Modern Marvels

- Season 11

(2004)

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The history of the Pacific Coast Highway, which runs from California to Washington, includes comments by historians and engineers; and examines the technology that maintains the road through floods, earthquakes and landslides.

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Oil-fire fighters, their history and the technology they employ are examined.

Located in the heart of the Middle East, 'Centcom' in Doha, Qatar represents everything a modern military command post can be with the most sophisticated information systems available-from video-conferencing to real-time frontline satellite communication.

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A look at nature's greatest animal builders and the structures they create including beavers, ants, spiders, and birds.

Bible Tech features the technology used by some Faith's greatest heroes. Featured are the Tower of Babel, Noah's Arc, Herod's Temple, and the methods used by the ancient civilizations in creating buildings, weapons, and other necessities.

A look at the national U.S. power grid and the technology that keeps power running across the country.

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A look at some of history's most notorious engineering failures. Included are the USMC's Harrier Attack jet, the Piper Alpha North Sea oil platform fire, the collapse of the Pleasants Power Station cooling tower in West Virginia, and the derailment of high speed train in Germany. Also include is a look at the various close calls that almost led to nuclear war.

One aircraft in the US arsenal best typifies the will to win. Using the latest and most sophisticated computerized technology, the F-18 Hornet is now one of the foremost fighters of the 21st Century.

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Nicknamed the 'Warthog', the A-10 Tankbuster is one of the U.S. military's most prolific air support fighters. Focuses on its design, production, and life saving record on the battlefield.

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The history of robots. From robot arm, to humanoid looking robots, through the advances in technology.

Nuclear research ranges from well-known applications, such as bombs and reactors, to little-known uses in medicine, food preparation, and radiation detection. It's also spawned ancillary technologies to store nuclear waste and clean up accidents. Despite the risk of use and abuse for destructive purposes, many scientists remain optimistic about what's next for the atom. In an explosive hour, we explore the atom in war and peace, and the latest in nuclear power generation, safety, and security.

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The historic 1969 flight of Apollo 11 is examined. Included: comments by astronauts, Mission Control personnel, engineers and designers.

The technological advances pioneered during 'The Great War' are profiled.

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Featured disasters include the Northridge Earthquake of 1994, the Baldwin Hills Dam collapses, the Electra airliner, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge collapse, and the underground mine fire burning in Centralia, PA.

The history behind the most extraordinary planes ever built. They include the experimental X-Series planes, such as the X-1 , X-15, X-31, and the X-43. Also features supersonic stealth planes like the U-2, B-2, F-22, and the SR-71 Blackbird.

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Learn how development of electricity and indoor plumbing made skyscrapers possible as the veins and arteries of the California Department of Transportation headquarters in LA are installed.

In hour three of a crash course on mega-skyscraper construction, take a closer look at the human element involved in the development of systems like air conditioning and pressurized elevators.

At one point, the Sears Tower in Chicago was the tallest building in the world. While it has since been surpassed it is still a technological marvel that pioneered engineering techniques and changed how companies do business.

The history of police pursuits and the modern equipment used by the police to apprehend criminals.

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Explosions of AP (a component in rocket fuel) at a PepCom AP plant in Henderson, Nevada. A section of the Mianus River bridge, a pin-and-hanger-bridge on Interstate 95 in Connecticut, collapsed dropping 4 vehicles into the river below. Ocean Ranger semi-submersible oil rig capsizes and sinks off the coast of Newfoundland killing all aboard. 1889 Johnstown Flood, killed 2,209 people, wiped the town off the map and was the worst 19th Century disaster in American history. Golfer Payne Stewart's private jet goes down for reasons still unknown.

Whatever the crop, there's a custom machine to harvest it. From the debut of the sickle in ancient Egypt to McCormick's famous Reaper to the field of ergonomics, we'll dig into the past and future of the harvest.

Deadliest grain elevator explosion in the US caused by dust. A portion of the Schoharie Creek Bridge collapses with trucks & cars plunging into the river, due to erosion of the foundation by the river. The freighter Bright Field looses power heading into its New Orleans' port on the Mississippi River and crashes into the Riverwalk wharf. British R-101 airship disaster in 1930, resulted in 48 deaths and the ending of the British airship program. Sports arena roof failures. 1979 Rosemount Horizon arena's roof collapses during construction due to the construction crew ...

Disiasters discussed: Hutchinson, KS gas explosions, Tanker, Puerto Rican, explosion, Tropicana Casino garage collapse, the White Sea Canal project and the Bhopal chemical plant disaster.

A look behind the airplanes, trains, cars, and helicopters used by the U.S. Government to safely move the President of the United States.

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Disasters profiled are a liquid natural gas explosion in Cleveland, the collapse of the Kansas City Hyatt walkway, flooding of the Yangtze River in 1931, as well as sinkholes caused by sewer collapses in San Francisco and Atlanta. Also features the impacts of asbestos on the modern world.

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Featured disasters and mishaps include the malfunctioning baggage carousel at the Denver International Airport, the Texas A&M bonfire, the M-4 Sherman tank, the 1993 Milwaukee Water Treatment disaster, and the collapse of the Skyline Plaza.

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Engineering disasters profiled in this episode include flaws in the Patriot Missle system, the Cocoanut Grove night club fire, a failed building demolition, the collapse of World Trade Center Building 7, and a toxic waste dump in Love Canal, NY.

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Profiled are disasters involving a freeway ramp collapse, a fighter plane crash, a subway tunnel cave in, an explosion on an oil tanker, and a flash flood of molasses.

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Engineering disasters profiled include a flood in Chicago, tunnel fires in the Alpine, a riverboat explosion, a building collapse, and a plane crash.

The story behind our favorite snack foods. They include potato chips, candy bars, pretzels, lollipops, and cupcakes among others.

The positives and negatives of commercial fishing on the economy and nature are profiled. New England and Canadian fisheries help bring fish to Europe in Colonial times. A look at current practices in the Atlantic Ocean, a Bering Sea factory trawler and deep sea fish farms. Scientists work with fishermen on methods to curb over fishing and extinction thus ensuring the world's appetite for seafood will continue to be satisfied.

A look at some at how some more of the worlds most dangerous cargo is handled including nuclear medicine, wild animals, and the trucking of explosives set to be destroyed. Also includes a look a the Merchant Marines and Liberty Ships during World War II.

Engineering Disasters: Gasoline explosion in a sewer pipe in Guadalajara, Mexico; Cargo door flies off of a 1974 flight over Paris resulting in over 300 deaths; The bursting of two mining damns in 1985 Italy, sees the town of Stava almost wiped off the face of the Earth; New London, Texas school explosion caused by natural gas, resulting in the death of 319 students & teachers; 1967 grounding of the Torrey Canyon tanker off the coast of England and the worlds' introduction to supertanker oil spills and problems with autopilot technology.

The first hour of a special two-hour Modern Marvels takes a close look at the technologies that could doom the human race... or save it. Threats include runaway global warming brought on by the burning of fossil fuels; global nuclear war triggered by the deteriorating Russian nuclear command and control ; a global collapse caused by the abrupt end of the oil economy; and even nanotechnology gone awry. Technological solutions include renewable energy breakthroughs including the latest in wind and solar, and the high-tech world of dismantling and monitoring nuclear ...

Examine more threats - both natural and man-made - that may endanger civilization. From the far reaches of space to tiny viruses, doomsday sources are many, but so are technologies used to keep the chaos at bay.

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This episode is an overview of the, then new, FBI crime laboratory in Quantico Virginia. Coverage includes the DNA lab, Chemistry Unit, Hazaderous Response Team, Trace Evidence Unit, Firearms Unit, Explosives and many other aspects of the real CSI.

Based on the popular book, this part explores historical building collapses--from ancient pyramids to the Cathedral at Beauvais to Kansas City's Hyatt Regency.

A look into the destruction of Nasa's space shuttle Challenger in 1986 and Columbia in 2003.

Examine the history of the shipyard from ancient days through the Industrial Revolution and Pearl Harbor. Will the craftsmanship and practical knowledge of ship-building disappear in the 21st century?

A look at some of the most extreme trucks and their functions in everyday life.

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There are over 100 pyramids in Egypt. Built during a span of well over 1,000 years, they stand as cultural and engineering marvels of staggering proportions. They were constructed as tombs for the pharaohs of ancient Egypt.

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The history of some of our most beloved toys including Matchbox cars, G.I. Joes, Super Soakers, Lionel toy trains, Lincoln Logs, cap guns, and construction toys such as Legos and Erector sets.

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