Modern Marvels Season 15 Episodes

Episode 1

Milk

Mon, Jan 7, 200845 mins

On Modern Marvels: Milk, we'll visit a farm with a milking parlor for 80 cows that looks more like a bovine merry-go-round. At the Driftwood Dairy processing plant, we'll find out what's so hot about pasteurization.

Episode 2

Carbon

Mon, Jan 14, 200845 mins

All life forms, including us, are built upon atoms of carbon. But modern technology is also built on a foundation of carbon. Modern Marvels: Carbon explores how such a simple element burns hotter, cuts deeper, dies harder, insulates more thoroughly, and absorbs more fully than any other material. From diamonds to coal, carbon fiber race cars to graphite pencils, you'll see why carbon is not just the stuff of life, but the key to modern technology. You'll also learn why "activated carbon" is the material of choice for absorbing everything from toxic heavy metals in your drinking water to funky odors in your shoes. And you'll see how NASA is using carbon aerogel, the lightest, most insulating substance in the world, to search for clues about-you guessed it-carbon-based life forms.

Episode 3

'90s Tech

Thu, Feb 7, 200845 mins

It was the dot com decade that opened up the information superhighway. "Modern Marvels: 90s Tech" takes you way back to the end of the 20th century and the beginning of today's trendy technologies. From DVDs to TIVO to GPS, see how the digital gadgets we can't live without all started in the 90s. Hear the Amazon story from its very own founder, Jeff Bezos, and see how millions of cyber goods are packaged and shipped at an 800,000 square-foot Amazon distribution center. At Google, learn the science of the world's most popular search engine. And was Furby really a threat to national security? We go beyond its furry exterior to show you the inner-workings of the intriguing pet. Heavyweight Boxing Champion George Foreman, will show us how to "knock out the fat" with one of the best-selling appliances of the decade. And its creators will demo some of the original first-person shooter games: Wolfenstein 3D and Doom.

Episode 4

Superhighways

Mon, Jan 28, 200844 mins

On this episode of Modern Marvels we'll construct, and deconstruct, the roundabout ribbons that comprise the world's Superhighways. Our road trip starts in Houston, Texas where a multi-billion dollar expansion project is widening a stretch of superhighway to a spacious 20 lanes. Then we're off to China's 28,000-mile National Trunk Highway System.

Episode 5

World's Strongest III

Thu, Mar 6, 200844 mins

Witness some mind-blowing feats of strength starting with the world's most powerful elevators--one lifts fighter jets, the other lifts a giant stage filled with acrobats. Discover the world's strongest tire and the monster mine machine it rolls with. Take a 35-foot drop on the world's strongest mountain bike. See the world's strongest land transport vehicle that carries the Space Shuttle. Finally mix some drinks or chop a telephone into dust with the biggest and strongest home blender you've ever seen.

Episode 6

Strange Weapons

Mon, Mar 10, 200845 mins

Modern arsenals have become much more sophisticated than bullets and bombs. Discover microwave-like rays that make the enemy flee when they feel the heat and laser weapons, mounted on trucks and airplanes that can blow missiles out of the sky.

Episode 7

Alaskan Fishing

Sun, Mar 16, 2008

A fisher/factory ship embarks on a trip in the Bering Sea to catch thousands of tons of Alaskan Pollock to quench the world's hunger for seafood.

Episode 8

Whiskey

Mon, Mar 17, 2008

The history and production of whiskey and its many varieties on both sides of the Atlantic is profiled.

Episode 9

Bread

Mon, Mar 24, 200845 mins

It's the basic source of nourishment for half the world--bread. Bake it, roast it, slice it, toast it--it's a wonder that three simple ingredients, flour, water and salt, can be transformed into so many different shapes and tastes. From baguettes to pita, from corn bread to flour tortillas, every culture finds a way to make it and bake it.

Episode 10

Gadgets 3

Fri, Apr 4, 200844 mins

Explore the hottest trends in gadgets, how they've evolved and where they're going. See how the latest miniaturized, mobile gadgetry can fit all the technology that once filled an entire office into a single briefcase. Visit Brookstone, the ultimate gadget store. We'll meet a gadget collector who's turned his home into a gadget museum. And we'll visit basement inventors who have developed everything from an iron you slip over your hand to smart appliances that talk back. Revisit some of the original gadgets like the corkscrew and zipper and see how some gadgets evolve into new forms. Discover which gadget inventors may hold tomorrow's hottest new trends and learn why some gadgets succeed while others crash and burn.

Episode 11

Locomotives

Mon, Apr 7, 200845 mins

Zip through the French countryside at nearly 300 MPH on the TGV--the fastest locomotive in the world. Ride on the little engines that could as they guide giant ships through the Panama Canal. Watch two locomotives crash head-on as the federal government monitors safety.

Episode 12

Rats

Wed, Apr 30, 2008

Rats! They're some of the most dangerous, destructive and useful animals on Earth. The resilient rat has terrified humankind for centuries, but is the bad rap justified? In this episode of Modern Marvels, we'll take the viewer on a rollercoaster ride through our love-hate relationship with the rat. We'll ride along with a Terminix exterminator to get face to face with the creepy creature in a near rat infestation and see the great lengths we take to get rid of the pesky pest. And we'll tour the Hacco Inc. rodenticide plant to see just how they concoct tasty poisons. But at the Taconic rat breeding facility, we'll see how hundreds of thousands of rats are purposely bred and hand-raised in high-tech, controlled environments. We'll get up close and personal with the remarkable rodent as it competes in the Xtreme Rat Challenge and at the annual American Fancy Rat show. We'll trace their history and role as a vector of deadly diseases, but also explore at the Medical College of Wisconsin how they have saved countless lives as a lab rat. And scientists at the State University of New York will show us how a remote controlled rat could become the ultimate rescue animal.

Episode 13

Mad Electricity

Wed, May 14, 2008

The technological legacy of inventor and visionary Nikola Tesla, often referred to as "the father of the 20th century".

Episode 14

Axes

Fri, May 30, 2008

The axe is one of the world's oldest, most dangerous and efficient cutting tools. Watch as competitive lumberjacks chop logs in a matter of seconds. Visit one of the nation's largest axe manufacturers to see metal forged into a modern axe.

Episode 15

Most Dangerous

Fri, Jun 6, 2008

The most dangerous snakes, sports, weather events; America's most dangerous volcano; tornado hazards; base jumping.

Episode 16

Super Hot

Mon, Jun 9, 2008

A look at some of the hottest temperatures known to man in various applications such as testing fire retardant clothing, steel smelting, and scientific applications such as volcanology are profiled. Ambient heat, plasma, and the effects of burns on skin and sweat are also discussed.

Episode 17

Corpse Tech

Fri, Jun 20, 2008

Episode 18

Ice Cream

Mon, Jun 23, 2008

The cool and sweet history of ice cream, frozen yogurt, and cones. Also featured a tour of the Dreyer's factory, and how new Ben and Jerry's favors are created.

Episode 19

Bathroom Tech II

Mon, Jun 30, 2008

Episode 20

Crashes

Thu, Jul 10, 2008

Tips for female entrepreneurs.

Episode 21

Underwear

Thu, Jul 17, 2008

The history and modern technologies used in both men and women's underwear and socks. Also featured are high tech underwear with sensors and stay cool vests for sports.

Episode 22

Batman Tech

Mon, Jul 21, 2008

Episode 23

Coin Operated

Thu, Jul 24, 2008

A view at the history, machinery, and the industry supporting coin operated vending machines. Machines included are soda and snack vending machines, gum-ball dispensers, arcade games, and parking meters. The historic Automats, jukeboxes, pay phones, and kinetoscopes are also featured.

Episode 24

Secrets of Oil

Thu, Jul 31, 2008

A look at other products derived from crude oil including plastics, lubricating oils, food grade oils, and cosmetics.

Episode 25

Iron

Thu, Aug 14, 2008

Iron is the most abundant element on earth. Learn how it's mined and how it's used in our everyday lives.

Episode 26

Wheat

Thu, Aug 21, 2008

The ancient beginnings of wheat through the modern harvesting methods used to make bread and pasta among its many uses. Also featured is the science behind making wheat resistant to disease.

Episode 27

Dangerous Roads

Thu, Aug 28, 2008

A look of the most dangerous roads in the world, the vehicles that drive on them and the technology being used in an attempt to improve safety.

Episode 28

Mold & Fungus

Thu, Sep 18, 2008

Learning about various fungal organisms that live in the human body, grow from the ground, float in the air, and help create some foods and beverage.

Episode 29

Lead

Thu, Oct 9, 2008

Mankind makes use of lead, a versatile but toxic metal, for 6,000 years; mining; car battery factory; specialists remove harmful lead objects from homes and businesses; lead makes crystal sparkle.

Episode 30

Corrosion and Decomposition

Mon, Oct 13, 2008

Our world is constantly falling apart. Bridges collapse; pipelines explode; buildings decay; it's an all-out war against rust and rot. Find out how mountains of decaying garbage produce energy.

Episode 31

Bull's-Eye

Mon, Oct 20, 2008

See what it takes to make the perfect shot: a bulls-eye. Expert marksmen can shoot from their target from over a mile away while a billiard player can take the perfect shot to win the game. Also see the modern take on ancient weapons like the trebuchet and the cannon.

Episode 32

Halloween Tech

Mon, Oct 27, 200844 mins

Go behind-the-scenes at Knott's Berry Farm's 35th annual Halloween Haunt. Learn how to apply monster make-up and watch latex masks being made. See the most extreme jack-o-lanterns and visit a haunted house with an annual attendance of over 50,000.

Episode 33

The Horse

Wed, Nov 19, 2008

The history of horses and their modern uses as thoroughbreds, draft horses, and calvary units.

Episode 34

The Turkey

Mon, Nov 24, 2008

The history and the legend of the turkey is profiled and it goes beyond just your Thanksgiving Day dinner.

Episode 35

Salt

Mon, Dec 1, 2008

Salt isn't just for your dinner table. Learn the many ways salt is mined and its many uses.

Episode 36

Car Wash

Mon, Dec 8, 2008

Whether you take your car to the local car wash or you do it yourself in your driveway, all cars need to be cleaned. This episode of Modern Marvels goes behind the scenes at one of the largest car washes in the country and shows a master car detailed at work. Also included are tips on washing your car at home.

Episode 37

Retro Tech

Fri, Dec 19, 2008

The story behind some of yesteryear's cutting edge technology. Featured are old cathode ray TV sets, vinyl records, typewriters, newspapers, and instant pictures among others.

Episode 38

Super Human

Mon, Dec 22, 2008

Do normal humans actually possess the ability to have super powers? Modern Marvels explores how science and technological advances can turn mere men into supermen.

Episode 39

Measure It

Tue, Dec 23, 2008

A look at the measurement devices we encounter daily including measuring tapes, clocks (including atomic clocks and the history of clocks), swimming touch pads, speedometers, weight scales, and thermometers. Also includes a look at the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Episode 40

Night

Fri, Dec 26, 2008

Some activities only occur when the world is dark. We stay up late off the coast of California to hunt some slippery and slimy night creatures.

Episode 42

Fry It

Thu, Apr 1, 201045 mins

Welcome to the world of sizzling hot oil. First, it's a trip to the fair to discover the secrets behind fried classics such as funnel cakes and churros. And how about some deep fried treats such as frogs legs, and Twinkies and Coke?

Episode 43

Soft Drinks

Thu, Apr 8, 201060 mins

The history, production process, and use of various kinds of soft drinks are explored, including Dr. Pepper, natural sodas, Gatorade, energy drinks, ginger ale, root beer, Slurpees, soda fountain drinks, and drinks with unusual flavors.