NOVA 1974
What is NOVA?
NOVA is a long-running documentary series that first aired on March 3, 1974. Created by Michael Ambrosino, the program was inspired by the BBC 2 television series Horizon, which Ambrosino encountered while working in the United Kingdom.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1974
- Status
- Returning Series
- Episodes
- 1,025
- Runtime
- 55 minutes
- First aired
- Mar 3, 1974
- Last aired
- Apr 29, 2026
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- US
- Networks
- PBS
- Genres
- Documentary
- Updated
Where to watch
Stream
PBS Documentaries Amazon ChannelFree
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Apple TV StoreStream
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Movistar Plus+ Ficción TotalStream
PBS America Amazon ChannelBuy
Apple TV Store
Amazon VideoStream
YouTube TV
PBSPBS America Amazon ChannelPBS Documentaries Amazon ChannelFree
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Amazon VideoApple TV Store
Google Play Movies
Fandango At HomeStreaming availability data provided by JustWatch via TMDB. Availability changes by country and date; verify on the provider before subscribing or purchasing.
How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 1,025 episodes and an average 55-minute runtime.
Trailer
No official trailer is available for this title yet.
Find the trailer on YouTube ↗Overview
NOVA is a long-running documentary series that first aired on March 3, 1974. Created by Michael Ambrosino, the program was inspired by the BBC 2 television series Horizon, which Ambrosino encountered while working in the United Kingdom. In its early years, many episodes originated as co-productions with the BBC Horizon team or other international documentary sources. As the premier science series on PBS, the program is designed to help viewers of all ages explore the science behind current headlines. The series aims to demystify science and technology while highlighting the individuals involved in various scientific pursuits. Over the decades, the show has maintained a reputation for providing accessible science television, covering a wide range of topics including space, engineering, medicine, archaeology, evolution, technology, natural disasters, and the history of major discoveries. Currently, NOVA is recognized as the most-watched prime time science series on American television, reaching an average of five million viewers each week. The series remains a reliable source for serious scientific programming.
Should you watch it?
“This long-running PBS series explores the science and technology behind the headlines of our world.”
- accessible explanations of complex topics
- highlights contributions of diverse scientific figures
- subject matter may be dense for some viewers
Watch it if you are interested in learning about the science and engineering behind current events.
The series is designed for viewers of all ages and maintains an educational tone.
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Ask anything about NOVA — answers are spoiler-safe.
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Cast
Episode guide
Spoiler-Safe Browsing Progress
Season 1 · 13 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide & lore primer →- E1 The Making Of A Natural History Film Mytharc Mar 3, 1974
- E2 Where Did the Colorado Go? Core Mar 10, 1974
- E3 Whales, Dolphins, and Men Core Mar 17, 1974
- E4 The Search For Life Core Mar 24, 1974
- E5 Last of the Cuiva Core Mar 31, 1974
- E6 Strange Sleep Core Apr 7, 1974
- E7 The Crab Nebula Core Apr 14, 1974
- E8 Bird Brain: The Mystery of Bird Navigation Core Apr 21, 1974
- E9 Are You Doing This for Me, Doctor? Core Apr 28, 1974
- E10 The First Signs Of Washoe Core May 5, 1974
- E11 The Case of the Midwife Toad Core May 12, 1974
- E12 Fusion: The Energy of Promise Mytharc May 19, 1974
- E13 The Mystery Of The Anasazi Mytharc May 26, 1974
Season 2 · 17 episodes
Open the complete Season 2 guide & lore primer →- E1 Why Do Birds Sing? Mytharc Nov 3, 1974
- E2 How Much Do You Smell? Core Nov 10, 1974
- E3 The Hunting Of The Quark Core Nov 17, 1974
- E4 The Secrets Of Sleep Core Nov 24, 1974
- E5 Inside the Golden Gate Core Dec 1, 1974
- E6 The Men Who Painted Caves Core Dec 8, 1974
- E7 Red Sea Coral Core Dec 15, 1974
- E8 War From the Air Core Jan 5, 1975
- E9 What Time is Your Body? Core Jan 12, 1975
- E10 The Rise And Fall Of DDT Mytharc Jan 19, 1975
- E11 Take the World From Another Point of View Core Feb 2, 1975
- E12 The Lysenko Affair Core Feb 9, 1975
- E13 The Tuaregs Core Feb 16, 1975
- E14 The Plutonium Connection Core Mar 9, 1975
- E15 The Other Way Core Mar 16, 1975
- E16 The Lost World Of The Maya Mytharc Mar 30, 1975
- E17 Will The Fishing Have to Stop? Mytharc Apr 6, 1975
Season 3 · 20 episodes
Open the complete Season 3 guide & lore primer →- E1 Predictable Disaster Mytharc Jan 4, 1976
- E2 Joey Core Jan 11, 1976
- E3 Meditation and the Mind Core Jan 18, 1976
- E4 The Planets Core Jan 25, 1976
- E5 A Desert Place Core Feb 1, 1976
- E6 A Small Imperfection Core Feb 8, 1976
- E7 Ninety Degrees Below Core Feb 15, 1976
- E8 The Race for the Double Helix Core Mar 7, 1976
- E9 The Renewable Tree Core Mar 7, 1976
- E10 The Williamsburgh File Core Mar 14, 1976
- E11 The Overworked Miracle Core Mar 21, 1976
- E12 The Transplant Experiment Core Apr 11, 1976
- E13 The Underground Movement Core Apr 18, 1976
- E14 Hunters of the Seal Core May 2, 1976
- E15 Benjamin Core May 9, 1976
- E16 The Women Rebel Core May 23, 1976
- E17 Death of a Disease Core Jun 6, 1976
- E18 Inside the Shark Core Jun 13, 1976
- E19 The Genetic Chance Mytharc Jun 20, 1976
- E20 The Case of the Bermuda Triangle Mytharc Jun 27, 1976
Season 4 · 19 episodes
Open the complete Season 4 guide & lore primer →- E1 Hitler's Secret Weapon Mytharc Jan 5, 1977
- E2 The Hot Blooded Dinosaurs Core Jan 12, 1977
- E3 What Price Coal? Core Jan 19, 1977
- E4 The Sunspot Mystery Core Feb 2, 1977
- E5 The Plastic Prison Core Feb 9, 1977
- E6 Incident at Brown's Ferry Core Feb 23, 1977
- E7 Bye Bye Blackbird Core Mar 2, 1977
- E8 The Pill for the People Core Mar 9, 1977
- E9 The Gene Engineers Core Mar 16, 1977
- E10 The Human Animal Core Mar 23, 1977
- E11 The Wolf Equation Core Mar 30, 1977
- E12 The Dawn of the Solar Age Core Apr 20, 1977
- E13 The Business of Extinction Core Apr 20, 1977
- E14 The Red Planet Core Apr 27, 1977
- E15 Tongues of Men (1) Core May 11, 1977
- E16 Tongues of Men (2) Core May 18, 1977
- E17 Linus Pauling: Crusading Scientist Core Jun 1, 1977
- E18 Across the Silent Barrier Mytharc Jun 22, 1977
- E19 The New Healers Mytharc Jun 29, 1977
Season 5 · 21 episodes
Open the complete Season 5 guide & lore primer →- E1 In The Event of Catastrophe Mytharc Jan 4, 1978
- E2 The Green Machine Core Jan 11, 1978
- E3 Blueprints in the Bloodstream Core Jan 18, 1978
- E4 One Small Step Core Jan 25, 1978
- E5 The Final Frontier Core Feb 1, 1978
- E6 BaMiki BaNdula: Children of the Forest Core Feb 15, 1978
- E7 Trial of Denton Cooley Core Feb 22, 1978
- E8 The Great Wine Revolution Core Mar 1, 1978
- E9 The Case of the Ancient Astronauts Core Mar 8, 1978
- E10 The Mind Machines Core Mar 22, 1978
- E11 Icarus' Children Core Mar 29, 1978
- E12 Still Waters Core Apr 12, 1978
- E13 Battle for the Acropolis Core Apr 19, 1978
- E14 The Road to Happiness. : The Life and Times of Henry Ford Core May 3, 1978
- E15 Laser : Light of the 21st Century Core May 10, 1978
- E16 Insect Alternative Core May 24, 1978
- E17 The Desert's Edge Core May 31, 1978
- E18 The Tsetse Trap Core Jun 7, 1978
- E19 Memories From Eden Core Jun 14, 1978
- E20 A Whisper from Space Mytharc Jun 21, 1978
- E21 Alaska: The Closing Frontier Mytharc Jun 28, 1978
Frequently asked questions
What is the focus of the series?
The program focuses on exploring science, technology, and the individuals involved in scientific pursuits.
How long has the show been airing?
The series has been broadcasting since 1974.
Who produces the series?
The series is produced by PBS.
What topics does the show cover?
Episodes cover a wide range of subjects, from historical human life to modern engineering and theoretical physics.
Where can I watch the series?
Episodes are available through PBS and various streaming platforms.