Modern Marvels

- Season 1

(1993)

The completion of the Grand Coulee Dam proved America's industrial might could overcome any obstacle, even mother nature. Construction of this massive dam on Washington's Columbia River began in 1931. But the sheer magnitude of the project brought on unique problems that demanded inventive solutions. When bedrock was exposed, a huge mass of clay began moving forward, threatening to swallow up the foundation. After much frantic deliberation, the engineers froze the clay, stopping its ominous advance and allowing construction to continue. With rare footage of its ...

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Despite its detractors in the French art world, Gustave Eiffel's tower quickly won the hearts of Parisians and came to symbolize the spirit of Paris during the city's tribulations over the century that followed. This program provides a romantic perspective on the construction of the tower, the accomplishments of Gustave Eiffel and the Eiffel Tower's place in the culture of Paris.

The story of how man has moved water from place to place since ancient times up through Mulholland's Los Angeles aqueduct and the present.

A profile of history's greatest tower including the Tower of Babel, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Big Ben, and the Eiffel Tower. Also features in depth looks at the Seattle Space Needle, the CN Tower in Toronto, and the Las Vegas Stratosphere.

The history of the development of the computer, starting with Charles Babbage's mechanical Difference Engine in the 1820s and Herman Hollerith's punch-card tabulating machines of the 1890s, through the development of the first vacuum-tube machines in World War II (Colossus and ENIAC) followed by continuing miniaturization enabled by the transistor, integrated circuit, and microprocessor, to the beginnings of the personal computer revolution led by Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates.

The history of how radar was created and it's uses in both war time and peace time is profiled.

The history of how Thomas Edison lit the world and the events that followed.

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A look at the expositions known as "World's Fairs," which have served as showcases for entertainment, cultural events and new technology.

A look at the history of how parks have shaped the history of cities throughout the ages. New York's Central Park, Los Angeles Griffith Park, and San Francisco's Golden Gate Park are all profiled in detail.

A look at the history of crash testing cars and planes. Also featured is the everyday product testing performed by Underwriters Labs and Consumer Reports.

The history of mankind's desire for physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle.

Modern Marvels looks at the history of television from its invention by Philo Farnsworth to its popularization by David Sarnoff.

The decade plus infrastructure project known in Boston as the Big Dig is profiled.

The men behind the most famous names in aircraft, such as Boeing, Grumman, and Douglas spent the thirties fighting for air passenger superiority. That all changed when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and thrust the United States in World War II. From that point on all resources were dedicated the American war machine. Profiled are some of the greatest American War planes including the B-17 and B-24 bombers, the DC-3 / C-47 cargo plane, and the P-51 Mustang and the F-4 Wildcat fighter planes.

The history of 1950's concept cars. Including the LeSabre, the Firebird turbine cars, the Ghia-Chrysler collaborations, and the Chevy Corvette among others.

The history of photography and the camera from it's humble beginnings through the digital age.

The history, development, & future of sports equipment based on the surf board, including skis, skateboards, mountain boards, & mountain bikes.

An out-of-this-world exploration of the history of long-duration life in space--from the first Soviet station to Skylab to Mir to the International Space Station.

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The history of the German U-boat. From the early models used in WWI to the most popular models of WWII and even some of the experimental models that never saw action, this documentary focuses on what Winston Churchill called his biggest concern during the war.

Under the bustling metropolis of Athens a unique engineering project is transforming the city, building a new underground Metro system to meet the needs of its modern inhabitants, while uncovering the secrets of its people of the past. The new Metro serves the very centre of Athens and aims to alleviate her chronic traffic problems. It is part of a grand urban development plan to transform Athens for the 21st century and prepare the city to host the 2004 Olympics Games.

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Documentary about strange and futuristic weapons designed during WWII by the Axis powers, mainly Nazi Germany.

This program tells the story of the transformation of American coinage and currency from a haphazard mess that stunted economic growth to the advanced technology operated by the United States Mint and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Intertwined with the history are explanations of processes used to manufacture our money.

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The history of the pump is chronicled. Included: the Colorado River Aqueduct; pumps used in water distribution in Southern California; a robotic cow-milking pump; and a pump used in heart surgery.

The destroyers made during World War II for the Pacific theater are examined. Included: interviews with veterans; archival film footage.

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Explore the complex logistics behind creating feasts for the largest and most ravenous crowds. At the U.S. Naval Base in Bangor, Washington, hop aboard a nuclear submarine stuffed with enough food for a 120-day mission.

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It's a great American wilderness--millions of acres of wild, primeval land with its own people, its own technology...and its own rules. Survival there depends on smarts and science, guts and grueling work.

Ever wonder how today's technology works? Modern Marvels goes behind the world's most fascinating innovations to see how they came to be.

Candy is America's sweetest guilty pleasure--so appealing that we spend $25 billion annually to experience it. This episode journeys across the country to show that behind every delicious bite is a fascinating story of imagination and innovation. Fourth-generation candy makers Nick and Gino Marini reveal how they're redefining the limits of confectioneering.

U.S. soldiers today face enormous challenges, often stationed in desolate locations behind enemy lines.

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With technological advances, our ancient struggle against the sea has turned into a luxurious holiday. Program offers a peek at the elegant life aboard "floating resorts".

The Panama Canal is considered the 7th wonder of the modern world. But today, it is too small. Now in order to fit the worlds' growing fleet of super ships, the Panama Canal is getting a complete overhaul. This all-new, one-hour Modern Marvels takes us inside the billion dollar Panama Canal Expansion Project. With unprecedented access, this program features exclusive footage of the building of the new canal and shows us what it takes to complete one of the greatest construction projects in history. From massive explosions at the excavation site to eighteen hour ...

Adam Richman visits baking behemoth Entenmann's to see how they keep up with America's insatiable demand for delicious and dunkable chocolate chip cookies. Then, find out how Otis Spunkmeyer creates the cookies you find at some of the biggest restaurant chains in America. From fortune cookies to your favorite childhood treats, Adam becomes a connoisseur in this episode for all things cookies.

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Follow Adam Richman as he visits America's oldest candy store to see how they craft decadent chocolate treats. Then, discover how internationally recognized Theo Chocolate produces up to 2.5-million pounds of chocolate per year. Find out where cacao is grown in the United States, how many famous chocolate Easter eggs get produced each day, and we visit the magical workshop of "Mr. Chocolate" himself-Jacques Torres.

When it comes to snack foods there's none wiser than Wise. We tag along as Adam Richman gets full access to see how Wise produces over 50-million bags of sweet and salty snacks per month. Then we get something meatier to bite into when we see how Jack Links is changing the jerky game by converting 17-million pounds of beef into meat sticks at just one of their facilities. Plus, see if Adam can singlehandedly unload 50,000 pounds of potatoes, and treat yourself to some tasty facts behind America's greatest guilty pleasures.

Adam Richman travels through time to uncover: the Future of Food. With special security clearance to a U.S. Army center we get a glimpse into the cutting-edge food research that's taking a quantum leap into the future. At Impossible Foods, we make a delicious discovery and learn why it's not impossible for plants to look, taste and even bleed like meat. Plus, science fiction becomes fact when we see food grilled and served by robots, food made to last for years, and food made to be eaten in Earth's upper atmosphere. The future of food is here and it's tasty.

Adam learns the true meaning of "heavy" when he visits legendary heavy equipment manufacturer: John Deere. Big machines do big jobs and he gets an inside look at how top brands like SANY and JCB are pushing the envelope on what these machines can do. Then, we'll take a nostalgic look at where many fell in love with heavy machinery, TONKA TRUCKS. Plus, we get the inside scoop on massive mining machines that can skim mere inches or scour literal truckloads of material at a time.

To see how people, products, and more move around America, Adam Richman explores how a legendary long-hauler meticulously custom-builds each truck at Daimler. Then, flying cars may finally be a reality, but will helicopters that cost the same as pick-up trucks carry the day? And find out how we might be zipping around the country in tubes. Plus, see how the iconic Union Pacific railroad is preserving the past while chugging into the future.

Adam Richman visits power tool manufacturing "mecca" Dewalt, where he discovers how they're using cutting edge technology to make cutting edge tools. Then, he goes back in time to uncover how one of America's oldest power tools is still cutting. Next, it's time to recharge as he finds out how power tools have changed the world, from the outer reaches of space to deep under the ocean, to pit crews racing cars and rescue teams racing time.

Adam Richman's not playing around, he's working hard to find out how some toys transform into valuable collectibles and become iconic classics. Adam gets VIP access to see how Play-Doh is created, and how every can gets that amazing smell. Plus, he visits the mecca of pinball manufacturing to see how their pinball machines have outlasted the competition and even the law. Then, how have Slinkys kept springing back? And, an inside look at how Lionel Trains keep chugging.

Adam Richman visits the legendary factory where one of the most popular board games of all time is made: Monopoly. Then he finds out how Masters of the Universe action figures are making a comeback in a big way. Plus, see how Mattel is using the latest technology to make new models of Hot Wheels come to life.