Back to Show
NOVA
NASA Heads to the Sun
On August 12, 2018, NASA launched the Parker Solar Probe to study the Sun like never before. It will hurtle towards the star at the center of our solar system at 120 miles per second, which is the fastest human-made object ever. The heat shield on the front of the probe will withstand temperatures of about 2500 degrees Fahrenheit to keep the instruments at roughly room temperature.
Support Provided By

53:51
Join scientists as they grab light from across the universe to prove quantum entanglement.

Unlock with PBS Passport
53:21
Follow engineers and woodworkers as they rebuild an iconic American covered bridge.

Unlock with PBS Passport
53:34
Follow the harrowing operation to rescue 12 boys stranded in a flooded cave in Thailand.

Unlock with PBS Passport
53:37
Explore Africa’s sleeping giant—Nyamuragira, one of the world’s most dangerous volcanoes.

Unlock with PBS Passport
53:37
Climb into the crater of Nyiragongo, a seething and active African volcano.

1:53:20
Discover how Earth’s intricate climate system is changing.

53:15
How courage and ingenuity saved Allied troops during the epic Dunkirk operation in 1940.

53:26
Take a mind-blowing voyage to the most powerful and mysterious objects in the universe.

Unlock with PBS Passport
53:32
Watch as birds solve puzzles and challenge our basic notions of intelligence.

Unlock with PBS Passport
54:10
Scientists uncover geologic evidence of epic floods that tore through ancient landscapes.

Unlock with PBS Passport
53:11
Experts reconstruct the Great Hurricane of 1780 to help predict the risk of future storms.