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NOVA Presents

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

science

All Episodes

18:33

AI Origins

NOVA Presents ·

2026/07/28

Daniela Rus is cutting through the AI hype and headlines to give us a real understanding of its future. As Director of MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, she has a front-row seat to what AI actually is, how it actually works, and what it can and cannot do. Daniela joins Hakeem to map out the full landscape of a field that is far richer than chatbots and large language models. What are the different types of AI we have today, and how does each one work? Why did

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23:28

AI Robots

NOVA Presents ·

2026/07/23

Daniela Rus has built a robot you can swallow, and that is one of the less surprising things her lab is working on. At MIT's CSAIL, she is leading research at the frontier where artificial intelligence meets the physical world, and the results are unlike anything people have imagined. Daniela joins Hakeem to explore what it will really take for machines to move, reason, and interact the way humans do. Why are today's humanoid robots mechanically impressive but intellectually limited? What

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31:30

When AI Escapes the Data Center

NOVA Presents ·

2026/07/21

Daniela Rus wants to put AI in your pocket, your car, and your dishwasher. In fact, she has already started. As one of the world's leading AI and robotics researchers, she is building a future where artificial intelligence doesn't live in a distant data center but runs quietly and efficiently on the devices around you. The key is liquid networks, AI models inspired by a tiny worm that gets by on just 302 neurons and that are up to 1,000 times more energy efficient than traditional

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01:15:11

Full Interview: Anxiety Hacking

NOVA Presents ·

2026/07/16

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,

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28:32

Your Brain Needs Friends

NOVA Presents ·

2026/07/14

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

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20:47

Neuroscience of Exercise

NOVA Presents ·

2026/07/09

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

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20:38

Good Anxiety

NOVA Presents ·

2026/07/07

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

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01:24:31

Full Interview: T. rex to Birds

NOVA Presents ·

2026/07/02

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

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27:19

Real World vs “Jurassic World"

NOVA Presents ·

2026/06/30

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

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30:37

How Birds Survived the Asteroid

NOVA Presents ·

2026/06/25

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

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31:07

T. rex Family Secrets

NOVA Presents ·

2026/06/23

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

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01:23:33

Full Interview: Dark Matter = Black Holes?

NOVA Presents ·

2026/06/18

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

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28:01

Hunt for Mini Black Holes

NOVA Presents ·

2026/06/16

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

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32:08

Are Black Holes Dark Matter?

NOVA Presents ·

2026/06/11

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

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27:46

Why Dark Matter Matters

NOVA Presents ·

2026/06/09

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

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22:09

Battle to Beat Malaria

NOVA Presents ·

2026/05/12

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

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01:34

How Many Leaves Are on a Tree? | Kirk Johnson

NOVA Presents ·

2026/04/29

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.

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21:48

Decoding the Great Pyramid

NOVA Presents ·

2026/04/28

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

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01:23

The Air You Breathe Is Bacteria Poop | Peter Girguis

NOVA Presents ·

2026/04/22

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.

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01:34

The Fish That Could Walk | Sean B. Carrol

NOVA Presents ·

2026/04/15

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.

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119 results

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