NOVA Presents
Science Podcasts
Ever wonder what's really going on in the world of science? We've got you covered. Join us for conversations with the researchers making tomorrow's breakthroughs, deep dives into the universe's biggest mysteries, and clear explanations of the...
Location:
United States
Genres:
Science Podcasts
Description:
Ever wonder what's really going on in the world of science? We've got you covered. Join us for conversations with the researchers making tomorrow's breakthroughs, deep dives into the universe's biggest mysteries, and clear explanations of the discoveries that matter most. We're talking climate breakthroughs, space mysteries, AI developments, and quantum leaps, all explained by the people doing the work. Whether you're curious about breaking headlines, fascinated by black holes and alien worlds, or ready for mind-bending conversations with brilliant scientists, NOVA Presents delivers four incredible series that make complex science feel like chatting with your smartest friend. For over 50 years, NOVA has been your trusted guide to understanding the world, now we're bringing that same curiosity and clarity straight to your ears. Come explore with us. Discover more NOVA content and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Language:
English
Email:
wgbh_podcasts@wgbh.org
Episodes
The Fish That Could Walk | Sean B. Carrol
4/15/2026
How did animals first make the giant step from water to land? Evolutionary biologist Sean B. Carroll explains how the discovery of Tiktaalik—a fossil with both fish and limb-like features—revealed a key moment in evolution.
For more, check out the extended interview with Sean B. Carroll.
Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Duration:00:01:34
When Whales Could Walk
4/14/2026
What if whales had legs? Once upon a time, they did. Sort of. An astonishing fossil trail shows that modern whales actually evolved from hooved land mammals. Whales still carry the fingerprints of this past, from their stomach anatomy to their swimming gait. Dive in to discover the wild story of how whales traded legs for fins, as we uncover clues about their ancestors, as well as their unlikely present-day relatives.
To watch the full film, visit https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/when-whales-could-walk/
Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Duration:00:18:28
How Close Can You Safely Get to a Black Hole? | Janna Levin
4/8/2026
Black holes aren’t the cosmic monsters Hollywood makes them out to be. Astrophysicist Janna Levin explains why they’re so hard to detect, why they’re not as destructive as you might assume, and how you could safely orbit much closer than you think.
For more, check out the extended interview with Janna Levin.
Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Duration:00:01:49
A New Law of Nature? | Robert Hazen & Michael Wong
4/1/2026
Could the universe be governed by a law we haven’t discovered yet? Mineralogist Robert Hazen and astrobiologist Michael Wong propose a new rule—the law of increasing functional information—to explain why complex systems evolve and why complexity keeps emerging over time.
For more, check out the extended interview with Robert Hazen and Michael Wong.
Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Duration:00:02:33
Arctic Sinkholes
3/31/2026
What happens when the Arctic’s ancient freezer starts to fail? Scientists have uncovered the truth behind giant sinkholes exploding from the frozen ground in Siberia, and a vast lake bubbling with methane in Alaska .They are pointing to a dramatic shift beneath our feet – one driven by thawing Arctic permafrost, the vast frozen layer that stores nearly twice as much carbon as the entire atmosphere. Learn why these geological curiosities reveal a dangerous climate wildcard – one powerful enough to accelerate global warming in ways current models don’t yet predict.
To watch the full film, visit https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/arctic-sinkholes/
Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Duration:00:16:37
AI Is Coming for Blue Collar Jobs | Hany Farid
3/25/2026
AI isn’t just coming for office jobs—it’s coming for some hands-on blue collar professions, too. AI expert Hany Farid explains which jobs are safe, and which are at risk.
For more, check out the extended interview with Hany Farid.
Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Duration:00:01:48
What Species Can We De-Extinct? | Beth Shapiro
3/18/2026
Scientists claimed in 2024 that they "de-extincted" the dire wolf… so what’s next, and what determines whether a species can be brought back? Evolutionary biologist Beth Shapiro explains some of the factors that go into deciding what to try and bring back.
For more, check out the extended interview with Beth Shapiro.
Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Duration:00:01:36
Einstein’s Quantum Riddle
3/17/2026
Quantum particles are breaking the rules of reality – or so it seems. Can they truly communicate across time and space instantly? Einstein dismissed this “spooky action at a distance,” convinced it exposed flaws in quantum theory. But the deeper scientists looked, the stranger the universe became. From fierce debates to important discoveries, discover how a once‑controversial quantum oddity is now reshaping how we think, how we compute, and how the future gets built.
To watch the full film, visit https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/einsteins-quantum-riddle/
Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Duration:00:20:30
Were Dinosaurs Able to Sing? | Erich Jarvis
3/11/2026
Dinosaurs might not have been the roaring beasts many imagine. Neuroscientist Erich Jarvis explains why modern birds—living dinosaurs—offer clues about vocal learning and why dinosaurs could have been singers.
For more, check out the extended interview with Erich Jarvis.
Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Duration:00:00:41
Space-Time Expansion, Explained | Adam Riess
3/4/2026
If the universe is expanding, why aren’t galaxies stretching apart? Cosmologist Adam Riess breaks down the physics behind cosmic expansion, the forces that resist it, and why dark energy dominates the vast spaces between.
For more, check out the extended interview with Adam Riess.
Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Duration:00:01:41
Black Hole Apocalypse
3/3/2026
What if black holes are hiding the answers cosmologists have been chasing for a century? Born from the explosive deaths of massive stars, black holes are so dense even light cannot escape – making them challenging to observe. But after decades of chasing the unseeable and building ever more sophisticated observation tools, researchers are now discovering that they hold profound clues about the nature of spacetime, the formation of galaxies, and the energy that powers our universe.
To watch the full film, visit https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/black-hole-apocalypse/
Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Duration:00:25:00
Your Brain’s Peak Performance Mode | Heather Berlin
2/25/2026
Why does thinking too hard ruin your rhythm? Neuroscientist Heather Berlin unpacks the science of flow states, explaining why mastery means trusting your brain’s hidden systems to do what they do best.
For more, check out the extended interview with Heather Berlin.
Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Duration:00:01:08
Title: Black Hole Geometry Will Warp Your Brain | Janna Levin
2/18/2026
Black holes can be bigger on the inside than they are on the outside. Astrophysicist Janna Levin explains how this is possible, and what that means about how black holes work.
For more, check out the extended interview with Janna Levin.
Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Duration:00:02:14
Your Brain: Perception and Control
2/17/2026
Are we really in control of our own minds? Research suggests our sense of control may be far more fragile – and far stranger – than we imagine. From moments when the body seems to act without us, to the eerie ways our brains can warp what we think we’ve heard, scientists are uncovering a picture of the mind that’s anything but straightforward. And beneath it all lies a surprising discovery: the brain is less an observer of reality than a prediction engine, forever guessing what comes next.
To watch the full film, visit https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/series/your-brain/
Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Duration:00:18:48
What Exactly Is a Law of Nature? | Robert Hazen & Michael Wong
2/11/2026
What’s the difference between a fact, a law, and a theory? Mineralogist Robert Hazen and astrobiologist Michael Wong unpack the hierarchy of scientific ideas and reveal how laws of nature elegantly unify the universe.
For more, check out the extended interview with Robert Hazen and Michael Wong.
Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Duration:00:02:33
How Many Microbes Live on Earth? | Peter Girguis
2/4/2026
Sorry, Beyoncé, it turns out microbes rule the world. Microbiologist Peter Girguis explains how to conceptualize just how many microbes are on Earth… and how understanding this helps us look for life on other worlds.
For more, check out the extended interview with Peter Girguis.
Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Duration:00:01:08
Hunt for the Oldest DNA
2/3/2026
Scientists have discovered the oldest DNA ever found: tiny fragments hidden in the dirt. The idea that soil could hold genetic traces from creatures that vanished millions of years ago seemed impossible – until one researcher had the wild idea to go and look. But how did he find DNA that most scientists thought could never survive? What forgotten worlds can this buried DNA reconstruct? And what might these revelations tell us about our own future on a rapidly changing planet?
To watch the full film, visit here.
Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Duration:00:19:48
Why Tropical Trees Don’t Have Rings | Kirk Johnson
1/28/2026
Growth rings on trees can measure time, allowing scientists to date things from the deep past. But, paleobotantist Dr. Kirk Johnson explains why, in the tropics, some trees have no rings.
For more, check out the extended interview with Kirk Johnson.
Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Duration:00:01:00
How Weight Loss Drugs Were Inspired by Gila Monsters | Sean B. Carroll
1/21/2026
Nature has been solving problems for billions of years. Evolutionary biologist Sean B. Carroll reveals why scientists still turn to evolution’s inventions for life-saving breakthroughs, from GLP-1 drugs to statins.
For more, check out the extended interview with Sean B. Carroll.
Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Duration:00:05:48
Introducing NOVA Remix
1/20/2026
Science's most astonishing breakthroughs, from whale evolution and thawing permafrost to black holes and quantum entanglement, to the hidden chambers of the Great Pyramid. NOVA Remix transforms decades of award-winning storytelling into immersive audio adventures. Discoveries that don't just change science, they change how you see the world. Whether you're a diehard nerd or just curious by nature, subscribe and hear it like never before.
Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Duration:00:01:30