TV NOVA - Season 40 Episode 3 : Mystery of Easter Island NOVA - Season 40 Episode 3 : Mystery of Easter Island 7.008/10 by 131 users A remote, bleak speck of rock in the middle of the Pacific, Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, has mystified the world ever since the first Europeans arrived in 1722. How and why did the ancient islanders build and move nearly 900 giant statues or moai, weighing up to 86 tons? And how did they transform a presumed paradise into a treeless wasteland, bringing ruin upon their island and themselves? NOVA explores controversial recent claims that challenge decades of previous thinking about the islanders, who have been accused of everything from ecocide to cannibalism. Among the radical new theories is that the islanders used ropes to "walk" the statues upright, like moving a fridge. With the help of an accurate 15-ton replica statue, a NOVA team sets out to test this high-risk, seemingly unlikely theory—serving up plenty of action and surprises in this fresh investigation of one of the ancient world's most intriguing enigmas. Details Casts Posters Images Title NOVA - Season 40 Episode 3 : Mystery of Easter Island 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...