The History Channel

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

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

Everything around us has a story to tell. Shoes, cans, string, mirrors; everything we see and touch has an epic tale of how it came to be invented or discovered, and the dramatic moments throughout history at which it played an important role. But few of us know these stories. We go through our days blissfully ignorant of the deadly and dangerous road brave men traveled in order to bring coffee to the world, or the pivotal part beer played in the civilizing of mankind. These stories and many more are brought vividly to life in this two-hour special, which follows one man on a journey through the last day of his life, examining and recounting the epic tales of the everyday items he encounters before his ignorance of their stories leads him to his ultimate doom. TVPG VL | CC

"Tiny" weapons may not sound impressive...but small can kill, and it can also be easily concealed. From a pocket pistol used by the police...to a submachine gun wielded by a bodyguard...to a carbine in the hands of an Army Ranger, many of today's most effective weapons are smaller than ever. They can fit in your pocket, fly through the air, even break through walls--tiny weapons are an essential part of battle, self-defense, and spreading terror. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

The story of the Viking world's most famous warrior, the legend of Beowulf is the ultimate tale of courage. Pit against thirsty invaders, barbaric monsters, and a fire breathing dragon, Beowulf emerges as Norse mythology's greatest hero. But could this mythological warrior have been real? Unearthed burial mounds and ancient carvings suggest the myth of Beowulf could be more than epic legend. TVPG VL | CC

A half-bull, half-man freak of nature, the Minotaur is one of mythology's most terrifying monsters. A bizarre tale of bestiality, human sacrifice, and war, the myth of the Minotaur endures as a symbol of the beast inside all men. But archeological research has uncovered clues suggesting the Minotaur and its terrifying labyrinth were more than just symbols. They may have been inspired by a real place that still exists to this day. TVPG VL | CC

The epic tragedy of Medusa, the most infamous female fiend in Greek mythology, whose look turned every living thing to stone. But what is the true story behind the myth? Find out this evil Gorgon's real world connection to human corpses, and learn what clues the night sky holds about the origins of the tale of Medusa. TVPG VL | CC

There really are ice worlds like Hoth from Star Wars. In this episode, we explore icy planets and moons, discover the role of cold in the Universe, and learn about the importance of ice to the development of habitable worlds. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

In this episode, our cast uses awesome analogies to bring the biggest objects, farthest distances and fastest speeds down to earth. To truly understand the scale of the cosmos, we jump behind the wheel of monster trucks, scale the Golden Gate bridge, and race across the desert in a rocket-powered car. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Daniel Browning Smith is in Vegas to meet Brian Jackson who blows up a hot water bottle until it explodes. Daniel takes Brian to a lung specialist to measure the power output and pressure of his lungs. Lu Deyuan's extraordinary, traffic-stopping superhuman ability is eye watering! Daniel meets Lu in a Kuala Lumpur dockyard where he's hanging steel bars from his eyelids. Lu says he feels no pain and doesn't suffer from any injuries. Could Anthony Kelly have the fastest reflexes in the world? Daniel meets him catching tennis balls at 80mph, and use a high speed camera to capture his technique. At a Detroit Dojo, Daniel meets Japanese Nunchuck Master Hiroki deadly in the martial art of nunchaku combat. Cindi Bir and Daniel test his ability by challenging his accuracy with a baseball pitching cannon. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

They were the messengers of divine knowledge and seers who shared visions of the future. For thousands of years, human civilization has been guided by the words and deeds of ancient prophets, but just who--or what--were these prophets communicating with? Might the experiences of history's prophets be evidence of communication with a heavenly source--or were seers like Elijah and Joseph Smith actually communicating with extraterrestrial overlords? And if so, are there similar prophets at work today? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Was Albert Einstein a genius? Or was he superhuman? Was his genius "of this world," or was it "otherworldly?" Is it possible, as Ancient Astronaut theorists believe, of an extraterrestrial connection to the scientific genius of famous historical figures such as Albert Einstein, Galileo, Archimedes, and Aristotle? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Zombies rising from their graves... Blood sucking vampires damned for all eternity... and humans trapped in a life and death struggle between heaven and hell. For thousands of years, mankind has told tales of encounters with strange, soulless creatures. Are these beliefs merely manmade fabrications--or could there be extraterrestrial origins in earthly encounters with the undead? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

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

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

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Our host, contractor Nick Mystrom, lands in Northern Idaho to erect a 2-story medieval castle tower in the same manner used by masons almost 1,000 years ago. Great castles were built for barons, lords, and kings, using thousands of craftsman and laborers with some projects lasting over four years. But Nick and his master builder Roger DeClement have less than three weeks to turn the earth's materials of stone, wood, and a bit of modern reinforcements such as steel to build a 25 to 30 foot tower (weather permitting). Will Nick be able to relax and gaze upon the stars from atop the tower before "reveal" day? Will Northern Idaho's weather cooperate? And will Nick finally be able to present the tower to our recipients Kris and Chalon Frandsen, two self-proclaimed castle lovers? TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

In Anacortes, Washington, a stronghold of Scandinavian-American heritage, we put together a replica of an 1,100-year-old Viking longship--a vessel unearthed in Gokstad, Norway at the end of the 19th century and first built in the 9th century AD. Contractor-host Nick Mystrom assembles a team of specialists, headed by Norwegian-American boatwright Jay Smith, who oversees building our replica using authentic Viking tools and techniques. We make our own rope out of twigs and vine, forge our own nails and tools from a local blacksmith, and stitch together an authentic 10th-century Viking sail. We also weave in the incredible history of Viking adventure and conquest. At show's end, we put our longship in the water, unfurl the sail, and let it plow the waves, conjuring up Viking times. And then--we give it away to a stunned Kelly Robinson, dressed up in full Viking garb, who's ready and eager to make his first Viking raid! TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Speed is the key word for this down and dirty build--Lewis and Clark, racing Oregon winter chill, built the 50 foot by 50 foot Fort Clatsop, a double-structure shelter with seven rooms, a sentry box, and parade ground, in just 15 days. We'll build a scaled down, 2-cabin, 4-room version, showcasing the tools and technology of the frontier in 1805. We're building our fort in a dense patch of forestland 30 miles outside of Manhattan, Kansas, on land owned by Kris and Al Johnson. Our builder is John McPherson, a specialist in log structures and a master in frontier and wilderness survival. In addition to the fascinating process involved in building a frontier fort with minimal tools under harsh conditions--open fire pits, rawhide windows and doors, sloppy fits chinked and daubed with stones and mud, rough-planked ceilings, dirt floors, very few nails--host Nick Mystrom takes viewers through the most compelling aspects of the incredible Lewis and Clark saga. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

PSSST! Know the password? If so, you can join our host, contractor Nick Mystrom, as we build a hidden room in a home in the Second City. In the 1920s to "speak easy" meant to whisper and we'll build a speakeasy in the basement of a suburban Chicago home. But we'll have to build quietly so as to not alert neighbors and especially not the police, but that will be a little harder--since two of them live right upstairs! Nick is in good hands with master builder Frank Sullivan, a Chicago native who knows millwork from floorboards to rafters. Together with a team of specialists, this room will become a highly secure 1920s-style speakeasy. Nick and team have two weeks to create this woodworking masterpiece in time to surprise recipient Joe Smith, who spent 32 years as a Chicago police officer, and his wife Daina, also a Chicago cop--both of whom love the 1920s era. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Ever since the sailors ventured into open waters, mariners have needed lighted signals to guide them safely through the night. What started out as simple signal fires led the way to elaborate structures that soared high in the sky projecting light for miles to warn sailors of danger and guide them home. One talented builder and his team will work with our host, contractor Nick Mystrom, to reconstruct the historic Brant Point Lighthouse. Our lucky recipients are John and Jean Hatfield of Oregon, Ohio on Lake Erie--a couple whose love for lighthouses is second only to their love for family. When they were shaken by Jean's recent health scare, their large and loving brood was inspired to conspire with us to surprise them with this gift that will shine through the years! TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Aidan Quinn narrates this special look at the epic 350-year struggle of Irish immigrants. Includes Irish involvement in the American Revolution, the Age of Jackson, the Mexican and Civil Wars, the California Gold Rush, and the building of the great American cities. TVPG VL | CC

Monkey paw, light wand, kick stand--the essential tools of slot-machine cheats worldwide. And for the man who invented them, Tommy Glenn Carmichael--invaluable creations with which he bilked casinos of millions and built an incomparable empire of Vegas cheats. Join us for the story of how a single man found his calling and spearheaded the rise and fall of a slot-machine cheat gang that nearly destroyed the gaming industry over 20 years. Through captivating interviews with the notorious Carmichael, we take viewers on an action-packed ride as he plays cat and mouse with slot-machine security, countering every technological evolution with a new gadget to beat it...until two dogged investigators set the ultimate trap. TVPG VL | CC

Vegas cheats come in all shapes and sizes: hardcore mechanics who devise gadgets to manipulate slots and mathematical geniuses who count cards in blackjack. But in gambling's history, no one had created a system that could guarantee a win on the roulette wheel--until Doyne Farmer and Norman Packard came along. In 1975, two childhood friends and physics geeks embarked on arguably the most ambitious Vegas-cheating project of all time: to deconstruct the physics behind the motion of a roulette ball, and build a miniature computer system that could surreptitiously predict the outcome of a roulette game. The project soon became an out-of-control obsession, consuming a whole commune of brilliant hippie-physicists...and ended in a landmark contribution to modern-day Chaos Theory. Features candid interviews with Farmer and Packard, as well as teammates Ingrid Hoermann and Letty Belin. TVPG VL | CC

It transports electricity, water, and heat. Our bodies can't survive without it, yet it can kill microbes in minutes. It brings music to our ears and beauty to our eyes. We'll delve into all of copper's impressive traits, history, and how it's mined. This versatile red metal's most famous attribute is its ability to conduct electricity--copper wires connect and energize the world. And it's revolutionizing the electronics industry by enabling ever-shrinking computer chips. It's also formed into plumbing pipes to convey water and is the metal of choice for beautiful roofs and sculptures. It doesn't only look good--it sounds great too. A visit to a bell foundry reveals why bronze, a copper alloy, has been used to make music for hundreds of years. In myriad shapes and for innumerable uses, copper figures prominently in our world. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

The power to use tornados, hurricanes and the deadliest weather as weapons of war may now be possible. We'll investigate reports that weather weapons are in development and reveal the technology that--in the future--could turn hurricanes, earthquakes, even tsunamis into some of the most powerful and plausibly deniable weapons of mass destruction the world has ever seen. TVPG VL | CC

Everyone is familiar with the amazing force field and energy weapons from sci-fi movies like Star Wars and Star Trek, but are we just a few years away from having that technology at our fingertips? We'll investigate new, top-secret military weaponry and recent inventions like a new airplane mounted laser cannons from Northrop Grumman that can shoot down enemy planes and shoot nuclear missiles out of the sky. TVPG VL | CC

It's 1000 BC and the Israelites are battling the Philistines. After wresting control of the throne of Israel in a bloody civil war, David moves quickly to destroy those who challenge his right to the throne, and then turns his sword on his political enemies. Finally, David sets his sites on a new target--the beautiful Bathsheba, but she is already married. For someone like David this is a minor impediment. He sends her husband to his death in battle, a battle that eventually propels Israel into becoming an empire. TVPG VL | CC

The average American throws out more than four pounds of trash a day, nearly 300 million tons annually. An army of technologically advanced machines processes garbage, from the local collection trucks to the landfill compactors. In facilities called "Murfs," millions of tons of resources are given a second life. The water bottles you tossed in your recycling bin might become your new blanket. Electricity may be generated from the garbage you set out at your curb. Discover their unusual after-life as new products are created from garbage. TVPG VL | CC

Electronic devices of the past, once worn and obsolete were tossed aside. Today, many of them are being recycled for the precious metals they contain, reborn in new forms--and even re-electrified with new life! Reaching the end of their useful life is just the beginning of a fascinating visual journey. See where it all takes place. TVPG VL | CC

It doesn't just take willpower to survive. It takes guts--in the form of a digestive system that turns food into fuel. Look closely at the role guts have played in shaping some of Earth's most successful animals: tyrannosaurs, snakes, cows, humans and others. Take a 575-million year journey that begins with the planet's first multi-cellular organisms and ends at our dinner tables. Watch as live-action natural history sequences, CGI, epic docudrama, and experimental science help to illustrate our and our fellow species' eternal struggle for survival on earth. TVPG VL | CC

A routine expedition on a hillside in the badlands of South Dakota, lead a paleontologist to an amazing discovery. The mummified tail of Edmontosaurus, a duckbilled dinosaur is uncovered with evidence of a vicious attack--tiny serrated teeth are found and linked to Dromaeosaurus; members of the raptor family. However, the bones also reveal evidence of a second attacker--Tyrannosaurus Rex. Watch as experts recreate the events leading up to the slaughter of Edmontosaurus, revealing a predatory world far more calculated--and complex--than we originally thought. TVPG VL | CC

The remains of two of the largest predatory mammals of North America are discovered in a cave in Wyoming. The first is a 750-pound Mega-Lion and the second is an eleven foot tall bear equipped with huge claws and muscles. How could an ecosystem support two predators of such size and raw power? Using evidence collected in the cave and studying the skeletal design of each combatant, experts are able to recreate a blow by blow account of how these two ice aged monsters fought to the death. TVPG VL | CC

In a life after people, invasive animals and vines spread: pythons battle alligators, plants strip oxygen from lakes, and sandstorms invade Phoenix. Also, Shanghai sinks and Miami is submerged. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

If ancient aliens visited Earth, what was their legacy, and did they leave behind clues that exist in plain sight such as sophisticated aircraft, complex electrical grids, and intricate construction machinery? Indian Sanskrit texts, dating back to 6000 B.C., describe in varying but vivid detail flying machines called Vimanas. Megalithic stone structures in Egypt reveal evidence of precision saw work. Interpretations of the Jewish Zohar writings offer depictions of a life-sustaining manna machine, eerily similar to chlorella algae processing systems today. Are these examples of modern technology, or is there evidence that these incredible mechanisms existed on Earth thousands of years ago? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Could gold be the ultimate link between humans and aliens? A church in southern France is said to hold the key to alchemy--and a gateway to another part of the universe. Locals in Cusco, Peru believe UFO sightings are connected to lost gold at the bottom of Lake Puray. And some believe underneath the Great Sphinx of Giza lies an entire library left behind by extraterrestrials--a library stored on gold. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

It is 113 BC. Rome is a republic, a small empire clinging to the rim of the Mediterranean. Though it is a democracy in name and spirit, a man there still must be rich and from the noble class to hold the highest offices, both political and military. The system has worked well for three centuries. But now a barbarian horde known as the Cimbri smashes through the northern imperial border. One humiliating defeat follows another, with losses of hundreds of thousands of Roman legionaries. Terror grips Rome and drives her into the arms of General Marius. Though a commoner, Marius has a brilliant military mind. To defeat the Cimbri, he will transform the Roman army and shake the Republic's political foundations to the core. It is a turning point for the Republic. Faced with the savage Cimbri, Rome must decide between dictatorship and annihilation. TVPG VL | CC

When Roman generals Pompey and Crassus, lead their mighty legions of soldiers and mercenaries into the lands surrounding Italy, neither could anticipate the turmoil caused by one bold mercenary: a Thracian warrior named Spartacus. Spartacus deserts the Roman army, but is captured and enslaved, forced to fight as a gladiator. Then in 73 BC, the untamable barbarian leads a slave revolt of 70,000 gladiators against the Roman Republic. Though the brutal and conniving Roman General Crassus is finally able to suppress the revolt, his rival, the more popular Pompey, takes all the credit, sparking a division within the Republic itself that will ultimately spell its demise. TVPG VL | CC

It is 60 BC. Over-powerful generals and money corrupt the Roman Republic. The empire churns with civil war, and violence and murder run rampant. Julius Caesar, desperate for fame and honor, embarks on a brutal decade-long campaign to annex Gaul and build his own reputation. His aristocratic rivals try to stop him, but he is an expert manipulator. His propaganda and extravagant victories against bloodthirsty barbarians thrill the public. In 49 BC, he crosses the Rubicon intending to claim his rightful place as the chief man of Rome. It sparks a new civil war that pits him against Pompey the Great and sounds the final death knell for the Republic. 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

In 1994 a secret manuscript hidden in the Vatican Library revealed a previously unknown apocalyptic prophesy credited to history's most notorious seer, Michel de Nostradamus. Where did this "Lost Book" come from and who was its author? The answers to these questions might help establish whether the horrible illustrations in the book point to mankind's violent end. Although the book's cover displays the name Michel Nostradamus, some believe the true author is his eldest son, Cesar. Was Cesar Nostradamus also a prophet? One who struggled with his own visions? Did he, like his father, operate in the shadow of a powerful and unforgiving Church? And was he, too, cursed with the ability to see mankind's doomed future in order to warn future generations? 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

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, the aging U.S. infrastructure is in danger of collapse. Learn about a company in Missouri that uses a trench-less technology to rebuild corroded sewer pipes from the inside out while engineers at General Motors Proving Grounds lead the battle against corrosive road de-icing salts. See how a bioreactor in Florida turns mountains of garbage methane gas. Finally, discover how the tiny termite is teaching us how to turn agricultural waste into ethanol at a fraction of the current cost. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Spiraling deep into the ground...driving holes through solid rock...rotating, hammering, and scraping its way through whatever it may encounter...whether it's earth or ice, steel or stone, nothing can stand in its way! This episode penetrates the world of drilling and explores various types of drilling's colorful histories. From drilling for water in the New Mexico desert to searching for oil in the Gulf of Mexico, we'll show you how it's done. The program features the quest to drill the deepest hole ever and the scientific drill ship expected to perform the feat, and also looks at drills used to recover ice cores that will unearth thousands of years of climate history. We also examine the latest and greatest tunnel boring machines, robotic drills, and handheld power drills. Finally, we check out laser drills--both large and small--including a drill that can bore a hole a fraction of the diameter of a human hair. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Monkey paw, light wand, kick stand--the essential tools of slot-machine cheats worldwide. And for the man who invented them, Tommy Glenn Carmichael--invaluable creations with which he bilked casinos of millions and built an incomparable empire of Vegas cheats. Join us for the story of how a single man found his calling and spearheaded the rise and fall of a slot-machine cheat gang that nearly destroyed the gaming industry over 20 years. Through captivating interviews with the notorious Carmichael, we take viewers on an action-packed ride as he plays cat and mouse with slot-machine security, countering every technological evolution with a new gadget to beat it...until two dogged investigators set the ultimate trap. TVPG VL | CC

Twenty-five hundred years before the reign of Julius Caesar, the ancient Egyptians were deftly harnessing the power of engineering on an unprecedented scale. Egyptian temples, fortresses, pyramids and palaces forever redefined the limits of architectural possibility. They also served as a warning to all of Egypt's enemies-that the world's most advanced civilization could accomplish anything. This two-hour special uses cinematic recreations and cutting-edge CGI to profile the greatest engineering achievements of ancient Egypt, and the pharaohs and architects who were behind them. Includes Djoser's Step Pyramid at Saqqara, Senusret's Nubian Superfortresses, Hatshepsut's Mortuary Temple at Dier el-Bahari, Akhenaten's city at Amarna, and the temples of Ramesses the Great at Abu Simbel. TVPG VL | CC

The power to use tornados, hurricanes and the deadliest weather as weapons of war may now be possible. We'll investigate reports that weather weapons are in development and reveal the technology that--in the future--could turn hurricanes, earthquakes, even tsunamis into some of the most powerful and plausibly deniable weapons of mass destruction the world has ever seen. TVPG VL | CC

In August 2005, John Chatterton and Richie Kohler, hosts of Deep Sea Detectives, led an expedition to the wreck of RMS Titanic. Diving 2 miles down in Russian submersibles, they searched outside the known debris field for new evidence. On their final dive they made an extraordinary find: two large intact sections of the bottom hull of the Titanic in pristine condition with the red bottom paint still on them. For four months, a team of historians, marine architects, and engineers has been conducting a forensic analysis of this find. All agree that it's the most significant new discovery since the wreck was located in 1985. Analysis is ongoing, but preliminary indications are that these bottom sections will change our understanding of how the ship broke apart, and rewrite the story of the final moments of the Titanic. TVPG VL | CC

The average American throws out more than four pounds of trash a day, nearly 300 million tons annually. An army of technologically advanced machines processes garbage, from the local collection trucks to the landfill compactors. In facilities called "Murfs," millions of tons of resources are given a second life. The water bottles you tossed in your recycling bin might become your new blanket. Electricity may be generated from the garbage you set out at your curb. Discover their unusual after-life as new products are created from garbage. TVPG VL | CC

The Underwater Universe generates three types of deadly waves, each bigger and more destructive than the last: Rogue, Monster and Tsunami. This episode will progress from bigger to bigger waves and explore how these killers are born and what makes each unique. We end the hour with the biggest recorded impact wave in Earth's history: a mega Tsunami over a hundred feet high destroying everything in its path. How did it happen? How did the planet survive? And could we be hit by a wave that big again? TVPG VL | CC

The predators of the Underwater Universe have evolved to become our planet's most efficient killing machines. This episode explores the top five deadliest animals that no thinking human wants to tangle with, each more deadly than the next. But there is an unexpected twist, the #1 predator might soon be replaced by another, far more menacing killer as ocean conditions change and traditional apex predators die out. TVPG VL | CC

A routine expedition on a hillside in the badlands of South Dakota, lead a paleontologist to an amazing discovery. The mummified tail of Edmontosaurus, a duckbilled dinosaur is uncovered with evidence of a vicious attack--tiny serrated teeth are found and linked to Dromaeosaurus; members of the raptor family. However, the bones also reveal evidence of a second attacker--Tyrannosaurus Rex. Watch as experts recreate the events leading up to the slaughter of Edmontosaurus, revealing a predatory world far more calculated--and complex--than we originally thought. TVPG VL | CC

Myths and legends have long been regarded as fantastic stories that describe powerful gods, mutant giants and fearsome monsters. But why do so many different cultures, separated by vast distances, tell the same stories? Is it possible that myths and legends were really eyewitness accounts of ancient astronauts descending to Earth? Ancient texts are filled with stories of gods interacting with humans, offering wisdom, technology, and even impregnating women. Could the demigods of mythology have been the offspring of alien and human unions? If so, could aliens have supplied the Missing Link that accelerated human evolution, advancing our civilization and making us who we are today? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

If ancient aliens visited Earth, were they responsible for catastrophes, wars and other deadly disasters to control the fate of the human race? The story of the Great Flood sent by deities to destroy civilizations exists in many prehistoric cultures. There are ancient descriptions of extraterrestrial battles that caused wide-scale destruction, and even reports of UFOs lurking in the shadows of recent natural disasters. The Book of Revelations and the Dead Sea Scrolls describe a future apocalyptic battle between good and evil that will destroy our world. Are these ancient texts proof that aliens are hostile and planning a violent return? Or might they be our saviors, ensuring our survival as a species during times of devastation? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Brave deadly radiation and nuclear warheads as you dive into the abyss with the crew to raise sunken submarines. Discover the untold story behind the doomed Russian sub Kursk and witness remarkable feats of engineering as the team struggles to raise the Civil War sub, the H.L. Hunley. Watch as the team rescues survivors trapped inside a submarine 243 feet down on the seabed. Finally learn about one of history's most famous subs--the HMS Holland One. TVPG VL | CC

The Denver International Airport is the largest airport in America. Its famous white peaked fabric roof spans a million-and-a-half square feet. Moving it would seem impossible--but not for this crew! Next the TWA terminal at JFK International Airport has to be moved nearly a quarter-mile. Walls of glass on this 800-ton building could topple like a house of cards. Watch the crew use an array of new technology and the most heavy-lift equipment ever amassed for a move. TVPG VL | CC

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

They are top-secret missions manned by specially trained intelligence and military elite. Covert operations using unconventional tactics outside the standard protocol. This episode uncovers the clandestine activities and state-of-the-art training of the U.S. Special Forces that undertake the most dangerous surveillance, reconnaissance, and intelligence collecting missions on Earth. What makes a mission a Black Operation or Black Op? Who approves a mission--and how much does the President know? What secret training prepares a soldier for these life and death assignments? How is the CIA involved in Black Ops? From cloak and dagger spy games to hand-to-hand combat, Black Ops are shrouded in secrecy...until now. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

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 transports electricity, water, and heat. Our bodies can't survive without it, yet it can kill microbes in minutes. It brings music to our ears and beauty to our eyes. We'll delve into all of copper's impressive traits, history, and how it's mined. This versatile red metal's most famous attribute is its ability to conduct electricity--copper wires connect and energize the world. And it's revolutionizing the electronics industry by enabling ever-shrinking computer chips. It's also formed into plumbing pipes to convey water and is the metal of choice for beautiful roofs and sculptures. It doesn't only look good--it sounds great too. A visit to a bell foundry reveals why bronze, a copper alloy, has been used to make music for hundreds of years. In myriad shapes and for innumerable uses, copper figures prominently in our world. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

It was a science first conjured amid the fiery ovens of ancient blacksmiths; today more than 50% of all U.S. products require some form of welding. Whether via electricity, flammable gases, sonic waves, or sometimes just raw explosive power, welding creates powerful bonds between metal unmatched by any other joining process. From high atop emerging 60-story towers on the Las Vegas strip to oil platforms hundreds of feet below the ocean, discover how welders forge the backbone of civilization. Learn about exciting new applications: how sound waves create bulletproof welds for contemporary body armor; the technologies behind robotic welding systems; and the knee-rattling impact of an explosion weld, the most powerful method of all. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, the aging U.S. infrastructure is in danger of collapse. Learn about a company in Missouri that uses a trench-less technology to rebuild corroded sewer pipes from the inside out while engineers at General Motors Proving Grounds lead the battle against corrosive road de-icing salts. See how a bioreactor in Florida turns mountains of garbage methane gas. Finally, discover how the tiny termite is teaching us how to turn agricultural waste into ethanol at a fraction of the current cost. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

It's 1000 BC and the Israelites are battling the Philistines. After wresting control of the throne of Israel in a bloody civil war, David moves quickly to destroy those who challenge his right to the throne, and then turns his sword on his political enemies. Finally, David sets his sites on a new target--the beautiful Bathsheba, but she is already married. For someone like David this is a minor impediment. He sends her husband to his death in battle, a battle that eventually propels Israel into becoming an empire. TVPG VL | CC

It's 52 BC and the great Roman Commander Julius Caesar is butchering is way through Gaul. Thanks in large part to the iron will of Caesar, the Romans complete their long quest for total Mediterranean dominance, defeating the Gauls in the final battle of the Gallic Wars. For a period of time though, Gallic victory seemed possible. Out-numbering the Romans five to one, they held the high ground, on the hilltop fortress city of Alesia. Caesar besieges Alesia, however, and builds a wall around the city cutting it off from all possible supply lines. When Gallic reinforcements arrive to break the blockade, Caesar puts a startling twist on his strategy by constructing a second wall between his army and the reinforcements. It is siege upon siege, but Caesar knows the Romans, although fewer in numbers, are better supplied. TVPG VL | CC

It doesn't just take willpower to survive. It takes guts--in the form of a digestive system that turns food into fuel. Look closely at the role guts have played in shaping some of Earth's most successful animals: tyrannosaurs, snakes, cows, humans and others. Take a 575-million year journey that begins with the planet's first multi-cellular organisms and ends at our dinner tables. Watch as live-action natural history sequences, CGI, epic docudrama, and experimental science help to illustrate our and our fellow species' eternal struggle for survival on earth. TVPG VL | CC

It makes up 16% of your body weight, is the largest organ in the human body, allows birds to fly, mammals to nurse their young, and provides a lifelong defense against predators and parasites alike. What is it? Skin. From the delicate membranes that encased the earliest animals to the leathery hides that protected the dinosaurs, this episode looks at how skin has changed and adapted to virtually any challenge it has faced throughout history. TVPG VL | CC

In a life after people, invasive animals and vines spread: pythons battle alligators, plants strip oxygen from lakes, and sandstorms invade Phoenix. Also, Shanghai sinks and Miami is submerged. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Nature attacks Washington DC and Los Angeles. The fate of the Constitution and other monuments. Wilted palm trees help spread a massive inferno, while another capital emerges in the Pacific Ocean. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

The Underwater Universe generates three types of deadly waves, each bigger and more destructive than the last: Rogue, Monster and Tsunami. This episode will progress from bigger to bigger waves and explore how these killers are born and what makes each unique. We end the hour with the biggest recorded impact wave in Earth's history: a mega Tsunami over a hundred feet high destroying everything in its path. How did it happen? How did the planet survive? And could we be hit by a wave that big again? TVPG VL | CC

Could gold be the ultimate link between humans and aliens? A church in southern France is said to hold the key to alchemy--and a gateway to another part of the universe. Locals in Cusco, Peru believe UFO sightings are connected to lost gold at the bottom of Lake Puray. And some believe underneath the Great Sphinx of Giza lies an entire library left behind by extraterrestrials--a library stored on gold. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Ancient Astronaut theorists believe aliens have been visiting earth for thousands of years. If so, might we find evidence of this even in the stories of America's Old West? In Aurora, Texas, the local cemetery claims to hold the body of an alien whose ship crashed there in 1897. In Utah, petroglyphs depict strange beings wearing what look like space suits. In southern California, 19th century ranchers reported seeing an otherworldly creature emerge from Elizabeth Lake. And even in Tombstone, Arizona, the home of Wyatt Earp and the site of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, cowboys claimed to have shot at a giant, metallic bird Are these simply campfire tales, or did the cowboys and native people of America's Wild West actually come in contact with alien beings from another--much more distant--frontier? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Myths and legends have long been regarded as fantastic stories that describe powerful gods, mutant giants and fearsome monsters. But why do so many different cultures, separated by vast distances, tell the same stories? Is it possible that myths and legends were really eyewitness accounts of ancient astronauts descending to Earth? Ancient texts are filled with stories of gods interacting with humans, offering wisdom, technology, and even impregnating women. Could the demigods of mythology have been the offspring of alien and human unions? If so, could aliens have supplied the Missing Link that accelerated human evolution, advancing our civilization and making us who we are today? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Not so long ago, civilization learned that it was no match for just a few degrees drop in temperature. Scientists call it the Little Ice Age--but its impact was anything but small. From 1300 to 1850, a period of cataclysmic cold caused havoc. It froze Viking colonists in Greenland, accelerated the Black Death in Europe, decimated the Spanish Armada, and helped trigger the French Revolution. The Little Ice Age reshaped the world in ways that now seem the stuff of fantasy--New York Harbor froze and people walked from Manhattan to Staten Island, Eskimos sailed kayaks as far south as Scotland, and two feet of snow fell on New England in June and July during "the Year Without a Summer". Could another catastrophic cold snap strike in the 21st century? Leading climatologists offer the latest theories, and scholars and historians recreate the history that could be a glimpse of things to come. Face the cold, hard truth of the past--an era that may be a window to our future. TVPG VL | CC

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

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

Everything around us has a story to tell. Shoes, cans, string, mirrors; everything we see and touch has an epic tale of how it came to be invented or discovered, and the dramatic moments throughout history at which it played an important role. But few of us know these stories. We go through our days blissfully ignorant of the deadly and dangerous road brave men traveled in order to bring coffee to the world, or the pivotal part beer played in the civilizing of mankind. These stories and many more are brought vividly to life in this two-hour special, which follows one man on a journey through the last day of his life, examining and recounting the epic tales of the everyday items he encounters before his ignorance of their stories leads him to his ultimate doom. TVPG VL | CC

"Tiny" weapons may not sound impressive...but small can kill, and it can also be easily concealed. From a pocket pistol used by the police...to a submachine gun wielded by a bodyguard...to a carbine in the hands of an Army Ranger, many of today's most effective weapons are smaller than ever. They can fit in your pocket, fly through the air, even break through walls--tiny weapons are an essential part of battle, self-defense, and spreading terror. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

The story of the Viking world's most famous warrior, the legend of Beowulf is the ultimate tale of courage. Pit against thirsty invaders, barbaric monsters, and a fire breathing dragon, Beowulf emerges as Norse mythology's greatest hero. But could this mythological warrior have been real? Unearthed burial mounds and ancient carvings suggest the myth of Beowulf could be more than epic legend. TVPG VL | CC

A half-bull, half-man freak of nature, the Minotaur is one of mythology's most terrifying monsters. A bizarre tale of bestiality, human sacrifice, and war, the myth of the Minotaur endures as a symbol of the beast inside all men. But archeological research has uncovered clues suggesting the Minotaur and its terrifying labyrinth were more than just symbols. They may have been inspired by a real place that still exists to this day. TVPG VL | CC

The epic tragedy of Medusa, the most infamous female fiend in Greek mythology, whose look turned every living thing to stone. But what is the true story behind the myth? Find out this evil Gorgon's real world connection to human corpses, and learn what clues the night sky holds about the origins of the tale of Medusa. TVPG VL | CC

There really are ice worlds like Hoth from Star Wars. In this episode, we explore icy planets and moons, discover the role of cold in the Universe, and learn about the importance of ice to the development of habitable worlds. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

In this episode, our cast uses awesome analogies to bring the biggest objects, farthest distances and fastest speeds down to earth. To truly understand the scale of the cosmos, we jump behind the wheel of monster trucks, scale the Golden Gate bridge, and race across the desert in a rocket-powered car. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Daniel Browning Smith is in Vegas to meet Brian Jackson who blows up a hot water bottle until it explodes. Daniel takes Brian to a lung specialist to measure the power output and pressure of his lungs. Lu Deyuan's extraordinary, traffic-stopping superhuman ability is eye watering! Daniel meets Lu in a Kuala Lumpur dockyard where he's hanging steel bars from his eyelids. Lu says he feels no pain and doesn't suffer from any injuries. Could Anthony Kelly have the fastest reflexes in the world? Daniel meets him catching tennis balls at 80mph, and use a high speed camera to capture his technique. At a Detroit Dojo, Daniel meets Japanese Nunchuck Master Hiroki deadly in the martial art of nunchaku combat. Cindi Bir and Daniel test his ability by challenging his accuracy with a baseball pitching cannon. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

They were the messengers of divine knowledge and seers who shared visions of the future. For thousands of years, human civilization has been guided by the words and deeds of ancient prophets, but just who--or what--were these prophets communicating with? Might the experiences of history's prophets be evidence of communication with a heavenly source--or were seers like Elijah and Joseph Smith actually communicating with extraterrestrial overlords? And if so, are there similar prophets at work today? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Was Albert Einstein a genius? Or was he superhuman? Was his genius "of this world," or was it "otherworldly?" Is it possible, as Ancient Astronaut theorists believe, of an extraterrestrial connection to the scientific genius of famous historical figures such as Albert Einstein, Galileo, Archimedes, and Aristotle? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Zombies rising from their graves... Blood sucking vampires damned for all eternity... and humans trapped in a life and death struggle between heaven and hell. For thousands of years, mankind has told tales of encounters with strange, soulless creatures. Are these beliefs merely manmade fabrications--or could there be extraterrestrial origins in earthly encounters with the undead? TVPG VL | CC Show Site