NOVA Science Video Podcast | PBS

If you ever thought the periodic table was a boring collection of elements that has nothing to do with your life, this app will show you otherwise. "NOVA Elements" lets you explore an interactive periodic table, build the elements, play a game hosted by The New York Times technology correspondent David Pogue, or watch the two-hour NOVA program, "Hunting the Elements." Find out why the periodic table is shaped the way it is, what gives each element its own unique set of properties, and even how elements combine to make everyday objects such as a cup of coffee. Watch NOVA's "Hunting the Elements" on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at 9pm on PBS. Major funding for "Hunting the Elements" is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Additional funding for "Hunting the Elements" is provided by the Department of Energy and by the Millicent and Eugene Bell Foundation. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy under Award Number DE-SC0007358. Disclaimer: This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendations, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Lockheed Martin Corporation, and PBS viewers.

The ability of the elements to change phase—to transform from a solid to a liquid to a gas—is a perfect set-up for romantic comedy. Watch the story of an unlikely laboratory love affair, and learn about one of the basic properties of matter in the process. Watch NOVA's "Hunting the Elements" online: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/hunting-elements.html Watch NOVA on PBS every Wednesday night at 9pm. Major funding for "Hunting the Elements" is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Additional funding for "Hunting the Elements" is provided by the Department of Energy and by the Millicent and Eugene Bell Foundation. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy under Award Number DE-SC0007358. Disclaimer: This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendations, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Lockheed Martin Corporation, and PBS viewers.

Host David Pogue had his fair share of comic mishaps on the set of NOVA's "Hunting the Elements." Watch as David generally wreaks havoc on some of the most high-tech labs in the country, and makes even the most serious scientists laugh in the process. Watch NOVA's "Hunting the Elements" on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at 9pm on PBS. Major funding for "Hunting the Elements" is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Additional funding for "Hunting the Elements" is provided by the Department of Energy and by the Millicent and Eugene Bell Foundation. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy under Award Number DE-SC0007358. Disclaimer: This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendations, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Lockheed Martin Corporation, and PBS viewers.

It used to be standard practice that all patients received chemotherapy after surgery to prevent the recurrence of breast cancer. Today, a genetic test called Oncotype DX allows doctors to analyze the genome of a patient's cancer cells. The results can help oncologists determine whether a patient actually needs to endure chemotherapy post-surgery, thereby avoiding needless suffering. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Lockheed Martin Corporation, and PBS viewers. Watch NOVA's "Cracking Your Genetic Code" on Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at 9pm on PBS.

Three massive earthquakes struck the American Midwest in 1811-12. Could it happen again? Watch NOVA every Wednesday night on PBS. Or join us online at pbs.org/nova. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and PBS viewers. Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Lockheed Martin Corporation, and PBS viewers. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0407101. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

By peering into the sex lives of Australian redback spiders, this evolutionary biologist has shown the upside of cannibalism. Watch NOVA every Wednesday night on PBS. Or join us online at pbs.org/nova. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and PBS viewers. Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Lockheed Martin Corporation, and PBS viewers. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0407101. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Can we engineer bridges that tell us what's wrong with them before it's too late? Watch NOVA every Wednesday night on PBS. Or join us online at pbs.org/nova. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and PBS viewers. Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Lockheed Martin Corporation, and PBS viewers. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0407101. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Move over Evian. While filming "Ice Age Death Trap," the excavation team had some fun and quenched their thirst in an unusual way—by drinking water trapped in ancient mastodon and bison bones. What did they name their new beverage? Mastodon juice, of course! For more information, watch NOVA's "Ice Age Death Trap," airing February 1, 2012 on PBS, and visit our website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/earth/ice-age-death-trap.html NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Lockheed Martin Corporation, and PBS viewers.

Vincent van Gogh has inspired several talented artists to turn their hands to forgery. Can computers be used to identify which works are really his? To find out, NOVA scienceNOW, working in cooperation with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, commissioned an expert in art reconstruction to make a meticulous copy of a van Gogh painting. Then, we challenged three different computer teams—from Princeton, Penn State, and Maastricht universities—to see if they could spot the imitation in a group that included five genuine van Goghs. Watch NOVA every Wednesday night on PBS. Or join us online at pbs.org/nova. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and PBS viewers. Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Lockheed Martin Corporation, and PBS viewers.

Bill Nye, TV's "Science Guy," conducts a pasta-making experiment that can save you money. Watch NOVA every Wednesday night on PBS. Or join us online at pbs.org/nova. Video podcast produced and edited by Melissa Salpietra. Original footage produced for NOVA by Larry Klein. Stock footage copyright istockphoto.com. Detailed credits available at pbs.org/nova/energy/credits.html. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Lockheed Martin Corporation, and PBS viewers. To learn more, visit http://www.pbs.org/nova/energy

In this video, Neil deGrasse Tyson meets a genetically modified mouse that can't sense bitter. Watch NOVA every Wednesday night on PBS. Or join us online at pbs.org/nova. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and PBS viewers. Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Lockheed Martin Corporation, and PBS viewers. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0407101. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Examine the biology behind the compulsion to eat. Watch NOVA every Wednesday night on PBS. Or join us online at pbs.org/nova. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and PBS viewers. Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Lockheed Martin Corporation, and PBS viewers. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0407101. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Her insight into how bacteria "talk" has launched a revolution in biological and medical research. Watch NOVA every Wednesday night on PBS. Or join us online at pbs.org/nova. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers. Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.

Is the weather on Mars anything like the weather on Earth? NOVA asked Vicky Hipkin from the Canadian Space Agency, who was part of the recent Phoenix Mission to explore conditions on the Red Planet. Watch NOVA every Wednesday night on PBS. Or join us online at pbs.org/nova. Video podcast produced and edited by Melissa Salpietra. Still images and footage courtesy NASA, JPL, Caltech, University of Arizona, Texas A and M University, Cornell University and istockphoto.com. Detailed credits available at pbs.org/nova/mars/credits.html. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Lockheed Martin Corporation, and PBS viewers.

NOVA visits David Wake, a renowned evolutionary biologist at the University of California, Berkeley, as he explains why members of the same species of California salamander look and behave so differently. It's a case study of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection, and an example, Wake says, that Darwin himself would have loved. Watch NOVA every Wednesday night on PBS. Or join us online at pbs.org/nova. Video podcast produced by Melissa Salpietra and Susan K. Lewis. Edited and narrated by Melissa Salpietra. Original footage produced by Joe McMaster. "Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial" is produced by NOVA and Vulcan Productions, in association with The Big Table Film Company. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.