Discovery Through Science

Whether it's flash-freezing an egg to minus 197 degrees or searching for sperm where there seems to be none, the high-tech world of assisted reproduction is ushering in a new era of possibilities. As same-sex couples, transgender individuals, single parents and people with fertility issues have the opportunity to build a family using their own DNA, humanity is redefining what it means to reproduce.
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Meet people struggling with infertility and the challenges of assisted reproduction.
The cause of the infamous Hindenburg crash has baffled experts for over 80 years, with theories about the airship’s fire ranging from deliberate sabotage to a spark generated by the stormy conditions in which it landed. New, never-before-seen amateur footage of the crash has surfaced, showing the airship’s final seconds from a fresh angle and in unrivaled clarity. Taking clues from the footage and other sources, NOVA leads a fresh investigation at a leading scientific lab with eye-opening experiments that point to a final solution of the mystery.
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NOVA looks at the array of promising new electric planes on the horizon and takes you for a ride in some impressive prototypes that are already in the air, such as Burt Rutan’s Long-ESA that can fly at over 200 mph and climb to 3,000 feet in under six minutes. Boeing, Airbus, Raytheon and other major companies are currently racing to develop practical short-haul passenger planes promising to slash the operating costs and emissions of regular flights. But first, significant hurdles of battery weight, energy storage and cooling must be overcome. How long will it be before the dream of super-quiet, super-efficient airliners becomes a reality?
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