles
2. S13E02Goddess of the EarthJanuary 28, 1986—Gaia, the Greek word for Earth goddess, also is the name of the controversial hypothesis that life on Earth controls the environment. NOVA e
3. S13E03Horsemen of ChinaFebruary 4, 1986—For centuries, the Chinese Kazakh horseman preserved their ancient traditions, refusing to be dominated by either the Chinese or nearby Russ
4. S13E04Life's First FeelingsFebruary 11, 1986—NOVA explores the incredibly complex emotional development of infants and examines the current theory that early childhood psychological int
5. S13E05The Case of the Frozen AddictFebruary 18, 1986—In July 1982, a 42-year-old addict in a San Jose, California jail became paralyzed—unable to move or talk. His symptoms, caused by a bad bat
6. S13E06Toxic TrialsFebruary 25, 1986—In July 1982, a 42-year-old addict in a San Jose, California jail became paralyzed—unable to move or talk. His symptoms, caused by a bad bat
7. S13E07Skydive to the Rain ForestMarch 4, 1986—NOVA journeys to a remote region of southern Venezuela where the land is alive with spectacular waterfalls, colored by exotic flowers and in
8. S13E08Return of the OspreyMarch 11, 1986—NOVA follows a conservation success story as environmentalists, scientists and bird-lovers fight to save the majestic Osprey from extinction
9. S13E09The Rise of a Wonder DrugMarch 18, 1986—When Alexander Fleming discovered the penicillin mold in 1928, he never considered its possible therapeutic value. NOVA explores the "Flemin
10. S13E10When Wonder Drugs Don't WorkMarch 25, 1986—NOVA examines the medical community's alarm as the spread of antibiotic-resistant infection increases, and studies how one hospital fights i
11. S13E11Visions of Star WarsApril 22, 1986—NOVA and Frontline combine resources to explore the Strategic Defense Initiative. The two-hour documentary contains the most comprehensive i
12. S13E12The Search for the DisappearedOctober 14, 1986—NOVA joins scientists in Argentina as they help locate kidnapped children and identify thousands of dead in the aftermath of a military reig
13. S13E13The Planet that Got Knocked on its SideOctober 21, 1986—The adventures of the Voyager 2 spacecraft continue as it passes the rings of Uranus. Scientists suspect that violent events in the early hi
14. S13E14High-Tech BabiesNovember 4, 1986—Scientific breakthroughs now make it possible to reproduce ourselves in ways never before imagined. NOVA looks at the medical, legal and mor
15. S13E15Can AIDS Be Stopped?November 11, 1986—What are the prospects for halting or curing the deadliest epidemic ever to challenge modern medicine? NOVA finds cause for both hope and al
16. S13E16Is Anybody Out There?November 18, 1986—Could there be life beyond Earth? Only recently has it become possible to scan the skies in a systematic attempt to find out. NOVA joins the
17. S13E17Mystery of the Animal PathfindersNovember 25, 1986—Birds do it; bees do it, butterflies, bats and eels do it—all leave one habitat to migrate to another, often thousands of miles away. NOVA p
18. S13E18Are You Swimming in a Sewer?December 2, 1986—NOVA dips into the sad plight of our coastal waters, where toxic chemicals, raw sewage and disease-carrying microbes are routinely dumped.
19. S13E19Sail Wars!December 9, 1986—Yankee ingenuity has designs on the America's Cup. NOVA goes behind-the-scenes to look at the engineering effort to design a technically adv
20. S13E20Leprosy Can Be Cured!December 16, 1986—Leprosy, a misunderstood disease that has been curable for 40 years, still afflicts some 12 million people. NOVA looks at the tragedy of the
21. S13E21How Babies Get MadeJanuary 13, 1987—NOVA explores the ground-breaking experiments that led to the discovery of a tiny sequence of molecules—and more clues to the mystery of how

Season 13 ranked & reviewed

1. S14E01Countdown to the Invisible UniverseJanuary 20, 1987—NOVA scans the universe with the infrared eye of IRAS—the Infrared Astronomical Satellite—and discovers never-before-seen comets, stars, gal
2. S14E02Children of EveJanuary 27, 1987—NOVA examines a controversial theory that traces our ancestry to a small group of women living in Africa 300,000 years ago.
3. S14E03Why Planes CrashFebruary 3, 1987—Between 60 and 80 percent of all commercial airplane accidents are attributable to pilot error. NOVA looks at some shocking instances of pil
4. S14E04Orangutans of the Rain ForestFebruary 10, 1987—NOVA cameras travel to Borneo, one of the last habitats of the wild orangutans, where scientists study the endangered ape. Who is observing
5. S14E05Freud Under AnalysisFebruary 17, 1987—Fifty years after his death, the creator of psychoanalysis is still the subject of intense debate. Was Freud right or wrong? NOVA profiles t
6. S14E06The Hole in the SkyFebruary 24, 1987—NOVA travels to Antarctica with an emergency scientific expedition to study a baffling "hole" in the Earth's protective ozone layer.
7. S14E07Confessions of a WeaponeerMarch 3, 1987—Harvard chemist George Kistiakowsky was an anti-Bolshevik soldier in 1919 Russia, an atomic bomb scientist at Los Alamos, a presidential adv
8. S14E08Great Moments from NOVAMarch 10, 1987—NOVA presents two hours of the best from its 14 seasons of exciting science coverage. A "talking" chimp, an exploding volcano and a sight-an
9. S14E09Will the World Starve?March 24, 1987—All over the world, farmers are taking more from the soil than they return. NOVA reports on the soil crisis in world agriculture—a plight th
10. S14E10The Desert Doesn't Bloom Here AnymoreMarch 31, 1987—In rich and poor countries alike, once-productive farms are turning to desert because of mismanagement of water resources. NOVA examines the
11. S14E11Rocky Road to JupiterApril 7, 1987—In a case study of the strengths and weaknesses of the United States space program, NOVA chronicles the ambitious and long-delayed Galileo m
12. S14E12Death of a StarOctober 6, 1987—A star blows itself apart in a nearby galaxy, and astronomers scramble to study the rare event. NOVA covers a fast-breaking science story as
13. S14E13Spy MachinesOctober 13, 1987—On the 25th anniversary of the Cuban missile crisis, NOVA investigates the spy planes and satellites that played a critical role in history
14. S14E14Hidden Power of PlantsOctober 20, 1987—Plants produce some of the world's most potent chemicals in the fight against disease. NOVA follows the urgent efforts to track down new med
15. S14E15Japan's American GeniusOctober 27, 1987—Is Detroit inventor Stanford Ovshinsky the new Thomas Edison? Japanese industries are betting that the genius behind amorphous materials-a s
16. S14E16A Man, A Plan, A Canal, PanamaNovember 3, 1987—The Panama Canal opened in 1914 after a 30-year effort that dwarfed the building of the pyramids. Historian David McCullough navigates throu
17. S14E17Volcano!November 10, 1987—Millions live in the shadows of nature's ticking time-bombs—volcanoes. NOVA accompanies scientists who are developing new techniques to pred
18. S14E18How Good is Soviet Science?November 17, 1987—NOVA takes a behind-the-scenes look at science and technology in the USSR, where the government is trying novel approaches in an effort to c
19. S14E19Ancient Treasures from the DeepDecember 1, 1987—NOVA joins underwater archaeologists as they explore the oldest shipwreck ever excavated, a richly-laden merchant vessel dating from the tim
20. S14E20Riddle of the JointsDecember 8, 1987—A trail of evidence leading from a medieval abbey to a small town in Connecticut sheds new light on rheumatoid arthritis, a crippling inflam
21. S14E21Secrets of the Lost Red Paint PeopleDecember 15, 1987—NOVA follows archaeologists as they unearth clues, some 7,000 years old, about an unknown, mysterious and advanced sea-faring people who liv

Season 14 ranked & reviewed

1. S15E01Top Gun and BeyondJanuary 19, 1988—Today's sophisticated fighter jets can almost fly themselves, but well-trained pilots are still needed to win air battles. NOVA looks at how
2. S15E12How to Create a Junk FoodJanuary 26, 1988—Julia Child introduces NOVA's behind-the-scenes look at how science aids in the creation of snack foods.
3. S15E13Buried in IceFebruary 2, 1988—Scientists investigate the frozen remains of members of the 19th century Franklin Expedition to the Canadian Arctic and ask why all perished
4. S15E14Why Planes BurnFebruary 9, 1988—Airplane fires are often deadly. NOVA looks at efforts to make fires aboard planes less likely and more survivable.
5. S15E15Battles in the War on Cancer: A Wonder Drug on TrialFebruary 23, 1988—In part one of a two-part special presentation, NOVA reports on the trials to determine whether the new drug Interleukin-2—the first to make
6. S15E16Battles in the War on Cancer: Breast Cancer - Turning the TideMarch 1, 1988—In part two of a two-part special presentation, NOVA reports on the trials to determine whether the new drug Interleukin-2—the first to make
7. S15E17Mystery of the Master BuildersMarch 8, 1988—Princeton professor and author Robert Mark tracks down the engineering secrets of some of the beautiful buildings in the world including Not
8. S15E18Whale RescueMarch 15, 1988—It was a blustery day in December 1986, and the New England Coast was in the midst of a winter storm, accompanied by strong on-shore gales a
9. S15E19The Man Who Loved NumbersMarch 22, 1988—Tells the story of the brilliant Indian mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan and of his brief association at Trinity College in England w
10. S15E20Race for the SuperconductorMarch 29, 1988—OVA charts an electronics revolution in the making as Japan and the United States race to develop a material that will conduct electricity a
11. S15E21Can You Still Get Polio?April 5, 1988—Most cases of polio in the United States are caused by the vaccine designed to prevent it. NOVA examines the controversy surrounding the nat

Season 15 ranked & reviewed

1. S16E01Pioneers of Surgery: The Brutal CraftSeptember 6, 1988—Part one of a four-part series on the pioneers of modern surgery relives the early days, when surgery was practiced without the benefit of a
2. S16E02Pioneers of Surgery: Into the HeartSeptember 13, 1988—Once unthinkable, open-heart surgery is now an everyday miracle. NOVA looks at the brave doctors and patients who make it possible.
3. S16E03Pioneers of Surgery: New Organs for OldSeptember 20, 1988—From kidneys to Hearts, NOVA examines the daring attempts to replace diseased organs with transplanted ones.
4. S16E04Pioneers of Surgery: Beyond the KnifeSeptember 27, 1988—Surgeons have always been eager to help patients, even at the risk of killing them. NOVA looks at some of the excesses of surgery, and at ho
5. S16E05Can the Vatican Save the Sistine Chapel?October 4, 1988—Science meets art in the controversial effort to restore Michelangelo's famous Sistine Chapel frescoes.
6. S16E06Can the Next President Win the Space Race?October 11, 1988—Thirty years after Sputnik, the United States space program is mired in uncertainty, while the Russians, Europeans, Japanese and others spri
7. S16E07Do Scientists Cheat?October 25, 1988—NOVA examines the troubling question of scientific fraud: How prevalent is it? Who commits it? And what happens when the perpetrators are ca
8. S16E08Who Shot President Kennedy?November 15, 1988—Using previously unavailable technology, NOVA probes the available evidence surrounding the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy.
9. S16E09The Light StuffNovember 22, 1988—Reliving a Greek myth takes an effort of mythic proportions, as NOVA reveals in its behind-the-scenes report of a human powered-flight acros
10. S16E10The All-American BearDecember 6, 1988—The life of the shy, intelligent black bear in the wild—foraging, mating, playing and constantly preparing for its remarkable hibernation—is
11. S16E11Can We Make a Better Doctor?December 13, 1988—NOVA embarks on a 10-year project to profile—in its entirety—the education of a doctor. In the premiere episode, we follow a handful of stud
12. S16E12Hot Enough for You?January 17, 1989—Was the searing summer of 1988 a taste of things to come? NOVA looks at the greenhouse effect, which portends higher temperatures, rising se
13. S16E13The Last Journey of a GeniusJanuary 24, 1989—NOVA looks at the bongo-playing scientist, adventurer, safecracker and yarn-spinner Richard Feynman, most recently famous for his role as ga
14. S16E14The Strange New Science of ChaosJanuary 31, 1989—NOVA explains "chaos," a new science that is making surprising sense out of chaotic phenomena in nature, from the weather to brain waves.
15. S16E15Back to ChernobylFebruary 14, 1989—NOVA goes to the Soviet Union for an inside investigation of the world's most catastrophic nuclear power accident with correspondent Bill Ku
16. S16E16God, Darwin and the DinosaursFebruary 21, 1989—In an Idaho classroom, teacher Phil Gerrish puts an unorthodox interpretation on the day's biology lesson. As students take notes, he explai
17. S16E17Adrift on the Gulf StreamFebruary 28, 1989—NOVA explores the importance of the Gulf Stream to ocean life, climate and human history.
18. S16E18Secrets of Easter Island (1)March 7, 1989—A team attempts to recreate the original islanders' success at moving and erecting giant moai statues. (Part 1 of 2)
19. S16E19Legends of Easter Island (2)March 7, 1989—A team attempts to recreate the original islanders' success at moving and erecting giant moai statues. (Part 2 of 2)
20. S16E20The World Is Full of Oil!March 21, 1989—Scientific detectives test their ingenuity in the effort to find underground oil deposits.
21. S16E21Confronting the Killer GeneMarch 28, 1989—Arlo, Nancy and Janice each have a 50/50 chance of developing a devastating nerve disorder. A laboratory test can tell them if in fact they

Season 16 ranked & reviewed

1. S17E01The Hidden CityOctober 3, 1989—Exposing four essential public infrastructure systems that city dwellers depend on: electricity, water, sewage and sanitation. Filmed in New
2. S17E02The Controversial Dr. KoopOctober 10, 1989—In this profile of former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, NOVA follows events as they unfold in a unique behind-the-scenes account of a man
3. S17E03Design Wars!October 17, 1989—Five architects compete for the approval of architecture-obsessed Chicagoan's in the contest to build the city's new public library. NOVA lo
4. S17E04Echoes of WarOctober 24, 1989—The atomic bomb might have ended World War II, but radar was the quiet miracle that won battles. NOVA tells the little-known wartime history
5. S17E05Decoding the Book of LifeOctober 31, 1989—Biologists around the world gear up to decode the three-billion-letter genetic message that describes how humans are made. Ethicists warn th
6. S17E06Hurricane!November 7, 1989—NOVA studies hurricanes—the lurking giants waiting to destroy many coastal areas—by flying straight into one. Scientists hope that such clos
7. S17E07Will Venice Survive Its RescueNovember 14, 1989—Increasingly awash in high water, the romantic city of Venice is counting on high-tech floodgates to save it from drowning. Environmentalist
8. S17E08What Is MusicNovember 21, 1989—NOVA explores the science of musical sound—from what makes a classic violin to how the human brain perceives music. Bells, trumpets, human v
9. S17E09Yellowstone's Burning QuestionDecember 5, 1989—The 1988 Yellowstone fire may have been one of the worst in human memory, but nature has had eons of experience with such events. NOVA accom
10. S17E10The Schoolboys Who Cracked the Soviet SecretDecember 12, 1989—NOVA re-enacts a classic case of classroom detection when English schoolboys track down a secret Soviet launch site.
11. S17E11Poison in the RockiesJanuary 9, 1990—NOVA reports on the 100-year-old legacy of pollution from mining that poisons the once-pristine waters of the Rocky Mountain states. Acid Ra
12. S17E12Race for the TopJanuary 23, 1990—Using some of the largest machines ever built, American and European physicists race to discover one of the most fundamental and most elusiv
13. S17E13Disguises of WarFebruary 6, 1990—NOVA takes the wraps off the art of deception in war—from simple camouflage to the expensive, radar-evading technology embodied in the Steal
14. S17E14The Bomb's Lethal LegacyFebruary 13, 1990—NOVA examines an alarming nuclear waste problem at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in eastern Washington state, where 45 years of mismanagem
15. S17E15The Big SpillFebruary 27, 1990—Covering last year's Exxon Valdez oil spill from an unexplored angle, NOVA focuses on how technology failed in preventing, containing and cl
16. S17E16The Genius That Was China: Rise of the DragonMarch 15, 1990—China in the 13th century was the richest, most powerful, most technologically advanced civilization on earth. NOVA looks at how China achie
17. S17E17The Genius That Was China: Empires in CollisionMarch 20, 1990—NOVA examines the extraordinary transformation that propelled Europe outward into the world from the 15th to 18th centuries, while China rem
18. S17E18The Genius That Was China: The Threat from JapanMarch 27, 1990—East and West came into direct conflict over trade and power in the 19th century. The West won. NOVA explores how Japan was later able to ma
19. S17E19The Genius That Was China: Will the Dragon Rise Again?April 3, 1990—NOVA covers China's long road to economic and technological equality with the West, punctuated by frequent setbacks such as the 1989 massacr

Season 17 ranked & reviewed

1. S18E01The KGB, The Computer and MeOctober 3, 1990—What happens when a Berkeley hippie turns detective and gets mixed up with the CIA and the KGB? NOVA follows computer sleuth Cliff Stoll as
2. S18E02Neptune's Cold FuryOctober 9, 1990—NOVA visits Neptune, the planet that took Voyager 12 years to reach. Mysteries abound in and around this big, blue world at the outer limits
3. S18E03To Boldly Go...October 16, 1990—NOVA chronicles the Voyager space mission – from Earth to the ends of the Solar System. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and dozens of moons star in
4. S18E04Poisoned Winds of WarOctober 23, 1990—Sixty-five years after attempts to ban them, chemical weapons pose more of a threat than ever. NOVA looks at the problem of controlling subs
5. S18E05The Blimp is Back!October 30, 1990—NOVA examines the troubled past and promising future of blimps, zeppelins, cyclocranes and other species of airships. There's life in the ol
6. S18E06Earthquake!November 6, 1990—NOVA looks at the high-stakes quest to predict earthquakes. Despite past disappointments, geologists still hope to divine the clues that pre
7. S18E07Killing MachinesNovember 13, 1990—Robotic weapons that seek out and destroy ships, planes, and other targets are the wave of the future. NOVA questions whether their prolifer
8. S18E08Can the Elephant Be Saved?November 20, 1990—Is the ivory ban in the elephant's best interest? NOVA looks at the controversial strategies to save the world's largest land animal from ex
9. S18E09We Know Where You LiveNovember 27, 1990—NOVA investigates the hidden world of direct marketing, pointing out how advertisers know a lot more about people than they think.
10. S18E10In the Land of the LlamasDecember 4, 1990—NOVA profiles the llama, alpaca, vicuna and guanaco of South America. At one time nearly extinct, these four members of the camel family are
11. S18E11What's Killing the Children?December 18, 1990—NOVA tracks a mysterious disease that suddenly and fatally attacks the children of a small Brazilian town. Researchers from the Centers for
12. S18E12Return to Mt. St. HelensJanuary 8, 1991—NOVA returns to Mount St. Helens a decade after its cataclysmic eruption to learn how nature is recovering from the disaster.
13. S18E13ConFusion in a JarApril 30, 1991—An experiment that could mean limitless supplies of energy sets the scientific world on its head. NOVA covers the cold fusion controversy.
14. S18E14The Hunt for China's DinosaursFebruary 5, 1991—NOVA covers the most elaborate expedition ever undertaken in the search for dinosaurs—to China's Gobi desert. Paleontologists brave sandstor
15. S18E15Case of the Flying DinosaurFebruary 12, 1991—NOVA looks at the question of whether present-day birds are dinosaurs. The origin of birds, avian dinosaurs, is explored.
16. S18E16T-Rex ExposedFebruary 19, 1991—Tyrannosaurus rex, a kind of dinosaur, recently turned up in a nearly complete skeleton in Montana. NOVA follows the dig to extract the bone
17. S18E17The Russian Right Stuff: The Invisible SpacemanFebruary 26, 1991—In the first program of a three-part series on the Soviet space program, NOVA profiles the mysterious genius behind the world's first satell
18. S18E18The Russian Right Stuff: The Dark Side of the MoonFebruary 27, 1991—NOVA reveals the details of Moscow's secret plan to reach the Moon ahead of the Americans.
19. S18E19The Russian Right Stuff: The MissionFebruary 28, 1991—In an unprecedented insider's look, NOVA covers the training, flight and recovery of a cosmonaut crew that visits the Soviet space station M
20. S18E20Swimming with WhalesMarch 5, 1991—Gregory Peck narrates a scientific voyage around Vancouver Island in search of whales. Humpbacks, Killers, Grays and other whale species mak
21. S18E21The Chip vs. the ChessmasterMarch 26, 1991—The computer chess champ matches wits with the human world titleholder.

Season 18 ranked & reviewed

1. S19E01Sex, Lies and Toupee TapeOctober 1, 1991—NOVA covers the causes and attempted cures of baldness. Some men take pride in their bald heads; others will go to great lengths to cover up
2. S19E02So You Want to Be a Doctor?October 9, 1991—In a two-hour special, NOVA follows seven aspiring doctors through four years of medical school. The first examination, the anatomy lab, the
3. S19E03Secrets of the Dead Sea ScrollsOctober 15, 1991—Forty years after they were discovered, the Dead Sea Scrolls have yet to be published in their entirety. NOVA looks at the laborious-some sa
4. S19E04Suicide Mission to ChernobylOctober 22, 1991—NOVA accompanies Soviet scientists on a deadly mission inside the sarcophagus-the massive structure that entombs the Chernobyl nuclear react
5. S19E05Taller Than Everest?November 5, 1991—The tallest mountain in the world? Think again: cartographers had to when satellite date revealed a peak called "K2" might be the real champ
6. S19E06Fastest Planes in the SkyNovember 12, 1991—The fastest machines in the sky are going to be slow stuff when the latest speed demons on the drawing board take to the air. NOVA looks at
7. S19E07Avoiding the Surgeon's KnifeDecember 3, 1991—NOVA follows the efforts of four participants in a celebrated California study to unblock arteries without using drugs or surgery before the
8. S19E08Skyscraper! A NOVA SpecialDecember 10, 1991—his 80-minute NOVA pledge special chronicles the building of the Worldwide Plaza, 47-story office tower in midtown Manhattan, from a hole in
9. S19E09The Fine Art of Faking ItDecember 17, 1991—Science comes to the aid of art. Museums now employ scientists to find forgeries and give insight into the process of artist creation. Richa
10. S19E10Hell Fighters of KuwaitJanuary 14, 1992—NOVA covers the fight to put out Saddam Hussein's bonfire of oil wells in Kuwait, which has created the worst man-made pollution event in hi
11. S19E11Submarine!January 21, 1992—NOVA takes a voyage on the newest of America's doomsday machines—the ballistic missile submarine USS Michigan. The Cold War may be won, but
12. S19E12Saddam's War on WildlifeJanuary 28, 1992—Few people give any thought to wildlife in the midst of a war. During the Gulf War, environmentalist John Walsh did his best to save animals
13. S19E13What Smells?February 11, 1992—The nose knows. How much is the subject of NOVA's investigation of the mysterious aromas and hidden messages picked up by our sense of smell
14. S19E14Can You Believe TV Ratings?February 18, 1992—Rating the audience for TV shows is a classic problem in statistical analysis. NOVA finds that ratings are getting more accurate but still a
15. S19E15Making a Dishonest BuckMarch 3, 1992—Criminals still make money the old-fashioned way—by counterfeiting. NOVA looks at why US currency is so easy to fake and what the government
16. S19E16Rescuing Baby WhalesMarch 10, 1992—NOVA examines the mysterious whale strandings along the beaches of Cape Cod Bay, as the puzzling behavior becomes more common.
17. S19E17An Astronaut's View of the EarthMarch 17, 1992—NOVA goes behind the scenes to watch the filming of a big-screen IMAX/Omnimax space spectacle. Astronauts operate the cameras on location ab
18. S19E18Eclipse of the CenturyMarch 24, 1992—The spectacular eclipse of 1991 passed over major observatories on the island of Hawaii. NOVA was there for 61⁄2 minutes of frenetic researc

Season 19 ranked & reviewed

1. S20E01Animal Olympians IIAugust 25, 1992—NOVA looks at grace, speed, strength and endurance of humans and animals.
2. S20E02The Genius Behind the BombSeptember 29, 1992—Physicists Albert Einstein and Leo Szilard reenact the signing of the 1939 letter that alerted President Franklin Roosevelt to the feasibili
3. S20E03Mind of a Serial KillerOctober 13, 1992—NOVA goes behind the scenes to give the real story behind the FBI unit popularized in the Academy Award-winning film, The Silence of the Lam
4. S20E04Search for the First AmericansOctober 20, 1992—NOVA follows the trail of America's first inhabitants. Did they migrate across a Bering Sea land bridge at the end of the last ice age, as w
5. S20E05Rafting Through the Grand CanyonOctober 27, 1992—NOVA explores Earth's greatest natural wonder by rafting down the river that created it, repeating the spectacular first canyon voyage of th
6. S20E06This Old PyramidNovember 4, 1992—In a 90-minute special presentation, NOVA reveals the ancient secrets of how the pyramids were built by actually building one. A noted Egypt
7. S20E07IcemanNovember 10, 1992—Five thousand years ago, a man perished in a mountain storm. In 1991, his frozen body was found along with artifacts of his vanished way of
8. S20E08Private Lives of DolphinsNovember 17, 1992—NOVA delves into the deep sea drama of life among the dolphins at research stations in Florida and Australia. Like humans and chimpanzees, d
9. S20E09Brain TransplantDecember 1, 1992—Two paralyzed drug addicts travel to Sweden to receive a revolutionary treatment for brain disease that is largely unavailable in the US due
10. S20E10Can You Stop People from Drinking?December 22, 1992—NOVA looks at how Russia and the United States are attacking the intractable problem of alcohol abuse with old and new weapons—including pro
11. S20E11Sex and the Single RhinoDecember 29, 1992—NOVA examines the high-tech efforts to preserve the world's animal diversity. Noah needed only an ark—but today's conservationists need all
12. S20E12The Hunt for Saddam's Secret WeaponsJanuary 5, 1993—NOVA follows the international team of advisors who are fulfilling the UN mandate to dismantle Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. Nuclear t
13. S20E13Can Bombing Win a War?January 19, 1993—The Gulf War was fought in 38 days of non-stop bombing and four days of swift ground action. Did bombing win it? NOVA looks at the history o
14. S20E14The Deadly DeceptionJanuary 26, 1993—For four decades, 400 African American men from Macon, Alabama were unwitting participants in a government study of untreated syphilis. NOVA
15. S20E15Nazis and the Russian BombFebruary 2, 1993—NOVA tells the story of the German scientists abducted to the Soviet Union after World War II to help build an atomic bomb. The success of t
16. S20E16In the Path of a Killer VolcanoFebruary 9, 1993—NOVA covers scientists on the brink of a sputtering, shaking, impatient volcano, trying to forecast when it will go off. When it does, Mount
17. S20E17Can Science Build a Champion Athlete?February 16, 1993—Athletes are training smarter, running faster, jumping higher and generally outperforming their predecessors—thanks to high technology. NOVA
18. S20E18Diving for Pirate GoldFebruary 23, 1993—These days, piracy on the high seas often involves sonar, magnometers, metal detectors and other high-tech equipment for finding and plunder
19. S20E19Murder, Rape and DNAMarch 2, 1993—Wherever we shed our body cells, we leave an indisputable identity card: our DNA. NOVA investigates the new science of DNA typing which is p
20. S20E20The Lost TribeMarch 30, 1993—NOVA covers both sides of the stormy controversy over the Tasaday tribe. When these isolated cave dwellers were discovered in the Philippine

Season 20 ranked & reviewed

1. S21E01The NOVA QuizOctober 5, 1993—NOVA fans from around the country match wits in a fast-paced contest of general science knowledge celebrating NOVA's 20th anniversary. Famou
2. S21E02Wanted: Butch and SundanceOctober 12, 1993—Forensic sleuth Clyde Snow and a posse of experts travel to Bolivia in search of the remains of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. They fin
3. S21E03Secrets of the PsychicsOctober 19, 1993—Magician James "The Amazing" Randi tests the claims of mind readers, fortune tellers, faith healers and others with purported paranormal pow
4. S21E04Dying to BreatheOctober 26, 1993—NOVA covers the tense vigil of three people with terminal lung disease as they await the most complex of all organ transplants – a new lung.
5. S21E05Shadow of the CondorNovember 2, 1993—NOVA soars with the condor, an extraordinary bird that lives a tenuous existence in the California mountains and the Andes of South America.
6. S21E06The Real Jurassic ParkNovember 9, 1993—With help from director Steven Spielberg, author Michael Crichton and a host of scientific experts, NOVA investigates what it would take to
7. S21E07Roller Coaster!November 16, 1993—NOVA takes viewers on the ride of their lives as it explores the science of roller coasters, where physics and psychology meet. New rides of
8. S21E08Mysterious Crash of Flight 201November 30, 1993—US federal investigators are called in to determine the cause of a mysterious jetliner crash in Panama, Copa Airlines Flight 201. Nothing ab
9. S21E09Great Moments from NOVADecember 7, 1993—Bill Cosby guides viewers through the most exciting footage from two decades of NOVA in a 20th anniversary salute. Real-life action, adventu
10. S21E10The Best Mind Since EinsteinDecember 21, 1993—A profile of the late Richard Feynman – an atomic bomb pioneer, Nobel prize-winning physicist, acclaimed teacher and all-around eccentric, w
11. S21E11Stranger in the MirrorDecember 28, 1993—NOVA explores the nature of human perception through the puzzling condition called visual agnosia, the inability to recognize faces and fami
12. S21E12CodebreakersJanuary 18, 1994—NOVA delves into the history of secret communications and the people who wrack their brains to decipher them. The program probes the most ce
13. S21E13Dinosaurs of the GobiJanuary 25, 1994—Velociraptors and primitive birds are among the fabulous fossil finds as NOVA accompanies an American Museum of Natural History expedition t
14. S21E14Daredevils of the SkyFebruary 1, 1994—NOVA follows members of the US Aerobatic Team as they prepare for and compete in the 1992 World Aerobatic Championship. The sport, as precis
15. S21E15Journey to KilimanjaroFebruary 8, 1994—NOVA explores ice-capped mountains-on the equator. These African giants are magical islands of life towering above the scorched plains. Gian
16. S21E16Can Chimps Talk?February 15, 1994—NOVA covers exciting and controversial research with chimpanzees who have been trained to express themselves with human symbols. Are they sp
17. S21E17In Search of Human Origins, Part OneFebruary 28, 1994—In the first part of a three-part series, noted anthropologist Donald Johanson probes the earliest ancestors of the human species, reaching
18. S21E18In Search of Human Origins, Part TwoMarch 1, 1994—Anthropologist Donald Johanson looks at how our human ancestors of two million years ago made their living. Contrary to popular myth, scaven
19. S21E19In Search of Human Origins, Part ThreeMarch 2, 1994—At what point did our distant ancestors become anatomically like us? And, more importantly, when did they begin to act like us? Anthropologi
20. S21E20Can China Kick the Habit?April 12, 1994—NOVA visits the most cigarette-addicted nation in the world, China. Western advertising and trading practices have exacerbated the fatal rom
21. S21E21Aircraft Carrier!April 19, 1994—NOVA experiences the relentless, round-the-clock life aboard the US Navy aircraft carrier, Independence, where every day is a constant drill

Season 21 ranked & reviewed

1. S22E01The Great Wildlife HeistOctober 11, 1994—Polly wants a crackdown when it comes to the illegal trade in the world's most beautiful and intelligent birds: parrots. NOVA goes undercove
2. S22E02Secret of the Wild ChildOctober 18, 1994—NOVA profiles "Genie", a girl whose parents kept her imprisoned in near total isolation from infancy. When social workers discovered her as
3. S22E03Haunted Cry of a Long Gone BirdOctober 25, 1994—NOVA explores the legacy of the great Auk, a magnificent flightless bird that was hunted to extinction over a century ago. In a journey retr
4. S22E04What's New About MenopauseNovember 1, 1994—NOVA tackles the long-taboo subject of menopause, profiling new research and examining the medical and ethical controversies that arise when
5. S22E05The Tribe that Time ForgotNovember 8, 1994—NOVA travels deep into the Amazon wilderness in search of a mysterious tribe- a tribe that dismembered and partially ate three prospectors i
6. S22E06Killer Quake!November 15, 1994—NOVA probes the 1994 Los Angeles earthquake. Even as the city struggles to repair itself from the tragedy, seismic pressure continues to bui
7. S22E07Buried in AshNovember 29, 1994—Ten million years ago, an enormous volcanic eruption buried much of what is now Nebraska in up to 10 feet of ash, preserving countless skele
8. S22E08Rescue Mission in SpaceDecember 6, 1994—Hobbled by defective eyesight because of its original, bungled prescription, the Hubble Space Telescope was recently repaired in a dramatic
9. S22E09Journey to the Sacred SeaDecember 20, 1994—NOVA travels to Lake Baikal, the world's oldest and deepest lake, containing one-fifth of all the fresh water on Earth. Investigating Baikal
10. S22E10In Search of the First LanguageDecember 27, 1994—NOVA explores the common threads that link the more than 5,000 languages of Earth, including a controversial theory that claims to reconstru
11. S22E11Mammoths of the Ice AgeJanuary 9, 1995—The subjects of Stone Age Cave paintings thunder onto the screen as NOVA explores Woolly mammoths. Recent discoveries show that the hairy an
12. S22E12Vikings in AmericaJanuary 24, 1995—NOVA investigates the myth and reality of the first known Europeans to reach North America – Vikings. These intrepid Norsemen explored and s
13. S22E13Ants: Little Creatures Who Run the WorldJanuary 31, 1995—Entomologist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edward O. Wilson shows who's boss on this planet: ants. The professor's infectious fascinatio
14. S22E14Nazi Designers of DeathFebruary 7, 1995—NOVA uses recently discovered documents to uncover the complicity of German architects and engineers in the Holocaust. Focusing on Auschwitz
15. S22E15Siamese TwinsFebruary 14, 1995—Born joined at the pelvis, Siamese twins Dao and Duan were brought to the United States from Thailand to assess their chances for being sepa
16. S22E16Mystery of the Senses: HearingFebruary 19, 1995—A series of five programs inspired by Diane Ackerman's book A Natural History of the Senses, each examining one of the senses. (Part 1 of 5)
17. S22E17Mystery of the Senses: SmellFebruary 20, 1995—A series of five programs inspired by Diane Ackerman's book A Natural History of the Senses, each examining one of the senses. (Part 2 of 5)
18. S22E18Mystery of the Senses: TasteFebruary 21, 1995—A series of five programs inspired by Diane Ackerman's book A Natural History of the Senses, each examining one of the senses. (Part 3 of 5)
19. S22E19Mystery of the Senses: TouchFebruary 22, 1995—A series of five programs inspired by Diane Ackerman's book A Natural History of the Senses, each examining one of the senses. (Part 4 of 5)
20. S22E20Mystery of the Senses: VisionFebruary 22, 1995—A series of five programs inspired by Diane Ackerman's book A Natural History of the Senses, each examining one of the senses. (Part 5 of 5)
21. S22E21The Universe WithinMarch 7, 1995—Using microphotography to explore the hidden world inside the human body, this program covers three incredible team efforts: the coordinatio
22. S22E22Making of a DoctorMay 3, 1995—In the third installment of a 10-year project, NOVA checks up on a group of aspiring doctors who've been chronicled since their first day of
23. S22E23Fast CarsMay 23, 1995—What does it take to win at Indy? NOVA follows champion race driver Bobby Rahal and a team of engineers as they strive to design a new car t

Season 22 ranked & reviewed

1. S23E01Anastasia Dead or Alive?October 10, 1995—
2. S23E02Venus UnveiledOctober 17, 1995—
3. S23E03Hawaii Born of FireOctober 24, 1995—From their blistering beginnings as molten rock, the Hawiian islands have grown into a verdant paradise of unique lifeforms.
4. S23E04The Doomsday AsteroidOctober 31, 1995—
5. S23E05Lightning!November 7, 1995—
6. S23E06Hunt for the Serial ArsonistNovember 14, 1995—
7. S23E07Treasures of the Great Barrier ReefNovember 28, 1995—
8. S23E08Race to Catch a BuckyballDecember 19, 1995—
9. S23E09Can Buildings Make You Sick?December 26, 1995—
10. S23E10Terror in the Mine FieldsJanuary 9, 1996—
11. S23E11The Day the Earth ShookJanuary 16, 1996—
12. S23E12B-29 Frozen in TimeJanuary 30, 1996—Famed test pilot Darryl Greenamyer and his crew go on a perilous mission to repair and re-fly a B-29 bomber stranded on the Greenland icecap
13. S23E13Ebola: The Plague FightersFebruary 6, 1996—
14. S23E14War Machines of TomorrowFebruary 20, 1996—
15. S23E15Kidnapped by U.F.O.'s?February 27, 1996—Carl Sagan and other scientists investigate claims that people have been visited or abducted by aliens.
16. S23E16Flood!March 26, 1996—The Great Flood of 1993 leaves a wake of destruction across the Midwest. Can rivers ever be contained?
17. S23E17Dr. Spock the Baby DocApril 2, 1996—
18. S23E18Warriors of the AmazonApril 9, 1996—Explore the unique culture of the Yanomami, an isolated tribe living deep in the Amazonian rainforest.
19. S23E19Bombing of AmericaApril 16, 1996—Forensic scientists search for clues hidden within the chaos of crime scenes to help law enforcement find the Unabomber.

Season 23 ranked & reviewed

1. S24E01Einstein RevealedOctober 1, 1996—Meet the young patent clerk whose ideas about light, space, and time have transformed our view of the universe.
2. S24E02Lost City of ArabiaOctober 8, 1996—Helped by remote sensing, an expedition searches Oman's vast al-Khali desert for the lost city of Ubar.
3. S24E03Three Men and a BalloonOctober 15, 1996—
4. S24E04Secrets of Making MoneyOctober 22, 1996—With a radically redesigned bill, the U.S. Treasury fights back against a new breed of counterfeiters.
5. S24E05Top Gun Over MoscowNovember 12, 1996—Flights in Russia's powerful fighter jets are for sale to foreign travelers. So is the Russian Air Force still in the game?
6. S24E06Shark AttackNovember 19, 1996—Sharks are known as the "perfect predators," but sometimes they slip up and attack the wrong prey—people.
7. S24E07Odyssey of Life: The Ultimate JourneyNovember 24, 1996—In this three part series, Lennart Nilsson's extraordinary microphotography reveals a world we've never seen—within and on ourselves. (Part
8. S24E08Odyssey of Life: The Unknown WorldNovember 25, 1996—In this three part series, Lennart Nilsson's extraordinary microphotography reveals a world we've never seen—within and on ourselves. (Part
9. S24E09Odyssey of Life: The Photographer's SecretsNovember 26, 1996—In this three part series, Lennart Nilsson's extraordinary microphotography reveals a world we've never seen—within and on ourselves. (Part
10. S24E10Cracking the Ice AgeDecember 31, 1996—Did the crash of continents that produced the Himalayan Mountains also trigger the Ice Age
11. S24E11Kaboom!January 14, 1997—Explore the science of explosions - from fireworks to building demolitions.
12. S24E12Titanic's Lost SisterJanuary 28, 1997—Underwater explorer Robert Ballard uses sonar technology to find the Britannic, a ship lost in the Aegean in World War I.
13. S24E13Secrets of Lost Empires (1): StonehengeFebruary 11, 1997—
14. S24E14Secrets of Lost Empires (2): IncaFebruary 11, 1997—
15. S24E15Secrets of Lost Empires (3): ObeliskFebruary 12, 1997—Experts take on the challenge of raising a 40-ton obelisk without using modern technology
16. S24E16Secrets of Lost Empires (4): ColosseumFebruary 12, 1997—
17. S24E17Hunt for Alien WorldsFebruary 18, 1997—Astronomers discover planets beyond our solar system. But is there life on them?
18. S24E18Curse of T. RexFebruary 25, 1997—How do paleontologists and commercial fossil hunters know where to look for rare and priceless dinosaur bones?
19. S24E19Cut to the HeartApril 8, 1997—Ever since World War II, physicians have struggled to find ways to treat heart failure, the biggest killer in the modern world.
20. S24E20Kingdom of the SeahorseApril 15, 1997—The world's leading sea horse biologist journeys to Australia and the Philippines to explore the secret lives of these extraordinary fish.

Season 24 ranked & reviewed

1. S25E01ComaOctober 7, 1997—Neurosurgeon Jamshid Ghajar sparks a revolution in the treatment of head-trauma victims.
2. S25E02Faster Than SoundOctober 14, 1997—Top test pilots describe the dangers, mysteries, and thrill of being the first to fly at supersonic speed.
3. S25E03Bomb SquadOctober 21, 1997—IRA terrorists and British bomb disposal experts tell insider stories of a deadly cat-and-mouse game.
4. S25E04The ProofOctober 28, 1997—Princeton math sleuth Andrew Wiles goes undercover for eight years to solve history's most famous math problem: Fermat's Last Theorem.
5. S25E05Wild WolvesNovember 11, 1997—NOVA exposes the secret life of the pack: where its members live, how they hunt, what their calls mean.
6. S25E06Super BridgeNovember 12, 1997—Engineers solve a unique set of problems in safety, aesthetics, and cost as they build a bridge over the Mississippi River.
7. S25E07Treasures of a Sunken CityNovember 18, 1997—Divers search the seafloor for one of the seven wonders of the ancient world: the Lighthouse of Alexandria.
8. S25E08Avalanche!November 25, 1997—Scientists take you inside a snow slide to unlock its deadly secrets.
9. S25E09Danger in the Jet StreamDecember 2, 1997—
10. S25E10Night Creatures of the KalahariJanuary 6, 1998—
11. S25E11Mysterious Mummies of ChinaJanuary 20, 1998—Three-thousand-year-old mummies with long blond hair and blue eyes are unearthed in a remote Chinese desert.
12. S25E12Supersonic SpiesJanuary 27, 1998—The race to build the world's first supersonic passenger airliner leads to a massive Cold War espionage effort.
13. S25E13Animal HospitalFebruary 3, 1998—
14. S25E14The Brain EaterFebruary 10, 1998—In this scientific mystery, NOVA ventures to the front lines of medical research where scientists are scrambling to understand the strange n
15. S25E15Everest - The Death ZoneFebruary 24, 1998—NOVA treks with a group of Himalayan climbers in their quest to reach the summit of Everest, along the way exploring in never-before-conduct
16. S25E16Search for the Lost Cave PeopleMarch 31, 1998—Caves lining a rugged canyon deep in the Chiapas jungle hold clues to the little-known Zoque people.
17. S25E17Warnings from the IceApril 21, 1998—Could the world be facing the next deluge—a catastrophic rise in sea levels—as a result of the rapid break-up of the huge Antarctic ice shee
18. S25E18Crocodiles!April 28, 1998—An unprecedented look at a dangerous predator, this is the second of three natural history programs hosted by Sir David Attenborough. Surviv
19. S25E19The Truth About ImpotenceMay 12, 1998—NOVA reports on new hope for victims of erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence. Among the promising therapies covered in the program

Season 25 ranked & reviewed

1. S26E01Lost at Sea: The Search for LongitudeOctober 6, 1998—In 1714, following a maritime disaster, British Parliament offers £20,000 for the first reliable method of determining longitude on a ship a
2. S26E02Chasing El NiñoOctober 13, 1998—A massive planet-sized machine controls our weather day-to-day, and our climate season-to-season. It takes an event of staggering proportion
3. S26E03Terror in SpaceOctober 27, 1998—Experience the harrowing and life-threatening problems aboard the aging Mir space station through the eyes of the Russian and American astro
4. S26E04Special Effects: Titanic and BeyondNovember 3, 1998—NOVA goes behind the scenes in Hollywood, where the art of illusion meets the science of perception.
5. S26E05Deadly Shadow of VesuviusNovember 10, 1998—The shattered remnants of the Roman city of Pompeii bear witness to the risk that the people of Naples still face today.
6. S26E06Ice Mummies (1): Frozen in HeavenNovember 24, 1998—In this three part series, this is the bizarre and fascinating story of the remains of Inca culture, frozen for posterity high in the mounta
7. S26E07Ice Mummies (2): Siberian Ice MaidenNovember 24, 1998—In this second of a three part series, the Siberian Ice Maiden, discovered in the Pastures of Heaven on the high Steppes, is believed to hav
8. S26E08Ice Mummies (3): Return of the IcemanNovember 24, 1998—In the final episode of this three part series, cutting-edge science and archaeology are reconstructing the life and culture of The Iceman—t
9. S26E09Leopards of the NightDecember 1, 1998—Night stalkers by nature, leopards are observed both by night and day, using state-of-the-art camera equipment, to reveal never before seen
10. S26E10The Perfect PearlDecember 29, 1998—The pearl. The only gem produced by a living animal, has long carried a certain allure. Yet the best mollusk for making this gem, the pearl
11. S26E11The Beast of Loch NessJanuary 12, 1999—Is it just a fairy tale, or could a primeval beast lurk in the deep, dark waters of a Scottish lake? Since it was first reported more than 6
12. S26E12Submarines, Secrets & SpiesJanuary 19, 1999—Explorer Robert Ballard, discoverer of the Titanic, investigates the wrecks of two Cold War-era nuclear submarines.
13. S26E13Everest: The Mystery of Mallory and IrvinOctober 6, 1999—A 1986 report tracing a mysterious 1924 attempt to climb Mount Everest. Britons George Mallory and Andrew Irvine were spotted less than 1000
14. S26E14Surviving AIDSFebruary 2, 1999—Molecular biologists, immunologists, geneticists, and physicians pool their expertise in search of an AIDS vaccine.
15. S26E15Escape! Because Accidents Happen: Fire (1)February 16, 1999—In this four part series, engineers learn from past disasters to make fires along with car, plane, and ship accidents increasingly survivabl
16. S26E16Escape! Because Accidents Happen: Car Crash (2)February 16, 1999—In this four part series, engineers learn from past disasters to make fires along with car, plane, and ship accidents increasingly survivabl
17. S26E17Escape! Because Accidents Happen: Plane Crash (3)February 17, 1999—In this four part series, engineers learn from past disasters to make fires along with car, plane, and ship accidents increasingly survivabl
18. S26E18Escape! Because Accidents Happen: Abandon Ship (4)February 17, 1999—In this four part series, engineers learn from past disasters to make fires along with car, plane, and ship accidents increasingly survivabl
19. S26E19Battle Alert in the GulfFebruary 23, 1999—At the height of tensions in the Middle East, the United States placed a huge armada at ground zero in the Persian Gulf. This strategic move
20. S26E20Volcanoes of the DeepMarch 30, 1999—NOVA follows a team of scientists as they journey to the Juan de Fuca Ridge in the Pacific Ocean to study and raise hydrothermal vent struct
21. S26E21To the MoonJuly 13, 1999—In 1968, men first left the earth for the moon. Millions of people watched their journey on television. But scarcely a handful knew how it r

Season 26 ranked & reviewed

1. S27E01Fall of the Leaning TowerOctober 5, 1999—The film explores why the famous tower of Pisa hasn't fallen over yet and investigates the many efforts taken to preserve this medieval trea
2. S27E02Time TravelOctober 12, 1999—Is time travel anything more than sci-fi fantasy? Many leading physicists now believe that time travel is not only possible in theory but ar
3. S27E03The Killer's TrailOctober 19, 1999—The death of Marilyn Sheppard in 1954 is one of the most famous unsolved murders in America. The indictment of her husband, Dr. Sam Sheppard
4. S27E04Island of the SpiritsNovember 2, 1999—In the far north of Japan, thrust out into the north Pacific, is the remote island of Hokkaido. It's a land of towering volcanoes and steami
5. S27E05Decoding Nazi SecretsNovember 9, 1999—Most historians agree that by enabling Allied commanders to eavesdrop on German plans, Station X shortened the war by 2 or 3 years. Its deco
6. S27E06Voyage of DoomNovember 23, 1999—Buried in mud beneath the shallow waters of Matagorda Bay in Texas, lay a glorious remnant of one of the most ill-fated voyages of the Age o
7. S27E07Electric HeartDecember 21, 1999—The program tells the story of a handful of brilliant, obsessed surgeons and researchers who have pursued the target of a practical artifici
8. S27E08Tales from the HiveJanuary 4, 2000—Our cinematographer films inside a hive and follows bees in flight to capture honeybee behavior.
9. S27E09Lost on EverestJanuary 18, 2000—The program chronicles a successful 1999 NOVA expedition to investigate the mysterious disappearance of George Mallory and Andrew Irvine hig
10. S27E10Secrets of Lost Empires: Medieval SiegeFebruary 1, 2000—Two teams set out to build precise replicas of a fearsome medieval weapon—the trebuchet.
11. S27E11Diamond DeceptionFebruary 1, 2000—Makeshift labs in China and Russia are turning out synthetic gemstones that rival natural diamonds.
12. S27E12Secrets of Lost Empires: Pharaoh's ObeliskFebruary 8, 2000—Experts take on the challenge of raising a 40-ton obelisk without using modern technology.
13. S27E13Trillion Dollar BetFebruary 8, 2000—An elegant mathematical formula attracts Wall Street's attention and spawns a multi-trillion-dollar industry.
14. S27E14Secrets of Lost Empires: Easter IslandFebruary 15, 2000—How did the ancient Easter Islanders move and erect giant stone statues? Our team tests one theory.
15. S27E15Mystery of the First AmericansFebruary 15, 2000—The discovery of a 9,000-year-old skeleton embroils scientists in a debate over North America's first inhabitants.
16. S27E16Secrets of Lost Empires: Roman BathFebruary 22, 2000—NOVA sets out to create a working Roman bath, complete with hot tubs and underfloor heating.
17. S27E17Lost Tribes of IsraelFebruary 22, 2000—An anthropologist looks for the lost city of Africa's Lemba tribe, and investigates their claim to an ancient Jewish heritage.
18. S27E18Secrets of Lost Empires: China BridgeFebruary 29, 2000—Two teams working from opposite sides of a turbulent river attempt to build a 12th-century Chinese bridge.
19. S27E19What's Up with the Weather?April 18, 2000—FRONTLINE and NOVA take on a complex and critical phenomenon—global warming.
20. S27E20Stationed in the StarsApril 25, 2000—NOVA examines the International Space Station, the largest construction project ever undertaken in orbit.
21. S27E21The VikingsMay 9, 2000—Recent discoveries paint a complex portrait of the Vikings and their boat journeys to places as far-flung as Istanbul.

Season 27 ranked & reviewed

1. S28E01Lincoln's Secret WeaponOctober 24, 2000—The Navy undertakes a risky project to salvage the USS Monitor, an innovative armored combat vessel from the Civil War.
2. S28E02Holocaust on TrialOctober 31, 2000—A trial in London's High Court examines evidence from Auschwitz to successfully challenge the claims of Holocaust "deniers".
3. S28E03Hitler's Lost SubNovember 14, 2000—A fisherman's net snags a missing World War II German U-boat off the coast of New Jersey.
4. S28E04Runaway UniverseNovember 21, 2000—Astronomers grapple with some very big questions: what is the size and shape of the universe, and how will it end?
5. S28E05Garden of EdenNovember 28, 2000—The giant tortoise and an ant-sized frog are just two of the dazzling array of life-forms native to the Seychelles Islands.
6. S28E06Dying to Be ThinDecember 12, 2000—Life-threatening eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are on the rise among America's youth.
7. S28E07Japan's Secret GardenDecember 18, 2000—For at least 2,000 years, the wildlife and people living around Japan's Lake Biwa have lived in a harmonious balance.
8. S28E08Sultan's Lost TreasureJanuary 16, 2001—Archeologists salvage more than 12,000 pieces of Chinese porcelain from an ancient shipwreck.
9. S28E09Vanished!January 30, 2001—The mysterious 1947 disappearance of an airplane high in the Andes en route from Argentina to Chile is finally resolved.
10. S28E10Nazi Prison EscapeFebruary 6, 2001—From 1940 to 1945, Allied prisoners of war engineered spectacular escapes from Colditz Castle, the Nazis' most impregnable prison.
11. S28E11Lost King of the MayaFebruary 13, 2001—Using ancient hieroglyphs and new excavations, archeologists investigate the rise and fall of the majestic city of Copan.
12. S28E12The Cancer WarriorFebruary 27, 2001—Judah Folkman and other researchers pioneer a novel approach to cancer treatment.
13. S28E13Survivor M.D.: Tattooed DoctorMarch 27, 2001—NOVA follows seven Harvard Medical School students for 13 years to see what it takes to become a fully qualified doctor. (Part 1 of 3)
14. S28E14Survivor M.D.: Second OpinionsApril 3, 2001—NOVA follows seven Harvard Medical School students for 13 years to see what it takes to become a fully qualified doctor. (Part 2 of 3)
15. S28E15Survivor M.D.: Hearts & MindsApril 10, 2001—NOVA follows seven Harvard Medical School students for 13 years to see what it takes to become a fully qualified doctor. (Part 3 of 3)
16. S28E16Cracking the Code of LifeApril 17, 2001—Follow the race to decode the human genome and see how this newfound knowledge is already changing medicine.
17. S28E17Harvest of FearApril 24, 2001—Genetically modified foods—a wondrous advance or a new threat? Explore the growing controversy.

Season 28 ranked & reviewed

1. S29E01Search for a Safe CigaretteOctober 2, 2001—The tobacco industry's quest for a "safer" cigarette is filled with promise and pitfalls.
2. S29E0218 Ways to Make a BabyOctober 9, 2001—Investigate the brave new world of assisted reproduction.
3. S29E03Secrets of the Mind (aka Phantoms in the Brain)October 23, 2001—Neuroscientist V.S. Ramachandran's intimate encounters with his patients reveal a novel picture of the brain.
4. S29E04Sex: UnknownOctober 30, 2001—What makes a person male or female? Can you be both? Explore the complex world of gender identity.
5. S29E05Russia's Nuclear WarriorsNovember 6, 2001—Go inside Russia's largest missile base, where soldiers still stand at the ready, awaiting orders to push the nuclear button
6. S29E06BioterrorNovember 13, 2001—Explore germ warfare's chilling past, present, and future.
7. S29E07Life's Greatest MiracleNovember 20, 2001—A sequel to one of the most popular NOVAs of all time, "Miracle of Life," this Emmy Award-winning program tracks human development from embr
8. S29E08Methuselah TreeDecember 11, 2001—NOVA examines the fascinating life cycle of the world's oldest living thing, a 4,600-year-old bristlecone pine in California's White Mountai
9. S29E09Flying CasanovasDecember 25, 2001—The male bowerbird of Australia exhibits extraordinary courting antics.
10. S29E10Death StarJanuary 8, 2002—Astronomers investigate gamma-ray bursts, the most powerful celestial explosions since the big bang.
11. S29E11Neanderthals on TrialJanuary 22, 2002—Are Neanderthals our ancestors or an evolutionary dead end?
12. S29E12Fireworks!February 5, 2002—Pyrotechnists use hi-tech firing systems and ancient alchemy to create dazzling fireworks displays.
13. S29E13Secrets, Lies and Atomic SpiesFebruary 5, 2002—NOVA looks back to the 1940s, when American spies passed their country's deepest scientific secrets to the Soviets.
14. S29E14The Missing LinkFebruary 26, 2002—Paleontologists studying the Devonian Period (408-360 million years ago) discover a tiny fossil of colossal importance.
15. S29E15Shackleton's Voyage of EnduranceMarch 26, 2002—Beginning in 1915, Sir Ernest Shackleton and 27 men survive a year and a half lost in the Antarctic.
16. S29E16Why the Towers FellApril 30, 2002 8.5Can lessons learned from the Twin Towers' collapse make new buildings safer? Forensic engineers investigate the collapse of the World Trade
17. S29E17Fire WarsMay 7, 2002—Wildland firefighters battle one of the most destructive fire seasons in U.S. history.

Season 29 ranked & reviewed

1. S30E01Killer Disease on CampusSeptember 3, 2002—Doctors combat the deadliest form of meningitis, which strikes young people out of the blue.
2. S30E02Mysterious Life of CavesOctober 1, 2002—Toxic caverns teeming with strange life-forms spark a radical theory of how caves take shape.
3. S30E03Lost Roman TreasureOctober 8, 2002—Experts rescue priceless mosaics from an ancient city about to vanish beneath a reservoir.
4. S30E04Galileo's Battle for the HeavensOctober 29, 2002—Galileo struggles to persuade church authorities of the truth behind his astonishing discoveries about the cosmos.
5. S30E05Volcano's Deadly WarningNovember 12, 2002—A man obsessed with understanding volcanoes comes up with a radical new way to predict eruptions.
6. S30E06Sinking City of VeniceNovember 19, 2002—Experts struggle to save the City of Canals before it vanishes beneath the waves
7. S30E07The Orchid HunterNovember 26, 2002—NOVA investigates an all-consuming passion for orchids, nature's most highly evolved plant.
8. S30E08Spies That FlyJanuary 7, 2003—Nova recounts the history of the development of military unmanned aerial vehicles along with the opportunities and challenges they present.
9. S30E09Last Flight of Bomber 31January 14, 2003—Forensic scientists set out to discover what happened to seven American airmen whose plane crashed in Kamchatka during World War II.
10. S30E10Ancient Creature of the DeepJanuary 21, 2003—Meet the coelacanth, a bizarre fish and "living fossil" that has changed little in its 400 million years on Earth.
11. S30E11Battle of the X-PlanesFebruary 4, 2003—Two aviation giants, Lockheed Martin and Boeing, compete to build the next-generation fighter jet.
12. S30E12Mountain of IceFebruary 11, 2003—Jon Krakauer and fellow mountaineers pioneer a new route on a scientific expedition up Antarctica's highest peak.
13. S30E13Lost Treasures of TibetFebruary 18, 2003—A crack restoration team tries to prevent priceless medieval Buddhist murals from crumbling into dust.
14. S30E14Dirty BombFebruary 25, 2003—Radiation experts play out a frightening terrorist scenario—exploding a bomb laden with radioactive materials.
15. S30E15Deep Sea InvasionApril 1, 2003—A toxic aquarium plant is accidentally released into the Mediterranean, overwhelming marine life and threatening to spread worldwide.
16. S30E16Secret of Photo 51April 15, 2003—Meet Rosalind Franklin, the unsung heroine behind the discovery of DNA's double helix

Season 30 ranked & reviewed

1. S31E01Infinite SecretsSeptember 30, 2003—A battered manuscript turns up after 1,000 years, revealing the mind of the Greek genius Archimedes.
2. S31E02Who Killed the Red Baron?October 7, 2003—Forensic experts investigate the most famous aviation mystery of World War I.
3. S31E03The Elegant Universe: Einstein's Dream (1)October 28, 2003—Eleven dimensions, parallel universes, and a world made out of strings. It's not science fiction, it's string theory. Part 1 of 3.
4. S31E04The Elegant Universe: String's the Thing (2)October 28, 2003—Eleven dimensions, parallel universes, and a world made out of strings. It's not science fiction, it's string theory. Part 2 of 3.
5. S31E05The Elegant Universe: Welcome to the 11th Dimension (3)November 4, 2003—Eleven dimensions, parallel universes, and a world made out of strings. It's not science fiction, it's string theory. Part 3 of 3.
6. S31E06Wright Brothers' Flying MachineNovember 11, 2003—Relive the engineering challenges that two obscure bicycle makers overcame to become first in flight.
7. S31E07Magnetic StormNovember 18, 2003—Is the magnetic field protecting Earth from deadly radiation about to reverse direction or even disappear?
8. S31E08Volcano Above the CloudsNovember 18, 2003—Join a scientific expedition to the glacier-capped summit of Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest mountain.
9. S31E09MARS: Dead or AliveJanuary 4, 2004—NASA gambles on two rovers sent to determine if the red planet ever had conditions suitable for life.
10. S31E10Secrets of the Crocodile CavesJanuary 20, 2004—Rare lemurs and crocodiles with bizarre cave-dwelling behavior draw scientists to a remote corner of Madagascar.
11. S31E11Dogs and More DogsFebruary 3, 2004—How and why did man's best friend evolve from wolves, and why are dogs so remarkably diverse today?
12. S31E12Descent Into the IceFebruary 10, 2004—A team of "glacionauts" ventures into a labyrinth of unexplored and hazardous glacier caves on France's Mt. Blanc.
13. S31E13Crash of Flight 111February 17, 2004—One of the most exhaustive investigations in aviation history reveals telling clues to the cause of a disaster off Nova Scotia.
14. S31E14Life and Death in the War ZoneMarch 2, 2004—An American combat hospital mobilized in Iraq faces a daily drama of wartime treatment.
15. S31E15Hunt for the SupertwisterMarch 30, 2004—Tornado-chasing scientists with an eye to better forecasting risk their lives to plumb the secrets of nature's most terrifying killer.
16. S31E16World in the Balance: The People Paradox (1)April 20, 2004—NOVA investigates forces that are radically changing populations in both rich and poor nations, and explores how to create a world that can
17. S31E17World in the Balance: China Revs Up (2)April 20, 2004—NOVA investigates forces that are radically changing populations in both rich and poor nations, and explores how to create a world that can
18. S31E18Battle Plan Under FireMay 4, 2004—Can the U.S. military's high-tech weaponry prevail against insurgents?

Season 31 ranked & reviewed

1. S32E01Origins (1): Earth is BornSeptember 28, 2004—In this four part series, NOVA journeys back to the beginning of everything: the universe, Earth, and life itself. (Part 1 of 4)
2. S32E02Origins (2): How Life BeganSeptember 28, 2004—In this four part series, NOVA journeys back to the beginning of everything: the universe, Earth, and life itself. (Part 2 of 4)
3. S32E03Origins (3): Where Are the Aliens?September 29, 2004—In this four part series, NOVA journeys back to the beginning of everything: the universe, Earth, and life itself. (Part 3 of 4)
4. S32E04Origins (4): Back to the BeginningSeptember 29, 2004—In this four part series, NOVA journeys back to the beginning of everything: the universe, Earth, and life itself. (Part 4 of 4)
5. S32E05The Most Dangerous Woman in AmericaOctober 12, 2004—Examine the complex case of Typhoid Mary, a cook who was quarantined for life against her will in the early 1900s.
6. S32E06America's Stone Age ExplorersNovember 9, 2004—Who were the first Americans, and where did they come from?
7. S32E07Great EscapeNovember 16, 2004—Experts dig into World War II's most daring and technically ingenious prison break.
8. S32E08Ancient Refuge in the Holy LandNovember 23, 2004—Israel's remote Cave of Letters holds clues to a Jewish uprising against the Romans.
9. S32E09Welcome to MarsJanuary 4, 2005—Two rovers roaming the surface of Mars find proof that it was once awash in water.
10. S32E10The Boldest HoaxJanuary 11, 2005—Who perpetrated Piltdown Man, the greatest scientific fraud of the 20th century?
11. S32E11Supersonic DreamJanuary 18, 2005—Engineers, pilots, and others who knew Concorde tell its remarkable story.
12. S32E12The Viking DeceptionFebruary 8, 2005—Is the Vinland Map a priceless depiction of the New World made before Columbus's voyage or a 20th-century fake
13. S32E13Saving the National TreasuresFebruary 15, 2005—Restorers take on the preservation of the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights.
14. S32E14A Daring FlightFebruary 22, 2005—In 1909, Louis Blériot undertakes a heroic first-ever flight across the English Channel.
15. S32E15Wave That Shook the WorldMarch 29, 2005—Experts reconstruct the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in an effort to prepare for the next big one.