Episode
NOVA: Treasures of the Earth: Power
Overview
Drill down to discover how Earth's natural treasures provide bountiful energy to power our modern world yet are also driving us to seek new, cleaner alternatives that can help us keep the lights on.
Details
- Series
- NOVA
- Season
- Season 44
- Episode
- Episode 7
- Air date
- 2016-11-16
- Runtime
- 55 min
Episode context
Treasures of the Earth: Power is Episode 7 in Season 44 of NOVA. It aired on 2016-11-16. The runtime is 55 min.
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Episode 6: Treasures of the Earth: Metals
Gold, bronze, iron, steel... metals are pillars of our civilization, but what makes them so special? Discover their unique properties and explore how our mastery of metals has led us from the stone age to today's hi-tech world.
Episode 8: Secrets of the Sky Tombs
The towering Himalayas were among the last places on Earth that humanity settled. Scaling sheer cliff sides, a team of daring scientists hunts for clues to how ancient people found their way into this forbidding landscape and adapted to survive the high altitude. They discover rock-cut tombs filled with human bones and enigmatic artifacts, including gold masks and Chinese silk dating back thousands of years, and piece together evidence of strange rituals and beliefs designed to ward off the restless spirits of the dead.
More episodes from this season
Episode 5: Treasures of the Earth: Gems
Gemstones like diamonds, rubies, opal and jade are the ultimate treasures. Delve into Earth's depths to discover how these precious stones are forged and what explains the unique allure of each captivating gemstone.
Episode 9: The Nuclear Option
Five years after the earthquake and tsunami that triggered the unprecedented trio of meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, scientists and engineers are struggling to control an ongoing crisis. What’s next for Fukushima? What’s next for Japan? And what’s next for a world that seems determined to jettison one of our most important carbon-free sources of energy? Despite the catastrophe—and the ongoing risks associated with nuclear—a new generation of nuclear power seems poised to emerge the ashes of Fukushima. NOVA investigates how the realities of climate change, the inherent limitations of renewable energy sources, and the optimism and enthusiasm of a new generation of nuclear engineers is looking for ways to reinvent nuclear technology, all while the most recent disaster is still being managed. What are the lessons learned from Fukushima? And with all of nuclear’s inherent dangers, how might it be possible to build a safe nuclear future?
Episode 4: Super Tunnel
Join engineers as they build a massive new railway deep beneath the streets of London.
Episode 10: Search for the Super Battery
Explore the hidden world of energy storage and how it holds the keys to a greener future.
Episode 3: Great Human Odyssey
Follow our ancient ancestors’ footsteps out of Africa and into every corner of our planet.
Episode 11: Ultimate Cruise Ship
Join pioneering shipbuilders as they embark on a feat of maritime engineering.
Episode 2: School of the Future
How the science of learning may change education for all children.
Episode 12: The Origami Revolution
The centuries-old tradition of folding two-dimensional paper into three-dimensional shapes is inspiring a scientific revolution. The rules of folding are at the heart of many natural phenomena, from how leaves blossom to how beetles fly. Engineers and designers are applying its principles to reshape the world around us—and even within us, designing new drugs, micro-robots, and future space missions.
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Episode 13: Why Trains Crash
From derailments to head-on collisions to drivers killed at road crossings, deadly train accidents claim dozens of lives each year. But just how unsafe are the railroads? NOVA investigates recent rail tragedies and advances in train tech that could help prevent them, taking a special look at Japan’s superefficient bullet trains, which have a perfect safety record. What would it take to usher in a new golden age of safer, faster, more modern and reliable train travel?