NOVA Season 52, Episode 16: Human: Building Empires

1

What Are UFOs?

Can science reveal the secrets of mysterious objects seen in our skies?

54 min

2

Extreme Airport Engineering

Follow the race to build a world-class airport on the site of one of America’s busiest flying hubs.

54 min

3

Dino Birds

Fossils reveal how birds survived the killer asteroid and became today’s only living dinosaurs.

54 min

4

Egypt's Tombs of Amun

A long-lost ancient cemetery opens the door to a unique period in Egyptian history.

54 min

5

Pompeii's Secret Underworld

Archaeologists uncover new truths about Pompeii, a wealthy Roman playground with dark secrets.

54 min

6

Baltimore Bridge Collapse

Follow the investigation into the deadly container ship collision that closed the Port of Baltimore.

54 min

7

Revolutionary War Weapons

Explore key military technologies in the American colonies’ fight for freedom.

54 min

8

Secrets of the Forest

Follow scientists in a quest to understand how complex forest ecosystems can help cool our planet.

54 min

9

Critical Condition: Health In Black America

Black Americans are nearly twice as likely to suffer from chronic diseases than Whites. Why? From false beliefs that permeate modern medicine to life experiences that can damage human cells, uncover the underlying causes of racial health disparities.

97 min

10

Ultimate Crash Test: Countdown

What really happens in a multi-vehicle pileup? A first-of-its-kind experiment aims to stage a high speed crash to gain new insights on car safety. But how can they create and study a complex collision without putting any lives in danger?

53 min

11

Ultimate Crash Test: Impact

Car safety experts just pulled off a first-of-its-kind remote controlled multi-vehicle pile up. Now investigators are put to the test as they analyze the data and look for insights into driver behavior and vehicle design.

53 min

12

Human: Origins

Where did humans come from, and what makes us unique? Discover the remarkable origins of Homo sapiens, and the crucial moments of innovation, communication, and ritual that set us on our path.

54 min

13

Human: Journeys

Follow Homo Sapiens as they venture across the world, farther than any other human species. See how they invented new tools to thrive in challenging environments - and meet the mysterious hobbit-like humans they may have encountered along the way.

53 min

14

Human: Neanderthal Encounters

For 400,000 years, Neanderthals thrived across frigid, Ice Age Europe. What happened when Homo sapiens arrived, and how did these encounters change our species – including our DNA – in ways still with us today?

53 min

15

Human: Into the Americas

Follow ancient humans' perilous journey into the Americas, where a frigid Ice Age landscape, mammoths, and other fearsome beasts tested their resilience.

53 min

16

Human: Building Empires

Discover how Homo sapiens transformed from nomads to empire builders. Witness the innovations – from animal domestication to writing – that revolutionized ancient life and shaped our modern world.

54 min

17

Ancient Desert Death Trap

Archaeologists investigate dozens of strange Stone Age megastructures in the Arabian desert. They're so big that their true form is visible only from the air, yet these giant structures were built by a mysterious people 9000 years ago.

53 min

18

Superfloods

In September 2024, Hurricane Helene dumped 14 inches of rain on North Carolina, triggering flash floods and killing more than 100 people. Why are these floods on the rise around the world-even in places thousands of feet above sea level?

53 min

19

Operation Space Station: High-Risk Build

From ammonia leaks to Space Shuttle disasters to a spacewalk gone terribly wrong, astronauts and Mission Control insiders relive the most terrifying moments during construction of the International Space Station.

54 min

20

Operation Space Station: Science and Survival

Witness life-or-death decisions 250 miles above Earth, as astronauts and Mission Control work together to survive moments of high danger on board humanity's remarkable orbiting laboratory, the International Space Station.

54 min