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Parents' Guide to

NOVA scienceNOW

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Science newsmagazine is educational, if a bit bland.

TV PBS Educational 2005
NOVA scienceNOW Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 5+

Based on 1 parent review

Brynsusan
Brynsusan Adult
April 5, 2009
age 5+

Great Family Program

Our family watches only PBS, so our child doesn't have context from network TV to think PBS is boring or slow-paced. Our six-year-old girl loves this program as well as NOVA (if we think the content isn't age appropriate we turn the TV off). NOVA feeds into kids natural curiosity about the world. During and after a program our child asks all kinds of thoughtful questions which allow us to spend time discussing, looking up data in our books and encyclopedias or on PBS's website. PBS offers wonderful, varied, educational programming.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

NOVA SCIENCENOW is an investigative science series that gives viewers a glimpse of technology's latest innovations and discoveries. Genial astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson goes behind the scenes at far-flung laboratories to report on advances like computer technology that's unlocking the secrets in ancient manuscripts, diamond \"farms\" that generate flawless stones, and robots that exhibit emotion. In addition to presenting the facts, Tyson and other experts postulate on what implications these advances could have for the future.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (1 ):

There's an inherent fascination in watching science unfold before your eyes, and this intriguing series is sure to captivate curious viewers who have an interest in the subject. Engaging and accessible, Tyson does his job well, asking all the questions that viewers -- even those of us without a degree in advanced science -- would want answered.

But while the show celebrates technology, it actually regresses with respect to its own presentation style. Compared to other recent science/educational series that are bolstered by high-definition images and cutting-edge CGI, this stripped-down version feels pretty bland. It likely won't grab young kids' attention, but older tweens, teens, and adults with an interest in the sciences will be able to look past its stylistic shortcomings and enjoy the quality information it offers.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about technology's impact on society. How has science improved our lives? What inventions most impact your own lifestyle? How has our society's safety, efficiency, and health been affected by science? What improvements do you expect in the next decade? If you could invent something, what would it be? How would it make life better?

TV Details

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