Modern Marvels

For more than 3,000 years, emperors, dictators, police, criminals, and even clerics have created a vast array of torture devices. A medical doctor reveals how the human body responds to their use.

In less than a century, the world went from dirt tracks to highways, from propeller planes to space travel, from sailboats to supertankers. And in the process, we have created a glut of traffic that must be controlled and regulated.

For 25 years, construction crews dug, blasted, tunneled, and bridged their way up America's West Coast along the California, Oregon, and Washington shoreline to build the magnificent Pacific Coast Highway. Explore its history and upkeep.

The quest for gold took men across oceans, into the depths of the Alaskan winter and miles beneath earth. This is the story of the hunters of the precious metal and their methods for extracting it.

"Everyday 3 million passengers board the 10,000 aircraft flying at any given moment. Go behind the scenes at international airports to see the inner workings that make commercial air travel possible. "

Built in less than seven years and considered a herculean task at the time, the Hoover Dam remains an engineering marvel.

Created by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World's Fair, the Eiffel Tower is the most recognizable symbol of Paris and one of the world's most visited monuments.

From simple observations made by early humans, to early instruments such as thermometers and barometers, to Doppler radar and satellite imaging, we'll see how man has tried to harness weather.

To protect the Earth from global warming, see how we can harness renewable energy, such as solar, wind, geothermal, biofuels, and tidal power into clean, reliable sources of heat and electricity.

The vehicles that transport the United States President are no ordinary planes, trains, & automobiles--they're top secret. And for your Average Joe, there are only two ways to find out what they're like inside: get elected or watch this.

One of the 20th century's greatest scientists, George Washington Carver's influence is still felt.

"Strength" is a powerful word, but how is it measured? Why are some things simply stronger than others? Find out what makes the strongest tractor, the strongest rope, and the strongest natural mineral on earth.

Travel over land and sea to find more of the biggest, baddest, most audacious feats of engineering in the world.

The stories of the doers, the dreamers and sometime-schemers that create everyday items, technological breakthroughs and manmade wonders.

Get an introduction to the machines gutsy enough to call themselves "the world's biggest." See what they do and how they operate, and go behind the scenes to see how they're designed and assembled.

Explore the psychology of the supermarket including store layout, lighting, music and aromas that trigger the appetite. And learn how technological advancements are making customers' visits to the market as efficient as possible.

Travel from the potato's mysterious origins in the South American Andes to the ethnic enclaves of New York's lower Eastside. Visit large-scale potato producers, and learn how to mass produce tots, chips, vodka, and more.

Tea has existed as a drink for 5000 years, and 6 billion pounds are harvested annually. Learn about tea's global and political history. And visit plantations and factories, as well as a high-end boutique tea garden.

Examine the history of the shipyard from ancient days through the Industrial Revolution and Pearl Harbor. Will the craftsmanship and practical knowledge of ship-building disappear in the 21st century?

Completed in 1869, the Transcontinental Railroad was considered the greatest building achievement in U.S. history. But an even greater challenge lay ahead: harnessing the awesome potential of the rails to tame the West.

With technological advances, our ancient struggle against the sea has turned into a luxurious holiday. Come aboard the modern ocean liner for a peek at the elegant life on these floating resorts.

Built over impenetrable mountains and frozen tundra, the Alaskan oil pipeline is a technological triumph.

Examine more threats - both natural and man-made - that may endanger civilization. From the far reaches of space to tiny viruses, doomsday sources are many, but so are technologies used to keep the chaos at bay.

Candy is America's sweetest guilty pleasure. Find out the ingredient that gives Lemonheads their sour punch, the substance that puts the polish on Mike and Ikes, and more mouth-watering confectionery secrets.