The History Channel

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.

As we look at the world around us, we think we're seeing things as they really are. But in fact, our human senses can only perceive less than 1% of what's actually there. The rest is invisible. Every day, unseen rays and waves bombard us. All around us there's an infinite, invisible ecosystem of wondrous and sometimes terrifying microorganisms struggling to survive. With the naked eye we can't see the things that are too fast or too slow, too big or too small...until now. In this fascinating documentary, we count down the 40 most amazing things you can't see with the human eye. We use the latest in cutting edge technology, and state of the art CGI animation to reveal the astonishing reality of the invisible world around us.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

It is the largest and most fearsome volcanic island on the planet. We'll scour the island for clues, to address the mystery of what powerful forces are ripping Iceland apart and lighting its fiery volcanoes. Here, lava rips huge tears in the ground and new islands are born from the waves. Yet despite the active volcanoes, Iceland historically has been covered in and carved by ice. Fire and ice collide, locked in a titanic battle, as glaciers explode and cataclysmic floods decimate the landscape. But Iceland's volcanoes have had ramifications far beyond the shores of Iceland, causing climatic chaos and devastation across the planet; a fate which may one day happen again.

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.

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.

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?

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.