NOVA Presents

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.

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21hr 39min

Thumbnail for "Extended Interview: Extremophiles, the Deep Sea, and Alien Life with Peter Girguis".

November 3, 20251hr 10min84.55 MB

Thumbnail for "Leopard Spots on Mars? NASA’s Big Discovery, Explained | Peter Girguis".

November 10, 20256min 4sec7.33 MB

Thumbnail for "Sinkholes in Florida Reveal Amazing Fossils | Kirk Johnson".

November 6, 20257min 10sec8.84 MB

Thumbnail for "How to Detect Deepfakes: Recognizing AI-Generated Content | Hany Farid".

November 5, 202513min 42sec16.83 MB

Thumbnail for "Extended Interview: Bird Song and the Evolution of Language with Erich Jarvis".

October 21, 20251hr 3min75.65 MB

Thumbnail for "Extended Interview: Neuroscience of Consciousness, Personality, and Creativity with Heather Berlin".

October 7, 20251hr 28min105.81 MB

Thumbnail for "Extended Interview: A Missing Law of Nature with Bob Hazen and Mike Wong".

Has science been missing a fundamental law of nature for centuries?

September 23, 20251hr 11min84.91 MB

Thumbnail for "Extended Interview: Black Holes and Quantum Weirdness with Janna Levin".

September 9, 20251hr 19min95.06 MB

Thumbnail for "Extended Interview: Deepfake Detection and the Future of AI with Hany Farid".

August 26, 20251hr 24min101.2 MB

Thumbnail for "Extended Interview: Fossil Hunting, Sinkholes, and Paleobotany with Kirk Johnson".

August 26, 20251hr 37min117.45 MB

Thumbnail for "Introducing Particles of Thought".

August 12, 20251min 35sec1.98 MB

Thumbnail for "The Big Bang: started from inflation, now we’re here".

Scientists are using satellites, static, and the laws of physics to piece together the origin story of the universe—and give us a sneak peek of where we’re headed next.

December 2, 202133min 1sec39.63 MB

Thumbnail for "Black holes: to the event horizon and beyond".

Black holes have been a sci-fi mainstay since the 1970s. But tall tales of space travel, wormholes, and alternate universes get a lot wrong. What’s scientific fact and what’s purely fiction?

November 25, 202131min 3sec37.27 MB

Thumbnail for "The hitchhiker’s guide to exoplanets and alien life".

There are an estimated 10 septillion—or a trillion trillion—potential planets in the observable universe. So far, we know of only one that hosts life. What will it take to answer the age-old question “Are we alone?”

November 18, 202130min 44sec36.89 MB

Thumbnail for "How to make a Milky Way: the ultimate galactic recipe".

Satellites, space observatories, and supercomputers have shown astronomers the ingredients needed to form a galaxy. Spoiler: dark matter is a must.

November 11, 202125min 38sec30.78 MB

Thumbnail for "Fusion: Can we recreate the renewable power of stars down on Earth?".

The Sun has always served as humanity’s guiding light and main source of energy. Now, its fusion process could serve as a model for sustainable energy here at home.

November 4, 202127min 2sec32.46 MB

This is NOVA Now Universe Revealed

October 29, 20212min 30sec3.02 MB

Thumbnail for "Would you eat insects to help the planet?".

Consuming insects is good for your body and the environment, scientists say.

October 28, 202129min 38sec35.57 MB

Thumbnail for "Cryptocurrency: the future of money in a digital world?".

Curiosity toward cryptocurrency is growing on an international scale. Here’s what that could mean for the future of investing and spending.

October 14, 202131min 33sec37.87 MB

Thumbnail for "Cannabis: Discovering its effects on the body and brain".

Does cannabis’s ubiquity and legalization at the state level mean it’s safe for consumer use?

September 30, 202131min 58sec38.37 MB

Thumbnail for "The case of hurricanes and climate change ".

Are hurricanes getting stronger? More destructive? And is any of this connected to climate change?

September 16, 202119min 52sec23.84 MB

Thumbnail for "Back to school during a pandemic: experts weigh in".

With students returning to school during the ongoing pandemic, how can we keep them learning, thriving, and ultimately safe?

September 2, 202135min42.01 MB

Thumbnail for "Electric vehicles: infrastructural needs and environmental effects".

Can electric vehicles lessen our carbon emissions and take us to a greener future?

August 19, 202121min 50sec26.2 MB

Thumbnail for "Covid Vaccines & Variants: What will it take to get out of this pandemic?".

We’ve had safe and effective vaccines for eight months now and yet the pandemic rages on. Here’s the latest on what you should know about variants, boosters, global equity, and how we might contain COVID-19.

August 5, 202128min 17sec33.95 MB

Thumbnail for "The science of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena".

What are they, exactly? The answer is out there; just turn to science.

July 22, 202128min 5sec33.72 MB

Thumbnail for "Using technology to cope with drought".

As the Western U.S. faces increasingly drier conditions, discover the technologies being developed to prepare for and cope with drought—especially for vulnerable communities.

July 8, 202127min 58sec33.58 MB

Thumbnail for "The science of exercise—and getting back in the game".

What happens to the bodies and minds of athletes, both elite and amateur, when training is put on hold? And how do we all safely ease back into exercise?

June 24, 202129min 59sec35.99 MB

Thumbnail for "Welcome to NOVA Now season 2!".

The science behind the news.

June 17, 20212min 26sec2.94 MB

Thumbnail for "The science of positive motivation for the New Year".

To properly ring in 2021, we’ll need to understand the neuroscience of getting things done. Meanwhile, Alok took his guests’ favorite motivation songs and turned them into a Spotify playlist.

December 31, 202025min 30sec30.62 MB

Thumbnail for "How the future of satellites might affect life on Earth".

Satellites from NASA and private companies are making headlines. What’s their history and how might their future affect space and life here on Earth?

December 17, 202027min 8sec32.57 MB

Thumbnail for "Covid vaccines are coming: What’s inside, and how and when you’ll get one".

Here’s the reality of producing and distributing coronavirus vaccines.

December 3, 202027min 16sec32.74 MB

Food! The unifying and edible commodity that connects us all across cultures and generations.

November 19, 202030min 40sec36.81 MB

Thumbnail for "The statistical science behind polling ".

A statistician and a pollster explain the history of political polling, what went wrong in 2016, and how science concepts determine a poll’s accuracy.

November 2, 202021min 4sec25.3 MB

Does our fascination with horror actually help us cope with real life?

October 22, 202031min 26sec37.73 MB

Thumbnail for "Science in the courtroom".

Discovering the central role of science in the federal court system.

October 8, 202029min 14sec35.1 MB

Thumbnail for "Rising health risks from West Coast wildfires".

What's wildfire smoke made of and how does it affect our air quality, our bodies, and our overall health?

September 24, 202031min 26sec45.28 MB

Can gene-editing technology help create a better coronavirus test?

September 10, 202027min 38sec33.18 MB

Thumbnail for "The hidden science of mail-in voting".

Are you ready to mail your ballot?

August 27, 202028min 25sec34.11 MB

Thumbnail for "Welcome to NOVA Now season 1!".

The science behind the news.

August 13, 20202min 8sec3.07 MB

Extended Interview: Extremophiles, the Deep Sea, and Alien Life with Peter Girguis

November 3, 20251hr 10min

What do deep-sea microbes and Martian “leopard spots” have in common? Marine biologist Peter Girguis thinks they might both hold clues to finding life beyond Earth. In this episode, he joins Hakeem for a journey from the ocean floor to outer space, sharing stories from his dives aboard the Alvin submersible and exploring how Earth’s most extreme lifeforms could help us find the first ETs. Along the way, he explains how Earth is truly a microbial planet — teeming with enough microbes to stretch across the galaxy – reshaping how we think about life, both here and out there.

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Guest Bio:

Peter Girguis is a professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. His research focuses on marine organisms, and how they adapt to extreme environments. He also works on developing novel technologies like deep sea autonomous laboratories and microbial fuel cells. Girguis appears in NOVA’s Ancient Earth series

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Microbes Rule the Planet

(00:13:45) Deep Ocean Exploration

(00:36:30) Signs of Life on Mars

(00:54:18) Other Life in Outer Space

(01:01:23) Two Truths and a Lie: Science Headlines

(01:07:00) The Future of Working With Microbes

(01:11:22) Credits