NOVA Labs
NOVA Labs is a free web platform where teens and lifelong learners explore science through games and interactive activities.
What NOVA Labs is
NOVA Labs is a free web platform where teens and lifelong learners explore science through games and interactive activities. Its Labs span subjects such as exoplanets, climate, evolution, cybersecurity, RNA, clouds, renewable energy, the Sun, and financial decision-making. Participants can visualize, analyze, and share data used in scientific investigations and in designing solutions to current problems. Each Lab pairs its research challenge with videos explaining key concepts. Specific activities include cybersecurity challenges involving passwords and code, RNA-folding puzzles with a route to Eterna for designing RNA molecules, and tools for examining data and images used to predict solar storms. An account lets users save and track progress through videos, questions, and game goals. Educators can draw on Lab-specific guides and materials, plus resources on opportunities and careers for teens. Labs can be used in classrooms, after-school programs, day camps, and other educational programs. The platform was produced for PBS Online by WGBH.
Good
- Free plan for web access
- Labs cover a broad range of science topics
- Includes videos linked to research challenges
- Educator guides and career resources are available
- Progress can be saved with an account
Watch out
- Web platform only
- No free trial is listed
Who it suits
It suits teens and lifelong learners who want interactive science activities, as well as educators using Labs in educational programs. Account creation is useful for people who want to save and track activity progress.
Verdict
NOVA Labs brings interactive science challenges, videos, and data activities together in a free web platform. Its educator materials and varied topic areas make it relevant both for individual learners and educational settings.
Plans and prices
From NOVA Labs's own pricing page, checked 4 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| NOVA Labs | Free | — |
The facts
Each one read from NOVA Labs's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Account
- Creating an account lets users track and save progress through videos, questions, and goals in the games and interactives.checked 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.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Cybersecurity Lab
- The Cybersecurity Lab has challenges involving cracking passwords, crafting code, and thwarting malicious hackers.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Data removal
- The site provides an email address for users to request removal of their account information from Labs.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Educator resources
- NOVA Labs provides educator guides with Lab-specific ideas and materials, plus opportunities and career exploration resources for teens.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Partners
- The RNA Lab says its game engine was developed by the Eterna Project at Carnegie Mellon University.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Publisher
- The site says it was produced for PBS Online by WGBH and identifies WGBH Educational Foundation in its copyright notice.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- NOVA Labs is a free digital platform with games and interactive activities for teens and lifelong learners to explore science.checked 4 Oct 2026
- RNA Lab
- The RNA Lab offers RNA-folding puzzles and directs users to Eterna to design RNA molecules.checked 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.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Sun Lab
- The Sun Lab provides access to data, images, and tools scientists use to predict solar storms.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- The About page invites platform questions by email at [email protected].checked 4 Oct 2026
- Topics
- The site lists labs covering financial decision-making, exoplanets, climate, evolution, cybersecurity, RNA, clouds, renewable energy, and the Sun.checked 4 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Videos
- Each Lab includes informative videos that explain key concepts and support its research challenge.checked 4 Oct 2026
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