Joint statement against anti-AAPI racism

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<p>We are outraged and heartbroken by the murders of eight people in Georgia, including six women of Asian descent. Anti-Asian racism has deep roots in our country’s history, but should have no place in our country’s future. In these challenging times, with anti-Asian sentiment on the rise nationwide, we believe that silence itself can be a form of violence. As leaders in public media, we feel it is imperative for us to clearly state our opposition to misogyny, hatred and racism in all forms. And we join our chief executive, Jon Abbott, in extending heartfelt support for our Asian American/Pacific Islander friends and family, colleagues, staff and the communities we serve.</p>
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<p>John Bredar, VP for National Programming, GBH</p><p>Raney Aronson-Rath, Executive Producer, FRONTLINE</p><p>Marsha Bemko, Executive Producer, ANTIQUES ROADSHOW</p><p>Julia Cort, Co-Executive Producer, NOVA</p><p>Denise DiIanni, Senior Executive in Charge, GBH STUDIO SIX</p><p>Laurie Donnelly, Executive Producer, GBH STUDIO SIX</p><p>Cameo George, Executive Producer, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE</p><p>Chris Schmidt, Co-Executive Producer, NOVA</p><p>Susanne Simpson, Executive Producer, MASTERPIECE</p><p>Judith Vecchione, Executive Producer, GBH STUDIO SIX</p>
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<p>This week’s tragic killings in Atlanta are a continuation of the anti-Asian racism the country has seen for the past year. The attached letter is a joint statement reflecting our collective stand against this racism and for a commitment to fostering inclusivity in our country.</p>

Close up illustration of Earth from space

How Old Is Earth?

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<p>Nearly 5 billion years ago, a dense cloud of gas and dust occupied this corner of the Milky Way. The planets we know today, including Earth, were nowhere to be found. Scientists think that a nearby star exploded in a stunning supernova, sending a shockwave through that cloud and triggering a collapse. The result was a solar nebula, a flat, swirling disk of material that would eventually become our solar system.</p>
<p>The center of the disk would have experienced enormous gravitational forces, drawing more and more of that swirling material toward itself. Eventually, the pressure built so much that it forced hydrogen atoms themselves to fuse together and form helium. This released so much energy that the compact material, radiating heat, lit up our solar system with visible light for the first time.</p><p>And with that, 4.6 billion years ago, our Sun was born.</p>
<p>READ: <a href="/wgbh/nova/video/how-life-survived-when-earth-was-covered-in-ice/">How Life Survived When Earth Was Covered in Ice</a></p>
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<p>The Sun’s gravity was so strong that it accumulated over 99% of the matter in that original cloud. But toward the edges of the solar nebula, other matter was also clustering into a smattering of larger bodies.</p>
<p>As those bodies amassed more material, their gravity grew. Some of them had gravity so strong that it pulled them into spheres. And 4.54 billion years ago, our Earth was one of them.</p>
<p>WATCH: <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/ancient-earth-was-a-hellscape/">Ancient Earth Was a Hellscape</a></p>
<p>But this early Earth would have been entirely inhospitable to life as we know it. It was scorching hot. Meteorites and asteroids hammered the surface. Lava flowed freely across the surface. And yet, from this hellscape, Earth would eventually transform into a planet capable of supporting complex life, including us.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/series/ancient-earth/">Watch NOVA’s Ancient Earth series to learn how our planet transformed.</a></p>
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<p data-block-key="he4il">How did our solar system form? And when did Earth come to be?</p>

JWST has revealed the once-hidden features of the protostar within the dark cloud L1527. Bright colorful image in space

STAFF PICKS: Favorite NOVA Documentaries

<p>The NOVA team spends countless hours watching NOVA documentaries, editing them, fact-checking them, writing about them, promoting them…..you get it. We know NOVA really, really well. So to celebrate our 50th anniversary, we looked around and asked, what are our favorite NOVA documentaries?</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/new-eye-on-the-universe/"><b>New Eye on the Universe</b></a>: “It really stirs up a sense of awe not just in the vastness of the universe but also for the scientists and researchers that are moving the needle on new discoveries in space.”</p><p><i>-Krystnell Storr, Science and Equity Editor</i></p>
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<p></p><p><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/augmented/"><b>Augmented</b></a>: “As someone who loves climbing and movies about outdoor adventures and feats of human endurance, this episode was a fascinating combination of scientific ingenuity and human perseverance. It was totally compelling to me.”</p><p><i>-Tara Ramsey, Outreach Project Manager</i></p>
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<p></p><p><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/ultimate-space-telescope/"><b>Ultimate Space Telescope</b></a>: “It's so dramatic watching the story of how they made this incredible telescope, and the fact that there were 344 single points of failure blows my mind! I didn't stop talking about that show for months.”</p><p><i>-Nadia Rawls, Senior Director, Digital Media and Audience Development</i></p>
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<p></p><p><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/hunt-for-the-oldest-dna/"><b>Hunt for the Oldest DNA</b></a>: “Eske is an awesome narrator and his story is really inspiring and the episode's animation is so cool! I told all of my friends to check out the episode and they loved it.”</p><p><i>-Dominic Floreno, Digital Production Assistant</i></p>
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<p><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/series/planets/"><b>The Planets</b></a>: “Not only are the visuals breathtakingly beautiful, but the science is so fascinating. It's amazing how much we know about our celestial neighbors!”</p><p><i>-Ana Aceves, Digital Producer</i></p>
<p></p><p><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/when-whales-could-walk/"><b>When Whales Could Walk</b></a>: “I studied marine biology in college and whales are my favorite animals. It’s amazing to see their ancestors and how modern whales came to be.”</p><p><i>-Marissa Papapietro, Audience Development Manager</i></p>
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<p></p><p><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/star-chasers-of-senegal/"><b>Star Chasers of Senegal</b></a>: “As someone who loves history, delving into the ancient past of scientific wonder was mind-blowing. And as someone with African heritage, I was beaming with joy and pride learning about modern African STEM innovation!”</p><p><i>-Cynthia Betubiza, Social Media Manager</i></p>
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<p></p><p><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/judgment-day-intelligent-design-on-trial/"><b>Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial</b></a>: “I loved how the science teachers in Pennsylvania were the heroes of the story, as they stood up to cultural forces insisting that they allow unscientific ideas into their classrooms. What a dramatic and engaging way to make the case for evolution, and how it's the foundation for the biological sciences.”</p><p><i>-David Condon, Senior Development Producer</i></p>
<p><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/poisoned-water/"><b>Poisoned Water</b></a>: “Great blend of relevant news story, science, social justice, and impact personal stories.”</p><p><i>-Ralph Bouquet, Director of Education and Outreach</i></p><p><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/the-origami-revolution/"><b>The Origami Revolution</b></a><b>:</b> “‘The Origami Revolution’ is a favorite because it pushes back on what does or doesn't count as science. The coolest science exists all around us, and not in a bubble separate from art or nature!”</p><p>-<i>Hannah Gotwals, Rights Manager</i></p>
<p><b>_______</b></p><p>Stay tuned for more videos, articles, and films celebrating NOVA’s 50th Anniversary! #NOVA50</p>
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<p data-block-key="qzjlu">Enjoy these NOVA staff favorites.</p>

NOVA Marathons: Space & The Universe

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<p>Hello, NOVA fans! We understand that many of you may be spending more quality time at home than usual. And, as schools across the country close, fostering student learning at home is a top priority.</p><p>In the upcoming weeks, we’ll be sharing collections of some of our favorite NOVA films—all organized by subject to make online bingeing, learning, and entertainment as easy as possible for science lovers of all ages.</p><p>Astronomy-aficionados get ready: The subject of this collection is “Space &amp; The Universe.” And starting Thursday, April 2, come back to our home planet for a collection of NOVA shows that explore what makes it such a unique and powerful place: Planet Earth.</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/series/planets/episodes/"><i>The Planets</i> series</a> (2019)</h3>
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<p></p><p>The life of our solar system told in five dramatic stories spanning billions of years. In this five-part series, NOVA will explore the awesome beauty of “The Planets,” including Saturn’s 175,000-mile-wide rings, Mars’ ancient waterfalls four times the size of any found on Earth, and Neptune’s winds—12 times stronger than any hurricane felt on our planet. Using unique special effects and extraordinary footage captured by orbiters, landers, and rovers, we’ll treat viewers to an up-close look at these faraway worlds.</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/black-hole-apocalypse/">Black Hole Apocalypse</a> (2018)</h3>
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<p></p><p>Black holes are the most enigmatic and exotic objects in the universe. They’re also the most powerful, with gravity so strong it can trap light. And they’re destructive, swallowing entire planets, even giant stars. Anything that falls into them vanishes…gone forever. Now, astrophysicists are realizing that black holes may be essential to how our universe evolved—their influence possibly leading to life on Earth and, ultimately, us. In this two-hour special, astrophysicist and author Janna Levin takes viewers on a journey to the frontiers of black hole science.</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/apollos-daring-mission/">Apollo’s Daring Mission</a> (2018)</h3>
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<p></p><p>Apollo astronauts and engineers tell the inside story of Apollo 8, the first manned mission to the moon. The U.S. space program suffered a bitter setback when Apollo 1 ended in a deadly fire during a pre-launch run-through. In disarray, and threatened by the prospect of a Soviet Union victory in the space race, NASA decided upon a radical and risky change of plan: turn Apollo 8 from an earth-orbit mission into a daring sprint to the moon while relying on untried new technologies. Fifty years after the historic mission, the Apollo 8 astronauts and engineers recount the feats of engineering that paved the way to the moon.</p>
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<h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/nova-wonders-whats-the-universe-made-of/">NOVA Wonders: What’s the Universe Made Of?</a> (2018)</h3>
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<p></p><p>The universe is hiding something. In fact, it’s hiding a lot. Everything we experience on Earth, the stars, and galaxies we see in the cosmos—all the “normal” matter and energy that we understand—make up only 5% of the known universe. The other 95% is made up of two mysterious components: “dark matter” and “dark energy.” We can’t see them, but we know they’re there. And what’s more—these two shadowy ingredients are locked in an epic battle to control the very fate of the universe.</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/finding-life-beyond-earth/">Finding Life Beyond Earth</a> (2011)</h3><p></p>
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<p></p><p>Take a spectacular trip to distant realms of our solar system to discover where secret forms of life may lie hidden. Combining the latest telescope images with dazzling animation, this program immerses audiences in the sights and sounds of alien worlds, while top astrobiologists explain how these places are changing how we think about the potential for life in our solar system. We used to think our neighboring planets and moons were fairly boring—mostly cold, dead rocks where life could never take hold. Today, however, the solar system looks wilder than we ever imagined.</p><p></p><h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/series/the-fabric-of-the-cosmos/">Fabric of the Cosmos, hosted by Brian Greene</a> (2011)</h3><p></p>
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<p></p><p>Acclaimed physicist Brian Greene reveals a mind-boggling reality beneath the surface of our everyday world. "The Fabric of the Cosmos," a four-hour series based on the book by renowned physicist and author Brian Greene, takes us to the frontiers of physics to see how scientists are piecing together the most complete picture yet of space, time, and the universe. With each step, audiences will discover that just beneath the surface of our everyday experience lies a world we'd hardly recognize—a startling world far stranger and more wondrous than anyone expected.</p>
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<p>Six episodes exploring the vast, mysterious, and powerful universe we live in.</p>

The Great Pyramid of Giza from the angle of a pedestrian.

7 NOVA Documentaries on Iconic Landmarks

<p>Built icons of the world like the Eiffel Tower, the Great Pyramid of Giza, and the statues of Easter Island didn’t pop up out of nowhere. It took planning, engineering, math, physics, and ingenuity to construct some of the most impressive structures in the world.</p><p>Here are 7 NOVA documentaries about iconic landmarks and impressive feats of engineering:</p>
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<p><b>The Great Pyramid of Giza</b></p><p>The 6 million-ton Great Pyramid of Giza is the last surviving wonder of the ancient world. How did the Egyptians engineer the mighty pharaoh Khufu’s tomb so precisely, with none of today’s surveying and power tools? And who were the thousands of laborers who raised the stones? "Decoding the Great Pyramid" presents the latest evidence from groundbreaking archaeological research that has transformed our understanding of the ancient world’s most ambitious engineering project, revealing a “lost city" and intimate details of the lives of the laborers and officials who toiled on the vast construction.</p>
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<p><b>London Underground: The Elizabeth Line</b></p><p>For over a decade, more than 10,000 engineers and construction workers race to build a brand-new subterranean railroad under London— the Elizabeth Line—London’s new Underground. One of Europe’s biggest engineering projects, the construction teams confront immense challenges, from building platforms and concourses the size of aircraft carriers hidden under London’s busiest shopping venue, Oxford Street, to designing, outfitting, and testing a fleet of 70 new high-speed trains from scratch in just two years.</p>
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<p><b>Eiffel Tower</b></p><p>Explore the revolutionary engineering behind Paris’s iconic landmark. Completed in just over two years for the 1889 World’s Fair, the iron tower smashed the record for the tallest structure on Earth, ushering in a new age of global construction that reached for the skies. How did the engineers do it? Follow the innovations, successes, and failures that made one of the most famous buildings on the planet possible.</p>
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<p><b>Easter Island Stone Statues</b></p><p>How were the giant stone heads of Rapa Nui–also known as Easter Island–carved and raised, and why? Since Europeans arrived on this remote Pacific island over 300 years ago, controversy has swirled around the iconic ancient statues and the history of the people who created them. Now, a new generation of researchers is overturning old theories, revealing the rich history, innovation, and resilience of the Rapanui people, and uncovering intriguing new evidence about where they–and their practice of monumental stone building–came from.</p>
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<p><b>Notre Dame</b></p><p>Following the April, 2019 fire that almost destroyed Paris’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral, a team of engineers, masons, and timber workers set out on the daunting challenge of restoring France’s historic landmark. The program traces the dramatic human and technical challenges of the project’s first three years, going behind-the-scenes with carpenters shaping lumber for the new roof and spire, stone masons repairing gaping holes in the vault, and artisans who use traditional techniques to restore stained glass windows. A symbol of the nation’s identity and resilience, Notre Dame gradually rises from the ashes, thanks to a restoration project like no other.</p>
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<p><b>The City of Venice</b></p><p>Rising sea levels and sinking land threaten to destroy Venice. Leading scientists and engineers are racing against the clock and battling the forces of nature to try to save this historic city for future generations. Discover the innovative projects and feats of engineering currently underway, including a hi-tech flood barrier, eco-projects to conserve the lagoon, and new efforts to investigate erosion beneath the city. This is Venice as never seen before, at a critical moment in its rich history.</p>
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<p data-block-key="as6tb">Learn how some of the great structures of the world—the Eiffel Tower, the Great Pyramids, and more—were built.</p>

Computer algorithm displayed in a hospital corridor

Producers of NOVA’s 'When Machines Prescribe' win 2025 AAAS Kavli Gold Award

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<p>The AAAS announced today that the filmmakers behind <a href="/wgbh/nova/video/when-machines-prescribe/"><i>When Machines Prescribe</i></a><i> —</i> which premiered on the PBS science series NOVA, produced by GBH — are recipients of the 2025 <a href="https://sjawards.aaas.org/news/2025-aaas-kavli-science-journalism-award-winners-named">AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Gold Award</a> in the Video Spot News/Feature Reporting category.</p><p>Llewellyn M. Smith, Kelly Thomson, Robert Kirwan, and Chris Schmidt won for their work on the documentary short which investigates medical algorithms in which the patient’s race drives clinical decision-making – and how their continued use has harmed the health of Black patients.</p><p>The film follows the story of Gregory Mumford, a Black man on a kidney transplant waitlist. As he and his family wrestle with the implications of his diagnosis, the story investigates an algorithm used to measure kidney health, developed in 1999, that makes broad assumptions about biological differences across races that are not well-supported by scientific evidence. The result of these “corrections” is the life-threatening demotion of Black patients like Gregory down the kidney transplant list. The kidney disease case prompts researchers to examine other clinical algorithms that correct for race with no scientific basis – used to guide treatment decisions for everything from hypertension to osteoporosis to childbirth. Their findings prompt the removal of racially-motivated corrective factors from kidney function clinical algorithms nationwide — resulting in more than 14,000 Black patients, including Gregory, moving up the list and being eligible for life-saving transplants sooner.</p><p>The story “packs an impressive amount of material into a small package,” said judge Stephen Ornes, a freelance science journalist. “It's economical and engaging in its storytelling, and it weaves together patient narratives, expert voices, and rigorous evidence to take viewers through an urgent and pressing narrative that deftly unpacks tricky scientific ideas, the limitations of measurements, and biases built into algorithms.”</p><p>Producer and Correspondent Llewellyn M. Smith said making the film “required multiple collaborators: the brilliant NOVA team; our own production ‘dream team’; Gregory and Pipier Mumford, who showed us the human consequences of flawed, race-driven medical science; and the dedicated medical professionals who walked us carefully again and again through complex medicine and research history, to make sure we got it right.”</p><p>The award will be presented at a ceremony in February 2026 in conjunction with the AAAS Annual Meeting in Phoenix.</p><p><i>When Machines Prescribe</i> is a NOVA production by BlueSpark Collaborative LLC for GBH. Produced by Llewellyn M. Smith and Kelly Thomson. Edited by Robert Kirwan. Executive Producers: Julia Cort and Chris Schmidt.</p><p>Major funding for <i>When Machines Prescribe</i> is provided by the Doris Duke Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and The California Endowment. Additional funding is provided by the George D. Smith Fund, Inc., the PDB Foundation, the Wilemal Fund, and the NOVA Science Trust with support from Margaret and Will Hearst and the Hoveida Family Foundation. Original funding for this program and NOVA is provided by the Carlisle Companies, the NOVA Science Trust, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Additional funding for NOVA is provided by Viking Cruises.</p>
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<p data-block-key="2uwqx">The filmmakers behind <i>When Machines Prescribe</i> are recipients of the 2025 <a href="https://sjawards.aaas.org/news/2025-aaas-kavli-science-journalism-award-winners-named">AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Gold Award</a> in the Video Spot News/Feature Reporting category.</p>

Why NOVA’s mission is more critical this Earth Day

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<p>For years, we have explored the universe together—from the hidden history of ancient civilizations to the vast mysteries of deep space. You’ve been a vital part of our journey as we’ve sought to understand the world through the rigorous lens of science.</p><p>Today, we're celebrating the extraordinary planet we call home. Whether we're documenting the devastating power of <i>Rain Bombs</i> falling from our skies, the ingenuity of scientists and engineers working to protect our future, or the stunning saga of ancient Earth, NOVA is your trusted guide to the frontiers of Earth science.</p><p><b>This Earth Day, the landscape of public media has fundamentally shifted.</b></p><p>As you may know, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) recently closed its doors following the elimination of federal funding. For decades, this was a pillar of support for the independent, educational content you see on NOVA. Its loss has left a profound gap in how we fund the deep-dive reporting that brings science to light.</p><p><b>But NOVA isn’t going anywhere.</b> We are a nonprofit team—free from corporate ownership or political influence—and we are more committed than ever to making the wonders of our planet accessible to everyone. </p><p><a href="https://nova.donorsupport.co/page/GiveNow?utm_source=website&amp;utm_medium=homepage&amp;utm_campaign=always_on_website&amp;utm_content=always_on"><b>When you support NOVA this Earth Day, you become a true partner in discovery.</b></a></p><p>Your gift ensures that high-quality science storytelling remains independent, free, and inspiring for every curious mind, on every screen.</p>
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<h2><a href="https://nova.donorsupport.co/page/GiveNow?utm_source=website&amp;utm_medium=homepage&amp;utm_campaign=always_on_website&amp;utm_content=always_on">FUND THE FUTURE OF NOVA</a></h2>
<p>We believe that widespread engagement with science is essential to an informed society and a resilient future. But we simply cannot do it without you.</p><p>This is your moment to stand up for the future of independent science. Be sure to watch our newest documentary, <i>Rain Bombs</i>, premiering tomorrow at 9/8c on PBS. </p>
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<p data-block-key="7o7qd"><a href="https://nova.donorsupport.co/page/GiveNow?utm_source=website&amp;utm_medium=homepage&amp;utm_campaign=always_on_website&amp;utm_content=always_on">Support NOVA this Earth Day, and become a true partner in discovery.</a></p>

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