The History Channel

Why are salaries so taboo in America? We'll finally find out--and get people to spill what's in their paychecks. Along the way, we'll meet a small business owner who turned his leather football-making hobby into a growing small business, factory workers with a long history of manufacturing combat knives for the Marines, and the expert beer brewers at Samuel Adams. And we'll learn incredible facts about American salaries past and present, including what George Washington earned as President. TVPG VL | CC

Get ready to go on the job with the people who make iconic Stetson cowboy hats, woodworkers who create baseball bats from scratch for Major League Baseball, and a man whose high-stakes job is to keep a nuclear facility in Connecticut safe from terrorist attacks. And we'll stop people on the street to see if they'll answer the taboo question: "How much do you earn?" TVPG VL | CC

Modern Marvels is going big, and counting down. We take the "best of" Modern Marvels and give you the MEGA Top 10 countdown. On this edition: Speed. It's a pure adrenaline rush as we race the top 10 fastest marvels we've featured down to the speediest of all. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

It was one of the greatest cities ever depicted in biblical text. Hebrew prophets of the Bible all predicted its destruction--as many as 150 years before it happened. And, when in 539 BCE, Babylon fell to Cyrus the Great of Persia, the prophets were thought to have been proven correct. But scholars and academics have long debated the question of whether these ancient predictions were meant for the city of Babylon of more than 2,500 years ago, or whether they referred to a different Babylon, a future Babylon to be rebuilt where the old city once stood. Ancient Babylon is now known as modern-day Iraq, and eerily similar parallels exist between the prophecies of Babylon and the events of the late 20th and early 21st centuries--including both Gulf Wars and the downfall of Saddam Hussein. Is it possible that Biblical prophecies are playing out in modern times? TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Chili head alert! It's time to get hot and spicy. First we'll take you to the home of sizzling Tabasco sauce--McIlhenny Company of Louisiana, and to McCormick in Baltimore, Maryland--the leading spice manufacturer in the world. Then, head down south to see who likes it hot at the Southern Mississippi Chili Cook Off. At the Chile Pepper Institute, taste the rare "Bhut Jolokia," the hottest Chile pepper in the world, and learn about the chemical substance capsaicin, which gives the "Bhut" and other popular peppers their tongue-burning heat. At Sol Toro restaurant in Connecticut, owned by basketball great Michael Jordan, customers need to sign a waiver to dine on their sizzling dishes. Go to the manufacturers of horseradish, wasabi and mustard to find out how their roots and seeds deliver their own distinctive blazing burn. Using the same heat many savor, we'll demonstrate the powerful punch of pepper spray as a weapon. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Food Trucks are hitting the big time--across much of America, they're changing the way we eat. From humble beginnings as chuck wagons and hot dog carts, they've taken off as ethnic eateries, gourmet specialists, and even high-tech mega trucks that serve thousands at disaster scenes. Not surprisingly, it takes some pretty sophisticated engineering to make it all work--and turn a truck into a kitchen on wheels. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

"Remember the Alamo" is one of the most famous historical phrases in U.S. history. Glorified in books, movies and TV, the last stand at the Alamo will now be seen as never before. Bill Chemerka, founder of the Alamo Historical Society, helps re-create a view from above that was impossible to see in 1836. Chermerka's encyclopedic knowledge of all things Alamo, a site tour to the Alamo, and stories shared by the descendents of the event, combined with CGI and "green screen" movie special effects, combine to create an aerial view of the final moments of the attack, as the Texans made their last stand. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Don't try this at home! In this episode, our experts cook up ten ways you could destroy the earth, including: swallowing it with a microscopic black hole; blowing it up with anti-matter; hurling it into the Sun, and switching off gravity. This is a fun way to explore the dangerous physics of the Universe and the properties of the planet we call home. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

We used to think that Earth was at the center of the universe, but now we know we're not even at the center of our own galaxy. Countless wonders exist between where earth is situated and the massive black hole at the galactic center of our solar system. Within the Milky Way can be found the debris of old, dying stars fueling the birth of new stars and at the galactic center hypervelocity stars get catapulted clear beyond the Milky Way's outer rim at unimaginable speeds. Come along for a guided tour of 100,000 light-year-wide family of stars and stellar phenomena we call The Milky Way. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Is the historical portrayal of the attack on Pearl Harbor as seen in movies accurate? Dr. Donald Goldstein, co-author of the best-seller At Dawn We Slept, leads a team of producers on a site survey of Pearl Harbor to revisit the attack and the lucky shot that sunk the USS Arizona on December 7, 1941. Weaving together interviews with survivors who share their stories from that fateful day and computer animation, the Pearl Harbor attack is re-created, as one of the most significant and traumatic events in American history is revealed as it's never been seen before. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

It is one of the most man-made spaces on the planet, but everything in New York from the height of the skyscrapers to the way the subway was constructed to the position of the harbor is governed by the extraordinary forces that ultimately shaped this city. You can tell the geology of Manhattan at a glance by looking at the skyline. The skyscrapers of Midtown and Downtown are built on hard granite; the low-rise buildings in between are built on a soft, gravelly soil left over from the Ice Age. Learn how New Jersey and North Africa were neighbors 250 million years ago, how the rocks New York are built on are the remains of mountains that 450 million years ago were as tall as the Himalayas, and how Long Island is covered in rubble that remained as ice sheets retreated 10,000 years ago. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

The San Andreas Fault runs roughly 800 miles through some of the most valuable real estate in the world. The southern section hasn't had a significant quake for over 300 years and is now primed and ready for another "big one." This new series takes a trip along the most famous fault line in the world and examine the geology that gives it its immense destructive power. It's an investigation given new urgency by recent warnings from 300 of America's leading scientists about the death and devastation that a major earthquake on the fault could unleash on Los Angeles. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Doug Scott, a field archaeologist, is acknowledged as one of the premier experts on Custer's Last Stand. Scott has always wanted to see this dark moment in American military history through the eyes of survivor Lieutenant Edward Godfrey. His knowledge would be key to finally bringing the entire story to light with a team of Hollywood producers. He may know the history, but it was up to the production team to make his vision a reality. Scott wrangles the team to Hardin, Montana to finally re-create the battle of Little Bighorn correctly. Would movie magic, teamed with Scott's knowledge, bring new insight to this important moment in history? TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Rene Richter says he has the strongest teeth on earth, capable of bending coins. But we discover his strength lies in his jaw, which Rene says allows him to lift over 1000lbs. Kirby Roy has spent his life trying to become impervious to pain, using a controversial martial art called Combat Qi, he claims he is able to take strikes of limitless power to the most sensitive parts of the human anatomy. Daniel calls in some of the world's hardest hitters and kickers to put that to the test. Internet videos show college quarterback Alex Tanney performing mind-blowing trick throws. They look impossible, so Daniel wants Alex to prove he's for real. It's rumored Eric Scott is the best jet-pack pilot on earth, and he intends to prove it, by flying over a lake with no safety measures and only 30 seconds of fuel. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

The search is on to find more real-life superhumans! First Daniel is in Canada to meet Pat Poviliatis, a man who boasts his hands are tough enough to withstand the deadly jaws of a steel-tooted cougar-trap. Sam Whittingham claims to have built the fastest human powered machine on the planet. His combination of design genius, and physical strength could make him the ultimate superhuman man with a brain like a hard drive. Brad Williams claims to have Super Autobiographical Memory, which means his brain has the power to remember and catalog almost everything that has ever happened to him, down to the tiniest details. And Annalisa Flanagan is rumored to have the loudest voice on earth, 122db. That's enough to cause physical pain and permanent ear damage. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

The death of the Hindenburg--a moment in history that refuses to be forgotten. Dr. John Provan has spent most of his adult life researching airships--and is considered among the world's foremost experts on the Hindenburg disaster. His guidance would be key in the retelling of this truly iconic event. He wants to see the tragedy in a way never shown before--from the inside. To re-create the tragedy, Dr. Provan takes a team of documentary producers to his home in Germany to show them all things airship for the final re-creation. After months of work with top experts, the final re-enactment is shown to Dr. Provan. Would one of history's most iconic events be seen in a way that would forever redefine it? TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

The Holy Grail is one of the most sought after treasures of all time, and one treasure hunter thinks he knows exactly where it is. He invites Scott Wolter along on his quest to find it, and the result is a North American treasure hunt of epic proportions. Legends, a treasure map and the results of ground penetrating technology all point to the Grail being in a single location--a holy well on the property of a rumored Templar Prince. What Scott finds in and around the well will shock even the skeptics in this edge-of-your-seat season finale. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

It is one of the most covert military bases on American soil, protecting the nation's most confidential research and development. For decades, the highest levels of government had denied its existence. But behind the barbed wire fences and surveillance cameras are secrets...Go inside the most famous secret military base on Earth to expose the high-tech security, undercover operations, and most outrageous claims surrounding the 575 square miles of "restricted" space. What actually goes on at Area 51? Is there a connection between Area 51 and the Roswell event of 1947? Could there be a secret subterranean city underneath the barren desert? Have the conspiracy theories surrounding Area 51 been a smokescreen for controversial military projects? While the government may never reveal what it's really hiding at Area 51, many believe it is a place where truth is stranger than fiction. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

The 1906 San Francisco earthquake--a moment in history that's always been gotten wrong. James Dalessandro, author of 1906, a novel, is the world's foremost expert on the disaster. He'd like to see the destruction of City Hall in 1906. The first step in telling the story correctly was to understand the full scope of the damage. So Dalessandro got the full investigation of what really happened in 1906 by taking a documentary team to an earthquake destruction tour in San Francisco. After numerous interviews with historians and earthquake experts, the team goes to a Hollywood studio to re-create City Hall with the help of technology and CGI. As complex as this tragedy is, it can be symbolized in a single moment with the destruction of City Hall. Does the team get it right? TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

For centuries, popular culture depicted Captain Kidd as an illiterate, devious, merciless pirate. But we turn the tables on accepted fact to uncover a different story. Kidd was an intelligent, well-read businessmen living in New York, when English King William III commissioned him for "special operations"--as a pirate hunter. Why did he switch from hunter to hunted? Was he a "double agent" of piracy? Was he hung as a paradigm for those who dared blur the distinction between privateer and pirate? TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

"Remember the Alamo" is one of the most famous historical phrases in U.S. history. Glorified in books, movies and TV, the last stand at the Alamo will now be seen as never before. Bill Chemerka, founder of the Alamo Historical Society, helps re-create a view from above that was impossible to see in 1836. Chermerka's encyclopedic knowledge of all things Alamo, a site tour to the Alamo, and stories shared by the descendents of the event, combined with CGI and "green screen" movie special effects, combine to create an aerial view of the final moments of the attack, as the Texans made their last stand. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Is the historical portrayal of the attack on Pearl Harbor as seen in movies accurate? Dr. Donald Goldstein, co-author of the best-seller At Dawn We Slept, leads a team of producers on a site survey of Pearl Harbor to revisit the attack and the lucky shot that sunk the USS Arizona on December 7, 1941. Weaving together interviews with survivors who share their stories from that fateful day and computer animation, the Pearl Harbor attack is re-created, as one of the most significant and traumatic events in American history is revealed as it's never been seen before. TVPG VL | CC

Scientists at the University of Kansas believe gamma ray bursts were responsible for a great mass extinction on Earth 450 million years ago. The gamma rays strip away the ozone layer and generate chemical smog, producing a widespread chill that grips the Earth. It would cause food chains to collapse resulting in a prolonged worldwide famine. Also, an expected electromagnetic pulse will zap all of our electronics. Scientists predict the Earth will be able to support only 5 to 10 percent of its current population; that means close to 6 billion people will die--most by starvation. How will our modern cities hold up in the face of a previous global catastrophe? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Doug Scott, a field archaeologist, is acknowledged as one of the premier experts on Custer's Last Stand. Scott has always wanted to see this dark moment in American military history through the eyes of survivor Lieutenant Edward Godfrey. His knowledge would be key to finally bringing the entire story to light with a team of Hollywood producers. He may know the history, but it was up to the production team to make his vision a reality. Scott wrangles the team to Hardin, Montana to finally re-create the battle of Little Bighorn correctly. Would movie magic, teamed with Scott's knowledge, bring new insight to this important moment in history? TVPG VL | CC

In prison, tattoos represent self-identification and belonging. To those who have them, they represent the rejection of straight society and membership in the outlaw class. Go deep into the culture of prison tattoos, discovering how these illegal marks are secretly created behind bars, and decoding the meaning of the strange symbols that cover many prisoners' bodies. We explore the secrets behind the marks through the experiences of current and former prisoners, and examine the bloody ways that these initiation marks are earned. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

The death of the Hindenburg--a moment in history that refuses to be forgotten. Dr. John Provan has spent most of his adult life researching airships--and is considered among the world's foremost experts on the Hindenburg disaster. His guidance would be key in the retelling of this truly iconic event. He wants to see the tragedy in a way never shown before--from the inside. To re-create the tragedy, Dr. Provan takes a team of documentary producers to his home in Germany to show them all things airship for the final re-creation. After months of work with top experts, the final re-enactment is shown to Dr. Provan. Would one of history's most iconic events be seen in a way that would forever redefine it? TVPG VL | CC

The average person spends a lot of time in their kitchen. But to most of us, the inner workings of our appliances remain a mystery. In this episode, John unveils the insides of refrigerators, stoves, and a garbage disposal. He's slicing and dicing to find the secrets of our hottest, coldest, and most dangerous kitchen machines. Kitchen Confidential, no longer. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

The first vending machine was built in Greece nearly 2000 years ago and sold Holy Water. But today, there's a vending machine for almost everything from packed snacks to home made ice cream. John cuts behind the face to reveal how these once simple machines are simple no longer. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Humans have been bowling for over 5000 years. But the popular indoor version we all know didn't appear until 1840. Today, nearly 100 million people worldwide bowl every year. To discover the secrets at the end of this dark alley, John's slicing up bowling balls, a bowling alley, a ball return, and the mysterious pinsetter. He'll discover this ancient game's secrets... if he can stay out of the gutter. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

The 1906 San Francisco earthquake--a moment in history that's always been gotten wrong. James Dalessandro, author of 1906, a novel, is the world's foremost expert on the disaster. He'd like to see the destruction of City Hall in 1906. The first step in telling the story correctly was to understand the full scope of the damage. So Dalessandro got the full investigation of what really happened in 1906 by taking a documentary team to an earthquake destruction tour in San Francisco. After numerous interviews with historians and earthquake experts, the team goes to a Hollywood studio to re-create City Hall with the help of technology and CGI. As complex as this tragedy is, it can be symbolized in a single moment with the destruction of City Hall. Does the team get it right? TVPG VL | CC

Geologist and adventurer Scott Wolter explores a government-restricted site, and makes a startling discovery connecting the ancient Mayans with rural Georgia. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

For centuries, popular culture depicted Captain Kidd as an illiterate, devious, merciless pirate. But we turn the tables on accepted fact to uncover a different story. Kidd was an intelligent, well-read businessmen living in New York, when English King William III commissioned him for "special operations"--as a pirate hunter. Why did he switch from hunter to hunted? Was he a "double agent" of piracy? Was he hung as a paradigm for those who dared blur the distinction between privateer and pirate? TVPG VL | CC

It's 1942--the height of WWII. Bombers have never before taken off from an aircraft carrier, but the moment has come. Daredevil pilot Jimmy Doolittle and his handpicked squadron train for a one-way mission using modified B-25s. They're on a mission to bomb Tokyo, avenge Pearl Harbor, and hopefully bring an end to the war. There is not enough fuel for them to land safely. They know they will either make history, or die trying. In this episode, host Hunter Ellis examines The Man--celebrated pilot Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle; The Machine--the B-25 Bomber; and The Moment--Doolittle's dramatic raid on Japan. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Shot in England, Ireland, and Wales, the biography travels to the 5th century to explore Patrick's transformation from privileged aristocrat to tormented slave to missionary hero. Follow his enslavement by the Celts, escape to Wales, and attempts to change pagan behavior. TVPG VL | CC

It slices and squeezes, sorts and sizes, mixes and cooks. Every morning we count on it to keep our orange juice fresh, our eggs whole, our cereals flaked, and our McGriddle syrupy--this is Breakfast Tech. Aboard the aircraft carrier USS Stennis, we'll see how technology makes it possible for chefs to prepare a fresh and nutritious breakfast for five thousand hungry sailors. We will take you to the Tyson Foods factory where thousands of pork bellies are dissected into savory, smoked slices of bacon and at the Sunkist Orange Juice Factory, we'll watch a million oranges get squeezed to a pulp. For those on the go, it's a tour of a McDonald's factory to see the McGriddle pancake being made. If you eat breakfast and you're not afraid to see where it came from, join us on this tasty journey. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

After water, tea is the second most popular drink in the world. It has been around as a drink for 5000 years, and 6 billion pounds of tea are harvested annually. We begin with a trip to the Lipton's plant in Suffolk, VA., where state of the art machines crank out 24 million teabags a day, and then its off to the only tea plantation in the US, the 127 acre Charleston Plantation in South Carolina. We'll follow the flow of tea from England to the Colonies, where a tea tax precipitated the Boston Tea Party, and chronicle the brief but glorious age of the Clipper Ships, speed craft that brought tea from China to London in less than 100 days. Big news in the 20th century for the tea trade includes the emergence of herbal, powdered, iced and decaf teas. Tour the Celestial Seasonings plant in Boulder Colorado, and then visit a boutique tea garden where expensive teas sell for upwards of $300 a pot. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Our basic need and desire for food has made the supermarket one of the great success stories of modern retailing. Making customers' visits to the market as efficient as possible has led to many technological advancements such as bar coding and a scale that recognizes the type of produce placed on it. We'll explore the psychology of the supermarket including store layout, lighting, music and aromas that trigger the appetite. With a growing percentage of the public interested in eating healthier foods, organic grocers are carving out an increasingly large niche. These are just a few of the items worth checking out in this appetizing hour. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Analysis of video taken of an alleged UFO over Illinois suggests the object could have been as large as 1500 feet across. The video, featured on UFO HUNTERS, captured three bright lights in a triangular pattern. It was part of a mass sighting of over fifty reports near Tinley Park, Illinois in 2004. Upon investigating, the team discovered that similar objects were reported all over the world in the days surrounding this event--from Australia to Canada. Sightings of triangular-shaped UFOs have been on the rise in recent decades, but was the Tinley Park mass sighting a solid object, or as some believe, a hoax involving weather balloons and flares? Analysis of the video suggests it could have been a solid object larger than any known craft. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Police tapes, video, and the testimony of a radar operator suggest something very strange was seen over Ohio in 1994; Holland, Michigan in 1994; and Millstadt, Illinois in 2000. On December 14, 1994 police departments in Trumbull County, Ohio and surrounding areas start getting 911 calls of strange lights in the sky. Police in multiple jurisdictions report seeing strange objects, even chasing them. Sergeant Toby Meloro of the Liberty Township Police Department was one of the first to respond. The tapes of Meloro's stunning conversation with a police operator as he sees the object are featured in the show, along with an interview with Meloro himself, who says the object he saw looked like a large, pulsating light. For the first time, a National Weather Service radar operator comes forward to describe the radar signatures he saw that night. Says Jack Bushong, "I've never seen anything move so fast. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Some of the world's leading physicists believe they have found startling new evidence showing the existence of universes other than our own. One possibility is that the universe is so vast that an exact replica of our Solar System, our planet and ourselves exists many times over. These Doppelganger Universes exist within our own Universe; in what scientist now call "The Multiverse." Today, trailblazing experiments by state of the art particle colliders are looking for evidence of higher dimensions and Parallel Universes. If proof is found, it will change our lives, our minds, our planet, our science and our universe. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

The Amtrak Empire Builder runs from Chicago to Seattle and is the busiest passenger train in America. The route passes through America's longest tunnel, where host Matt Bown finds out how the railroad keeps passengers from choking to death and how to keep the tracks from flooding. In the Cascade Mountains, Matt finds out what it takes to the keep the rails clear of snow drifts over a dozen feet high! This episode covers how James J. Hill built the Great Northern Railroad; and the Wellington avalanche disaster. It features some of America's most beautiful scenery in the Montana's Glacier National Park. TVPG VL | CC

In this episode, host Matt Bown rides the busiest freight line anywhere, Union Pacific's Omaha to Sacramento -- on a route that crosses the world's longest rail causeway, through the world's largest rail yard and over the fearsome Donner Pass, where Matt and the train crews must free the tracks from huge blocks of ice. The episode also covers the building of the transcontinental railroad in the 1860s. TVPG VL | CC

Centuries ago the prophet Nostradamus had visions of the end of our modern world. Now, scholars decipher his mysterious predictions and learn of terrible tragedies and catastrophic events that threaten to annihilate global populations. Nostradamus has successfully predicted the rise of Hitler, the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the detonation of the atomic bomb, and countless other events. Many fear that the remaining unfulfilled prophecies of Nostradamus will manifest before our very eyes. At Radius Engineering in Texas, Walton McCarthy shows state of the art underground shelters to a concerned family and in South Florida, Billy Carson of Fort Terra Nova meets with a prospective client interested in joining an underground shelter community large enough to house over 350 people. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

From the early cave dwellers who first stumbled upon psychedelic mushrooms to the over 6000-year-old tradition of opium cultivation in the East to a modern pharmaceutical industry with over 24,000 drugs on the market, drugs have played a role in our lives since well before recorded human history. Explore the reasons we've used drugs through the ages, while considering the devastating consequences that accompany the choice to use certain drugs. This fascinating, fresh, and insightful documentary will ask the question: overall, have drugs done more to help us or hurt us? Host Dean Norris will journey through the millennia and look in on the greatest civilizations in human history to discover if drugs helped these societies flourish or fail and whether drug use was holy or hedonistic, a savior or a curse? TVPG VL | CC

Gods and religion played an extremely important role in antiquity. The problem with so many religions being worshipped by the Greeks and Romans was how would the priests of these temples pay for their upkeep? Great scholars such as Philon, Ctesibius and Heron were patronized by the temples to create "magic". In return, they created intriguing and mind blowing objects. It was a heavy mix of religion and science. One of the most famous illusions was found in Alexandria at the temple of Serapis, where an iron chariot was suspended in mid air. It appeared to be the work of the gods. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Scott Wolter investigates a burial site in the mountains of Arizona, only to discover it may belong to a medieval Englishman. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

A man shows up at Scott Wolter's lab with a 500-pound discovery. In the flatbed of his truck is a large boulder he pulled from the Arkansas River, inscribed with a mysterious bull symbol. Wolter's investigation into who carved the stone and for what ritualistic purpose ultimately reveals a connection between the ancient Egyptian cult of the Apis bull, the mysterious religion known as Mithraism and a party of pre-Columbian explorers to Oklahoma's panhandle. In the end, carvings in a cave in America's Heartland shed light on an ancient connection that could prove a group of religious outcasts made it to America in pre-Columbian times. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

There are 800 very old, very mysterious, man-made stone sites in the Northeastern part of the United States. Forensic geologist Scott Wolter heads to rural Pennsylvania to investigate one of them--a meticulously crafted stone chamber buried underground in the woods. When he realizes it may have been a ritual bath chamber for a secret society, he embarks on a quest for answers as to who built, when and why. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

It is 1951, and we're at the British Grand Prix in Silverstone, England. One man, Enzo Ferrari, will push his team to the brink for a win. His machine, the 375 Formula One racecar, has enough performance and power to be competitive. But Ferrari is going up against the world champion Alfa Romeo team and their driver, Juan Manuel Fangio, widely considered to be the best Formula One driver in the world. Ferrari is betting his reputation, and perhaps his future as an automaker, on a strategy he considers a secret weapon--his car should need less fuel to make it through the race than the car of his nemesis, Alfa Romeo. If he's right, he could win the race and make a name for himself, if he's wrong, it could be another humiliating and devastating defeat. TVPG VL | CC

November 29th, 1945, an oil barge is driven onto a reef in Long Island Sound during one of the most violent storms of the decade. The barge is being pounded by the fierce waves, and if they are not rescued soon, the two men stranded on it face certain death. All attempts to rescue them have failed and the situation looks hopeless. Just across the sound is Igor Sikorsky, brilliant inventor, daring aviator and pioneer of rotary flight. His dream that helicopters will one day be used in life saving, rescue operations is about to be realized. The Sikorsky R-5 helicopter is called in to pluck the men from doom. The rescue attempt is highly risky; the hurricane-like conditions could bring down the pilot and his machine. But Igor Sikorsky knows his pilot and helicopter can do the job. TVPG VL | CC

Ground Hog Day in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, dates back to 1886 and an ancient European holiday called Candlemass Day. Garrison Keeler and his A Prairie Home Companion radio program export a comic, down-home image of Minnesota to a weekly worldwide audience of over four million listeners. Hawaii is the only state that was once a kingdom and had its throne toppled in 1893 by a handful of meddling foreigners with the aid of the U.S. Navy. Following the world's first submarine attack in 1864, the Confederate sub The Hunley sank mysteriously in Charleston Harbor, but was discovered and raised 131 years later. Montana has long been the world's best source for dinosaur fossils and a recent discovery is shedding new light. TVPG VL | CC

It sprung up overnight in August, 1961--a makeshift blockade separating repressive, Soviet-controlled East Berlin from the Allied-run democracy to the west. Soon the barrier encircled all of West Berlin, sealing its two million citizens off from the rest of the world. As escape attempts escalated, deadlier obstacles were added. Eventually, a 97-mile barrier, virtually impenetrable, snaked along the border between East and West Berlin. And 28 years later, it came down as unexpectedly as it went up. Observe the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall (November 9, 2009) with a dramatic look at how a line of railway cars and barbed wire evolved into the massively fortified fortress that came to symbolize the Cold War. Computer-generated imagery, re-enactments, archival footage, and expert commentary provide political and historical context while helping to illustrate how construction progressed over time--and how it was suddenly demolished by civilians in 1989. TVPG VL | CC

Sir Isaac Newton is one of the greatest geniuses in history, but few know that he also predicted a shocking new date of the Apocalypse. Though famous for discovering gravity, calculus, and the basic laws of universal motion, Newton possessed a very dark and mysterious side. Thousands of his private papers, only recently made available, reveal a man secretly obsessed with alchemy and Biblical prophecy. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Jamie Stachowski, the maestro of meat, lifts the lid on the American melting pot to see what s cooking. Beef, Pork and Chicken, the meats Jamie calls the "Usual Suspects" are definitely in the mix, but these animals weren t even on the continent before Columbus discovered the New World. Jamie travels across the country to try and unravel how these meats made it to America, and why. He ll take you places your stomach won t want to leave. Sit down, pull up a plate and dig in... you re in for a madcap, mouth-watering and protein packed exploration of everything meat! TVPG VL | CC

It slices and squeezes, sorts and sizes, mixes and cooks. Every morning we count on it to keep our orange juice fresh, our eggs whole, our cereals flaked, and our McGriddle syrupy--this is Breakfast Tech. Aboard the aircraft carrier USS Stennis, we'll see how technology makes it possible for chefs to prepare a fresh and nutritious breakfast for five thousand hungry sailors. We will take you to the Tyson Foods factory where thousands of pork bellies are dissected into savory, smoked slices of bacon and at the Sunkist Orange Juice Factory, we'll watch a million oranges get squeezed to a pulp. For those on the go, it's a tour of a McDonald's factory to see the McGriddle pancake being made. If you eat breakfast and you're not afraid to see where it came from, join us on this tasty journey. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Scientists at the University of Kansas believe gamma ray bursts were responsible for a great mass extinction on Earth 450 million years ago. The gamma rays strip away the ozone layer and generate chemical smog, producing a widespread chill that grips the Earth. It would cause food chains to collapse resulting in a prolonged worldwide famine. Also, an expected electromagnetic pulse will zap all of our electronics. Scientists predict the Earth will be able to support only 5 to 10 percent of its current population; that means close to 6 billion people will die--most by starvation. How will our modern cities hold up in the face of a previous global catastrophe? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Could an alien infection cause an epidemic on earth? Some experts believe that spacecraft returning from Mars could bring back a harmful sample or comet dust falling into our atmosphere could cause pandemics. One astronomer believes that the Influenza of 1918, which killed between 50-100 million people, was one such outbreak and that another "infection" could decimate the world's population. Astrobiologists are now poised to bring Mars samples back to earth to examine them in a Bio 4 level safety lab. In a hypothetical future disaster scenario, track how comet dust would seed the earth with a virulent virus. Quarantine measures don't work and panic ensues. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Analysis of video taken of an alleged UFO over Illinois suggests the object could have been as large as 1500 feet across. The video, featured on UFO HUNTERS, captured three bright lights in a triangular pattern. It was part of a mass sighting of over fifty reports near Tinley Park, Illinois in 2004. Upon investigating, the team discovered that similar objects were reported all over the world in the days surrounding this event--from Australia to Canada. Sightings of triangular-shaped UFOs have been on the rise in recent decades, but was the Tinley Park mass sighting a solid object, or as some believe, a hoax involving weather balloons and flares? Analysis of the video suggests it could have been a solid object larger than any known craft. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

In prison, tattoos represent self-identification and belonging. To those who have them, they represent the rejection of straight society and membership in the outlaw class. Go deep into the culture of prison tattoos, discovering how these illegal marks are secretly created behind bars, and decoding the meaning of the strange symbols that cover many prisoners' bodies. We explore the secrets behind the marks through the experiences of current and former prisoners, and examine the bloody ways that these initiation marks are earned. TVPG VL | CC

In Russian prisons, tattoos tell all. From crimes committed to time served and even ranking within the strict hierarchy, these dark and detailed works of art are a secret language that contains all vital information and can mean the difference between power and subjugation. This episode goes deep inside the world of Russia's infamous prisons, revealing how these illegal images are controlled by the ruthless Thieves in Law, the notorious gang that rules the prisons with an iron fist. We'll decode the mysteries and meanings behind the ink through the accounts of violent ex-cons and career criminals who reveal their terrifying deeds and the brutal conditions inside Russian prisons. TVPG VL | CC

The Amtrak Empire Builder runs from Chicago to Seattle and is the busiest passenger train in America. The route passes through America's longest tunnel, where host Matt Bown finds out how the railroad keeps passengers from choking to death and how to keep the tracks from flooding. In the Cascade Mountains, Matt finds out what it takes to the keep the rails clear of snow drifts over a dozen feet high! This episode covers how James J. Hill built the Great Northern Railroad; and the Wellington avalanche disaster. It features some of America's most beautiful scenery in the Montana's Glacier National Park. TVPG VL | CC

The average person spends a lot of time in their kitchen. But to most of us, the inner workings of our appliances remain a mystery. In this episode, John unveils the insides of refrigerators, stoves, and a garbage disposal. He's slicing and dicing to find the secrets of our hottest, coldest, and most dangerous kitchen machines. Kitchen Confidential, no longer. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

The first vending machine was built in Greece nearly 2000 years ago and sold Holy Water. But today, there's a vending machine for almost everything from packed snacks to home made ice cream. John cuts behind the face to reveal how these once simple machines are simple no longer. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Humans have been bowling for over 5000 years. But the popular indoor version we all know didn't appear until 1840. Today, nearly 100 million people worldwide bowl every year. To discover the secrets at the end of this dark alley, John's slicing up bowling balls, a bowling alley, a ball return, and the mysterious pinsetter. He'll discover this ancient game's secrets... if he can stay out of the gutter. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Humans have been using tools since the Stone Age. But adding electric power just over a century ago changed our tools--and our lives--forever. To find out how, John's putting them to the test--chainsaws, nail guns, and power lifters. He'll discover which tools are up to the challenge and which ones don't make the cut. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Geologist and adventurer Scott Wolter explores a government-restricted site, and makes a startling discovery connecting the ancient Mayans with rural Georgia. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Scott Wolter investigates the mysterious disappearance of vast amounts of copper from Lake Superior. Through scientific testing a connection is made to a pre-historic civilization and the Bronze Age. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Scott Wolter investigates a burial site in the mountains of Arizona, only to discover it may belong to a medieval Englishman. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

It's a rivalry that tears us apart every four years, but how did our nation divide into red states vs. blue states, and what happens to the states caught in the middle? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Deep in the Rust Belt the white collar and blue collar divide has shaped our cities and our states. How did this rivalry change the way we all bring home the bacon? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

America's most iconic rivalry was more than just a feud between families. The fight between the Hatfields and McCoys nearly launched a war between two states. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Two underdogs of American culture go head to head to prove how hillbillies and rednecks have shaped our states. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

They are the most advanced and heavily protected vehicles ever built--operated by technicians prepared for the worst. But behind the bullet proof glass and armored plating of the President's fleet of vehicles are secrets. Travel by land, sea and air to explore the special construction, elite training and secret weapons that protect the President when he's on the move. Who's in charge of the President's safety on Air Force One and Marine One? Why is the Presidential Limo called "the Beast"--and who gets to drive it? What kind of defensive and offensive capabilities does the Presidential bus, known as Ground Force One, have? No matter what form of transport, moving the President safely requires the utmost secrecy. Secrets that have remained untold...until now. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

An inside look at the secret protocols, elite security and hidden history of the world's most public of private residences. What is the most secret room in the White House and what makes it so powerful? What secret visitors have been to the White House--invited or not? What kind of background checks are needed to work at the White House? What security measures go into effect if the White House is under attack? For over 200 years, the White House has functioned as a Presidential residence, Executive Office and national command center. But more guarded than the White House itself--are its secrets. Secrets that have remained untold...until now. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

It is the most prestigious military academy in the world. A place where cutting-edge technology converges with battle-proven tradition. But inside this launch pad for the Army's elite are secrets. Go inside the 200-year-old university to uncover the complex selection process, secret rituals and traditions and special training that each cadet experiences at the renowned institution of military might. How hard is it to get into West Point? What is the Honor Code, and what happens if a cadet breaks it? Who are the most famous--and infamous academy alumni? What special training goes into making cadets military leaders for the 21st century? West Point is where presidents, world leaders, and the Army's bravest officers are taught, trained and entrusted with some of the nation's most important secrets. Secrets that few outside the academy know... until now. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Our basic need and desire for food has made the supermarket one of the great success stories of modern retailing. Making customers' visits to the market as efficient as possible has led to many technological advancements such as bar coding and a scale that recognizes the type of produce placed on it. We'll explore the psychology of the supermarket including store layout, lighting, music and aromas that trigger the appetite. With a growing percentage of the public interested in eating healthier foods, organic grocers are carving out an increasingly large niche. These are just a few of the items worth checking out in this appetizing hour. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

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 versatile substance has 14,000 known uses. Travel to a salt mine 1,800 feet below Lake Erie where workers blast salt from a massive deposit spanning four states, to an evaporation facility near San Francisco where machines harvest salt from the briny ocean. Visit a Florida restaurant that offers 40 different varieties of salt...and journey to New York to explore salt's surprising number one application: de-icing snowy winter roads. See how a high-tech desalination plant removes salt from ocean water, producing 25 million gallons of drinkable water every day. And if it's speed you're after, look no further than a natural drag strip in Utah made of pure salt. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Some of the world's leading physicists believe they have found startling new evidence showing the existence of universes other than our own. One possibility is that the universe is so vast that an exact replica of our Solar System, our planet and ourselves exists many times over. These Doppelganger Universes exist within our own Universe; in what scientist now call "The Multiverse." Today, trailblazing experiments by state of the art particle colliders are looking for evidence of higher dimensions and Parallel Universes. If proof is found, it will change our lives, our minds, our planet, our science and our universe. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Low Earth Orbit, 120 miles above sea level, is where the majority of space exploration has occurred. This 1,100 mile band around Earth is where--for a cool $20 million--any private citizen can take the vacation of his or her life on the International Space Station. Commercial prospects for LEO are huge; but dangers lurk for any individual willing to travel here--radiation, cosmic rays, and space debris numbering in the thousands threaten any spacecraft traveling in orbit. It's the new frontier, or the final frontier...and the possibilities are endless if you are willing to travel to the edge of space exploration. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Ours is a universe of energy, from powerful jets ejected from black holes to the raw nuclear fury of our Sun. But, the total amount of energy in the universe maintains perfect equilibrium--no more can be added or taken away. Because of this, there are enormous amounts of energy being transferred...electric, thermal, kinetic and magnetic energy are just a few that keep our universe balanced--and create awesome cosmic events and stellar displays. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Centuries ago the prophet Nostradamus had visions of the end of our modern world. Now, scholars decipher his mysterious predictions and learn of terrible tragedies and catastrophic events that threaten to annihilate global populations. Nostradamus has successfully predicted the rise of Hitler, the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the detonation of the atomic bomb, and countless other events. Many fear that the remaining unfulfilled prophecies of Nostradamus will manifest before our very eyes. At Radius Engineering in Texas, Walton McCarthy shows state of the art underground shelters to a concerned family and in South Florida, Billy Carson of Fort Terra Nova meets with a prospective client interested in joining an underground shelter community large enough to house over 350 people. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

The Book of Revelation: the New Testament s blueprint of doom foretells the coming of the Four Horsemen of the apocalypse, heralding the end of days. These horsemen will usher in four divine judgments that promise to devastate humanity. While skeptics dismiss it as a mere allegory, every Sunday around the Christian world, church pews reverberate with its dark prophecies. With the potential for global pandemic hiding in every unchecked sneeze, worldwide hunger at an all-time high and the specter of World War III hanging over the Middle East, Revelation s followers believe its dark imagery is coming to light in modern times. Believer and prepper Ray Gano sees current events as a confirmation of the Book of Revelation s predictions and is preparing to face the divine fury of God. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Tsunamis are one of the most terrifying forces of nature, destroying all in their path. The December 26th Tsunami is estimated to have released the energy of 23,000 Hiroshima-type atomic bombs. What are the enormous forces that generate these catastrophic waves deep on the ocean floor? With 50% of the world's population living within a mile of the sea, this episode looks at what could happen in the future. East coast cities from New York to Miami face the threat of a truly colossal wave that could be generated by the collapse of an active volcano off the coast of Africa. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Gods and religion played an extremely important role in antiquity. The problem with so many religions being worshipped by the Greeks and Romans was how would the priests of these temples pay for their upkeep? Great scholars such as Philon, Ctesibius and Heron were patronized by the temples to create "magic". In return, they created intriguing and mind blowing objects. It was a heavy mix of religion and science. One of the most famous illusions was found in Alexandria at the temple of Serapis, where an iron chariot was suspended in mid air. It appeared to be the work of the gods. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Travel to Egypt to discover the mysteries of the mummified crocodiles of Kom Ombo. We'll x-ray an ancient mummy that has held a secret for 2000 years, and reveal the lengths that people will go to to ritualize death. New discoveries at the site of the world famous terracotta army in China reveal incredible insights into the mind-state of the great first emperor of China and his people; and what they believed about death. In Britain, forensic scientists solve a year old murder using 15th century forensic science, as well as hundreds of mini-detectives--blowflies. And using virtual reality techniques doctors will now look inside the body of a victim during a live crucifixion to discover horrific new truths about the suffering on the cross. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

There are 800 very old, very mysterious, man-made stone sites in the Northeastern part of the United States. Forensic geologist Scott Wolter heads to rural Pennsylvania to investigate one of them--a meticulously crafted stone chamber buried underground in the woods. When he realizes it may have been a ritual bath chamber for a secret society, he embarks on a quest for answers as to who built, when and why. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

After his famous expedition to map the American West with William Clark, Meriwether Lewis recorded details of the adventure in a journal and intended to publish it. Before he could, he was shot and killed in an inn on the Natchez Trace. His death has been classified as a suicide, but as forensic geologist Scott Wolter discovers, there's reason to think he may not have killed himself. As Wolter investigates the death of America's most famous explorer he uncovers details that suggest President Jefferson himself may have had ulterior motives for the Lewis and Clark expedition that have never made it into the history books and may have led to his violent death. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

When Scott Wolter began investigating mysterious artifacts, he started to notice one unique symbol appeared on many of them. The symbol, now known as the "Hooked X", baffled researchers who couldn't make sense of it. As Scott's investigation into the origins of the symbol unfolds, he realizes its use is unique to just two notoriously secret groups--the Knights Templar and their modern day brethren, the Freemasons. Used in secret codes, cryptic ciphers and even the alleged tomb of Jesus himself, the symbol could be the key to understanding two of the biggest mysteries of all time--exactly what the Holy Grail is, and where it's hidden today. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Our lives are so full of stuff these days that the average object is instantly forgettable. But, when fate and history combine, even the simplest of objects become infused with destiny--so much so that they actually change the world. It may look like a lump of rock, but if it's a Moon Rock then it stands for mankind's giant leap. And while it's just a twisted loop of steel, if it's a Slinky it bounces us back to our youth. Sometimes a guitar is just a guitar, but if the guitar you're playing is Jimmy Hendrix's, then you're touching a generation. Some objects are one-of-a-kind (King Tut's mask,) others are ubiquitous (the wedding ring,) but they touch us all...personally and universally. They're icons, and without them, the world wouldn't be the same. TVPG VL | CC

It is America's most infamous address, a place where fantasies come to life--and anything goes. But behind the security cameras and stonewalls of the Playboy Mansion are secrets. Go inside the stately residence to reveal the secret places, decadent gatherings, and special indulgences usually reserved for beautiful women and Hollywood's elite. How hard is it to get an invitation to the Playboy Mansion? How did Hugh Hefner transform the Mansion into a palace of pleasure? Who is the most notorious guest? What does it take to protect the Mansion for outside intruders? Home to one of the world's most private of public figures, the Playboy Mansion is a sanctum of secrets. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

It is one of the most covert military bases on American soil, protecting the nation's most confidential research and development. For decades, the highest levels of government had denied its existence. But behind the barbed wire fences and surveillance cameras are secrets...Go inside the most famous secret military base on Earth to expose the high-tech security, undercover operations, and most outrageous claims surrounding the 575 square miles of "restricted" space. What actually goes on at Area 51? Is there a connection between Area 51 and the Roswell event of 1947? Could there be a secret subterranean city underneath the barren desert? Have the conspiracy theories surrounding Area 51 been a smokescreen for controversial military projects? While the government may never reveal what it's really hiding at Area 51, many believe it is a place where truth is stranger than fiction. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

It is America's most private organization with secretive meetings and a membership that includes the most powerful men in America--and the world. But behind this elite brotherhood... are secrets. This episode explores the secret history, rituals and reach of the most well-known secret society in the world. How did the Freemasons shape America? What goes on at Freemason meetings? What secrets ceremonies and rituals are still conducted today? What is the meaning of Freemasonry symbols like the eye, the square and the compass? Are the Freemasons part of a New World Order with plans to control the world? For centuries, the Freemasons have been thought to be the architects behind the world's greatest international conspiracies. But more elusive than the organization itself--are its secrets. Secrets that have remained untold...until now. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

It is the epicenter of America's military operations... a five-sided fortress with a single purpose--to defend the United States and its citizens. But behind the concrete walls and re-enforced windows are secrets. Enter the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense and explore the complex operations and top-secret business conducted at the largest low-rise office building in the world. How did the Pentagon get its unusual shape? How many people work at the Pentagon? What covert intelligence gathering organizations operate within the military compound--and how are their secrets protected? What top-secret information was compromised from the attack on September 11th? How quickly did the building and its tenants get back to business as usual? For seven decades, the Pentagon has been an icon of American strength and military excellence. But more impressive than the building itself are the secrets held there...until now. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Chili head alert! It's time to get hot and spicy. First we'll take you to the home of sizzling Tabasco sauce--McIlhenny Company of Louisiana, and to McCormick in Baltimore, Maryland--the leading spice manufacturer in the world. Then, head down south to see who likes it hot at the Southern Mississippi Chili Cook Off. At the Chile Pepper Institute, taste the rare "Bhut Jolokia," the hottest Chile pepper in the world, and learn about the chemical substance capsaicin, which gives the "Bhut" and other popular peppers their tongue-burning heat. At Sol Toro restaurant in Connecticut, owned by basketball great Michael Jordan, customers need to sign a waiver to dine on their sizzling dishes. Go to the manufacturers of horseradish, wasabi and mustard to find out how their roots and seeds deliver their own distinctive blazing burn. Using the same heat many savor, we'll demonstrate the powerful punch of pepper spray as a weapon. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Food Trucks are hitting the big time--across much of America, they're changing the way we eat. From humble beginnings as chuck wagons and hot dog carts, they've taken off as ethnic eateries, gourmet specialists, and even high-tech mega trucks that serve thousands at disaster scenes. Not surprisingly, it takes some pretty sophisticated engineering to make it all work--and turn a truck into a kitchen on wheels. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Don't try this at home! In this episode, our experts cook up ten ways you could destroy the earth, including: swallowing it with a microscopic black hole; blowing it up with anti-matter; hurling it into the Sun, and switching off gravity. This is a fun way to explore the dangerous physics of the Universe and the properties of the planet we call home. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

We used to think that Earth was at the center of the universe, but now we know we're not even at the center of our own galaxy. Countless wonders exist between where earth is situated and the massive black hole at the galactic center of our solar system. Within the Milky Way can be found the debris of old, dying stars fueling the birth of new stars and at the galactic center hypervelocity stars get catapulted clear beyond the Milky Way's outer rim at unimaginable speeds. Come along for a guided tour of 100,000 light-year-wide family of stars and stellar phenomena we call The Milky Way. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Ours is a universe of energy, from powerful jets ejected from black holes to the raw nuclear fury of our Sun. But, the total amount of energy in the universe maintains perfect equilibrium--no more can be added or taken away. Because of this, there are enormous amounts of energy being transferred...electric, thermal, kinetic and magnetic energy are just a few that keep our universe balanced--and create awesome cosmic events and stellar displays. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

It is one of the most man-made spaces on the planet, but everything in New York from the height of the skyscrapers to the way the subway was constructed to the position of the harbor is governed by the extraordinary forces that ultimately shaped this city. You can tell the geology of Manhattan at a glance by looking at the skyline. The skyscrapers of Midtown and Downtown are built on hard granite; the low-rise buildings in between are built on a soft, gravelly soil left over from the Ice Age. Learn how New Jersey and North Africa were neighbors 250 million years ago, how the rocks New York are built on are the remains of mountains that 450 million years ago were as tall as the Himalayas, and how Long Island is covered in rubble that remained as ice sheets retreated 10,000 years ago. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

The San Andreas Fault runs roughly 800 miles through some of the most valuable real estate in the world. The southern section hasn't had a significant quake for over 300 years and is now primed and ready for another "big one." This new series takes a trip along the most famous fault line in the world and examine the geology that gives it its immense destructive power. It's an investigation given new urgency by recent warnings from 300 of America's leading scientists about the death and devastation that a major earthquake on the fault could unleash on Los Angeles. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Tsunamis are one of the most terrifying forces of nature, destroying all in their path. The December 26th Tsunami is estimated to have released the energy of 23,000 Hiroshima-type atomic bombs. What are the enormous forces that generate these catastrophic waves deep on the ocean floor? With 50% of the world's population living within a mile of the sea, this episode looks at what could happen in the future. East coast cities from New York to Miami face the threat of a truly colossal wave that could be generated by the collapse of an active volcano off the coast of Africa. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Rene Richter says he has the strongest teeth on earth, capable of bending coins. But we discover his strength lies in his jaw, which Rene says allows him to lift over 1000lbs. Kirby Roy has spent his life trying to become impervious to pain, using a controversial martial art called Combat Qi, he claims he is able to take strikes of limitless power to the most sensitive parts of the human anatomy. Daniel calls in some of the world's hardest hitters and kickers to put that to the test. Internet videos show college quarterback Alex Tanney performing mind-blowing trick throws. They look impossible, so Daniel wants Alex to prove he's for real. It's rumored Eric Scott is the best jet-pack pilot on earth, and he intends to prove it, by flying over a lake with no safety measures and only 30 seconds of fuel. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

The search is on to find more real-life superhumans! First Daniel is in Canada to meet Pat Poviliatis, a man who boasts his hands are tough enough to withstand the deadly jaws of a steel-tooted cougar-trap. Sam Whittingham claims to have built the fastest human powered machine on the planet. His combination of design genius, and physical strength could make him the ultimate superhuman man with a brain like a hard drive. Brad Williams claims to have Super Autobiographical Memory, which means his brain has the power to remember and catalog almost everything that has ever happened to him, down to the tiniest details. And Annalisa Flanagan is rumored to have the loudest voice on earth, 122db. That's enough to cause physical pain and permanent ear damage. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

The Holy Grail is one of the most sought after treasures of all time, and one treasure hunter thinks he knows exactly where it is. He invites Scott Wolter along on his quest to find it, and the result is a North American treasure hunt of epic proportions. Legends, a treasure map and the results of ground penetrating technology all point to the Grail being in a single location--a holy well on the property of a rumored Templar Prince. What Scott finds in and around the well will shock even the skeptics in this edge-of-your-seat season finale. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

It is one of the most covert military bases on American soil, protecting the nation's most confidential research and development. For decades, the highest levels of government had denied its existence. But behind the barbed wire fences and surveillance cameras are secrets...Go inside the most famous secret military base on Earth to expose the high-tech security, undercover operations, and most outrageous claims surrounding the 575 square miles of "restricted" space. What actually goes on at Area 51? Is there a connection between Area 51 and the Roswell event of 1947? Could there be a secret subterranean city underneath the barren desert? Have the conspiracy theories surrounding Area 51 been a smokescreen for controversial military projects? While the government may never reveal what it's really hiding at Area 51, many believe it is a place where truth is stranger than fiction. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

When Scott Wolter began investigating mysterious artifacts, he started to notice one unique symbol appeared on many of them. The symbol, now known as the "Hooked X", baffled researchers who couldn't make sense of it. As Scott's investigation into the origins of the symbol unfolds, he realizes its use is unique to just two notoriously secret groups--the Knights Templar and their modern day brethren, the Freemasons. Used in secret codes, cryptic ciphers and even the alleged tomb of Jesus himself, the symbol could be the key to understanding two of the biggest mysteries of all time--exactly what the Holy Grail is, and where it's hidden today. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

It is one of the most secure structures in the world. It safeguards the vast wealth of the United States... And its name is synonymous with one of the most precious commodities in the history of the world--gold. But behind this building's stone exterior are secrets. This episode unlocks the secret contents, political controversy, and cutting edge security hidden behind the gates of the world's most famous vault. How did the Unites States amass its gold? What is the precious metal really worth? Who's allowed inside the vault? What else is stashed there? Could Fort Knox actually be empty? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

It is America's most powerful police force--made up of an elite team of Special Agents secretly patrolling the nation--and the world. While its patriotic mission is public knowledge, the FBI's tactics are classified. We'll go undercover to reveal the secret training, special operations and state-of-the-art tools used in today's 21st century crime fighting. How far can the FBI go to prevent crime and protect Americans? What are ghost agents, and how are they used for undercover surveillance? Who is the most notorious double agent? How has the internet changed the way the FBI works? While its global reach and sophisticated technology helps keep America safe, the FBI's greatest strength is its ability to keep its crime fighting tactics secret...until now. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

It is America's most private organization with secretive meetings and a membership that includes the most powerful men in America--and the world. But behind this elite brotherhood... are secrets. This episode explores the secret history, rituals and reach of the most well-known secret society in the world. How did the Freemasons shape America? What goes on at Freemason meetings? What secrets ceremonies and rituals are still conducted today? What is the meaning of Freemasonry symbols like the eye, the square and the compass? Are the Freemasons part of a New World Order with plans to control the world? For centuries, the Freemasons have been thought to be the architects behind the world's greatest international conspiracies. But more elusive than the organization itself--are its secrets. Secrets that have remained untold...until now. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

It is the epicenter of America's military operations... a five-sided fortress with a single purpose--to defend the United States and its citizens. But behind the concrete walls and re-enforced windows are secrets. Enter the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense and explore the complex operations and top-secret business conducted at the largest low-rise office building in the world. How did the Pentagon get its unusual shape? How many people work at the Pentagon? What covert intelligence gathering organizations operate within the military compound--and how are their secrets protected? What top-secret information was compromised from the attack on September 11th? How quickly did the building and its tenants get back to business as usual? For seven decades, the Pentagon has been an icon of American strength and military excellence. But more impressive than the building itself are the secrets held there...until now. TVPG VL | CC Show Site