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NOVA Labs
What NOVA Labs is
NOVA Labs is a free web platform from WGBH, produced for PBS Online, where teens and lifelong learners explore science through games and interactive activities. Its Labs cover financial decision-making, exoplanets, climate, evolution, cybersecurity, RNA, clouds, renewable energy, and the Sun. Activities let participants visualize, analyze, and share data used in scientific investigations and in designing solutions to current problems. Videos in each Lab explain key ideas and support its research challenge.
The activities vary by topic. The Cybersecurity Lab has challenges involving passwords, code, and malicious hackers. The RNA Lab includes RNA-folding puzzles and points users to Eterna to design RNA molecules; its game engine was developed by the Eterna Project at Carnegie Mellon University. In the Sun Lab, users can access data, images, and tools scientists use to predict solar storms. Creating an account lets users track and save progress across videos, questions, and game goals. Educators can use Lab-specific guides and materials, as well as opportunities and career exploration resources for teens. NOVA Labs describes classroom, after-school, day camp, and other educational programs as possible settings.
Who it suits
NOVA Labs suits teens and lifelong learners interested in exploring science through interactive activities, videos, and data. Educators can use its Lab-specific guides and materials in classrooms, after-school programs, day camps, and other educational programs.
What it does well
- Free access to science games and interactive activities.
- Labs span climate, cybersecurity, RNA, renewable energy, and more.
- Activities let learners visualize, analyze, and share scientific data.
- Lab videos support each research challenge.
- Educator guides include Lab-specific ideas and materials.
- Account holders can track and save activity progress.
What to know first
- Available on the web platform.
- Saving and tracking progress requires creating an account.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| NOVA Labs | — | Free |
As pbs.org lists them, read 4 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/labs/.
- Choose a Lab topic to explore its activities and videos.
- Create an account to track and save progress through videos, questions, and game goals.
- Educators can consult the Lab-specific guides and materials.
Verdict
Choose NOVA Labs for free, topic-based science activities supported by videos, data, and educator resources. It is suited to teens, lifelong learners, and educational programs; users looking for a platform beyond the web should look elsewhere.
Questions
How much does NOVA Labs cost?
The NOVA Labs plan is free.
Is there a free trial?
No. NOVA Labs is free, and it has no free trial.
What platform does NOVA Labs support?
NOVA Labs is available on the web.
Can users save their progress?
Yes. Creating an account lets users track and save progress through videos, questions, and game goals.
Who produces NOVA Labs?
The site says NOVA Labs was produced for PBS Online by WGBH and identifies WGBH Educational Foundation in its copyright notice.
What resources does NOVA Labs provide for educators?
It provides Lab-specific guides and materials, plus opportunities and career exploration resources for teens.
Facts from NOVA Labs's own pages
- Account
- Creating an account lets users track and save progress through videos, questions, and goals in the games and interactives. · pbs.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Audience
- The site describes its audience as teens and lifelong learners, and says Labs can be used in classrooms, after-school programs, day camps, and other educational programs. · pbs.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Cybersecurity Lab
- The Cybersecurity Lab has challenges involving cracking passwords, crafting code, and thwarting malicious hackers. · pbs.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Data removal
- The site provides an email address for users to request removal of their account information from Labs. · pbs.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Educator resources
- NOVA Labs provides educator guides with Lab-specific ideas and materials, plus opportunities and career exploration resources for teens. · pbs.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Partners
- The RNA Lab says its game engine was developed by the Eterna Project at Carnegie Mellon University. · pbs.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Publisher
- The site says it was produced for PBS Online by WGBH and identifies WGBH Educational Foundation in its copyright notice. · pbs.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- NOVA Labs is a free digital platform with games and interactive activities for teens and lifelong learners to explore science. · pbs.org, 4 Oct 2026
- RNA Lab
- The RNA Lab offers RNA-folding puzzles and directs users to Eterna to design RNA molecules. · pbs.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Scientific activities
- Participants can visualize, analyze, and share data that scientists use while investigating scientific questions or designing solutions to current problems. · pbs.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Sun Lab
- The Sun Lab provides access to data, images, and tools scientists use to predict solar storms. · pbs.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- The About page invites platform questions by email at [email protected]. · pbs.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Topics
- The site lists labs covering financial decision-making, exoplanets, climate, evolution, cybersecurity, RNA, clouds, renewable energy, and the Sun. · pbs.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Videos
- Each Lab includes informative videos that explain key concepts and support its research challenge. · pbs.org, 4 Oct 2026
Where NOVA Labs stands on Freedom251
- Biology Learning Software#12 of 24