Hunting the Elements

NOVA brings you stories from the frontlines of science and engineering, answering the big questions of today and tomorrow, from how our ancestors lived, to whether parallel universes exist, to how technology will transform our lives. Visit the official website to watch full-length documentaries, or explore our world through short-form video, on our digital publication NOVA Next.

Season 39 Episode 6 | 113m 49s | CC

Where do nature's building blocks, called the elements, come from? They're the hidden ingredients of everything in our world, from the carbon in our bodies to the metals in our smartphones. To unlock their secrets, David Pogue, technology columnist and lively host of NOVA's popular "Making Stuff" series, spins viewers through the world of weird, extreme chemistry.

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Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS viewers. Additional funding is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Millicent and Eugene Bell Foundation, and George D. Smith.

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