NOVA: Season 40

Season 40 overview

The season opens with investigations into Viking metallurgy, forensic evidence, Easter Island, Mars exploration, and ancient military engineering. These stories contrast historical mystery with modern scientific testing.

Key story beats

  1. The Ulfberht Sword — The episode investigates how Viking smiths designed and produced the technologically advanced Ulfberht sword.
  2. Forensics Under Scrutiny — The investigation presents the lack of consistent scientific standards and oversight in American forensic practice.
  3. Easter Island Mystery — The program examines competing explanations for the construction and movement of nearly 900 giant moai and the island's ecological decline.
  4. Curiosity Reaches Mars — The successful landing of the Curiosity rover renews the search for evidence that Mars may once have supported life.
  5. Hurricane Sandy — The episode reconstructs Sandy's impacts and examines whether warming climate conditions may contribute to more intense hurricanes.
  6. Icelandic Volcano Threat — The program uses the 2010 ash disruption to frame the possible global consequences of future Icelandic eruptions.
  7. Neanderthal Genome — Genetic evidence is used to reconsider Neanderthal history, including the possibility of interbreeding with modern humans.
  8. Drone Technology — The episode examines drone engineering, remote piloting, surveillance cameras, and the experience of a drone strike from a command center.
  9. Lindbergh Kidnapping — The program revisits the 1932 kidnapping of the Lindbergh family's baby and the investigation that followed.
  10. Pharaohs' Chariot — Archaeological reconstruction tests whether the Egyptian chariot was a revolutionary military technology and how decisive it was in ancient warfare.
  11. Earth Observation — Satellite data reveals connections among atmospheric dust, ocean circulation, and the systems that sustain life on Earth.
  12. Rampage Violence Research — The investigation explores scientific theories about rampage violence and whether research can help identify prevention strategies.
  13. Russian Meteor Strike — A 7,000-ton asteroid enters the atmosphere over Russia, and impact scientists search for evidence about its origin and composition.
  14. Antikythera Mechanism — New imaging reveals how the ancient geared bronze mechanism functioned as an early computer.
  15. Australia's Origins — Host Richard Smith presents geological clues about Earth's formation and the origins of life preserved in western Australia.

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).