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★★★★☆

4.4

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251 reviews

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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.

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The Air You Breathe Is Bacteria Poop | Peter Girguis

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.

The Fish That Could Walk | Sean B. Carrol

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.

When Whales Could Walk

2026/04/14

What if whales had legs? Once upon a time, they did. Sort of. An astonishing fossil trail shows that modern whales actually evolved from hooved land mammals. Whales still carry the fingerprints of this past, from their stomach anatomy to their swimming gait. Dive in to discover the wild story of how whales traded legs for fins, as we uncover clues about their ancestors, as well as their unlikely present-day relatives. To watch the full film, visit https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/when-whales-could-walk/ Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

How Close Can You Safely Get to a Black Hole? | Janna Levin

2026/04/08

Black holes aren’t the cosmic monsters Hollywood makes them out to be. Astrophysicist Janna Levin explains why they’re so hard to detect, why they’re not as destructive as you might assume, and how you could safely orbit much closer than you think. For more, check out the extended interview with Janna Levin. Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

A New Law of Nature? | Robert Hazen & Michael Wong

2026/04/01

Could the universe be governed by a law we haven’t discovered yet? Mineralogist Robert Hazen and astrobiologist Michael Wong propose a new rule—the law of increasing functional information—to explain why complex systems evolve and why complexity keeps emerging over time. For more, check out the extended interview with Robert Hazen and Michael Wong. Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Arctic Sinkholes

2026/03/31

What happens when the Arctic’s ancient freezer starts to fail? Scientists have uncovered the truth behind giant sinkholes exploding from the frozen ground in Siberia, and a vast lake bubbling with methane in Alaska .They are pointing to a dramatic shift beneath our feet – one driven by thawing Arctic permafrost, the vast frozen layer that stores nearly twice as much carbon as the entire atmosphere. Learn why these geological curiosities reveal a dangerous climate wildcard – one powerful enough to accelerate global warming in ways current models don’t yet predict. To watch the full film, visit https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/arctic-sinkholes/ Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

AI Is Coming for Blue Collar Jobs | Hany Farid

2026/03/25

AI isn’t just coming for office jobs—it’s coming for some hands-on blue collar professions, too. AI expert Hany Farid explains which jobs are safe, and which are at risk. For more, check out the extended interview with Hany Farid. Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

What Species Can We De-Extinct? | Beth Shapiro

2026/03/18

Scientists claimed in 2024 that they "de-extincted" the dire wolf… so what’s next, and what determines whether a species can be brought back? Evolutionary biologist Beth Shapiro explains some of the factors that go into deciding what to try and bring back. For more, check out the extended interview with Beth Shapiro. Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Einstein’s Quantum Riddle

2026/03/17

Quantum particles are breaking the rules of reality – or so it seems. Can they truly communicate across time and space instantly? Einstein dismissed this “spooky action at a distance,” convinced it exposed flaws in quantum theory. But the deeper scientists looked, the stranger the universe became. From fierce debates to important discoveries, discover how a once‑controversial quantum oddity is now reshaping how we think, how we compute, and how the future gets built. To watch the full film, visit https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/einsteins-quantum-riddle/ Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Were Dinosaurs Able to Sing? | Erich Jarvis

2026/03/11

Dinosaurs might not have been the roaring beasts many imagine. Neuroscientist Erich Jarvis explains why modern birds—living dinosaurs—offer clues about vocal learning and why dinosaurs could have been singers. For more, check out the extended interview with Erich Jarvis. Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Space-Time Expansion, Explained | Adam Riess

2026/03/04

If the universe is expanding, why aren’t galaxies stretching apart? Cosmologist Adam Riess breaks down the physics behind cosmic expansion, the forces that resist it, and why dark energy dominates the vast spaces between. For more, check out the extended interview with Adam Riess. Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Black Hole Apocalypse

2026/03/03

What if black holes are hiding the answers cosmologists have been chasing for a century? Born from the explosive deaths of massive stars, black holes are so dense even light cannot escape – making them challenging to observe. But after decades of chasing the unseeable and building ever more sophisticated observation tools, researchers are now discovering that they hold profound clues about the nature of spacetime, the formation of galaxies, and the energy that powers our universe. To watch the full film, visit https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/black-hole-apocalypse/ Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Your Brain’s Peak Performance Mode | Heather Berlin

2026/02/25

Why does thinking too hard ruin your rhythm? Neuroscientist Heather Berlin unpacks the science of flow states, explaining why mastery means trusting your brain’s hidden systems to do what they do best. For more, check out the extended interview with Heather Berlin. Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Black Hole Geometry Will Warp Your Brain | Janna Levin

2026/02/18

Black holes can be bigger on the inside than they are on the outside. Astrophysicist Janna Levin explains how this is possible, and what that means about how black holes work. For more, check out the extended interview with Janna Levin. Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Your Brain: Perception and Control

2026/02/17

Are we really in control of our own minds? Research suggests our sense of control may be far more fragile – and far stranger – than we imagine. From moments when the body seems to act without us, to the eerie ways our brains can warp what we think we’ve heard, scientists are uncovering a picture of the mind that’s anything but straightforward. And beneath it all lies a surprising discovery: the brain is less an observer of reality than a prediction engine, forever guessing what comes next. To watch the full film, visit https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/series/your-brain/ Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Podcast reviews

Read NOVA Presents podcast reviews

4.4 out of 5

251 reviews

★★★★☆

A Capella Doll 2021/01/01

Love the content, but....

The woman expert is very difficult to understand because of her heavy accent. Is there a written form of this podcast?

★★★★★

AM3324 2025/10/25

Best screen detox

Love to relax and listen to all this science….great podcast

★★★★★

beautifulskye 2025/10/23

Science!

Love this show! In depth interviews with experts who are excited about their fields are so interesting and fun to listen to! Thank you!

★★★★★

Oak🌱seedlings🌈 2024/12/20

Space!

Love this podcast!!!!!

★☆☆☆☆

BrooklynBensonhurst 2021/12/04

Pavel Ya

Very cheesy.Overreacted and unnecessarily excited. Looks like local TV news with bad and annoying annonser

★☆☆☆☆

Charlie pip 2021/11/29

Black holes

This program would probably be very educational and the pre- podcast review sounded great. However, I can not stand to listen to any program that pl...

★☆☆☆☆

ghjt99 2021/07/25

Worthless

Over 28 minutes of hot air bringing nothing insightful on the topic of UAPs

★★★★★

ajsbdfnjwvdba 2020/12/19

Great storytelling

I love the host. He does a great job of hosting a podcast in a relatively entertaining manner (which is hard considering that science can be perceived...

★★★★★

Moonwatcher the ditto 2020/12/16

Thank you

Thank you for sharing the science for those who don’t know what to do during this pandemic.

★☆☆☆☆

Ativan415 2020/12/08

Host's voice is AWFUL

Honey, you ain't a Gora no matter what your Gori-Ji told you.

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