Back to Show
NOVA
Ben Franklin's Balloons Preview
The first stage in human flight didn’t begin with the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk, but with daring inventors and aeronauts in 18th century Paris. In a period of just 19 months, humanity not only left the ground for the first time but thanks to a handful of brilliant and colorful pioneers, developed all the essential features of today's hot air air and gas balloons.
Support Provided By
53:46
How did the drive to reproduce unlock the incredible beauty and complexity of life on Earth?
53:45
Follow the surprising evolutionary journey that led to the majestic elephant.
53:46
Discover the untold story—full of surprising evolutionary leaps—behind every bite we take.
53:34
The story of the dolphin reveals how intelligence evolved, step by step, over billions of years.
Unlock with PBS Passport
53:42
Step into the stunning cave that’s reshaping our understanding of prehistoric art.
Unlock with PBS Passport
53:41
Witness how Native North Americans have generated scientific knowledge over thousands of years.
53:34
Follow the relentless quest that led to a breakthrough treatment for a deadly disease.
Unlock with PBS Passport
53:40
Archaeologists investigate the dramatic origins of democracy in ancient Greece 2,500 years ago.
53:08
Follow the Artemis mission to bring humanity back to the Moon for the first time since Apollo.
Unlock with PBS Passport
53:25
Surprising evidence at the world’s oldest temple overturns our understanding of human history.