Up Next
Back to Show
Watch Preview
NOVA
Extreme Animal Weapons
Season 44
Episode 19
From lobster claws and dog teeth to bee stings and snake fangs, every creature depends on a weapon. But some are armed to extremes that make no practical sense—whether it’s bull elks with giant 40-pound antler racks or tiny rhinoceros beetles with horns bigger than their body. What explains giant tusks, horns, and claws that can slow an animal down and even impair health and nutrition?
Sign up now for inspiring and thought-provoking media delivered straight to your inbox.
Support Provided By
Unlock with PBS Passport
53:47
See how Earth transformed from a barren hellscape to a planet capable of sustaining life.
53:31
Dive into the subconscious to see what’s really driving the decisions you make.
53:30
Neuroscientists discover the tricks and shortcuts the brain takes to help us survive.
53:19
Investigate one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions in recorded history.
Unlock with PBS Passport
53:31
Follow scientists determined to save the critically endangered right whale.
53:31
Here’s how the U.S. could reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
53:31
Americans use ancient wisdom and new technology to fight extreme weather.
53:31
See the latest stunning images and discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope.
53:21
Archaeological discoveries reveal traces of ancient civilizations in the Amazon.
53:20
Thousands race to build Europe's biggest construction project–London's new railroad.
Unlock with PBS Passport
53:32
Discover how the concepts of zero and infinity revolutionized mathematics.
Unlock with PBS Passport
53:22
What exactly is crypto, and how does it work? This technology is more than just money.