NOVA

Like virtually every animal, humans need sleep to survive. But why? Scientists peer into the brain to see what happens while we snooze and understand the powerful role that sleep—or lack of it—plays in memory, trauma and emotion regulation.

How do you study an animal you can't even get close to? Camera traps and drones are revolutionizing wildlife biology by recording the secret lives of animals—from whales and tigers to elusive giant armadillos—all without disturbing them.

Violence is all over the news. But some say we’re living in one of the most peaceful eras in human history. Is violence actually declining? If so, why? And can we build a more peaceful future?

Journey to Florence to discover how Leonardo da Vinci used science, from human dissections to innovative painting techniques, to create his legendary artwork. Learn why Mona Lisa's smile is so captivating—and what it took to create it.

What can technology reveal about the Dead Sea Scrolls? Join scientists as they investigate suspicious, newly surfaced fragments to see if they're forfeited, and use imaging techniques to digitally unravel the charred remains of a scroll.

A major discovery shows how life came back after an asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs. With exclusive access to a fossil trove from the key first million years after impact, the film charts the rise of a new living world from the ashes.

Tech giants and car manufacturers alike are developing self-driving cars—and some of them are already on public roads. But what must computers be capable of to truly take the wheel? And could they eventually be safer than human drivers?

In 2018, Italy’s Morandi Bridge collapsed, killing 43 people. NOVA investigates what went wrong and explores other bridge collapses across the U.S. How can new engineering techniques make bridges safer and prevent such tragedies?

Fifty years after humans first set foot on the Moon, new scientific discoveries are fueling excitement for a return to the lunar surface - this time, to stay. Join the scientists and engineers working to make life on the Moon a reality.