NOVA!

No no, not that kind of nova.

Nope, not that one either. 

Yes, that one! I’m writing about the venerable PBS science show NOVA, which, as I have recently discovered, has an excellent website filled with interesting and interactive multimedia about science,technology, engineering, history, nature, and more.

For example, just today an online interactive exhibit about Norse runes appeared.  You can learn what each of the runes looks like, what sounds it corresponds to, and what meaning the rune holds.  Best of all, you can type in your name, and it creates an image of it in runes!  Here’s my name:

D   A   U   I   D  

Yes, that’s a “U”, because there’s no V in the runic alphabet.  Here are the names and meanings of the individual runes according to NOVA:

D (Dagaz) = Day

A (Ansuz) =  a deity, usually Odin

U (Uruz) = strength, speed, and health

I (Isa) = Ice

So, by this runic logic, I am apparently a god of winter daytime, who is strong, fast, and healthy.  Sounds about right.

There are many other interesting pages on the NOVA site, complete with videos, animations, articles, interviews, and more.  How about a slide show of European megalithic sites?  Or a tour of the electromagnetic spectrum?  An interview with a NASA engineer about solar sails? A video about next-generation space suits?  Best of all, you can watch full episodes of NOVA online for free.

If you’re at all interested in science (and if you are human, you ought to be), the NOVA site is well worth a visit.