Nova is a United States popular science television series produced by WGBH Boston. It is broadcast on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in the U.S., and in more than 100 other countries.[1] The series has won many major television awards.[2]
Nova often includes interviews with scientists doing research in the subject areas covered and occasionally includes footage of a particular discovery. Some episodes have focused on the history of science. Examples of topics covered include the following: Colditz Castle, Drake equation, elementary particles, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, Fermat's Last Theorem, global warming, moissanite, Project Jennifer, storm chasing, Unterseeboot 869, Vinland, and the Tarim mummies.
The Nova programs have been praised for their good pacing, clear writing, and crisp editing. Websites accompany the segments and have also won awards.[3]
Nova has been recognized with multiple Peabody Awards and Emmy Awards. The series won a Peabody in 1974, citing it as "an imaginative series of science adventures," with a "versatility rarely found in television." Subsequent Peabodys went to specific episodes:[2]
"The Miracle of Life" (1983) was cited as a "fascinating and informative documentary of the human reproductive process," which used "revolutionary microphotographic techniques." This episode also won an Emmy.
"Spy Machines" (1987) was cited for "neatly recount[ing] the key events of the Cold War and look[ing] into the future of American/Soviet SDI competition."
"The Elegant Universe" (2003) was lauded for exploring "science’s most elaborate and ambitious theory, the string theory" while making "the abstract concrete, the complicated clear, and the improbable understandable" by "blending factual story telling with animation, special effects, and trick photography." The episode also won an Emmy for editing.[6]
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (responsible for documentary Emmys) recognized the series with awards in 1978, 1981, 1983, and 1989. Julia Cort won an Emmy in 2001 for writing "Life's Greatest Miracle." Emmys were also awarded for the following episodes:[2]
1982 "Here's Looking at You, Kid"
1983 "The Miracle of Life" (also won a Peabody)
1985 "AIDS: Chapter One", "Acid Rain: New Bad News"
1992 "Suicide Mission to Chernobyl", "The Russian Right Stuff"
1994 "Secret of the Wild Child"
1995 "Siamese Twins," "Secret of the Wild Child"
1999 "Decoding Nazi Secrets"
2001 "Bioterror"
2002 "Galileo's Battle for the Heavens," "Mountain of Ice," "Shackleton's Voyage of Endurance," "Why the Towers Fell"
2003 "Battle of the X-planes," "The Elegant Universe" (also won a Peabody)
2005 "Rx for Survival: A Global Health Challenge"
Three episodes were nominated for the 2004 Emmys:
"Mars Dead or Alive"
"The Crash of Flight 111"
"The Most Dangerous Woman in America"
In 1998, the National Science Board of the National Science Foundation awarded Nova its first-ever Public Service Award.[2]
Format Science Documentary
Created by Michael Ambrosino
Developed by Michael Ambrosino
Opening theme Walter Werzowa,
John Luker,
Musikvergnuegen, Inc.,
Ray Loring (additional)
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 40
No. of episodes 698 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Paula Apsell
Running time 55 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel PBS
Picture format HDTV
Original run March 3, 1974 – present
External links
Website
