NOVA Season 15 Episode 7 How Good is Soviet Science?

How Good is Soviet Science? is the seventh episode of the fifteenth season of the acclaimed documentary series NOVA. The episode explores the controversial topic of Soviet Union's scientific advancements during the Cold War era.

The episode begins with a brief background of the Soviet Union's rise as a world superpower and the intense rivalry between the Soviet scientific community and their Western counterparts during the Cold War. The episode then delves into the Soviet Union's major scientific achievements, which include the launch of the first satellite Sputnik, the first human in space Yuri Gagarin, and the development of nuclear weaponry.

However, despite these remarkable advancements, Soviet science was often plagued by political interference, secrecy and censorship, which compartmentalized the knowledge in various scientific fields. The program explores the impact of political interferences on Soviet science as a whole and how it created the so-called "closed worlds" of Soviet scientists.

NOVA interviews various key players in Soviet science like mathematician Alexei Krylov, whose work helped advance Soviet weaponry, and physics professor Yakov Zeldovich, whose work accelerated the development of the Soviet nuclear program. Through their words, the program reveals the extent Soviet scientists went through to cover and protect their discoveries from western spies and foreign countries, often giving Soviet science a cloak of secrecy and suspicion.

The program also highlights the dark side of Soviet science, such as the disastrous nuclear disaster in Chernobyl. The episode shows how the Soviet system initially tried to cover up the accident and prevent scientists from the west to help mitigate the disaster. This secrecy and closed nature of Soviet science lead to a lack of accountability and a disregard for safety standards that ultimately led to the Chernobyl disaster.

As the episode concludes, NOVA explores the ultimate legacy of Soviet science and its impact on science and innovation today. Despite political pressures, Soviet science had some groundbreaking discoveries and technologies. As Professor Yakov Zeldovich puts it, "Science should be without borders. The more scientists work together, the better it is for humanity."

Overall, How Good is Soviet Science? provides a fascinating insight into the world of Soviet science and its legacy. The episode highlights the incredible accomplishments of Soviet scientists, but also the dark side of political interference, secrecy and disregard for safety standards. The program shows how these factors ultimately influenced the development of science in the Soviet Union and influenced the country's policies and attitudes towards scientific collaboration with the west.