About this season
An insider's look at the engineering and scientific miracles behind the things that form the modern world.
Episodes (20)
1. Panama Canal, Waste Disposal
Aired 3 March 2008 • 22 min
Learning how large ships make their way through the Panama Canal; technology assists in waste management.
2. World's Strongest Knife, Diamonds, Bricks
Aired 4 March 2008 • 22 min
The world's strongest knives; growing diamonds in a laboratory; producing enough bricks to build the modern world.
3. Electricity, Floating Crane
Aired 5 March 2008 • 22 min
The science behind electricity; the world's largest floating cranes.
4. Drinking Water, Television Screens, Family Cars
Aired 6 March 2008 • 22 min
Providing fresh drinking water in the desert; LED television screens; Ferrari sports cars.
5. Overnight Parcel Delivery, Coal Mining
Aired 7 March 2008 • 22 min
Discover how packages are shipped worldwide in less than 24 hours; mining enough coal to feed the world's power stations.
6. Tetra Pak, Pre-Fab Houses, Ambulances
Aired 10 March 2008 • 22 min
Manufacturing drink cartons; prefabricated homes; mobile intensive-care vehicles.
7. Weather Forcasting, Hovercrafts
Aired 11 March 2008 • 22 min
How meteorologists forecast the weather; the Swedish armed forces use hovercrafts to carry troops and equipment over many types of surfaces.
8. Freeways, Minting Coins
Aired 12 March 2008 • 22 min
Constructing freeways to handle a quarter of a million cars each day; minting coins.
9. Container Ships, Peterbilt Trucks
Aired 13 March 2008 • 22 min
Large cargo ships transport goods around the world; Peterbilt makes large, custom built trucks.
10. Windshield Wipers, Space Shuttle, Binoculars
Aired 14 March 2008 • 22 min
The rockets that launch the space shuttle; binocular lenses; windshield wiper blades.
11. Transporting Oil Rigs, Electric Razors
Aired 17 March 2008 • 22 min
Transporting oil rigs long distances; making electric shavers.
12. Halogen Light Bulbs, Mufflers, Locks
Aired 18 March 2008 • 22 min
Manufacturing halogen light bulbs; car mufflers; creating unique lock and key sets.
13. Airbus, Chainsaws
Aired 19 March 2008 • 22 min
How the latest generation of passenger aircraft are assembled; a lightweight chainsaw can have more muscle and a sharper bite than a great white shark.
14. Hydroelectric Dam, Silicon Chips
Aired 20 March 2008 • 22 min
Generating power from hydroelectric dams; manufacturing powerful computer microchips.
15. Refine Crude Oil, Swiss Army Knife
Aired 25 March 2008 • 22 min
How gasoline is delivered to the pumps; the making of Swiss Army knives.
16. Carpets, LEGO
Aired 26 March 2008 • 22 min
The making of wool carpeting and LEGO children's toys.
17. High-Speed Trains, Ballpoint Pens
Aired 27 March 2008 • 22 min
The technology behind high-speed trains; manufacturing ballpoint pens.
18. Mirrors, 2D and 3D Vehicle Wrapping
Aired 28 March 2008 • 22 min
The secrets behind the manufacturing of mirrors; creating a two-dimensional design for a 3-D car.
19. Durable Jeans, Perfect Wine Glasses
Aired 31 March 2008 • 22 min
Manufacturing durable jeans; creating the perfect wine glass.
20. Aluminium Foil, GPS Systems
Aired 1 April 2008 • 22 min
Turning sand into aluminum foil; how a GPS (global positioning system) guides people to a specific destination.