WQLN PBS NPR
8425 Peach Street
Erie, PA 16509

Phone
(814) 864-3001

© 2026 PUBLIC BROADCASTING OF NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Become a member and start watching.

Killer Volcanoes

Season 44 Episode 16 | 54m 10s

NOVA follows a team of volcano sleuths as they embark on a worldwide hunt for an elusive volcanic mega-eruption that plunged medieval Earth into a deep freeze. They look for the signature of a volcanic eruption big enough to have blasted a huge cloud of ash and sulfuric acid into the atmosphere, which chilled the entire planet. Across the globe, it turned summer into winter.

Aired: 10/03/17 | Expires: 09/13/23
National Corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Carlisle Companies. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the NOVA Science Trust and PBS viewers.
Latest Episodes
Archaeologists investigate the dramatic origins of democracy in ancient Greece 2,500 years ago.
Follow the Artemis mission to bring humanity back to the Moon for the first time since Apollo.
Surprising evidence at the world’s oldest temple overturns our understanding of human history.
A deadly—and growing—global weather phenomenon mystifies scientists.
Explore mammals’ surprising origins, long before the age of dinosaurs.
Do speech buttons really allow dogs to talk to us? Scientists investigate.
New evidence sheds light on the remarkable life—and mysterious collapse—of the ancient jungle city.
What if violent asteroid impacts actually jump-started life on Earth? Explore a dramatic theory.
See how ingenuity and teamwork keep the crew alive and doing science 250 miles above Earth.
Astronauts and Mission Control relive terrifying moments during construction of the ISS.
Extras
A simple fold can completely change how a material behaves.
Modern physics and imaging techniques are finally solving the mystery.
The “butterfly effect” is often cited in pop culture, but it’s actually rooted in physics and chaos.
Restoring Notre Dame wasn’t just about stone and stained glass.
Microsoft's breakthrough in quantum computing could have a huge impact on science, and our future.
Time isn’t the same for everyone, according to Einstein.
These massive walls of water may be far more common than we once believed.
It’s taken over 250 years of shocking experiments to understand how quickly electricity moves!
Follow the Artemis mission to bring humanity back to the Moon for the first time since Apollo.
Archaeologists investigate the dramatic origins of democracy in ancient Greece 2,500 years ago.
WQLN PBS Passport is a member benefit that provides you with extended access to an on-demand library of quality public television programming!