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NOVA Labs
What it is
NOVA Labs is a free web platform where teens and lifelong learners explore science through games, interactive activities, videos, and data-based challenges. Its Labs address financial decision-making, exoplanets, climate, evolution, cybersecurity, RNA, clouds, renewable energy, and the Sun. Participants can visualize, analyze, and share data used by scientists when investigating questions or designing solutions to current problems. Videos in each Lab explain key concepts and accompany its research challenge. The Cybersecurity Lab asks users to work on password cracking, code creation, and stopping malicious hackers. The RNA Lab includes RNA-folding puzzles and points to Eterna for designing RNA molecules. The Sun Lab provides data, images, and tools used to predict solar storms. Accounts let users save and track progress through videos, questions, and game goals. Educators receive Lab-specific guides and materials, plus opportunities and career resources for teens. NOVA Labs can be used in classrooms, after-school programs, day camps, and other educational settings. PBS Online lists WGBH as producer.
For and against
For
- Free access through the web
- Labs span multiple science topics
- Videos explain concepts and research challenges
- Accounts track progress and goals
- Educator guides and career resources
Against
- Web platform only
- Account required for saving progress
- No free trial because access is free
The verdict
NOVA Labs combines games, videos, and scientific data activities across varied topics. Its account tracking and educator materials support structured learning in and beyond classrooms.
Who it suits
NOVA Labs suits teens, lifelong learners, and educators seeking science activities for classrooms, after-school programs, day camps, or similar programs. It also fits learners interested in interactive data and topic-specific challenges.
Plans and prices
NOVA Labs
Read 4 Oct 2026 · pbs.org
On the record
- Account
- Creating an account lets users track and save progress through videos, questions, and goals in the games and interactives.pbs.org · read 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 · read 4 Oct 2026
- Cybersecurity Lab
- The Cybersecurity Lab has challenges involving cracking passwords, crafting code, and thwarting malicious hackers.pbs.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Data removal
- The site provides an email address for users to request removal of their account information from Labs.pbs.org · read 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 · read 4 Oct 2026
- Partners
- The RNA Lab says its game engine was developed by the Eterna Project at Carnegie Mellon University.pbs.org · read 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 · read 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 · read 4 Oct 2026
- RNA Lab
- The RNA Lab offers RNA-folding puzzles and directs users to Eterna to design RNA molecules.pbs.org · read 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 · read 4 Oct 2026
- Sun Lab
- The Sun Lab provides access to data, images, and tools scientists use to predict solar storms.pbs.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- The About page invites platform questions by email at [email protected].pbs.org · read 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 · read 4 Oct 2026
- Videos
- Each Lab includes informative videos that explain key concepts and support its research challenge.pbs.org · read 4 Oct 2026
