NOVA

How the Magnus Force Curves Soccer and Baseballs

Clip: Season 46 | 3m 26s

When a ball traveling through the air is spinning, some physics known as the magnus force kicks in to make it bend or curve. The magnitude of the magnus force depends on the ball’s rate of spin as well as its mass, velocity, radius, and the density of the air around it.

Aired: 04/02/19

Rating: NR

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National corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Draper. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the David H. Koch Fund for Science, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS viewers.

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Video thumbnail: NOVA Artificial Intelligence is Helping Get the Lead Out of Flint

NOVA

Artificial Intelligence is Helping Get the Lead Out of Flint

An algorithm helps find buried lead, but can residents trust it?

Clip: S46 | 6m 32s

Artificial Intelligence is Helping Get the Lead Out of Flint

Clip: S46 | 6m 32s

Video thumbnail: NOVA The Science Behind This Sleight of Hand

NOVA

The Science Behind This Sleight of Hand

Why this card trick might fool your eyes.

Clip: S46 | 46s

The Science Behind This Sleight of Hand

Clip: S46 | 46s

Video thumbnail: NOVA Astronomers Photograph 2 Newborn Planets for the First Time

NOVA

Astronomers Photograph 2 Newborn Planets for the First Time

Researchers photograph two newborn planets for the first time.

Clip: S46 | 2m 41s

Astronomers Photograph 2 Newborn Planets for the First Time

Clip: S46 | 2m 41s

Video thumbnail: NOVA Six Ways Quantum Computers Could Change the World

NOVA

Six Ways Quantum Computers Could Change the World

See why experts are saying it's the dawn of a new Information Age.

Clip: S46 | 3m 50s

Six Ways Quantum Computers Could Change the World

Clip: S46 | 3m 50s

Video thumbnail: NOVA Inside the Search for Planet Nine

NOVA

Inside the Search for Planet Nine

The Subaru Telescope at the peak of Hawai`i’s Mauna Kea is on the hunt for Planet Nine.

Clip: S46 | 3m 14s

Inside the Search for Planet Nine

Clip: S46 | 3m 14s

Video thumbnail: NOVA The 170-Year Search for a Planet Beyond Neptune

NOVA

The 170-Year Search for a Planet Beyond Neptune

There may be a ninth planet at the edge of our solar system — it’s not Pluto and it’s not

Clip: S46 | 2m 29s

The 170-Year Search for a Planet Beyond Neptune

Clip: S46 | 2m 29s

Video thumbnail: NOVA The Evidence for Planet Nine’s Existence

NOVA

The Evidence for Planet Nine’s Existence

Why do some astronomers think there’s a massive planet on the edge of our solar system?

Clip: S46 | 3m 3s

The Evidence for Planet Nine’s Existence

Clip: S46 | 3m 3s

Video thumbnail: NOVA This Cute Robot Uses Sophisticated AI to Help Teach Kids

NOVA

This Cute Robot Uses Sophisticated AI to Help Teach Kids

Tega is a robot that uses artificial intelligence to read and respond to kid's emotions.

Clip: S46 | 4m 18s

This Cute Robot Uses Sophisticated AI to Help Teach Kids

Clip: S46 | 4m 18s

Video thumbnail: NOVA Fossil Discovery Could Offer Glimpse into Day the Dinos Died

NOVA

Fossil Discovery Could Offer Glimpse into Day the Dinos Died

Fossilized fish appear to preserve the fallout of the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs.

Clip: S46 | 2m 51s

Fossil Discovery Could Offer Glimpse into Day the Dinos Died

Clip: S46 | 2m 51s

Video thumbnail: NOVA Using Science to Achieve Invisibility

NOVA

Using Science to Achieve Invisibility

Achieving true invisibility is a difficult feat.

Clip: S46 | 3m 21s

Using Science to Achieve Invisibility

Clip: S46 | 3m 21s

Video thumbnail: NOVA This Is Your Brain and Body on Power

NOVA

This Is Your Brain and Body on Power

Discover how power influences your body and brain.

Clip: S46 | 4m 22s

This Is Your Brain and Body on Power

Clip: S46 | 4m 22s

Video thumbnail: NOVA Deepfake Videos Are Getting Terrifyingly Real

NOVA

Deepfake Videos Are Getting Terrifyingly Real

Artificially intelligent face swap videos are more sophisticated and accessible than ever.

Clip: S46 | 3m 36s

Deepfake Videos Are Getting Terrifyingly Real

Clip: S46 | 3m 36s

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Episodes

Video thumbnail: NOVA Animal Espionage

NOVA

Animal Espionage

Camera technology is revolutionizing the study of animals—without them even noticing.

S46 Ep23 | 53m 29s

Animal Espionage

S46 Ep23 | 53m 29s

Video thumbnail: NOVA The Violence Paradox

NOVA

The Violence Paradox

Is violence actually declining? If so, why? And can we build a more peaceful future?

S46 Ep22 | 1h 53m 22s

The Violence Paradox

S46 Ep22 | 1h 53m 22s

Video thumbnail: NOVA Decoding da Vinci

NOVA

Decoding da Vinci

Discover the science behind Leonardo da Vinci's masterpieces—and Mona Lisa's iconic smile.

S46 Ep21 | 53m 41s

Decoding da Vinci

S46 Ep21 | 53m 41s

Video thumbnail: NOVA Dead Sea Scroll DetectivesPassport

NOVA

Dead Sea Scroll Detectives

New technologies unravel the Dead Sea Scrolls’ mysteries and uncover million-dollar fakes.

S46 Ep20 | 53m 25s

Dead Sea Scroll Detectives

S46 Ep20 | 53m 25s

Video thumbnail: NOVA Look Who's DrivingPassport

NOVA

Look Who's Driving

As self-driving cars take to the streets, investigate how they work, and if they are safe.

S46 Ep19 | 53m 21s

Look Who's Driving

S46 Ep19 | 53m 21s

Video thumbnail: NOVA Why Bridges CollapsePassport

NOVA

Why Bridges Collapse

Can new engineering techniques help prevent deadly bridge collapses?

S46 Ep18 | 53m 9s

Why Bridges Collapse

S46 Ep18 | 53m 9s

Video thumbnail: NOVA Rise of the Mammals

NOVA

Rise of the Mammals

Amazing fossils reveal how mammals took over after an asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs.

S46 Ep17 | 53m 17s

Rise of the Mammals

S46 Ep17 | 53m 17s

Video thumbnail: NOVA The Planets: Ice WorldsPassport

NOVA

The Planets: Ice Worlds

Beyond icy worlds of Uranus and Neptune, Pluto dazzles with its mysterious ocean.

S46 Ep16 | 52m 48s

The Planets: Ice Worlds

S46 Ep16 | 52m 48s

Video thumbnail: NOVA The Planets: SaturnPassport

NOVA

The Planets: Saturn

NASA's Cassini reveals the mysteries of Saturn's rings—and new hope for life on a moon.

S46 Ep15 | 53m 24s

The Planets: Saturn

S46 Ep15 | 53m 24s

Video thumbnail: NOVA The Planets: JupiterPassport

NOVA

The Planets: Jupiter

Jupiter's massive gravitational force has made it a wrecking ball and a protector of Earth

S46 Ep14 | 53m 18s

The Planets: Jupiter

S46 Ep14 | 53m 18s

Video thumbnail: NOVA The Planets: MarsPassport

NOVA

The Planets: Mars

Before it was a dry planet, Mars was a wet world that may have hosted life.

S46 Ep13 | 53m 54s

The Planets: Mars

S46 Ep13 | 53m 54s

Video thumbnail: NOVA The Planets: Inner WorldsPassport

NOVA

The Planets: Inner Worlds

The rocky planets have similar origins, but only 1 supports life. Was it always this way?

S46 Ep12 | 53m 54s

The Planets: Inner Worlds

S46 Ep12 | 53m 54s

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