TV NOVA - Season 40 Episode 18 : Australia's First 4 Billion Years: Strange Creatures NOVA - Season 40 Episode 18 : Australia's First 4 Billion Years: Strange Creatures 7.008/10 by 131 users In the wake of the catastrophic asteroid impact believed to have wiped out the dinosaurs, Australia was set adrift on a lonely voyage across southern seas. With host Richard Smith, NOVA travels the walkabout continent to uncover how it became the strange land it is today. In this final episode, "Strange Creatures," NOVA traces the last 65 million years, revealing the events that shaped the Australia we know today. Prehistoric jungles retreated, replaced by eucalypt forests, grasslands, and deserts. When humans first arrived, giant marsupials dominated the land and the Great Barrier Reef was yet to form. This is a tale of calamity and conquest; how a conspiracy of climate, biology, and geology shaped the Earth we now call home. Details Casts Posters Images Title NOVA - Season 40 Episode 18 : Australia's First 4 Billion Years: Strange Creatures Alternative Titles PBS新星Nova, نوا, نووآ, PBS Nova First Air Date 1974-03-03 Last Air Date 2025-09-24 Number of Episodes 1012 Number of Seasons 52 Genres Documentary, Networks PBS, Casts Plot Keywords , Episodes List NOVA Season 40 :Episode 1 Secrets of the Viking Sword Secrets of the Viking Sword 2012-10-10 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 40 :Episode 2 Forensics on Trial Forensics on Trial 2012-10-17 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 40 :Episode 3 Mystery of Easter Island Mystery of Easter Island 2012-11-07 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 40 :Episode 4 Ultimate Mars Challenge Ultimate Mars Challenge 2012-11-14 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 40 :Episode 5 Inside the Megastorm Inside the Megastorm 2012-11-18 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 40 :Episode 6 Doomsday Volcanoes Doomsday Volcanoes 2013-01-02 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 40 :Episode 7 Decoding Neanderthals Decoding Neanderthals 2013-01-09 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 40 :Episode 8 Rise of the Drones Rise of the Drones 2013-01-23 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 40 :Episode 9 Who Killed Lindbergh's Baby? Who Killed Lindbergh's Baby? 2013-01-30 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 40 :Episode 10 Building Pharaoh's Chariot Building Pharaoh's Chariot 2013-02-06 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 40 :Episode 11 Earth From Space Earth From Space 2013-02-13 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 40 :Episode 12 Mind of a Rampage Killer Mind of a Rampage Killer 2013-02-20 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 40 :Episode 13 Meteor Strike Meteor Strike 2013-03-27 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 40 :Episode 14 Ancient Computer Ancient Computer 2013-04-03 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 40 :Episode 15 Australia's First 4 Billion Years: Awakening Australia's First 4 Billion Years: Awakening 2013-04-10 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 40 :Episode 16 Australia's First 4 Billion Years: Life Explodes Australia's First 4 Billion Years: Life Explodes 2013-04-17 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 40 :Episode 17 Australia's First 4 Billion Years: Monsters Australia's First 4 Billion Years: Monsters 2013-04-24 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 40 :Episode 18 Australia's First 4 Billion Years: Strange Creatures Australia's First 4 Billion Years: Strange Creatures 2013-05-01 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 40 :Episode 19 Manhunt - Boston Bombers Manhunt - Boston Bombers 2013-05-29 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and... NOVA Season 40 :Episode 20 Oklahoma's Deadliest Tornadoes Oklahoma's Deadliest Tornadoes 2013-05-29 PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and...