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The Best Episodes of NOVA Season 53

Every episode of NOVA Season 53 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of NOVA Season 53!

Binge this in 12h 35m•Peaking at 8.4/10

PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and technology, and highlights the people involved in scientific pursuits.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    NOVA Season 53 Episode 11 - Stone Age Masterpiece
    8.4/10(21 votes)

    S53:E11

    Hidden in the gorges of Southern France lies one of the most stunning decorated caves ever discovered: Chauvet, 'the Sistine Chapel of Paleolithic art.' For thousands of years, this geological wonder was visited only by animals. But around 37,000 years ago people arrived, and some covered its walls with drawings of exceptional beauty. Since its re-discovery in 1994, only a few scientists have been granted access to study it.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. NOVA Season 53 Episode 12 - Space Wars
    8.2/10(21 votes)

    S53:E12

    An arms race is escalating above us, as military powers vie for control of space. Discover how satellites we rely on are vulnerable to attack, how debris is filling increasingly crowded orbits, and what can be done to protect them.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. NOVA Season 53 Episode 9 - The Battle to Breathe
    8.0/10(28 votes)

    S53:E9

    Once a death sentence, cystic fibrosis now faces an apparent miracle cure. Follow the decades-long scientific quest, fueled by desperate parents, that led to this breakthrough with potential implications for the future of personalized medicine.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. NOVA Season 53 Episode 7 - Rain Bombs
    7.8/10(42 votes)

    S53:E7

    An invisible force is causing chaos around the globe. Follow scientists racing to understand the catastrophic "rain bombs" that are sinking ships and downing planes. Can they learn to predict these devastating weather events and save lives?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. NOVA Season 53 Episode 10 - Knowledge Keepers
    7.8/10(24 votes)

    S53:E10

    For millennia, Indigenous peoples in North America have practiced a unique form of science. From navigating the featureless Arctic to building energy-efficient homes in the desert, see how cultural traditions have led to remarkable innovations.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. NOVA Season 53 Episode 13 - Evolution: Brain Power
    7.8/10(14 votes)

    S53:E13

    Brains might be the most complex structures on our planet – so how did evolution build them? To find out, rewind the clock three billion years to trace the evolutionary story of the dolphin, one of the smartest animals alive today. Discover how the first light sensing cells led to eyes that helped wire bodies to think, how a fluke viral infection supercharged the speed of thought, and how the neocortex emerged as early mammals re-wired their brains to attune to the night.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. NOVA Season 53 Episode 6 - Return to the Moon
    7.7/10(55 votes)

    S53:E6

    A half-century after Apollo, the Artemis missions aim to bring astronauts back to the Moon and establish a lunar space station. Follow the Artemis II engineers and crew on the perilous 10-day journey to orbit the Moon.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. NOVA Season 53 Episode 3 - Can Dogs Talk?
    7.6/10(56 votes)

    S53:E3

    Can dogs understand what we say—and talk back? Witness amazing moments from a major experiment, as thousands of dogs use speech buttons. Pet owners are convinced, but are our furry friends really communicating their thoughts and desires with us?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. NOVA Season 53 Episode 8 - Athens: Birth of Democracy
    7.5/10(49 votes)

    S53:E8

    Follow archaeological investigations into the dramatic origins of democracy in Greece 2,500 years ago. Mass graves and ancient ruins where tyrants were murdered shine new light on the birth of a revolutionary form of government.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. NOVA Season 53 Episode 1 - Asteroids: Spark of Life?
    7.3/10(58 votes)

    S53:E1

    What if asteroids, long feared as destroyers of life, were key to our existence? Explore a revolutionary theory that these violent collisions provided the essential ingredients – water, minerals, and energy – needed to jumpstart life on Earth.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. NOVA Season 53 Episode 2 - Angkor: Hidden Jungle Empire
    7.3/10(55 votes)

    S53:E2

    Deep in the Cambodian jungle lie the ruins of Angkor, a marvel of urban engineering and seat of the once-mighty Khmer Empire. New discoveries are revealing how this ancient metropolis was built – and what likely led to its devastating collapse.

    Director:Leif Kaldor
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. NOVA Season 53 Episode 4 - Mammal Origins
    7.3/10(37 votes)

    S53:E4

    The surprising story of mammal evolution begins long before the age of dinosaurs. Witness how some of our prehistoric mammal relatives survived global catastrophes, defying extinction and evolving into the vast array of mammals we know today – including us.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. NOVA Season 53 Episode 5 - Stone Age Temple Mystery
    7.2/10(49 votes)

    S53:E5

    Surprising evidence at the world's oldest temple overturns our understanding of human history. The latest excavations at the 12,000 year-old Göbekli Tepe in Turkey are making archaeologists rethink the roots of civilization.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. NOVA Season 53 Episode 14 - Evolution: Need to Feed
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S53:E14

    The relentless pursuit of energy, the very act of eating, has profoundly shaped life on Earth. Follow the evolution of the bat to discover the untold story behind every bite we take – one marked by astonishing evolutionary leaps revealing the strange origins of fundamental body parts like powerful jaws.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 53 Ratings Summary

"Stone Age Masterpiece" is the best rated episode of "NOVA" season 53. It scored 8.4/10 based on 21 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 9/30/2026. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "Space Wars".