NOVA scienceNOW

By WGBH Science Unit

What's NOVA scienceNOW about?

Our podcast offers irreverent stories and introduces intriguing personalities from the world of science. For more content from the producers of NOVA scienceNOW -- and to watch our broadcast series online -- visit us at http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

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NOVA scienceNOW episodes:

02.08.2012
(Repeat) NOVA Minute: How to Speak Walrus
Marine biologist Colleen Reichmuth says that few mammals can match the vocal talents of the walrus. Produced by David Levin. Original interview by Doug Hamilton. Learn more at pbs.org/nova NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA is provided by...
02.01.2012
(Repeat) NOVA Minute: Whiz Kid
In this episode, biochemist Erika Ebbel describes how a mentor helped her transform into a scientist when she was 11 years old. Produced by David Levin and Rob Chapman. Original interview by Josh Seftel and Tom Miller. Exclusive funding for "The...
01.25.2012
Finding a Fake Van Gogh
NOVA scienceNOW's Dean Irwin discusses what he learned about this new computer technology while producing his story on digital art authentication. Podcast produced by David Levin. Music by Jeff Allen. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA scienceNOW is...
12.20.2011
Surprises in Your Genes
In order to develop from an embryo, animals as different as fruit flies and humans call on a nearly identical set of genes. But how does this one common genetic toolkit create so many different species? It turns out that...
08.08.2011
Life on Ice
Could permafrost under Martian soil be the key to finding life on the red planet? Chris McKay, a planetary scientist for NASA, thinks there's a good chance we'll see evidence of ancient microbes if we just follow the ice. Podcast...
07.20.2011
Shaping Skulls
For thousands of years, people around the world have modified their bodies with tattoos and piercings. But some cultures, like the ancient Inca in Peru, took that practice beyond skin deep. They sometimes used ropes and boards to slowly change...
07.13.2011
Hiding in Plain Sight
In this podcast, marine biologist Roger Hanlon explains why octopuses are masters of camouflage. Podcast produced by David Levin. Interview by Susan Lewis. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA is provided by ExxonMobil, David H. Koch, the...
07.07.2011
Voice of the Space Shuttle
In this podcast, we spoke to former NASA Public Affairs Officer Steve Nesbitt. Nesbitt announced more than a dozen Space Shuttle missions, giving play-by-play radio commentary as the craft flew into orbit. Nesbitt spoke to us about his experience as...
06.30.2011
Cooperative Apes
In this podcast, learn why studying the emotions of our close primate relatives--chimpanzees and bonobos--might shed light on the evolution of human culture. Podcast produced by David Levin. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA is provided by...
06.15.2011
A Bolt From the Blue
Neurologist and author Oliver Sacks has come across plenty of odd stories while studying the human brain, but none are quite as mysterious as that of his colleague, Tony Cicoria. In 1994, Cicoria was struck by lightning, and developed a...
05.27.2011
NOVA Minute: How to Speak Walrus
NOVA Minutes are a regular radio features that air three times per week on 89.7 WGBH-FM in Boston. In this episode, marine biologist Colleen Reichmuth describes the many ways a walrus can communicate using sound. Produced by David Levin. Original interview...
05.24.2011
A Trip to the Parthenon
In this podcast, art historian Jeff Hurwitt explains what made the Parthenon the greatest temple of Ancient Greece. Produced by Susan Lewis. Original interview by Gary Glassman. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA is provided by David...
05.17.2011
Finding the Lost City
Egyptologist Mark Lehner thinks it took almost 20,000 people to build the Great Pyramids. But where did all those workers live? In this podcast, Lehner describes how he found evidence of a “lost city” on the Giza plateau. Podcast produced by...
05.12.2011
Wireless Electricity
WiTricity, a small startup based outside of Boston, is creating a system that can transmit electricity wirelessly. It’ll make charging electric cars easy, eliminating the need for bulky cables. What impact might this have on the electric vehicle market? Podcast produced...
04.26.2011
Life in the Blast Zone
Thirty years ago, a violent eruption ripped through the side of Mt. St. Helens in western Oregon. The blast killed 57 people and countless animals, and turned hundreds of miles of forest into barren wasteland. In this podcast, hear from...
04.19.2011
A Clean Energy Future?
Steven Chu is the U.S. Secretary of Energy under President Obama. He’s a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, and a big proponent of renewable power, like wind and solar. He says that although they’re essential to fight climate change, that’s only one...
04.12.2011
The Many Gods of Israel
Archeologist Bill Dever says that in addition to the Hebrew god Yahweh, ancient Israelites may have worshipped a Canaanite female goddess called Asherah. This podcast was produced by David Levin and Susan Lewis. Interview by Gary Glassman. NOVA is produced by...
04.08.2011
Improving Maternal Health
In the year 2000, the United Nations set out to make basic maternal healthcare a universal right within 15 years. How far have we come worldwide? In this podcast, we talked to Adrienne Germain, president of the International Women's Health...
03.30.2011
Training for a Nuclear Crisis
Are workers at U.S. nuclear power plants fully prepared to deal with emergencies triggered by natural disasters? To find out, we visited the training center for Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. Pilgrim is on the Atlantic coast near Plymouth, Massachussets, about...
03.23.2011
Galileo and the Telescope
Galileo has been called the "father of modern science". His observations of the night sky in the early 1600s confirmed a new model of the universe, where the Earth orbited the sun—not the other way around. But before he...
03.18.2011
Defining Intelligence: Seth Shostak
Astronomer Seth Shostak thinks that if alien intelligence is out there, we'll know it when we see it. Podcast produced by David Levin. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Howard...
03.16.2011
Defining Intelligence: Steven Pinker
Cognitive scientist Steven Pinker says that modern human intelligence is the result of thousands of years of accumulated knowledge. Podcast produced by David Levin. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch,...
03.14.2011
Defining Intelligence: Nicholas Humphrey
Theoretical psychologist Nicholas Humphrey explains the concept of social intelligence. Podcast produced by David Levin. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting,...
03.11.2011
Defining Intelligence: Rodney Brooks
In this podcast, roboticist Rodney Brooks describes what "intelligence" means in his field. Podcast produced by David Levin. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Corporation...
03.02.2011
NOVA Minute: The Interaction of Species
NOVA Minutes are a regular radio features that air three times per week on 89.7 WGBH-FM in Boston. In this episode, naturalist E.O. Wilson describes the challenges of understanding how ecosystems evolve. Produced by David Levin. Original interview by Gail Willumsen....
02.23.2011
Toward a Smart Electric Grid
On August 14, 2003, the biggest blackout in American history struck the Northeast U.S. and parts of Canada. 50 million people lost power, and the blackout showed how vulnerable and even outdated our electricity system is. To fix that problem,...
02.16.2011
The Risks of Automated Flight
Most passenger jets today fly under computer control, at least to some extent. Usually, those computers make flying safer. But like any machine, they can sometimes break down, leading, in rare cases, to major accidents. In this interview, aviation expert...
02.11.2011
When Lightning Strikes Aircraft
After the crash of Air France Flight 447 in 2009, widespread debate appeared on the Internet about whether a lightning strike could have brought the plane down. Just how dangerous is lightning to an aircraft in flight? In this podcast,...
02.04.2011
Smart Birds
Some parrots can talk-but can they really understand what they're saying? In this podcast, researcher Irene Pepperberg describes her cognitive experiments with African grey parrots, and discusses why the line between human and animal intelligence is sometimes blurry. Produced by David Levin....
01.27.2011
The Dangers of Nanotech
In the growing field of nanotechnology, engineers are creating countless new microscopic materials. They're used in thousands of consumer goods, from cell phones to cosmetics and sunscreen. But how safe are they? To find out, we talked to Andrew Maynard,...
01.25.2011
Suspended Animation
Stopping signs of life and starting them again might seem like pure sci-fi—but cell biologist Mark Roth says it's very possible. In this podcast, he explains why. Podcast produced by David Levin. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for...
01.20.2011
Solar Sails
The next generation of spacecraft will travel faster than ever before. But they might not be propelled by rockets. If Dean Alhorn has his way, they’ll be powered by light. Alhorn is an engineer at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight center....
01.03.2011
NOVA Minute: Global Earthquakes
NOVA Minutes are a regular radio features that air three times per week on 89.7 WGBH-FM in Boston. In this episode, geologist Chris Goldfinger describes why earthquakes in one part of the globe might trigger others worldwide. Produced by David Levin....
01.03.2011
Pearl Harbor Sub Discovered
In this podcast, hear how a newly identified wreck found outside the harbor may rewrite the history of the Japanese attack. Produced by David Levin. Original interviews by Kirk Wolfinger. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA is...
12.29.2010
NOVA Minute: The 2012 Hoax
NOVA Minutes are a regular radio features that air three times per week on 89.7 WGBH-FM in Boston. In this episode, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson explains that despite all the doomsday claims on the Internet, the world will NOT end...
12.22.2010
NOVA Minute: The Language of Science
NOVA Minutes are a regular radio features that air three times per week on 89.7 WGBH-FM in Boston. In this episode, African-American chemistry pioneer Percy Julian gives his take on scientific language. Produced by David Levin and Susan Lewis NOVA...
12.16.2010
NOVA Minute: Stewards of the Earth
NOVA Minutes are a regular radio features that air three times per week on 89.7 WGBH-FM in Boston. In this episode, Native American geologist Alexandrea Bowman describes her path to science, which led from baby seals to Long Island Sound....
12.14.2010
Ethics of Erasing Memory
If you could take a drug that could erase your memories, would you do it? It’s not such a hypothetical question—neuroscientists have identified a drug that can wipe out memory in rats. It’s not something that could be used on...
12.09.2010
NOVA Minute: Whiz Kid
NOVA Minutes are a regular radio features that air three times per week on 89.7 WGBH-FM in Boston. In this episode, biochemist Erika Ebbel describes how a mentor helped her transform into a scientist when she was 11 years old. Produced...
12.06.2010
The Psychology of Spaceflight
In this podcast, NASA psychologist Al Holland discusses some of the the mental challenges astronauts might face during a mission to Mars. Podcast produced by David Levin. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA is provided by ExxonMobil,...
12.01.2010
NOVA Minute: The Enormity of Things
NOVA Minutes are a regular radio features that air three times per week on 89.7 WGBH-FM in Boston. In this episode, geologist Adrienne Block explains how she investigates mountains that lie beneath the humongous ice sheets of Antarctica. Produced by David...
11.24.2010
NOVA Minute: When I Look Up
NOVA Minutes are a regular radio features that air three times per week on 89.7 WGBH-FM in Boston. In this episode, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson describes how the universe called him when he was nine years old. Produced by David...
11.18.2010
NOVA Minute: Doctor's Orders
NOVA Minutes are a regular radio features that air three times per week on 89.7 WGBH-FM in Boston. In this episode, climate scientist Gavin Schmidt explains why the Earth needs to see a doctor… today. Produced by David Levin and Rob...
11.12.2010
Astronomy at Stonehenge?
In the 1960s, a new theory surfaced that claimed Stonehenge was the work of ancient astronomers, and that its giant stone pillars were used to predict eclipses of the moon and sun. But was there anything to the idea? To...
11.10.2010
NOVA Minute: Big Inventions
NOVA Minutes are a regular radio features that air three times per week on 89.7 WGBH-FM in Boston. In this episode hear from engineer Colin Angle, cofounder of iRobot, the company that makes the Roomba vacuum cleaner. In this podcast,...
11.08.2010
The Origin of Dogs
New DNA evidence shows that dogs were probably domesticated from wolves in the Middle East about eight thousand years ago. But wolves are generally fierce animals that travel in packs, and they’re usually afraid of humans. That's pretty far...
11.04.2010
NOVA Minute: Monkey Psychology
NOVA Minutes are a regular radio features that air three times per week on 89.7 WGBH-FM in Boston. In this episode, experimental psychologist Laurie Santos explains how she studies monkeys in order to learn how humans think. Produced by David Levin...
11.01.2010
Got Elevator Stories?
In this podcast, radio producer Nick Van der Kolk describes how he ran into Al Gore on an elevator in Chicago. Do you have an elevator story of your own? Have you ever been stuck in one? Did you overcome...
10.29.2010
How the Elevator Changed New York
In this podcast, Paul Goldberger, an architecture critic for The New Yorker, describes how the elevator changed the face of New York City. Produced by David Levin. Interview by Joe Seaman. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA...
10.27.2010
NOVA Minute: To Boldly Go...
NOVA Minutes are a regular radio features that air three times per week on 89.7 WGBH-FM in Boston. In this episode, ethnobotanist Ina Vandebroek explains why her job is like Star Trek. Listen in. Produced by David Levin and Rob Chapman....

What's NOVA scienceNOW about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

NOVA scienceNOW episodes:

(Repeat) NOVA Minute: How to Speak Walrus

(Repeat) NOVA Minute: Whiz Kid

Finding a Fake Van Gogh

Surprises in Your Genes

Life on Ice

Shaping Skulls

Hiding in Plain Sight

Voice of the Space Shuttle

Cooperative Apes

A Bolt From the Blue

NOVA Minute: How to Speak Walrus

A Trip to the Parthenon

Finding the Lost City

Wireless Electricity

Life in the Blast Zone

A Clean Energy Future?

The Many Gods of Israel

Improving Maternal Health

Training for a Nuclear Crisis

Galileo and the Telescope

Defining Intelligence: Seth Shostak

Defining Intelligence: Steven Pinker

Defining Intelligence: Nicholas Humphrey

Defining Intelligence: Rodney Brooks

NOVA Minute: The Interaction of Species

Toward a Smart Electric Grid

The Risks of Automated Flight

When Lightning Strikes Aircraft

Smart Birds

The Dangers of Nanotech

Suspended Animation

Solar Sails

NOVA Minute: Global Earthquakes

Pearl Harbor Sub Discovered

NOVA Minute: The 2012 Hoax

NOVA Minute: The Language of Science

NOVA Minute: Stewards of the Earth

Ethics of Erasing Memory

NOVA Minute: Whiz Kid

The Psychology of Spaceflight

NOVA Minute: The Enormity of Things

NOVA Minute: When I Look Up

NOVA Minute: Doctor's Orders

Astronomy at Stonehenge?

NOVA Minute: Big Inventions

The Origin of Dogs

NOVA Minute: Monkey Psychology

Got Elevator Stories?

How the Elevator Changed New York

NOVA Minute: To Boldly Go...