We’re not exactly cyborgs yet, but PBS’s NOVA is getting us closer. In “Building Stuff: Boost It!,” the venerable science series turns its lens on the ways engineers are amplifying human capabilities, from restoring sight to, well, launching rockets. Because who needs X-ray vision when you have a giant slingshot to the cosmos?
This isn’t your grandfather’s engineering. Forget bridges and skyscrapers (though those are cool, too). NOVA is highlighting the cutting edge. We’re talking about a device that lets a blind man see, bypassing the eyes entirely. It’s the kind of stuff that makes you question what “seeing” even means. And then there’s the rocket-launching sling, a concept so audacious it feels ripped from a sci-fi flick. Space travel via giant rubber band? Maybe not yet, but NOVA is certainly going to make you think about it.
“Building Stuff: Boost It!” isn’t just about flashy gadgets, though. It’s about the fundamental ways engineering shapes our interaction with the world. How do we push past our inherent limitations? How do we build tools that not only extend our reach but redefine what’s possible? Those are some weighty questions for a Wednesday night, but NOVA is usually up to the task.
Tune in to NOVA: Building Stuff: Boost It! on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at 9:00 PM on PBS. The special will also be available for streaming at pbs.org/nova, NOVA on YouTube, and the PBS App.
