

Iowa Public Television


NOVA scienceNOW

What Are Animals Thinking? (#605)

David Pogue meets and competes with a menagerie of smart critters to highlight how animals think. [56 minutes] Closed Captioning


PBS Video

Information For Teachers

Grade Levels
6-8, 9-12
Curricular Areas
Science & Technology
Series Length
32 episodes
Average Episode Length
56 minutes
Record Rights
Visit the Website for Teacher Resources



« Upcoming Episodes

All Episodes

  • Season 3, Episode 1 (#301)

    Special detectors are used in an abandoned mine to find a ghostly substance called "dark matter." [56 minutes]

  • Season 3, Episode 2 (#302)

    Companies are offering genetic profiles that predict a person's chances of contracting diseases. [56 minutes]

  • Season 3, Episode 3 (#303)

    The repair mission for the Hubble space telescope and a search for the first primates are covered. [56 minutes]

  • Season 3, Episode 4 (#304)

    New research involving zebra finches is uncovering fascinating leads on how we developed language. [56 minutes]

  • Season 3, Episode 5 (#305)

    The scientific uses of leeches and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence are investigated. [56 minutes]

  • Season 3, Episode 6 (#306)

    The NASA mission to send a lander to Mars and a mystery involving mammoth fossils are featured. [56 minutes]

  • Series 4, Episode 1 (#401)

    Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson returns to explore advances in science and technology. [56 minutes]

  • Series 4, Episode 2 (#402)

    Focuses on the hunt for another Earth in our galaxy and finding genes for Alzheimer's and Autism. [56 minutes]

  • Series 4, Episode 3 (#403)

    Two drugs that may aid kids with muscular dystrophy and the demise of the dinosaurs are discussed. [56 minutes]

  • Series 4, Episode 4 (#404)

    Vocal abilities of walruses and sea lions shed light on the evolutionary roots of human language. [56 minutes]

  • Series 4, Episode 5 (#405)

    Rockets to the moon are featured and the oldest known organic molecules on earth are revealed. [56 minutes]

  • Series 4, Episode 6 (#406)

    The implications of the personal genetic profile and biofuel made from algae cells are showcased. [56 minutes]

  • Series 4, Episode 7 (#407)

    Repairs on the Hubble space telescope and the link between brain structure and memory are featured. [56 minutes]

  • Series 4, Episode 8 (#408)

    Data from cave stalagmites and the Mississippi riverbed shed light on earthquakes in the heartland. [56 minutes]

  • Can We Make It to Mars? (#501)

    It could take two to three years to make the trip to Mars. Can humans physically survive this trip? [56 minutes]

  • Can We Live Forever? (#502)

    Why do our bodies fall apart over time? Is there something we can do to stop the process? [56 minutes]

  • How Does the Brain Work? (#503)


  • How Smart Are Animals? (#504)

    A focused look at how well can we understand what's going on in the brains of non-human animals. [56 minutes]

  • Where Did We Come from? (#505)

    Where did the first living thing on Earth come from? Can a simple injection erase a painful memory? [56 minutes]

  • What's the Next Big Thing? (#506)

    The technologies most likely to revolutionize life in the future are revealed and discussed. [56 minutes]

  • What Makes Us Human? (#601)

    The evolutionary roots of human traits such as language, tool-making and laughter are uncovered. [56 minutes]

  • Can Science Stop Crime? (#602)

    Scientists are pushing the limits of technology to solve horrific murders and try to prevent crimes. [56 minutes]

  • How Smart Can We Get? (#603)

    David Pogue meets people who are stretching the boundaries of what the human mind can do. [56 minutes]

  • Can I Eat That? (#604)

    Scientists put food under the microscope to uncover what's behind the mouth-watering flavors. [56 minutes]

  • What Will the Future Be Like? (#606)

    David Pogue investigates which gadgets and technologies are likely to transform your daily life. [56 minutes]

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