NOVA: Season 36

Season 36 overview

The season opens with polar dinosaur fossils, a shuttle disaster, quantum theory, and fractal mathematics. These episodes establish a pattern of using difficult evidence to question familiar assumptions.

Key story beats

  1. Arctic Dinosaur Expeditions — Two high-stakes expeditions investigate dinosaur fossils buried in the Alaskan tundra and examine how dinosaurs survived in polar environments.
  2. Columbia Reentry Disaster — The Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrates during reentry after a nearly flawless 15-day mission, killing its seven-person crew.
  3. A Son Investigates Quantum Theory — Mark Everett undertakes a personal quest to understand his father Hugh and Hugh's radical theory of quantum physics.
  4. Fractals Reveal Hidden Patterns — The episode explains how fractal equations describe patterns in forests and the human heart while inspiring research in science and technology.
  5. Flores Fossil Controversy — The discovery of tiny human fossil bones on Flores generates controversial speculation about human history and prompts scientists to seek more evidence.
  6. Origins Of Biblical Israel — An archaeological investigation examines the origins of the ancient Israelites, the authorship and purpose of the Bible, and the emergence of monotheism.
  7. Marine Mammal Emergency — Wildlife veterinarians treat sick and injured marine mammals while investigating a mysterious neurological illness affecting sea lions and harbor seal pups.
  8. Searching For Life On Mars — Scientists and engineers operate NASA missions to Mars as robotic explorers drill into the planet and search for clues about possible life.
  9. California Energy Gamble — California launches a controversial program focused on reducing carbon dioxide emissions through efficiency improvements, renewable energy, and higher vehicle mileage.
  10. Monarch Migration — The episode follows the monarch butterfly migration across North America using helicopters, an ultralight, and a hot-air balloon, while examining threats to the phenomenon.
  11. The Spy Factory Exposed — The documentary examines the National Security Agency's role in the failure to stop the 9/11 attacks and its later warrantless eavesdropping program.
  12. Bamboo Flowering And Rat Plague — Scientists investigate the recurring connection between bamboo flowering and explosive black-rat population growth that can cause destruction and famine.
  13. Cameras On Extreme Ice — A scientific team deploys time-lapse cameras in remote icy environments while facing blizzards, unreliable technology, difficult climbs, and extreme winds.
  14. Comet And Last Extinction — The episode examines whether a comet struck the Great Lakes region 12,900 years ago and whether the impact caused the extinction of large North American animals.
  15. Medical Students Begin Training — Cameras revisit seven medical students whose long journey toward becoming doctors began at Harvard Medical School in 1987.

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).