Desty Nova (ディスティ・ノヴァ Disuti Nova?) was a renegade Tipharean scientist and the father of Kaos. He is the second Tipharean introduced in Battle Angel Alita. Nova is a highly eccentric, yet brilliant and creative genius who specializes in Nanotechnology . The focus of his research is the study of karma (Karmatron Dynamics), leading him to pursue what can be considered hideous and inhumane experiments. He has also given a few of his patients a new lease on life to see to see if they are capable of overcoming their karma. Nova's motives were driven by his discovery of the brain bio-chip that all functions as the brain for all adult Tiphareans as well as being created by the GENE Project, a LADDER initiative to produce super geniuses.