© 2025 SDPB
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

The Physics of Breaking, a New Olympic Sport

Season 51 | 1m 19s

The 2024 Olympics in Paris debuted a new sport: breaking (also known as breakdancing, but don't call it that). Here are three moves that appear to defy the laws of physics, and how they work.

National Corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Carlisle Companies. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.
Extras
An asteroid is on a collision course with Earth, possibly making impact in 2032.
Archaeologists remove the mud brick seal of an unopened Egyptian tomb.
Discover why the ancient Egyptians invested so much in life after death.
Discover a time in Ancient Egypt when women held a role with extraordinary power.
Discover how an $8 billion transformation turned LaGuardia into a state-of-the-art facility.
Follow the investigation into the deadly container ship collision that closed the Port of Baltimore.
Slow-motion footage of baby birds helps scientists uncover how their ancestors took to the skies.
Archaeologists uncover new truths about Pompeii, a wealthy Roman playground with dark secrets.
Birds are today’s only living dinosaurs, but how did they survive the asteroid?
A long lost ancient cemetery opens the door to a unique period in Egyptian history.
Latest Episodes
All
  • All
  • NOVA Season 52
  • NOVA Season 51
  • NOVA Season 50
  • NOVA Season 49
  • NOVA Season 48
  • NOVA Season 47
  • NOVA Season 46
  • NOVA Season 45
  • NOVA Season 44
  • NOVA Season 43
  • NOVA Season 42
  • NOVA Season 41
  • NOVA Season 40
  • NOVA Season 39
  • NOVA Season 38
  • NOVA Season 37
  • NOVA Season 36
  • NOVA Season 35
  • NOVA Season 34
  • NOVA Season 33
  • NOVA Season 32
  • NOVA Season 31
  • NOVA Season 30
  • NOVA Season 28
  • NOVA Season 27
  • NOVA Season 23
n/a
Archaeologists uncover new truths about Pompeii, a wealthy Roman playground with dark secrets.
A long-lost ancient cemetery opens the door to a unique period in Egyptian history.
Fossils reveal how birds survived the killer asteroid and became today’s only living dinosaurs.
Can science reveal the secrets of mysterious objects seen in our skies?
Mysterious bodies are found under one of the world’s most famous cathedrals.
From electric flight to artificial noses, engineers are finding new ways to preserve our planet.
Follow the race to build a world-class airport on the site of one of America’s busiest flying hubs.
Humans are born to roam. See how engineers are inventing new ways to explore and extend our range.
Is engineering humanity’s superpower? See how we can amplify our natural abilities in amazing ways.