WED
NOVA
NatureHistory1974Rated 8.4
Each hour takes one question from science or history, such as how ancient people lived or whether parallel universes exist, and follows researchers into the field and the lab to answer it.
Next episodeTonight
S53E1521:00
Season 53, Episode 15 of NOVA airs on Wednesday, 28 October 2026 at 9pm ET on PBS.Is it for me?
Curious adults who like learning a topic in one sitting, with no homework beforehand, get the most out of it. The researchers who did the work talk to you themselves, so a finding comes from the person who dug it up. When a camera cannot reach the thing, whether a collapsing star or the inside of a cell, animation and trick photography draw it for you.
Before you start
Every hour is its own documentary, so pick the topics you care about and skip the rest; the season boundaries mean nothing.
53 seasons, 1011 episodes, 60 min each, about 1025 hours so far
This show
Each hour takes one question from science or history, such as how ancient people lived or whether parallel universes exist, and follows researchers into the field and the lab to answer it.
Is it for me?
Curious adults who like learning a topic in one sitting, with no homework beforehand, get the most out of it. The researchers who did the work talk to you themselves, so a finding comes from the person who dug it up. When a camera cannot reach the thing, whether a collapsing star or the inside of a cell, animation and trick photography draw it for you.
Before you start
Every hour is its own documentary, so pick the topics you care about and skip the rest; the season boundaries mean nothing.
53 seasons, 1011 episodes, 60 min each, about 1025 hours so far
- E01The Making of a Natural History FilmAired Sun 3 Mar
- E02Where Did the Colorado Go?Aired Sun 10 Mar
- E03Whales, Dolphins, and MenAired Sun 17 Mar
- E04The Search for LifeAired Sun 24 Mar
- E05Last of the CuivaAired Sun 31 Mar
- E06Strange SleepAired Sun 7 Apr
- E07The Crab NebulaAired Sun 14 Apr
- E08Bird Brain: The Mystery of Bird NavigationAired Sun 21 Apr
- E09Are You Doing This for Me, Doctor?Aired Sun 28 Apr
- E10The First Signs of WashoeAired Sun 5 May
- E11The Case of the Midwife ToadAired Sun 12 May
- E12Fusion: The Energy of PromiseAired Sun 19 May
- E13The Mystery of the AnasaziAired Sun 26 May
- S01E01The Making of a Natural History Film3 Mar 1974
- S01E02Where Did the Colorado Go?10 Mar 1974
- S01E03Whales, Dolphins, and Men17 Mar 1974
- S01E04The Search for Life24 Mar 1974
- S01E05Last of the Cuiva31 Mar 1974
- S01E06Strange Sleep7 Apr 1974
- S01E07The Crab Nebula14 Apr 1974
- S01E08Bird Brain: The Mystery of Bird Navigation21 Apr 1974
- S01E09Are You Doing This for Me, Doctor?28 Apr 1974
- S01E10The First Signs of Washoe5 May 1974
- S01E11The Case of the Midwife Toad12 May 1974
- S01E12Fusion: The Energy of Promise19 May 1974
- S01E13The Mystery of the Anasazi26 May 1974
Release schedule pages