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
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How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 1,025 episodes and an average 55-minute runtime.
Trailer
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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
Season 1 · 13 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide →- E1 The Making Of A Natural History Film Mar 3, 1974
- E2 Where Did the Colorado Go? Mar 10, 1974
- E3 Whales, Dolphins, and Men Mar 17, 1974
- E4 The Search For Life Mar 24, 1974
- E5 Last of the Cuiva Mar 31, 1974
- E6 Strange Sleep Apr 7, 1974
- E7 The Crab Nebula Apr 14, 1974
- E8 Bird Brain: The Mystery of Bird Navigation Apr 21, 1974
- E9 Are You Doing This for Me, Doctor? Apr 28, 1974
- E10 The First Signs Of Washoe May 5, 1974
- E11 The Case of the Midwife Toad May 12, 1974
- E12 Fusion: The Energy of Promise May 19, 1974
- E13 The Mystery Of The Anasazi May 26, 1974
Season 2 · 17 episodes
- E1 Why Do Birds Sing? Nov 3, 1974
- E2 How Much Do You Smell? Nov 10, 1974
- E3 The Hunting Of The Quark Nov 17, 1974
- E4 The Secrets Of Sleep Nov 24, 1974
- E5 Inside the Golden Gate Dec 1, 1974
- E6 The Men Who Painted Caves Dec 8, 1974
- E7 Red Sea Coral Dec 15, 1974
- E8 War From the Air Jan 5, 1975
- E9 What Time is Your Body? Jan 12, 1975
- E10 The Rise And Fall Of DDT Jan 19, 1975
- E11 Take the World From Another Point of View Feb 2, 1975
- E12 The Lysenko Affair Feb 9, 1975
- E13 The Tuaregs Feb 16, 1975
- E14 The Plutonium Connection Mar 9, 1975
- E15 The Other Way Mar 16, 1975
- E16 The Lost World Of The Maya Mar 30, 1975
- E17 Will The Fishing Have to Stop? Apr 6, 1975
Season 3 · 20 episodes
- E1 Predictable Disaster Jan 4, 1976
- E2 Joey Jan 11, 1976
- E3 Meditation and the Mind Jan 18, 1976
- E4 The Planets Jan 25, 1976
- E5 A Desert Place Feb 1, 1976
- E6 A Small Imperfection Feb 8, 1976
- E7 Ninety Degrees Below Feb 15, 1976
- E8 The Race for the Double Helix Mar 7, 1976
- E9 The Renewable Tree Mar 7, 1976
- E10 The Williamsburgh File Mar 14, 1976
- E11 The Overworked Miracle Mar 21, 1976
- E12 The Transplant Experiment Apr 11, 1976
- E13 The Underground Movement Apr 18, 1976
- E14 Hunters of the Seal May 2, 1976
- E15 Benjamin May 9, 1976
- E16 The Women Rebel May 23, 1976
- E17 Death of a Disease Jun 6, 1976
- E18 Inside the Shark Jun 13, 1976
- E19 The Genetic Chance Jun 20, 1976
- E20 The Case of the Bermuda Triangle Jun 27, 1976
Season 4 · 19 episodes
- E1 Hitler's Secret Weapon Jan 5, 1977
- E2 The Hot Blooded Dinosaurs Jan 12, 1977
- E3 What Price Coal? Jan 19, 1977
- E4 The Sunspot Mystery Feb 2, 1977
- E5 The Plastic Prison Feb 9, 1977
- E6 Incident at Brown's Ferry Feb 23, 1977
- E7 Bye Bye Blackbird Mar 2, 1977
- E8 The Pill for the People Mar 9, 1977
- E9 The Gene Engineers Mar 16, 1977
- E10 The Human Animal Mar 23, 1977
- E11 The Wolf Equation Mar 30, 1977
- E12 The Dawn of the Solar Age Apr 20, 1977
- E13 The Business of Extinction Apr 20, 1977
- E14 The Red Planet Apr 27, 1977
- E15 Tongues of Men (1) May 11, 1977
- E16 Tongues of Men (2) May 18, 1977
- E17 Linus Pauling: Crusading Scientist Jun 1, 1977
- E18 Across the Silent Barrier Jun 22, 1977
- E19 The New Healers Jun 29, 1977
Season 5 · 21 episodes
- E1 In The Event of Catastrophe Jan 4, 1978
- E2 The Green Machine Jan 11, 1978
- E3 Blueprints in the Bloodstream Jan 18, 1978
- E4 One Small Step Jan 25, 1978
- E5 The Final Frontier Feb 1, 1978
- E6 BaMiki BaNdula: Children of the Forest Feb 15, 1978
- E7 Trial of Denton Cooley Feb 22, 1978
- E8 The Great Wine Revolution Mar 1, 1978
- E9 The Case of the Ancient Astronauts Mar 8, 1978
- E10 The Mind Machines Mar 22, 1978
- E11 Icarus' Children Mar 29, 1978
- E12 Still Waters Apr 12, 1978
- E13 Battle for the Acropolis Apr 19, 1978
- E14 The Road to Happiness. : The Life and Times of Henry Ford May 3, 1978
- E15 Laser : Light of the 21st Century May 10, 1978
- E16 Insect Alternative May 24, 1978
- E17 The Desert's Edge May 31, 1978
- E18 The Tsetse Trap Jun 7, 1978
- E19 Memories From Eden Jun 14, 1978
- E20 A Whisper from Space Jun 21, 1978
- E21 Alaska: The Closing Frontier 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.