PODCAST · science
NOVA Presents
by GBH
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 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjHz
-
84
Full Interview: Anxiety Hacking
Wendy Suzuki hopes you have anxiety—good anxiety. She thinks that feeling you try to avoid could actually be your edge! Wendy joins Hakeem to explore how anxiety can be harnessed, rather than eliminated, and how it connects to two other powerful forces shaping your brain: exercise and human connection. What’s happening in that surge of stress—or in the “neurochemical bubble bath” after a hard run? Can you really train your brain to use it differently? And what do oxytocin, prairie voles, and decades of research reveal about why social bonds may be the most powerful force shaping our health, happiness, and longevity. Make sure to subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Learn more about NOVA and visit our YouTube channel.--------------------------Guest Bio:Wendy Suzuki is a neuroscientist and the Dean of the College of Arts and Science at New York University, where her research focuses on the effects of exercise on memory and brain function. She is the author of several books, including Good Anxiety: Harnessing the Power of the Most Misunderstood Emotion, and is a widely sought-after speaker on brain health, anxiety, and human performance.
-
83
Your Brain Needs Friends
Wendy Suzuki says the key to a beautiful brain is friendship, and she joins Hakeem to discuss why human connection can extend your life. By studying certain animals, like prairie voles who develop intense love bonds, we can understand what’s going on in our heads when we connect with others. Hard data and personal stories show, the power of friendship is a shockingly important part of a healthy lifestyle.Learn more about NOVA and visit our YouTube channel.--------------------------Guest Bio:Wendy Suzuki is a neuroscientist and the Dean of the College of Arts and Science at New York University, where her research focuses on the effects of exercise on memory and brain function. She is the author of several books, including Good Anxiety: Harnessing the Power of the Most Misunderstood Emotion, and is a widely sought-after speaker on brain health, anxiety, and human performance.
-
82
Neuroscience of Exercise
Wendy Suzuki says just 10 minutes of movement can change your brain.But how? What’s actually happening in your head during a walk—or a workout—and why does it matter so much? Wendy joins Hakeem to unpack the science of exercise and the brain, from chemical surges to lasting rewiring. Plus: how do meditation, cold showers, and your environment really change your brain?Learn more about NOVA and visit our YouTube channel.--------------------------Guest Bio:Wendy Suzuki is a neuroscientist and the Dean of the College of Arts and Science at New York University, where her research focuses on the effects of exercise onand memory andon brain function. She is the author of several books, including Good Anxiety: Harnessing the Power of the Most Misunderstood Emotion, and is a widely sought-after speaker on brain health, anxiety, and human performance.
-
81
Good Anxiety
Neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki thinks your anxiety could be a superpower. What if you stopped trying to shut it down—and started using it? Wendy joins Hakeem to reframe anxiety as fuel, not flaw, and shows how to turn that rush of stress into focus and action. Plus, Wendy gives some hot takes on anxiety hacks like fidget spinners and weighted blankets.Learn more about NOVA and visit our YouTube channel.--------------------------Guest Bio:Wendy Suzuki is a neuroscientist and the Dean of the College of Arts and Science at New York University, where her research focuses on the effects of exercise onand memory andon brain function. She is the author of several books, including Good Anxiety: Harnessing the Power of the Most Misunderstood Emotion, and is a widely sought-after speaker on brain health, anxiety, and human performance.
-
80
Full Interview: T. rex to Birds
Steve Brusatte has the dirt on dinosaurs and joins Hakeem to trace the full 100-million-year history of the tyrannosaur dynasty, the asteroid that ended it, and the remarkable truth that dinosaurs never actually disappeared. One small lineage survived to become every bird alive today, and Steve walks through the long and contested scientific history of how we came to understand that connection. He also shares what it was like to serve as the official paleontology consultant on the Jurassic World films, and how to find the balance between science and cinema.Make sure to subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Learn more about NOVA and visit our YouTube channel.--------------------------Guest BioSteve Brusatte is a paleontologist at the University of Edinburgh, where he leads a research group studying dinosaur evolution and the history of life on Earth. He is the author of several acclaimed books, including The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs and The Story of Birds, and has served as a paleontology consultant on the Jurassic World film franchise. He will be featured in NOVA's upcoming five-part documentary series Evolution, coming fall 2026.
-
79
Real World vs “Jurassic World"
Steve Brusatte, a real paleontologist, contributed to the Jurassic World franchise, but what really happens when science meets cinema? In this episode, Steve joins Hakeem to discuss what that paleontology consultant role actually looks like, how he navigates the tension between scientific accuracy and Hollywood storytelling, and what the films have gotten increasingly right about dinosaurs over the years. They also dig into which documentaries offer the most accurate modern picture of dinosaurs, how AI is beginning to reshape paleontology, and what Steve would love to see in a future Jurassic film.Make sure to subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Learn more about NOVA and visit our YouTube channel.--------------------------Guest Bio:Steve Brusatte is a paleontologist at the University of Edinburgh, where he leads a research group studying dinosaur evolution and the history of life on Earth. He is the author of several acclaimed books, including The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs and The Story of Birds, and has served as a paleontology consultant on the Jurassic World film franchise. He will be featured in NOVA's upcoming five-part documentary series Evolution, coming fall 2026.
-
78
How Birds Survived the Asteroid
Steve Brusatte knows every bird today is a living dinosaur, and as a paleontologist, he can tell you how that happened. Steve joins Hakeem to walk through the catastrophic asteroid impact 66 million years ago that ended the age of T. rex, and to explain why one small, beaked, seed-eating lineage was the only branch of the dinosaur family tree to survive. He traces the long and contested scientific history of the bird-dinosaur connection and the discovery by Chinese farmers in the 1990s that finally settled the debate. The age of dinosaurs did not end with the asteroid. It transformed.Make sure to subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Learn more about NOVA and visit our YouTube channel.--------------------------Guest Bio:Steve Brusatte is a paleontologist at the University of Edinburgh, where he leads a research group studying dinosaur evolution and the history of life on Earth. He is the author of several acclaimed books, including The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs and The Story of Birds, and has served as a paleontology consultant on the Jurassic World film franchise. He will be featured in NOVA's upcoming five-part documentary series Evolution, coming fall 2026.
-
77
T. rex Family Secrets
Steve Brusatte says T. rex wasn’t always the king, and as a paleontologist, he has spent his career uncovering how it got to the top of the food chain. Steve joins Hakeem to trace the full 100-million-year history of the tyrannosaur family, from its surprisingly small and nimble origins to the bone-crushing apex predator that ruled the end of the Cretaceous. They discuss how T. rex was not just a creature of brawn but also of remarkable intelligence, with keen senses of smell and hearing that made it the ultimate predator of its time. Along the way, they explore the diversity of tyrannosaur cousins including the long-snouted “Pinocchio rex” discovered on a Chinese construction site, and how shifting climates, mass extinctions, and continental drift shaped the dynasty's rise over millions of years.Make sure to subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Learn more about NOVA and visit our YouTube channel.--------------------------Guest Bio:Steve Brusatte is a paleontologist at the University of Edinburgh, where he leads a research group studying dinosaur evolution and the history of life on Earth. He is the author of several acclaimed books, including The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs and The Story of Birds, and has served as a paleontology consultant on the Jurassic World film franchise. He will be featured in NOVA's upcoming five-part documentary series Evolution, coming fall 2026.
-
76
Full Interview: Dark Matter = Black Holes?
David Kaiser thinks the dark matter puzzle is getting closer to being solved. Nearly a century of observations, from galaxy clusters to the cosmic microwave background, have built a compelling case for dark matter's existence, but in recent years, the leading candidates for this mysterious matter have been coming up short.. Enter black holes. Tiny ones. David explains how so-called primordial black holes that formed in the first moments after the Big Bang could possibly be all our dark matter… if they exist at all. Fortunately, this is a testable theory, and David explains the exciting new experiments that could potentially lay this cosmic mystery to rest. Make sure to subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Learn more about NOVA and visit our YouTube channel.--------------------------Guest Bio:David Kaiser is a professor of physics and the history of science at MIT. His research spans the history of modern physics, cosmology, and the foundations of quantum theory. He is the author of several books, including How the Hippies Saved Physics, and is a frequent contributor to public conversations about science and its history.
-
75
Hunt for Mini Black Holes
David Kaiser thinks a good place to hunt for tiny black holes might be… Mars? How do you detect something microscopic, invisible, and speeding through space? Primordial black holes have long eluded astrophysicists—if they exist at all. But the hunt is heating up. David joins Hakeem to explore how scientists are combing through old data and designing new experiments that could finally catch one of these elusive objects—and possibly not only solve the century-old mystery of dark matter, but also confirm the existence of Hawking Radiation. And, yes, he explains why Mars might hold the key. Make sure to subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Learn more about NOVA and visit our YouTube channel.--------------------------Guest Bio:David Kaiser is a professor of physics and the history of science at MIT. His research spans the history of modern physics, cosmology, and the foundations of quantum theory. He is the author of several books, including How the Hippies Saved Physics, and is a frequent contributor to public conversations about science and its history.
-
74
Are Black Holes Dark Matter?
David Kaiser thinks tiny black holes from the dawn of time could be the solution to the dark matter puzzle. David joins Hakeem to discuss primordial black holes, tiny objects that may have formed in the first fraction of a second after the Big Bang. First proposed by Stephen Hawking more than 50 years ago, this hypothesis requires no new physics and no new particles, making it one of the most grounded ideas currently on the table… and one that may solve more than one cosmic mystery. David explains what these primordial black holes are, why many in the physics community are returning to this decades-old idea, and how it could potentially solve the dark matter mystery. Make sure to subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Learn more about NOVA and visit YouTube channel. --------------------------Guest Bio:David Kaiser is a professor of physics and the history of science at MIT. His research spans the history of modern physics, cosmology, and the foundations of quantum theory. He is the author of several books, including How the Hippies Saved Physics, and is a frequent contributor to public conversations about science and its history.
-
73
Why Dark Matter Matters
David Kaiser knows the universe is hiding something enormous – and no one can see it. Dark matter appears to be all over our universe, but what is it? As a physicist and science historian, David joins Hakeem to discuss one of astrophysics most impossible puzzles. Nearly a century of observations - from the motion of galaxy clusters to the rotation of individual galaxies to the subtle patterns in the cosmic microwave background - has built a remarkably consistent case that most of the matter in the universe is invisible to us. Kaiser and Hakeem work through how that evidence accumulated, why the leading candidate explanations have become increasingly constrained, and one tantalizing idea that is getting physicists excited. Make sure to subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Learn more about NOVA and visit YouTube channel. --------------------------Guest Bio:David Kaiser is a professor of physics and the history of science at MIT. His research spans the history of modern physics, cosmology, and the foundations of quantum theory. He is the author of several books, including How the Hippies Saved Physics, and is a frequent contributor to public conversations about science and its history.
-
72
Battle to Beat Malaria
Could one of the world’s deadliest diseases be headed for the history books? Malaria’s relentless yearly death toll has driven the World Health Organization to set bold targets, and a new vaccine may signal a turning point in the long battle against this disease. Early trials demonstrated a remarkable efficacy rate, but the question remained: Could it earn an all-important recommendation from the WHO? Follow the international team of researchers that worked tirelessly to develop a vaccine that could save more lives and reshape the future of malaria prevention. You can watch the full film here.Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
-
71
How Many Leaves Are on a Tree? | Kirk Johnson
Need to know how many leaves are on that tree? Paleobotanist Dr. Kirk Johnson shares the surprisingly nerdy method—because you never know when leaf math will come in handy.For more, check out the extended interview with Kirk Johnson.Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
-
70
Decoding the Great Pyramid
What engineering secrets lie within the Great Pyramid, and who really built it? Innovations like rope‑sewn boats, laser‑precise alignments, and hidden internal chambers reveal a building team with knowledge far ahead of its time. Uncover clues buried around Giza that point to a surprising truth about the workforce responsible for one of history’s greatest construction projects.To watch the full film, visit https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/decoding-the-great-pyramid/Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
-
69
The Air You Breathe Is Bacteria Poop | Peter Girguis
Long before trees and grass, microbes were shaping our atmosphere. Evolutionary biologist Peter Girguis explains how ancient bacteria learned to split water for energy, and why their waste product changed Earth forever.For more, check out the extended interview with Peter Girguis.Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
-
68
The Fish That Could Walk | Sean B. Carrol
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.
-
67
When Whales Could Walk
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.
-
66
How Close Can You Safely Get to a Black Hole? | Janna Levin
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.
-
65
A New Law of Nature? | Robert Hazen & Michael Wong
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.
-
64
Arctic Sinkholes
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.
-
63
AI Is Coming for Blue Collar Jobs | Hany Farid
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.
-
62
What Species Can We De-Extinct? | Beth Shapiro
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.
-
61
Einstein’s Quantum Riddle
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.
-
60
Were Dinosaurs Able to Sing? | Erich Jarvis
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.
-
59
Space-Time Expansion, Explained | Adam Riess
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.
-
58
Black Hole Apocalypse
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.
-
57
Your Brain’s Peak Performance Mode | Heather Berlin
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.
-
56
Black Hole Geometry Will Warp Your Brain | Janna Levin
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.
-
55
Your Brain: Perception and Control
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.
-
54
What Exactly Is a Law of Nature? | Robert Hazen & Michael Wong
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.
-
53
How Many Microbes Live on Earth? | Peter Girguis
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.
-
52
Hunt for the Oldest DNA
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.
-
51
Why Tropical Trees Don’t Have Rings | Kirk Johnson
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.
-
50
How Weight Loss Drugs Were Inspired by Gila Monsters | Sean B. Carroll
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.
-
49
Introducing NOVA Remix
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.
-
48
De-Extincted” Dire Wolf Pups Are Growing Up | Beth Shapiro
In 2024, scientists claimed they achieved the unthinkable: the birth of dire wolf pups, reviving a species that vanished thousands of years ago. Now, those pups are growing—and changing. Evolutionary biologist Beth Shapiro reveals what it’s like to watch these predators mature into modern beasts.For more, check out the extended interview with Beth Shapiro. Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
-
47
How AI Is Taking “Future-Proof” Jobs | Hany Farid
Is AI coming for your job? AI Expert Hany Farid breaks down how AI is taking jobs once considered “future-proof” and shares his advice to prepare young people for the future.For more, check out the extended interview with Hany Farid. Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
-
46
Discovering Dark Energy and the Hubble Tension with Adam Riess
What does it feel like to make one of the biggest discoveries in physics? Adam Riess knows — because his work revealed that the universe isn’t just expanding, it’s accelerating. In this episode, the Nobel Prize–winning astrophysicist takes us behind the scenes of the moment that changed cosmology forever. How did his team use exploding stars as “standard candles” to measure the cosmos? Why did the data point to a mysterious force now called dark energy, making up nearly 70% of the universe? And what’s behind today’s biggest cosmic puzzle: the Hubble tension? Plus, Adam shares what new telescopes could uncover — and why the next decade might rewrite the laws of physics all over again. Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel. —————————Guest Bio: Adam Riess is an astrophysicist, professor at Johns Hopkins University, and a distinguished astronomer at Space Telescope Science Institute. In 2011, he was named as a co-winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics for his contributions to the discovery that the expansion rate of the universe is accelerating. Since then, he has continued refining measurements of cosmic expansion and the Hubble constant, aiming to find and measure the most distant type Ia supernovae known, to probe the origin of cosmic acceleration.Timestamps(00:00:00) Introduction(00:03:16) What Is a Type Ia Supernova? (00:10:52) The Discovery of Dark Energy(00:44:39) What Is the Hubble Tension?(00:58:59) Winning a Nobel Prize(01:15:32) Credits
-
45
Hubble Tension, Explained | Adam Riess
The universe isn’t adding up—and it’s creating a crisis in cosmology. Nobel Prize winner Adam Riess explains why measurements of the universe’s expansion rate from its earliest light and from nearby galaxies don’t match, and how this growing gap threatens the foundations of our standard model of the cosmos.For more, check out the extended interview with Adam RiessLearn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
-
44
Einstein’s “Biggest Blunder” | Adam Riess
Discovering dark energy wasn’t just thrilling—it was terrifying. Nobel Prize Winner Adam Riess explains the nerve-wracking process behind confirming that the universe’s expansion is accelerating and why Einstein’s so-called “biggest blunder” turned out to be anything but.For more, check out the extended interview with Adam RiessLearn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
-
43
How Fame Affects the Brain | Heather Berlin
Fame can hijack the brain like a drug—activating the same reward circuits that fuel a relentless chase for dopamine highs. Neuroscientist Heather Berlin reveals the antidote—and why even social media fame can trigger this cycle.For more, check out the extended interview with Heather Berlin.Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
-
42
How Fossils Form and How to Find Them | Kirk Johnson
Fossilization isn’t luck - it’s geology. Paleobotanist Kirk Johnson explains how fossils only form in certain conditions, the tricks to finding them, and why one fossil leaf can lead to thousands more. For more, check out the extended interview with Kirk Johnson.Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
-
41
Why Only Some Species Can Talk—and Dance | Erich Jarvis
Speech is rare in the animal kingdom because it requires a very specific brain architecture. Neuroscientist Erich Jarvis explains how duplicating neural pathways for movement unlocked language, dancing, and even advanced problem-solving in more than just humans.For more, check out the extended interview with Erich Jarvis. Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
-
40
Evolution of New Species, Venom, Wings, and More with Sean B. Carroll
How does evolution invent entirely new things, like limbs, wings, and venom? Evolutionary biologist Sean B. Carroll joins us to reveal the hidden rules behind nature’s creativity and the genetic toolkit that makes it possible. Carroll explains how the same set of genes can build wildly different creatures — from fruit flies to lobsters — simply by rewiring their genetic circuits. Discover why developmental biology holds the key to understanding evolution, how snake venom evolved, and why medicines like GLP-1 drugs and statins trace their origins to nature’s own innovations. Plus, what the emergence of new species tells us about life’s future and the surprising power of evolution to repurpose old parts in new ways. Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel. —————————Guest Bio: Sean B. Carroll is a renowned evolutionary biologist and author whose work has inspired a deeper public understanding of evolution and the natural world. He is an Investigator at Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), where he was formerly Head of HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, and led the Department of Science Education from 2010-2023. He is also a Professor of Biology at the University of Maryland. His research focuses on genes that influence the evolution of animal diversity.Timestamps(00:00:00) How Does A New Species Evolve?(00:12:54) The Process of Speciation: Use It or Lose It(00:36:22) Development: What the Fruit Fly Taught Us(00:55:37) The Evolution of Defense Mechanisms & Developing Medications(01:19:55) The Role of Chance in Evolution(01:24:22) Credits
-
39
How the Fruit Fly Revolutionized Biology | Sean B. Carroll
From legs on heads to missing eyes, fruit fly mutations exposed the genetic toolkit that builds all animals. Evolutionary Biologist Sean B. Carroll shows how these discoveries rewrote our understanding of evolution.For more, check out the extended interview with Sean B. Carroll.Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
-
38
The Evolution of Venom & Antivenom | Sean B. Carroll
From snakes to jellyfish, venom is one of evolution’s most lethal inventions. Evolutionary Biologist Sean B. Carroll reveals how this deadly innovation emerged—and the new science behind antivenom inspired by nature’s own defenses.For more, check out the extended interview with Sean B. Carroll.Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
-
37
A Black Hole Is a Place, Not a Thing | Janna Levin
The edge of a black hole isn’t what you think. Astrophysicist Janna Levin dives into the event horizon, the one-way transition where space and time warp so much that escape becomes as impossible as reversing the clock.For more, check out the extended interview with Janna Levin.Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
-
36
How To Recognize Alien Life | Peter Girguis
There’s no single ‘smoking gun’ for life beyond Earth. Microbiologist Peter Girguis explains the subtle fingerprints scientists hunt for—and why finding them on Mars could change everything.For more, check out the extended interview with Peter Girguis.Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
-
35
Can We Make Animals Talk? | Erich Jarvis
Scientists are editing genes for human speech into mice to see if they can learn vocal patterns. Neuroscientist Erich Jarvis explains how this could unlock not just speech—but entirely new ways of thinking.For more, check out the extended interview with Erich Jarvis. Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
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 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjHz
HOSTED BY
GBH
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...