NOVA is back for its 49th season, which, just like each episode of NOVA, is incredible unto itself. Every Wednesday night at 8 pm, watch compelling stories with spectacular visuals as NOVA continues to demystify science and technology for viewers of all ages. Season 49 takes viewers to Arctic sinkholes, explores scat in Australia, looks at the mystery of the mammoth, and more. 

NOVA Season 49 Official Preview

Arctic Sinkholes | Wednesday, February 2 at 8 pm

Colossal explosions shake a remote corner of the Siberian tundra, leaving behind massive craters. In Alaska, a huge lake erupts with bubbles of inflammable gas. Scientists are discovering that these mystifying phenomena add up to a ticking time bomb, as long-frozen permafrost melts and releases vast amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. What are the implications of these dramatic developments in the Arctic?

Secrets in the Scat | Wednesday, February 9 at 8 pm

Scott Burnett is "Scatman"-an Australian ecologist on the trail of the secrets of poop. By identifying and analyzing animal scat for DNA and hormones, he discovers essential details of their behavior, how they fit in the ecosystem, and how to protect them. From the mysterious cubic poop of wombats to the precious pink waste of whales, join scientists as they explore nature's smelliest secrets.

Great Mammoth Mystery | Wednesday, February 16 at 8 pm

Sir David Attenborough investigates a unique site in southern England where amateur fossil hunters uncovered giant mammoth bones and evidence of Neanderthals. A team of paleontologists and archaeologists soon discover that the site preserves rare evidence of the extinct beasts and early human inhabitants of Britain dating to over 200,000 years ago. What skills did the early humans have to help them survive during the Ice Age? How did they hunt and protect themselves against formidable creatures such as mammoths?

Augmented | Wednesday, February 23 at 8 pm

Follow the dramatic personal journey of Hugh Herr, a biophysicist working to create brain-controlled robotic limbs. At age 17, Herr’s legs were amputated after a climbing accident. Frustrated by the crude prosthetic limbs he was given, Herr set out to remedy their design, leading him to a career as an inventor of innovative prosthetic devices. Herr’s journey is a powerful tale of innovation and the inspiring story of a personal tragedy transformed into a life-long quest to help others.