Up Next
Back to Show
NOVA
The Mystery and Physics of the Spiral Football Pass
Why does the nose of the football go from pointing upward to rotating downward when most things stay the same orientation when they move through the air? (Think of frisbees, bean bags, even paper airplanes.) The reason is something called "conservation of angular momentum." Discover the physics that explains how a perfect football pass moves through the air.
Support Provided By
53:25
Surprising evidence at the world’s oldest temple overturns our understanding of human history.
53:38
Explore mammals’ surprising origins, long before the age of dinosaurs.
53:39
Do speech buttons really allow dogs to talk to us? Scientists investigate.
53:39
New evidence sheds light on the remarkable life—and mysterious collapse—of the ancient jungle city.
Unlock with PBS Passport
53:31
What if violent asteroid impacts actually jump-started life on Earth? Explore a dramatic theory.
Unlock with PBS Passport
53:41
See how ingenuity and teamwork keep the crew alive and doing science 250 miles above Earth.
Unlock with PBS Passport
53:40
Astronauts and Mission Control relive terrifying moments during construction of the ISS.
53:28
Find out why deadly flash floods are on the rise and how we can protect ourselves from them.
53:21
Explore mysterious 9,000-year-old Stone Age megastructures found in the Arabian Desert.
Unlock with PBS Passport
53:32
Discover how two revolutionary ancient inventions changed the course of humanity forever.
Unlock with PBS Passport
53:25
Follow ancient humans’ journey into an icy and perilous new land.
Unlock with PBS Passport
53:27
Discover how Homo sapiens outlasted Neanderthals – and how they helped make us who we are today.