Modern Marvels

14,25

1993

8 / 10

Episodes

EP 1: Balls

Examining the technology and evolution of balls used in sports. Included: a tour of the Wilson Football Factory Ohio; the Rawlings...

EP 2: Environmental Tech

From the prairies of Saskatchewan to a Manhattan skyscraper we’ll see the 21st Century’s cutting-edge “green” technologies in acti...

EP 3: Canning

It's the unsung essential of modern life. Canning is the method of a preserving and packaging food, without which civilization wou...

EP 4: Pumps

The history of the pump is chronicled. Pumps used in water distribution in Southern California - The Colorado River Aqueduct, a ro...

EP 5: Ice

The solid form of life's precious elixir has played a key role in fashioning our history and is making its mark as an unusual tool...

EP 6: More Ice

It traps a treasure of energy on the ocean floor, and confounds scientists still trying to solve why it’s so slippery. We’ll ventu...

EP 7: The Destroyer

The destroyers made during World War II are examined. With interviews with veterans and archival film footage....

EP 8: Star Trek Tech

In this episode we are presented with the technology and gadgets used while filming the Star Trek series. It also explores some of...

EP 9: Weapons of Mass Destruction

Nuclear and biological Weapons of mass destruction are examined. With a computer-generated depiction of a dirty-bomb attack in Sea...

EP 10: Barbarian Battle Tech

It's clear from the bow that nearly brought down Rome, the suspension system that revolutionized the chariot, and the axe that nam...

EP 11: Dams

Dams - one of man's greatest accomplishments are explored. The history of dams from construction to demolition and their impact on...

EP 12: Yard Tech

The technology used to keep your lawn green including the lawnmower, riding movers, sod, astro turf, and sprinklers. The state of ...

EP 13: More Military Movers

Soldiers, machines, and supplies are only effective if they arrive at the battlefield in time. Explore the history and the technol...

EP 14: Deep Sea Salvage

Driven by the need for deep sea rescue and salvage capabilities, the US Navy Diving and Salvage Programs have gathered together a ...

EP 15: Welding

It was a science first conjured amid the fiery ovens of ancient blacksmiths; today more than 50% of all U.S. products require some...

EP 16: 60s Tech

A look at the technology behind some of the 1960s greatest inventions. With color television, transistor radios, satellite broadca...

EP 17: It Came From Outer Space

What do remote controlled robots, Tempur-Pedic mattresses, polarized glasses and metallized blankets have in common? They are all ...

EP 18: World's Strongest II

What does it take to become "the world's strongest"? You'll find out on this episode of Modern Marvels. With life-saving boron car...

EP 19: Engineering Disasters of the '70s

To err is human, but when the error results in the loss of life, it's a disaster. Learn about the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald...

EP 20: 70s Tech

The 1970s were a decade of excess. Dust off your mirror ball, put on your leisure suit, and rediscover the gadgets of the era...

EP 21: Truck Stops

Join Modern Marvels as we discover how truck stops, serving more than twenty million truckers nationwide, are bigger and better th...

EP 22: Fertilizer

Without it one third of us would starve. Modern Marvels: Fertilizer tours the places that harness the vital nutrients that enrich ...

EP 23: Cheese

From the giant cheese factories of Wisconsin to the goat farms of Northern California, this episode explores cheese....

EP 24: Saws

They brought down the forests and built up the pyramids. They're a cut above for construction, salvage, demolition - and they even...

EP 26: Sticky Stuff

A look at everyday stuff that is sticky including VHB tape, velcro, stealth rubber, cling wrap, and asphalt....

EP 27: Chocolate

It's America's favorite flavor. We eat over three and a half billion pounds of it each year. It satiated the ancients and built mo...

EP 28: Bedroom Tech

We spend 1/3 of our lives in the bedroom, explore the technologies that help to ensure we wake up on the right side of the bed....

EP 29: Vacuums

On this episode of Modern Marvels we'll see giant-sized vacuums that clean up after disasters like Hurricane Katrina and 9-11. Ben...

EP 30: Traps

They're designed to capture and often kill, but they don't always harm their prey. Traps are devices as old as humanity itself. We...

EP 31: Nature Tech: Volcanoes

Volcano technology is examined. Included: attempts to monitor and control activity....

EP 32: Star Wars Tech

In this episode we are presented with the technology and gadgets used while filming Star Wars. It also explores some of the real o...

EP 33: Extreme Aircraft II

Take a supersonic flight through a world of flying machines that are redefining our skies. Pull serious G’s in the U.S. military’s...

EP 34: Deep Freeze

Modern Marvels: Deep Freeze takes the technology of cold to the extreme: A 12-story ice box filled with 135 million pounds of ice ...

EP 35: Acid

It is the most widely produced chemical in the world and possibly the most dangerous. Take a look at the many uses of acid. See ho...

EP 36: World's Sharpest

The Katana blade of the Samurai is the world's sharpest sword. We'll craft one from scratch to reveal the secret of its legendary ...

EP 37: Engineering Disasters 21

A steam pipe explosion rocks in Midtown Manhattan. In Boston's sections of a tunnel ceiling fall onto the roadway. And in Minnesot...

EP 38: Environmental Tech II

Take a look at the innovations designed to hold off a global warming meltdown....

EP 39: Corn

Corn has found its way into over 3,000 different items. Discover how tons of sweet corn make it from the field to a sealed can wit...

EP 40: The Pig

A pig is as smart as a three-year-old human. The pancreas, heart valve and intestines of the pig have been transplanted into human...

EP 41: Rocks

From the Stone Age, to the Space Age, we've built our world from rocks. With moon rocks located at NASA's Johnson Space Center....

EP 42: Most Shocking

The dangers associated with Electric Shock are real. It kills and injures thousands each year. In the last 100 years we've corrall...

EP 43: Cold Cuts

They're the meat in our sandwiches. We will take you behind the deli counter to reveal the secret ingredients in boloney. Watch a ...

EP 44: Fast Food Tech

Carl's Jr., Jack in the Box, Wendy's, Burger King or McDonald's. Fast food joints dominate the American landscape to the tune of $...

Overview

HISTORY’s longest-running series moves to H2. Modern Marvels celebrates the ingenuity, invention and imagination found in the world around us. From commonplace items like ink and coffee to architectural masterpieces and engineering disasters, the hit series goes beyond the basics to provide insight and history into things we wonder about and that impact our lives. This series tells fascinating stories of the doers, the dreamers and sometime-schemers that create everyday items, technological breakthroughs and manmade wonders. The hit series goes deep to explore the leading edge of human inspiration and ambition.

  • en
  • Documentary,

Episodes >>

Balls

Episode 1

Examining the technology and evolution of balls used in sports. Included: a tour...

Environmental Tech

Episode 2

From the prairies of Saskatchewan to a Manhattan skyscraper we’ll see the 21st C...

Canning

Episode 3

It's the unsung essential of modern life. Canning is the method of a preserving ...

Pumps

Episode 4

The history of the pump is chronicled. Pumps used in water distribution in South...

Ice

Episode 5

The solid form of life's precious elixir has played a key role in fashioning our...

More Ice

Episode 6

It traps a treasure of energy on the ocean floor, and confounds scientists still...

The Destroyer

Episode 7

The destroyers made during World War II are examined. With interviews with veter...

Star Trek Tech

Episode 8

In this episode we are presented with the technology and gadgets used while film...

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Episode 9

Nuclear and biological Weapons of mass destruction are examined. With a computer...

Barbarian Battle Tech

Episode 10

It's clear from the bow that nearly brought down Rome, the suspension system tha...

Dams

Episode 11

Dams - one of man's greatest accomplishments are explored. The history of dams f...

Yard Tech

Episode 12

The technology used to keep your lawn green including the lawnmower, riding move...

More Military Movers

Episode 13

Soldiers, machines, and supplies are only effective if they arrive at the battle...

Deep Sea Salvage

Episode 14

Driven by the need for deep sea rescue and salvage capabilities, the US Navy Div...

Welding

Episode 15

It was a science first conjured amid the fiery ovens of ancient blacksmiths; tod...

60s Tech

Episode 16

A look at the technology behind some of the 1960s greatest inventions. With colo...

It Came From Outer Space

Episode 17

What do remote controlled robots, Tempur-Pedic mattresses, polarized glasses and...

World's Strongest II

Episode 18

What does it take to become "the world's strongest"? You'll find out on this epi...

Engineering Disasters of the '70s

Episode 19

To err is human, but when the error results in the loss of life, it's a disaster...

70s Tech

Episode 20

The 1970s were a decade of excess. Dust off your mirror ball, put on your leisur...

Truck Stops

Episode 21

Join Modern Marvels as we discover how truck stops, serving more than twenty mil...

Fertilizer

Episode 22

Without it one third of us would starve. Modern Marvels: Fertilizer tours the pl...

Cheese

Episode 23

From the giant cheese factories of Wisconsin to the goat farms of Northern Calif...

Saws

Episode 24

They brought down the forests and built up the pyramids. They're a cut above for...

Aluminum

Episode 25

now-playing-animation

Sticky Stuff

Episode 26

A look at everyday stuff that is sticky including VHB tape, velcro, stealth rubb...

Chocolate

Episode 27

It's America's favorite flavor. We eat over three and a half billion pounds of i...

Bedroom Tech

Episode 28

We spend 1/3 of our lives in the bedroom, explore the technologies that help to ...

Vacuums

Episode 29

On this episode of Modern Marvels we'll see giant-sized vacuums that clean up af...

Traps

Episode 30

They're designed to capture and often kill, but they don't always harm their pre...

Nature Tech: Volcanoes

Episode 31

Volcano technology is examined. Included: attempts to monitor and control activi...

Star Wars Tech

Episode 32

In this episode we are presented with the technology and gadgets used while film...

Extreme Aircraft II

Episode 33

Take a supersonic flight through a world of flying machines that are redefining ...

Deep Freeze

Episode 34

Modern Marvels: Deep Freeze takes the technology of cold to the extreme: A 12-st...

Acid

Episode 35

It is the most widely produced chemical in the world and possibly the most dange...

World's Sharpest

Episode 36

The Katana blade of the Samurai is the world's sharpest sword. We'll craft one f...

Engineering Disasters 21

Episode 37

A steam pipe explosion rocks in Midtown Manhattan. In Boston's sections of a tun...

Environmental Tech II

Episode 38

Take a look at the innovations designed to hold off a global warming meltdown....

Corn

Episode 39

Corn has found its way into over 3,000 different items. Discover how tons of swe...

The Pig

Episode 40

A pig is as smart as a three-year-old human. The pancreas, heart valve and intes...

Rocks

Episode 41

From the Stone Age, to the Space Age, we've built our world from rocks. With moo...

Most Shocking

Episode 42

The dangers associated with Electric Shock are real. It kills and injures thousa...

Cold Cuts

Episode 43

They're the meat in our sandwiches. We will take you behind the deli counter to ...

Fast Food Tech

Episode 44

Carl's Jr., Jack in the Box, Wendy's, Burger King or McDonald's. Fast food joint...