Episode list

Modern Marvels

Pacific Coast Highway
The history of the Pacific Coast Highway, which runs from California to Washington, includes comments by historians and engineers; and examines the technology that maintains the road through floods, earthquakes and landslides.
7.2 /10
Command Central
Located in the heart of the Middle East, 'Centcom' in Doha, Qatar represents everything a modern military command post can be with the most sophisticated information systems available-from video-conferencing to real-time frontline satellite communication.
7.1 /10
Nature's Engineers
A look at nature's greatest animal builders and the structures they create including beavers, ants, spiders, and birds.
8 /10
Bible Tech

Tue, Apr 06, 2004
Bible Tech features the technology used by some Faith's greatest heroes. Featured are the Tower of Babel, Noah's Arc, Herod's Temple, and the methods used by the ancient civilizations in creating buildings, weapons, and other necessities.
6.6 /10
The Power Grid
A look at the national U.S. power grid and the technology that keeps power running across the country.
7 /10
Engineering Disasters 6
A look at some of history's most notorious engineering failures. Included are the USMC's Harrier Attack jet, the Piper Alpha North Sea oil platform fire, the collapse of the Pleasants Power Station cooling tower in West Virginia, and the derailment of high speed train in Germany. Also include is a look at the various close calls that almost led to nuclear war.
8 /10
The F-18 Hornet
One aircraft in the US arsenal best typifies the will to win. Using the latest and most sophisticated computerized technology, the F-18 Hornet is now one of the foremost fighters of the 21st Century.
9.2 /10
A-10 Tankbuster
Nicknamed the 'Warthog', the A-10 Tankbuster is one of the U.S. military's most prolific air support fighters. Focuses on its design, production, and life saving record on the battlefield.
8.1 /10
Robots

Mon, Jul 05, 2004
The history of robots. From robot arm, to humanoid looking robots, through the advances in technology.
8.3 /10
Nuclear Technology
Nuclear research ranges from well-known applications, such as bombs and reactors, to little-known uses in medicine, food preparation, and radiation detection. It's also spawned ancillary technologies to store nuclear waste and clean up accidents. Despite the risk of use and abuse for destructive purposes, many scientists remain optimistic about what's next for the atom. In an explosive hour, we explore the atom in war and peace, and the latest in nuclear power generation, safety, and security.
8.8 /10
Apollo 11

Tue, Jul 20, 2004
The historic 1969 flight of Apollo 11 is examined. Included: comments by astronauts, Mission Control personnel, engineers and designers.
8.3 /10
Engineering Disasters 7
Featured disasters include the Northridge Earthquake of 1994, the Baldwin Hills Dam collapses, the Electra airliner, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge collapse, and the underground mine fire burning in Centralia, PA.
8 /10
Extreme Aircraft
The history behind the most extraordinary planes ever built. They include the experimental X-Series planes, such as the X-1 , X-15, X-31, and the X-43. Also features supersonic stealth planes like the U-2, B-2, F-22, and the SR-71 Blackbird.
7.7 /10
Building a Skyscraper: The Arteries
Learn how development of electricity and indoor plumbing made skyscrapers possible as the veins and arteries of the California Department of Transportation headquarters in LA are installed.
8.9 /10
The Sears Tower
At one point, the Sears Tower in Chicago was the tallest building in the world. While it has since been surpassed it is still a technological marvel that pioneered engineering techniques and changed how companies do business.
8.3 /10
Police Pursuit
The history of police pursuits and the modern equipment used by the police to apprehend criminals.
6.7 /10
Engineering Disasters 8
Explosions of AP (a component in rocket fuel) at a PepCom AP plant in Henderson, Nevada. A section of the Mianus River bridge, a pin-and-hanger-bridge on Interstate 95 in Connecticut, collapsed dropping 4 vehicles into the river below. Ocean Ranger semi-submersible oil rig capsizes and sinks off the coast of Newfoundland killing all aboard. 1889 Johnstown Flood, killed 2,209 people, wiped the town off the map and was the worst 19th Century disaster in American history. Golfer Payne Stewart's private jet goes down for reasons still unknown.
8.2 /10
Harvesting: Part 1
Whatever the crop, there's a custom machine to harvest it. From the debut of the sickle in ancient Egypt to McCormick's famous Reaper to the field of ergonomics, we'll dig into the past and future of the harvest.
7 /10
Engineering Disasters 9
Deadliest grain elevator explosion in the US caused by dust. A portion of the Schoharie Creek Bridge collapses with trucks & cars plunging into the river, due to erosion of the foundation by the river. The freighter Bright Field looses power heading into its New Orleans' port on the Mississippi River and crashes into the Riverwalk wharf. British R-101 airship disaster in 1930, resulted in 48 deaths and the ending of the British airship program. Sports arena roof failures. 1979 Rosemount Horizon arena's roof collapses during construction due to the construction crew failing to install all of the components.
7.8 /10
Engineering Disasters 10
Disiasters discussed: Hutchinson, KS gas explosions, Tanker, Puerto Rican, explosion, Tropicana Casino garage collapse, the White Sea Canal project and the Bhopal chemical plant disaster.
7.9 /10
Presidential Movers
A look behind the airplanes, trains, cars, and helicopters used by the U.S. Government to safely move the President of the United States.
7.2 /10
Engineering Disasters 11
Disasters profiled are a liquid natural gas explosion in Cleveland, the collapse of the Kansas City Hyatt walkway, flooding of the Yangtze River in 1931, as well as sinkholes caused by sewer collapses in San Francisco and Atlanta. Also features the impacts of asbestos on the modern world.
8.2 /10
Engineering Disasters 12
Featured disasters and mishaps include the malfunctioning baggage carousel at the Denver International Airport, the Texas A&M bonfire, the M-4 Sherman tank, the 1993 Milwaukee Water Treatment disaster, and the collapse of the Skyline Plaza.
7.6 /10
Engineering Disasters 13
Engineering disasters profiled in this episode include flaws in the Patriot Missle system, the Cocoanut Grove night club fire, a failed building demolition, the collapse of World Trade Center Building 7, and a toxic waste dump in Love Canal, NY.
7.8 /10
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