Modern Marvels

15,1

1993

8 / 10

Episodes

EP 2: Carbon

Carbon is the chemical basis of all known life and yet this simple element is also the foundation of modern technology. Carbon bur...

EP 3: 90s Tech

The dot.com decade opened up the information superhighway and for the first time, people could shop, search, and surf online with ...

EP 4: Superhighways

Millions of drivers travel the world's superhighways each year. See a multi-billion dollar expansion project in Houston where a st...

EP 5: World's Strongest III

Witness some mind-blowing feats of strength starting with the world's most powerful elevators. Discover the world's strongest tire...

EP 6: Strange Weapons

Discover microwave-like rays that make the enemy flee; laser weapons mounted on trucks & planes that can blow missiles out of the ...

EP 7: Whiskey

Visit some of the world's finest distilleries to see how each country brews this thousand-year old spirit. Go behind the scenes at...

EP 8: Alaskan Fishing

Takes a look inside the amazing ultra-modern world of high stakes commercial fishing where a wrong decision on the captain's part ...

EP 9: Bread

It's the basic source of nourishment for half the world. Bake it, roast it, slice it, or toast it, it's a wonder with three simple...

EP 10: Gadgets 3

We're living in a gadget revolution. New and unimagined gizmos solve problems that we didn't even know we had. They emerge from cu...

EP 11: Locomotives

Race through the French countryside at nearly 300 MPH on the fastest locomotive in the world. Ride on the little engines that coul...

EP 12: Rats

Feared by millions worldwide, rats are some of the most dangerous, destructive and useful animals on Earth....

EP 13: Mad Electricity

Nikola Tesla's bizarre vision of the future brought him failure, but his genius electrified the world....

EP 14: Axes

The axe is one of the world's oldest, most dangerous and efficient cutting tools. Visit one of the nation's largest axe manufactur...

EP 15: Most Dangerous

Discover that the deadliest snakes, sports and weather events are closer and more treacherous than you think....

EP 16: Super Hot

Explore the world of extreme temperatures....

EP 17: Lead

A versatile yet toxic metal, lead has served mankind for 6,000 years....

EP 18: Corpse Tech

Do you ever wonder what happens to your body after you die? You might be surprised to discover that the human body is host to a mu...

EP 19: Ice Cream

From the gelato of Italy to the French Pot process of the 1800s to numerous assortments of frozen delights being served up today, ...

EP 20: Bathroom Tech II

The most used room in the home is the bathroom and it's full of tech. Visit Kohler and see the new digitally controlled uber-showe...

EP 21: Crashes

Explore collisions that shake our world from the astronomic to the subatomic. Indy car racing; motorcycles; skydiving; meteorites;...

EP 22: Underwear

From itchy woolen union suits to comfortable briefs and boxers learn how our undergarments have evolved over the last 100 years....

EP 23: Batman Tech

He's caped, cowled and the coolest superhero of them all, because underneath that Batsuit, Batman only has his human strength and ...

EP 24: Coin Operated

Every 15 minutes, Americans insert over 3.5 million coins into vending machines. What are they buying? How do the machines work?...

EP 25: Secrets of Oil

Rubber, plastic, nylon, aerosols, resins, solvents, & lubricants; none can exist without oil. If we stopped driving our cars tomor...

EP 26: Iron

How iron mined in Minnesota is made into steel; iron weapons revolutionize warfare; military metallurgists customize weapons and d...

EP 27: Wheat

It feeds the world. See how harvesting crews brave months on the road, cutting thousands of acres, tour a pasta plant to see how s...

EP 28: Dangerous Roads

Dangerous roads throughout the world are examined, including Bolivia's "Death Road" and Highway 99 in California. Also: a visit to...

EP 29: Mold & Fungus

Learn about fungal organisms that live within our bodies, grow beneath our feet, float in the air and help create some of the food...

EP 30: Soft Drinks

They account for nearly 30% of all beverages consumed in the U.S. and have been quenching thirst for over a century....

EP 31: Corrosion & Decompositon

America's aging infrastructure is in danger of collapse due to corrosion, according to engineers; technology for battling corrosio...

EP 32: Bulls-eye

Examining how frequently experts in various disciplines can hit their targets, including archers, sharpshooters and even a billiar...

EP 33: Halloween Tech

An inside look at the technology used for the Halloween traditions such as producing latex masks, professional monster makeup, car...

EP 34: The Horse

A celebration of the horse, the animal that helped mankind change the world; the thoroughbred racing industry in Kentucky; how a M...

EP 35: The Turkey

The turkey is the centerpiece of Thanksgiving dinners and one of the dumbest birds in the animal kingdom, but it has managed to su...

EP 36: Salt

It's the only rock we eat, and we need it to live. History has shown that those who have salt rule the world--and today, this vers...

EP 37: Car Wash

The car wash's in America are a $25 billion dollars a year industry, with tunnel systems to in-bay automatics, we'll show you how ...

EP 38: Retro Tech

Rummage around in your garage and you'll likely find remnants of gadgets past: a typewriter, analog TV, LPs, film cameras and bric...

EP 39: Super Human

Whether humans have the ability to possess superpowers; a man can strap on an exoskeleton and lift hundreds of pounds with little ...

EP 40: Measure It

How do you weigh a whale? How does your speedometer work? Take a look at the five most common areas of measurement: distance, time...

EP 41: Night

Some activities only occur when the world is dark; fishermen use lights to lure squid to their nets; finding night crawlers in Tor...

EP 42: Fry It

Fairgrounds fried classics such as funnel cakes and churros; frog legs; Twinkies and Coke; forging a cast iron frying pan; Kentuck...

EP 43: Mega Meals

Preparing meals for large groups is examined. Included: a meal at a U.S. Naval base in Bangor, Wash.; aboard a nuclear submarine; ...

EP 44: Library of Congress

Where in Washington DC is the nation's most incredible treasure chest? It's a library unlike any other in the world, the U.S. Libr...

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 >>

Milk

Episode 1

now-playing-animation

Carbon

Episode 2

Carbon is the chemical basis of all known life and yet this simple element is al...

90s Tech

Episode 3

The dot.com decade opened up the information superhighway and for the first time...

Superhighways

Episode 4

Millions of drivers travel the world's superhighways each year. See a multi-bill...

World's Strongest III

Episode 5

Witness some mind-blowing feats of strength starting with the world's most power...

Strange Weapons

Episode 6

Discover microwave-like rays that make the enemy flee; laser weapons mounted on ...

Whiskey

Episode 7

Visit some of the world's finest distilleries to see how each country brews this...

Alaskan Fishing

Episode 8

Takes a look inside the amazing ultra-modern world of high stakes commercial fis...

Bread

Episode 9

It's the basic source of nourishment for half the world. Bake it, roast it, slic...

Gadgets 3

Episode 10

We're living in a gadget revolution. New and unimagined gizmos solve problems th...

Locomotives

Episode 11

Race through the French countryside at nearly 300 MPH on the fastest locomotive ...

Rats

Episode 12

Feared by millions worldwide, rats are some of the most dangerous, destructive a...

Mad Electricity

Episode 13

Nikola Tesla's bizarre vision of the future brought him failure, but his genius ...

Axes

Episode 14

The axe is one of the world's oldest, most dangerous and efficient cutting tools...

Most Dangerous

Episode 15

Discover that the deadliest snakes, sports and weather events are closer and mor...

Super Hot

Episode 16

Explore the world of extreme temperatures....

Lead

Episode 17

A versatile yet toxic metal, lead has served mankind for 6,000 years....

Corpse Tech

Episode 18

Do you ever wonder what happens to your body after you die? You might be surpris...

Ice Cream

Episode 19

From the gelato of Italy to the French Pot process of the 1800s to numerous asso...

Bathroom Tech II

Episode 20

The most used room in the home is the bathroom and it's full of tech. Visit Kohl...

Crashes

Episode 21

Explore collisions that shake our world from the astronomic to the subatomic. In...

Underwear

Episode 22

From itchy woolen union suits to comfortable briefs and boxers learn how our und...

Batman Tech

Episode 23

He's caped, cowled and the coolest superhero of them all, because underneath tha...

Coin Operated

Episode 24

Every 15 minutes, Americans insert over 3.5 million coins into vending machines....

Secrets of Oil

Episode 25

Rubber, plastic, nylon, aerosols, resins, solvents, & lubricants; none can exist...

Iron

Episode 26

How iron mined in Minnesota is made into steel; iron weapons revolutionize warfa...

Wheat

Episode 27

It feeds the world. See how harvesting crews brave months on the road, cutting t...

Dangerous Roads

Episode 28

Dangerous roads throughout the world are examined, including Bolivia's "Death Ro...

Mold & Fungus

Episode 29

Learn about fungal organisms that live within our bodies, grow beneath our feet,...

Soft Drinks

Episode 30

They account for nearly 30% of all beverages consumed in the U.S. and have been ...

Corrosion & Decompositon

Episode 31

America's aging infrastructure is in danger of collapse due to corrosion, accord...

Bulls-eye

Episode 32

Examining how frequently experts in various disciplines can hit their targets, i...

Halloween Tech

Episode 33

An inside look at the technology used for the Halloween traditions such as produ...

The Horse

Episode 34

A celebration of the horse, the animal that helped mankind change the world; the...

The Turkey

Episode 35

The turkey is the centerpiece of Thanksgiving dinners and one of the dumbest bir...

Salt

Episode 36

It's the only rock we eat, and we need it to live. History has shown that those ...

Car Wash

Episode 37

The car wash's in America are a $25 billion dollars a year industry, with tunnel...

Retro Tech

Episode 38

Rummage around in your garage and you'll likely find remnants of gadgets past: a...

Super Human

Episode 39

Whether humans have the ability to possess superpowers; a man can strap on an ex...

Measure It

Episode 40

How do you weigh a whale? How does your speedometer work? Take a look at the fiv...

Night

Episode 41

Some activities only occur when the world is dark; fishermen use lights to lure ...

Fry It

Episode 42

Fairgrounds fried classics such as funnel cakes and churros; frog legs; Twinkies...

Mega Meals

Episode 43

Preparing meals for large groups is examined. Included: a meal at a U.S. Naval b...

Library of Congress

Episode 44

Where in Washington DC is the nation's most incredible treasure chest? It's a li...