NOVA Presents

GBH
  • 4.4 (241)
  • SCIENCE

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 YouTube channel. 

  1. Discovering Dark Energy and the Hubble Tension with Adam Riess

    12/18/2025

    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

    1h 16m
  2. Hubble Tension, Explained | Adam Riess

    12/17/2025 · BONUS

    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 Riess Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

    8 min
  3. Einstein’s “Biggest Blunder” | Adam Riess

    12/15/2025 · BONUS

    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 Riess Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

    6 min
  4. How Fame Affects the Brain | Heather Berlin

    12/11/2025 · BONUS

    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.

    10 min
  5. How Fossils Form and How to Find Them | Kirk Johnson

    12/10/2025 · BONUS

    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.

    15 min
  6. Why Only Some Species Can Talk—and Dance | Erich Jarvis

    12/08/2025 · BONUS

    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.

    10 min
  7. Evolution of New Species, Venom, Wings, and More with Sean B. Carroll

    12/04/2025

    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

    1h 23m
  8. How the Fruit Fly Revolutionized Biology | Sean B. Carroll

    12/03/2025 · BONUS

    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.

    12 min
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4.4
out of 5
241 Ratings

About

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 YouTube channel. 

Information

  • Creator
    GBH
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    56
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    ©2020 WGBH Educational Foundation
  • Show Website
    NOVA Presents

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