Modern Marvels (1993)

While a civilization’s greatness is reflected in the achievements of architects and engineers, equally impressive are spectacular acts of d…

The Atlantic Wall explores the construction of the shore fortifications built by the Nazis during World War II. We highlight the logistics…

A look up at the symbol of the American Century–the skyscraper, the construction of which is a triumph of engineering and capitalism. Climb…

Public aquariums have undergone dramatic changes since inception in mid-19th century. A series of technological innovations has transformed…

Out of the bleakness of a vast desert arose a city built on wish fulfillment and indulgence. Unencumbered by tradition or notions of good t…

San Francisco's Oakland Bay Bridge stands as an incredible feat of engineering against the nearly impossible. Once chosen as one of the sev…

What inspires societies to create sculptures on a superhuman scale? We’ll examine gigantic statues and the monumental commitment of time, m…

In 1941, penicillin was first used to save human life. But now, bacteria has emerged resistant to every known antibiotic, and scientists ha…

More than the gun, more than the billy club, it is the critical weapon in law enforcement’s arsenal. But for decades, police have struggled…

Plastics are everywhere–the home, the workplace, the car, the human body, outer space, and most conspicuously, the garbage heap and landfil…

The story of medical imaging, the technology that allows us to see inside the human body, is full of amazing stories. Learn how X-rays were…

To run faster, jump higher, and play longer–the ultimate goal of all athletes. But when training runs its course, science and technology ju…

Bombs…the most feared and powerful weapon in any nation’s arsenal. What began as incendiary devices in the 7th century has evolved into wea…

From the earliest recorded account of an amputation and subsequent prosthesis in ancient Hindu writings, to a 16th-century fully articulate…

A study of the discoveries, inventions, and technological advances that have helped us understand and predict weather accurately. From simp…

The ability to transmit sound in stereo transformed the music of life into a rich symphony of sound. For over 100 years, enthusiasts and sc…

Through rain, snow, heat, or gloom of night, we expect postmen to deliver the mail. The U.S. Post Office handles over 603-million pieces of…

Does anybody really know what time it is? Set your clocks as we explore the relativity of time from antiquity–when man attempted to chart t…

First there were balloons and blimps. Then, visionaries enlarged, reinforced, and motorized them and the airship was born. The biggest airc…

Meet the Strong Men and Women who go beyond mere fitness to pursue major muscle mass–from ancient Greeks, to performers in the 1800s astoun…

Throughout history, the builders and engineers who paved our way out of the caves and into the modern world have also caused some of our wo…

Even in ancient times, city dwellers needed a scenic break from the urban landscape. But parks play a more important role than mere relief…

Espionage has been used for at least the last 4,000 years. And where there are spies, you find gadgets! We focus on the last 100 years of c…

“He who would become a surgeon should join the army and follow it,” Hippocrates counseled nearly 2,500 years ago. In this history of medici…

Whether it jingles in our pockets or folds in our wallets, it flows by the billions from government factories that have mastered the art of…

Avalanches, earthquakes, hurricanes, bombings–all mean human tragedy unless rescuers respond within a moment’s notice of disaster. Here are…

In antiquity, a hollow reed served as an underwater link to oxygen. As in days of old, humans still need self-contained breathing equipment…

Offshore drilling is one of the greaest technological dances mankind has ever attempted. From the very beginning of oil discovery, the ocea…

Join us for a highly charged hour as we see why Alfred Nobel's invention of dynamite took on earthshattering dimensions as his product blas…

The task was monumental: Build the world's largest dam in the middle of the desert, and tame the river that carved the Grand Canyon–all in…

Step up to the plate and play ball as we take you on a tour of those amazing edifices of the national pastime–baseball stadiums! From the s…

Much of New York City’s history can be viewed via its bridges–all 18 that connect Manhattan Island to its neighbors. Join us for a look at…

Delves into the little-known, hugely important, multi-billion-dollar industry of product testing–where wrinkles get ironed out and goods ar…

The idea of floating to earth from great heights dates back centuries, and from the beginning parachutes combined entertainment with life-s…

Tracks the technological innovations that made newspapers what they are today, while exploring the stories of the publishing tycoons who be…

Since the invention of gunpowder, fireworks have thrilled audiences around the world. We’ll view highlights of fireworks exhibitions throug…

Though “simulations” date back to cave paintings, devices for interacting with “synthetic realities” are a recent invention. See how simula…

The history of civilization could easily be measured in terms of our ability to make, use, and improve tools–an activity that is at least 4…

Well over two million years before the evolution of modern man, his primitive ancestors were making tools. The use of tools is thought to b…

Join us for a second look at the big earth-moving machines used to tackle the most challenging jobs on, under, and off Earth! We'll ride on…

The art of fortification evolved along with man’s need to defend his territory from attack. There was no other reason. From hills surrounde…

Emergency room medicine has only been a recognized specialty since 1989, and it took close to two millennia to get to this point. We’ll exa…

Set the sedan’s safety brake and hop on your “hog” for a 2-hour high-speed history of the motorcycle–from the 1868 “steam velocipede” to th…

Since civilization’s earliest days, man has sought protection from those who would rob him of riches, knowledge, and even life. This is the…

Throughout history the same builders and engineers that paved man's path out of the caves and into the modern world also caused some of man…

An exploration of the rich history of one of the world’s greatest technological achievements–the harnessing of power from Niagara Falls. Fr…

Place your bets and join us for an exciting spin through the history of the casino. We’ll go behind the neon lights, free drinks, and 24-ho…

The very spirit that drives man to dream up ever more fantastic creations can also conceive changes that destroy old treasures. We look at…