NOVA: Season 35

Season 35 overview

The season opens with the making of a Japanese sword and an investigation into the biological significance of a second genome. It then follows ordinary people attempting an extraordinary physical challenge.

Key story beats

  1. Samurai Sword Forging — NOVA follows fifteen traditional Japanese craftsmen through the creation of a katana, from ore smelting and steel forging to sharpening.
  2. The Second Genome — Experts investigate how a mysterious second genome may help determine biological fates.
  3. Marathon Training Begins — Thirteen generally sedentary people begin a training regimen intended to prepare them for a 26.2-mile marathon.
  4. Sputnik Launches — The Soviet Union launches Sputnik I on October 4, 1957, opening the Space Age and intensifying the space race.
  5. Intelligent Design Trial — Courtroom reenactments and interviews examine the federal case of Kitzmiller v. Dover School District.
  6. Ants Combat Termites — The Mofu people use red driver ants to combat termites, showing a practical relationship between people and insects.
  7. MiG Alley Battles — The program explores aerial battles between American F-86 Sabres and Soviet MiG-15s during the Korean War, including the fate of downed pilots.
  8. The Nature Of Cold — The first Absolute Zero program examines what cold is, how it is achieved, and the history of low-temperature research.
  9. Race For Absolute Zero — The second Absolute Zero program follows the scientific race to reach ever-lower temperatures and explores related technologies.
  10. Parthenon Engineering Secrets — Scientific investigation examines the architecture, engineering, beauty, and rapid construction of the Parthenon after centuries of damage and reuse.
  11. Secret Space Programs — The program investigates covert American and Soviet space programs intended to place military astronauts on spying missions.
  12. Chimpanzee Spear Use — A female chimpanzee prepares a branch into a spear and uses it to attack a bush baby hidden inside a tree.
  13. Four-Winged Dinosaur — The discovery of the four-winged Microraptor fossil renews debate about the origins of flight, including a wind tunnel test of a reconstructed model.
  14. Maya Writing Decoded — The program recounts the breakthroughs that decoded the ancient Maya script and opened new insight into the civilization's turbulent past.
  15. Future Automobile Technologies — The program explores new technologies and ideas intended to shape the future of automobiles.

Seasons

Interactive Features

Episode Guide

Content sources

Plot analysis generated from content on Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Related entry on Wikidata (Q3071768), public domain (CC0).