Parents' Guide to

NOVA Wonders

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Dense STEM series investigates universe's big questions.

TV PBS Educational 2018
NOVA Wonders Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 2+

Based on 1 parent review

darwinslapdog
darwinslapdog Adult
September 3, 2018
age 2+

World’s most untalented presenters

While the content is interesting, I cannot get through a full episode with these presenters, especially the two women. They have zero ability and sound like they are reading (not speaking) from a teleprompter. They seem to be doing bad impressions of presenters. Have any of them ever watched David Attenborough, Bill Nye, Alice Roberts, Brian Cox, or Neil DeGrasse Tyson--or any of many of the very talented scientists who do amazing science education with real talent and flair? I have to reiterate that I have tried three times and I cannot get through an entire episode no matter how interesting the subject is to me. I’m sure these three are nice people, and I might tolerate the guy, but the women are sadly. just. pathetic. I’ll stick to the BBC, thank you--or the regular NOVA series.
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What's the Story?

NOVA WONDERS spotlights scientists' work to unravel mysteries like the possibility of extraterrestrial life, the microscopic realities of the human body's ecosystem, and animals' ability to communicate with each other. Hosted by neuroscientist Andre Fenton, computer scientist Rana El Kaliouby, and mathematician Talithia Williams, the show explores how experts in various scientific disciplines work to understand some of the biggest questions in the universe.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This series does a good job condensing complex concepts for an audience of laypeople, but the content is pretty dry for anyone who's not already interested in the topics. Extensive time is spent observing the work scientists do -- and sometimes watching them doing the work they do -- which isn't necessarily action-packed viewing. The good news? They're usually enthusiastic enough about their projects for everyone. The bad news? Not every viewer will be as jazzed about watching spiders attempt to mate, for example, as are those who make this kind of thing their life's work.

For tweens and teens with an interest in the sciences, NOVA Wonders can be a decent and educational watch. If nothing else, the show and its hosts reinforce the value of curiosity in inspiring interests and careers, particularly in STEM fields. Seeing practical applications of science and math skills is another reminder of how seemingly esoteric concepts can be used in real-world scenarios.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how discoveries are made. What do you think inspires the scientists' queries and work in NOVA Wonders? How do their discoveries benefit the human population as a whole? What questions do you have about how things work?

  • Are your kids interested in these fields? How do scientific discoveries and inventions help people in their everyday lives?

  • How does curiosity drive you to succeed? What other character strengths are important in a successful career? What careers interest you? What special skills will you need in those fields?

TV Details

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