Back to Show
NOVA
When Machines Prescribe
Doctors rely on computer programs to make decisions about diagnosis and treatment. Designed to weigh factors like symptoms, medical history, and test results to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients, some common medical algorithms were built using data based on old pseudoscience about racial differences. Investigate how their continued use has harmed the health of Black patients.
Support Provided By
Unlock with PBS Passport
54:10
Scientists hunt for a mega-eruption that plunged medieval Earth into a deep freeze.
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:55
Engineers race to build a massive dome to contain the crumbling remains of the reactor.
Unlock with PBS Passport
53:09
Join pioneering shipbuilders as they embark on a feat of maritime engineering.
1:53:34
How can the science of learning help us rethink the future of education for all children?
Unlock with PBS Passport
53:49
Discover how Allied forces conspired to destroy one of Hitler’s most diabolical weapons.
53:32
Watch as Otzi, a 5000-year-old mummy, is brought to life and preserved with 3D modeling.
53:07
Retrace the thought experiments that inspired his theory on the nature of reality.
53:35
How did massive volcanic eruptions, inland seas, and land bridges pave the way for life?
53:35
Experience the colossal geologic forces that shaped our continent over 3 billion years.
Unlock with PBS Passport
53:10
Which technologies worked in the race to track down the men behind the marathon attack?
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:53
Can science help us understand why some people commit horrific acts of mass murder?
Unlock with PBS Passport
52:52
A team uncovers the advanced engineering behind an ancient Egyptian war machine.