NOVA Wonders

Watch NOVA Wonders

  • 2018
  • 1 Season
  • 7.6  (62)

NOVA Wonders is a documentary series that explores the mysteries of the universe through the eyes of three researchers: Talithia Williams, Rana El Kaliouby, and Andre Fenton. The show premiered on PBS in 2018 and consists of six hour-long episodes. In each episode, the hosts tackle a different topic that ranges from the inner workings of the brain to the search for extraterrestrial life. They use cutting-edge technology, experiments, and interviews with leading experts to delve deep into their subjects.

Talithia Williams is a mathematician and statistician who guides viewers through the complexity of data in the first episode, "What Are Animals Saying?". Williams shows us how data can be used to gain insights about the animal kingdom and how it communicates. She leads viewers through an experiment in decoding the language of prairie dogs and even uses artificial intelligence to figure out how many humpback whales are in the ocean.

In "Can We Build a Brain?", Andre Fenton takes the viewers on a journey to understand one of the most complicated organs in the body. Fenton is a neuroscientist and shares the latest research in the search for brain-based treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, PTSD, and other neurological disorders. Fenton also explores the use of machines to help humans overcome cognitive limitations and improve memory.

Rana El Kaliouby, a computer scientist and AI expert, hosts the episode "What's Living in You?". El Kaliouby emphasizes the importance of emotions in communication and how AI could be used to understand human expressions. She shows how facial recognition technology can analyze our moods but also the dangers of using it without proper regulation. Additionally, El Kaliouby investigates the vast community of microbes that inhabit the human body and how these tiny organisms impact our health.

The fourth episode, "Can We Make Life?", is hosted by Williams as well. This time, she investigates the boundary between living and non-living things by examining the process of creating artificial life. Williams takes us on a tour of a laboratory at MIT, where researchers are trying to build a self-replicating cell-a feat that could have huge implications for medicine and technology.

Fenton leads the penultimate episode, "What's the Universe Made Of?", which explores the mysteries of outer space. Fenton explains how scientists use telescopes and other tools to study the universe's composition and explore the possibility of other inhabited planets.

The last episode, "Can We Time Travel?", is hosted by Williams. In this episode, she takes us on a journey through time, exploring the feasibility of time travel and how time is relevant in our daily lives. Williams explores the limitations of Einstein's theory of relativity and the latest research in the field of quantum physics that could allow time travel.

In summary, NOVA Wonders is a captivating and informative series that takes viewers on a journey of scientific discovery. The show's hosts provide a fresh perspective on complex topics, and the visual demonstrations help make the information easily digestible to the audience. The show is perfect for anyone with an interest in science and a curiosity about the universe.

NOVA Wonders is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (6 episodes). The series first aired on April 25, 2018.

NOVA Wonders
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Seasons
What's the Universe Made of?
6. What's the Universe Made of?
May 30, 2018
Peer into the deepest unknowns of the universe to explore the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy. Join physicists on their quest to uncover the identity of these elusive components, and their epic battle over the fate of the universe.
Can We Make Life?
5. Can We Make Life?
May 23, 2018
Discover the breakthroughs in genetic engineering enabling scientists to create and manipulate DNA as never before. Explore the promise and peril of CRISPR. Can we cure genetic diseases? Bring extinct animals back to life? Even edit our own genes?
Can We Build a Brain?
4. Can We Build a Brain?
May 16, 2018
Decode the latest advances in artificial intelligence. AI can interpret emotions, play games, even act as personal companions. How does it actually work--and is it truly intelligent? And are we handing over too much power to machines?
Are We Alone?
3. Are We Alone?
May 9, 2018
Join astronomers and engineers on a hunt for life on worlds near and far. Discover the next generation of telescopes, probes and robots that are getting us one step closer to answering one of humanity's biggest questions: Are we alone?
What's Living in You?
2. What's Living in You?
May 2, 2018
Dive into the human microbiome, an ecosystem of bacteria, fungi and viruses living right beneath our noses. Discover how parasite larvae can grow in our skin, and how ingesting poop in a pill can save lives.
What Are Animals Saying?
1. What Are Animals Saying?
April 25, 2018
Can we crack the code of animal communication? Follow the clues that reveal how animals "talk" to each other --from spider thumps and mice mating songs to the intricate signals between our closest relatives, the chimps.
Description
Where to Watch NOVA Wonders
NOVA Wonders is available for streaming on the PBS website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch NOVA Wonders on demand at Amazon Prime, Amazon, Apple TV and PBS.
  • Premiere Date
    April 25, 2018
  • IMDB Rating
    7.6  (62)