NOVA Season 50 Episode 9 Hindenburg: The New Evidence

In this episode of NOVA, titled "Hindenburg: The New Evidence," viewers are taken back in time to the ill-fated voyage of the Hindenburg airship. This disaster, which occurred in 1937, claimed the lives of 36 people and remains one of the most infamous air disasters in history.

At the center of the episode is a collection of previously unseen color footage of the disaster, which was discovered by retired TV producer, Mark Dworkin. The footage, which was shot by Dworkin's father who was just 15 years old at the time, shows the Hindenburg from a unique perspective as it bursts into flames and crashes to the ground.

This new evidence allows the NOVA team to re-examine the cause of the disaster. For decades, it was believed that a spark from the ship's engines ignited the hydrogen gas that was used to keep the Hindenburg afloat. However, recent investigations have suggested that the true cause of the tragedy may have been related to the paint used on the airship's exterior.

Through a combination of expert interviews, computer simulations, and archival footage, the NOVA team explores the various theories surrounding the Hindenburg disaster. They examine the challenges associated with designing and constructing a massive airship, as well as the political and economic factors that helped to drive the development of this new mode of transportation.

Additionally, the episode takes a close look at the lives of the passengers and crew members onboard the Hindenburg. Through interviews with descendants of those who were on the airship, viewers gain a sense of the personal toll that the disaster inflicted. The episode also explores the impact that the disaster had on the future of air travel, as well as the development of new technologies that have made planes safer and more reliable.

Overall, "Hindenburg: The New Evidence" offers a compelling look at one of the most tragic moments in aviation history. Through a combination of advanced research methods and personal narratives, the episode sheds new light on the causes and consequences of the Hindenburg disaster.