PRESS ROOM

HHMI TANGLED BANK STUDIOS AND PBS NATURE EXPLORE SCIENCE ACROSS THE U.S. IN SOPHIE’S GREAT AMERICAN ELECTRIC ROAD TRIP YOUTUBE SERIES

CHEVY CHASE, Md., September 21, 2026 – Cool Jacket Productions, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, and PBS NATURE are proud to announce that all eight episodes of Sophie's Great American Electric Road Trip are now streaming on Science with Sophie and PBS NATURE YouTube channels. The series follows scientist-comedian Sophie Shrand as she drives an electric car on a coast-to-coast, 47 day round-trip journey from Los Angeles to Boston and back, celebrating moments of science and discovery along the way. 

“I made this series to grow with my audience. My youngest viewers from 2016 are now teenagers, ready for adventurous independence while also thinking deeply about the world they’re inheriting,” said host Sophie Shrand. “Creating this big, bold experiment was my way to meet kids, teens, and adults where they are on their own journeys as curious, compassionate global citizens.”

“Groundbreaking science is taking place all over the United States today,” said Head of HHMI Tangled Bank Studios Jared Lipworth. “We can’t wait for YouTube audiences to see science through Sophie’s eyes, and to begin to realize that science is happening everywhere across our country.”

“Sophie’s series celebrates the beauty and diversity of our natural world while highlighting the people, places, and possibilities shaping the future of our planet,” said PBS NATURE Digital Lead Danielle Broza. “PBS NATURE is delighted to share a story that combines compelling adventure with meaningful environmental storytelling, inviting audiences to see the road ahead with a renewed sense of curiosity and optimism."

Setting out to answer two questions about her cross-country electric road trip — can it be done, and can it be fun? — Shrand travels 7,000 miles through 25 states, discovering the answers are so much more than a simple yes! Along the way, she scopes out spectacular sights, digs into the science behind how electric vehicles work, and meets researchers, engineers and everyday experts explaining the ideas shaping how we move, travel and understand the world around us. The series offers a fresh take on the iconic American road trip, blending nostalgic Americana with hands-on science, curiosity and discovery at every stop. The series was produced by Cool Jacket Productions, in association with Hike Creative and HHMI Tangled Bank Studios.

All episodes are now streaming on PBS Nature: 

The complete series is also featured on the interactive map of science discovery created for “Science Across America,” the latest campaign from Spark of Science @ My Library, an HHMI Tangled Bank Studios and StarNet initiative that brings free science resources and programming to public libraries across the U.S. 

ABOUT THE HOST

Sophie Shrand is an award-winning TV host, STEM educator, filmmaker and entrepreneur whose work has reached more than 2 million learners worldwide. With degrees in behavioral neuroscience and theater, Shrand honed her expertise in cross-generational science programming and storytelling at world-renowned science museums and The Second City. She is the creator of Science With Sophie, a Telly Award-winning science comedy series for girls and everyone.

Shrand is the founder of Cool Jacket Productions, a National Children's Museum trustee, and an Obama Presidential Center Featured Changemaker. Her work has been featured by NPR, Scholastic, National Geographic Kids, TIME for Kids and PBS. Shrand's mission is to spark generations of compassionate, curious minds.

ABOUT COOL JACKET PRODUCTIONS

Cool Jacket Productions is an independent production company that finds joyful solutions to serious problems. At the intersection of entertainment and education, Cool Jacket Productions shares stories that spark curiosity and compassion, with the perpetual goal of inspiring audiences to explore the world around them and be engaged global citizens. For more information, please visit HTTPS://WWW.COOLJACKETPRODUCTIONS.COM.

ABOUT HHMI TANGLED BANK STUDIOS

HHMI Tangled Bank Studios is a mission-driven impact studio dedicated to using the power of visual storytelling and innovative outreach to inspire curiosity about science. Recent projects include Plant Life, SciShow Field Trips, Battle to Breathe, Blue Carbon, Every Little Thing, Wild Hope, Wilding, Blue Whales: Return of the Giants, and Oscar-nominated All That Breathes, the only film to win best documentary at both the Sundance and Cannes film festivals. Other notable films include Emmy Award-winners Hunt for the Oldest DNA, The Serengeti Rules and The Farthest – Voyager In Space; Emmy-nominated My Garden of a Thousand Bees, The Battle to Beat Malaria, and Nature’s Fear Factor; and Peabody Award-winner Inventing Tomorrow. The studio develops and executes custom impact campaigns to deepen the learning, reach target audiences, and raise awareness about the science covered in the films. Learn more at WWW.TANGLEDBANKSTUDIOS.ORG

ABOUT SPARK OF SCIENCE @ MY LIBRARY

Spark of Science @ My Library is a multi-year initiative from HHMI Tangled Bank Studios and the Space Science Institute's STAR Library Network (STAR Net) that creates and distributes free, award-winning documentaries, curated activities, and educational resources for public libraries to engage their communities in scientific exploration. The program delivers themed campaigns focused on life science topics and gives libraries the flexibility to customize programming for their communities.