The History Channel

The end of the Civil War allows Mankind to go into overdrive. This is an age of innovation, transformation and mass production. People believe that "Anything, everything, is possible." Japan goes from feudal society to industrial superpower within 50 years. But progress has its dark side. The demand for rubber devastates Africa. And the desire to build bigger, faster, better leads to a titanic disaster...Mankind takes on godlike powers: to feed billions of people, reshape the landscape, re-engineer the human body. The greatest power of all was unleashed over Hiroshima on August 6th 1945. Since entering the Atomic Age we've been living between eternity and oblivion. But at the same time, we've become more connected as a species. 100,000 years ago there were a few thousand hunter-gatherers on the African savannah. Today there are 7 billion of us in every corner of the globe. It's been an amazing journey. (2 hours.) TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Mankind is a building species. Inspired by the divine, we create monuments to its power (Stonehenge, the Great Pyramid). New challenges create new sciences, and when the Romans mixed volcanic ash with water they created a new super-material: concrete. Today, we shape the surface of the earth to facilitate our needs. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

No prizes for second place! In this episode we learn how being the fastest enabled empires to be born and capitalism to thrive. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Not long ago South Africa stood poised on the edge of anarchy. The flames of violence threatened to engulf a nation that had already fought long and hard against the brutal burden of Apartheid. Massacres and assassinations unleashed a storm of angry recriminations that thundered over the land and echoed in the empty negotiating halls where peace talks had stalled. But, just over a year later, the country was celebrating its first, fully democratic election that culminated in the joyful inauguration of President Nelson Mandela. They achieved the unimaginable: a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world. This is the remarkable story of South Africa's transition to democracy, a singular achievement that astounded and inspired the world. Includes personal anecdotes from world leaders, local and global celebrities who tell of their small, but valuable contributions to the liberation of South Africa and her people. TVPG VL | CC

The Alaska Ocean is the largest factory-fishing boat in the US fleet. The crew's mission: hunt down, catch and process 300 tons of Alaskan Pollock each day on the unforgiving waters of the Bering Sea. We travel with them on the last voyage of a long and grueling season. The crew reveals the inner workings of one of the most sophisticated and complex vessels afloat. It is half fishing boat, half floating factory, processing and flash freezing Alaskan Pollock as fast as its crew can catch it. To meet their seasonal quota of Pollock, the crew must overcome obstacles of weather, mechanical dangers aboard the sea-tossed ship and the wiliness of the fish themselves. Captain Scott Symonds takes us inside the amazing ultra-modern world of high stakes commercial fishing where a wrong decision on his part can cost not just the season's catch, but also the lives of his crew. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Our 49th state is one tough terrain. In the air, on the ground--and deep beneath it--survival here requires an amazing array of technological innovations. From buildings to highways, brutal winters to bug-infested summers, this unforgiving landscape demands creative work-arounds. And then there's the constant threat of natural disasters...tsunami, anyone? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

It's the most popular fish in the American diet. From the school lunch box--to the high end sushi bar--to the outdoor barbecue, tuna crosses all demographic lines. We'll go fishing with the men who risk their lives to bring in a haul, stop in at Bumble Bee, the only major tuna cannery still operating in America, and visit the world's largest fish market in Tokyo, where a single tuna can sell for as much as $100,000. We'll also explore worldwide efforts to save the giant bluefin tuna, which has been over-fished to a point of peril. Then we'll head to sea with scientists who track the tunas' inter-oceanic migrations, and travel to South Australia, where entrepreneurs seek to breed the mighty bluefin in captivity. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Angkor Wat, Cambodia, is the world's largest ancient religious temple. Within its megalithic ruins, researches have discovered a depiction of a species of dinosaur--a stegosaurus. But how could the ancients have had knowledge of animals that mainstream science says died out millions of years ago? Why are dinosaurs extinct? Did an alien race of beings kill off the dinosaurs to make room for humankind? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

At nearly 14,000 years old, the ruins of Puma Punku are the oldest and most baffling on the face of the Earth. No one knows who designed and built this complex of sophisticated inter-locking blocks, and then vanished. Researchers investigate the ruins on-location in Peru and present new computer analyses. Forensic evidence on the ground, together with local myths and legends, suggest this site may have been designed and even once inhabited by a species of extraterrestrials. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

In 1975, Travis Walton claims to have been abducted and taken aboard a space ship inhabited by extraterrestrial beings. Several people witnessed his encounter and nearly 40 years later Walton's story of alien abduction, missing time and mind-telepathy manipulation has not wavered. But researchers say that abductions are not a modern phenomenon. The Hebrew Bible is filled with stories of abductions by otherworldly beings. Jonah, Moses, Ezekiel and Enoch all depict what can best be described as physically being taken to other dimensions and then returned. Is it possible that extraterrestrial beings have been abducting humans for thousands of years and if so, might there be an alien agenda behind the phenomena? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

They were the bad boys of popular music in the 1960's. But contrary to the usual stories, Frank Sinatra had nothing to do with starting the Rat Pack, Dean Martin was never really drunk to begin with, and Judy Garland wanted Sinatra so badly she stalked him. Author and historian David Eisenbach brings you all the cool details. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

The OK Corral was the site of the world's most famous Wild West gunfight. But the shootout didn't actually happen at the OK Corral, Wyatt Earp was more of a pimp than a lawman, and Doc Holliday didn't die with his boots on. Historian David Eisenbach heads straight to the scene of the crime to unearth what you don't know about the gunfight at the OK Corral. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Mormons built a politically powerful religion based on family, faith and clean living. But they also built Las Vegas, they owned brothels, and they copied some of their rituals from the Freemasons. These are just some of the secrets author and Historian David Eisenbach uncovers. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Caligula was a notoriously sadistic Roman Emperor with a wanton disregard for life. Roman citizens, even those with money and power of their own, lived in fear of Caligula's cruelty. In this episode, historian David Eisenbach reveals that Caligula also walked on water, played craps to make Rome rich, and engaged in incest with his own sisters. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Abraham Lincoln was the steady hand of leadership during the Civil War, only to be gunned down in his prime at Ford's Theater. Outspoken historian David Eisenbach delves into Lincoln's private life and reveals that the Great Emancipator was a racist, had trouble with women and actually enjoyed sleeping with men. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Benjamin Franklin was a multi-talented American founding father--but he also owned slaves, frequented sex clubs and was a suspected serial killer. In this episode of our new series, maverick historian David Eisenbach uncovers little-known details of Franklin's past, shedding new light on Franklin's eccentric behaviors and how they enabled him to help save the American Revolution. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Adolph Hitler was history's most notorious anti-Semite, so hell-bent on world domination that his Nazi war machine inflicted death and destruction on millions of innocent victims. Historian David Eisenbach reveals that Hitler had been homeless, that he feared sex with women and was a child of incest. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Around the world, archaeologists are uncovering artifacts that suggest the existence of previously unknown ancient civilizations, much like the mythical city of Atlantis. There is a growing belief among certain scientists and archeologists that tens of thousands of years ago, before the rise of today's man, sophisticated human societies populated large cities that possibly featured mechanized transportation, electricity, and advanced weapons systems. Proponents of this theory believe that these civilizations were wiped off the planet and that the evidence now lies buried miles beneath the Earth's surface. This two-hour special will investigate these beliefs and uncover the truth about people who lived before the beginning of recorded time. TVPG VL | CC

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

People on every continent have claimed to see the footprints of Bigfoot. And ancient myths and legends speak of an ape-like giant stalking the earth. What if, as Ancient Astronaut theorists believe, there is evidence to connect Bigfoot with an alien species that once visited Earth in the distant past? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Why were ancient civilizations around the world so focused on the Orion constellation? While scientists site many earthly connections, researchers suggest this point in the night sky may have been a so-called Stargate, or entry point, for alien life forms. If extraterrestrials have been visiting Earth for thousands of years, might they have originated from the Orion Nebula? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

The Newport Tower is considered by many to be the most mysterious structure in the United States. Some people think it's a colonial era windmill or perhaps all that's left of an early water tower, but Scott Wolter is convinced it's something far more significant. Because of the archaeoastonomy and solstice illuminations that take place inside of the meticulously planned stone structure, he believes the Knights Templar came to America and built it centuries ago. Now, he's dead set on proving his theory. While planning an elaborate laser light show designed to illustrate the Tower's miraculous features, Scott discovers something else significant that ties this structure--and the Templar's modern day initiates--to one of America's most visited and most treasured icons. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

This is the secret story of'the War to End All Wars and what happened when the first weapons of mass destruction reached the battlefield. We uncover the forgotten story of the secret deals, government mistakes, political intolerance, and America's role in the war. We mine formerly guarded vaults and archives worldwide, reviewing once top-secret footage and declassified materials to search for the facts behind the thrilling stories with which we've become familiar. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Mao was the 20th Century's answer to Napoleon: a brilliant tactician, a political and economic theorist, and a statesman who ruled a billion people for three decades. In death, he has become divine, worshiped as a god in a godless country. Considering who and what he ruled, Mao, with his Little Red Book, might just be the single most powerful human being who ever lived. We mine formerly guarded vaults and archives to reveal untold stories in a relentless search for the truth behind the legend. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Journey through a netherworld of ancient passageways and secret chambers that reveal as much about life as they do about death. On this mystical trip into the mysterious world of death, we visit hidden tombs that reveal lost civilizations and buried treasures, and ancient underground cemeteries that became refuge for the oppressed. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Joseph "Bunco" Kelly was the kingpin of the secret Shanghai Underground--numerous, solidly constructed brick and stone tunnels and secret chambers that snaked their way beneath the streets and buildings of Portland, Oregon. The system allowed Kelly's corrupt operation to run smoothly. Kelly's gang was not averse to "creative" business deals, using the tunnels to deliver a cigar-store Indian to one ship captain and a number of corpses to another while representing them as able-bodied workers! TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

In New Hampshire, a long stone passageway leads from ancient rock monoliths into an underground chamber with a mysterious "speaking tube" and a slab known as the "sacrificial table". The origins and builders of these mysterious rock structures remain in dispute. Join us as we get to the bottom of this mysterious chamber that is the topic of heated debate among all who see it. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

In 1907, Sicilian immigrant Baldasare Forestiere moved to California to escape racism and the frightening echoes of homeland tyranny. Applying his knowledge of subway construction, he began building a 4-bedroom underground Shangri-La where he could feel safe. For 40 years, he designed grottos and groves, patios and passageways over seven acres of land--a stunningly original work of architectural and artistic genius. Join us as we explore one man's beautiful underground labyrinth. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

A complex system of concrete storm drains and pipes runs under the border between Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Mexico. By burrowing upward through hand-dug tunnels, drug smugglers created one of the busiest known systems of drug tunnels in the country. We focus on two major marijuana busts, a year apart, in which the drugs were moved through storm drains and tunnels and laundered through an innocuous cul-de-sac bungalow. Our cameras capture the second raid. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

The Hittites are the forgotten superpower of the Bible. Hattusha, the capital was the heart of their empire. They were a highly advanced military powerhouse who struck fear into the hearts of all their enemies, yet the Hittites disappeared as quickly as they emerged--the greatest vanishing act in history. Follow a team of historical detectives as they use evidence from recent excavations, scientific studies and historical documents to piece together clues to determine what the ancient Hittite empire looked like. Computer graphics allow viewers to fly over, enter the streets, walk through the halls and peer into this lost world. TVPG VL | CC

A team of field investigators using the latest research, expert analysis, and cutting-edge graphic technology take us back to the aftermath of Jesus's crucifixion when barely a hundred of his followers survived. Yet within a few decades, Christianity had spread around the Mediterranean and across the Roman Empire. The man responsible once persecuted Christians but underwent a conversion and gave his life to spreading the gospel. We revisit places that were first to hear St. Paul's message and were altered forever. From his birthplace, the port of Tarsus where a mixture of Roman and Jewish culture helped form him, we follow the systems of trade and transport that helped him travel 20,000 miles. And in Cappadocia in the Turkish desert, we find evidence of how the new religion reached a mysterious community of cave-dwellers. These persecuted Christian communities sought refuge by literally heading underground. Our investigators enter the vast subterranean cities they built. TVPG VL | CC

He lived in ancient Israel, he was called the "Good Shepherd", he was killed by the Romans and he rose in three days. But he's not Jesus! Cutting-edge archaeology reveals that the apocalyptic template for a dying and rising Messiah may have originated with a man called Simon of Perea. Did the idea of resurrection begin with Jesus? Did it originate with Simon? Was Jesus a follower, not an innovator? Shockingly, an ancient stone tablet that has emerged from the Jordanian antiquities market seems to suggest that there was a dying and rising Messiah before Jesus. TVPG VL | CC

Today, vacationers travel from British Columbia north through the Yukon Pass on their way to Fairbanks, Alaska, thanks to one 2-lane roadway, the 1,522-mile long Alaska Highway. A bit treacherous in spots and best driven in the few summer months the region provides, it's an unrivaled engineering feat that took 11,000 soldiers, nearly 4,000 of them black, only eight months to build! Travel back to 1942 as they bulldoze their way into history while connecting the Lower 48 to the Alaskan Territory. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

They are the toughest ships in the water, plowing headlong into one of nature's hardest obstacles. Modern icebreakers can smash through 10-foot thick ice sheets without stopping, allowing scientists and commercial shipping access to some of Earth's most inhospitable spots. Join our blustery journey as we patrol the Great Lakes on the USCG Cutter Mackinaw and traverse the infamous Northwest Passage on the maiden voyage of the USCG Healy, the newest Polar Class Icebreaker in the US Fleet. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Mining is one of the oldest endeavors of man. See where modern ore processing machines go when they wear out. Will they be restored, or scrapped for the furnace. Incredibly, a former uranium mine is now a world-famous health spa. A giant smelting facility has been transformed into a world class golf course. In one of the most extensive and complex projects of its kind ever attempted, witness the dramatic transformation of a 110-square mile mining complex. TVPG VL | CC

A great ship that has reached the end of its useful life is often destroyed in weapons testing or cut up for scrap. Watch a salvage operation that saves battleships sunk during Pearl Harbor. Discover a historic ship Boneyard that is literally the foundation of a city and ships that are purposely sunk to become living reefs. Some of the fastest boats on the water have been hot-rodded from the engines of aircraft of three wars. Follow the dismantling of these large structures and learn of their unusual after-life. TVPG VL | CC

For years, people have claimed to have had direct, personal contact with an alien. In this episode of our series, the team tracks down several people who claim to have had such contact. They'll also work along side medical and scientific professionals to try and discover what, if anything, really happed to these people. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Between October 1944 and August '45, General Douglas MacArthur and his men recaptured the Philippines from the Japanese, led by General Tomoyuki Yamashita, in the largest single US campaign in the Pacific War. As the Americans pushed forward, Yamashita had one weapon the US did not--kamikaze pilots, who sacrificed their lives for maximum destruction of the enemy. The fighting continued until the Japanese sued for peace--MacArthur lost 8,000 men, but Yamashita lost a staggering 192,000! TVPG VL | CC

The Marines assault Tarawa in one of the bloodiest battles yet waged. MacArthur island-hops and Italy's front lines claim a casualty. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

A television news helicopter loses control over Brooklyn, New York, breaks into pieces and crash lands onto a rooftop. Everything is caught on tape. Watch as an Iowa cameraman and his brother find themselves rescuing their neighbors as a twister rips apart 40 homes. Next, disaster strikes as a Navy bomb is fired from a fighter...and hits another Navy plane. Then, as his family watches, a farmer bulldozes a 50-foot-tall silo down on top of himself. Witness one of the most spectacular accidents in the history of drag racing as a car hits the rail at 280 miles an hour, explodes into a fireball and disintegrates. And a fireworks factory explodes in Devon, England as the entire tiny town takes cover. TVPG VL | CC

Utahraptor, Allosaurus, Majungatholus, Albertosaurus and Tyrannosaurus were the elite killers of the prehistoric world. Scientists now know more about these predatory dinosaurs by studying their skeletal designs and using information revealed through CAT scanning technology. Listen as the expert's size up these predators found in numerous worldwide locations and various time periods in their search of the largest killer of all. TVPG VL | CC

Megalodon, a 50-foot long cousin of the modern Great White Shark was considered the most dangerous predator in the 15 million year old seas. That belief held until a discovery in Japan in 1992 of a fossilized whale equipped with 44 teeth that equaled those of a Tyrannosaurus rex. Watch as experts recreate an undersea battle using modern whale and shark behaviors, and fossilized evidence to see how the two largest killers of the sea fought for supremacy. TVPG VL | CC

The fate of mankind's machinery of war: a sunken nuclear missile explodes, Pearl Harbor comes under renewed attacks, snow causes urban avalanches, and dairy cows are threatened. Featuring Denver, Hawaii, and a mysterious abandoned island near New York City. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

What really happened in Roswell, New Mexico in the summer of 1947? Did a flying saucer crash in the vast desert scrubland? The initial Army Air Force press release claimed they had recovered a flying disk. But a day later, the story dramatically changed--now they called it a weather balloon! In 1987, secret documents surfaced indicating the existence of the "Majestic 12"--an elite group of scientists and military and intelligence officials, allegedly brought together by President Harry Truman. Did the MJ-12 truly exist? If so, did these men forever trivialize the most talked-about UFO event in history, as well as all UFO sightings thereafter? TVPG VL | CC

The 1970s were one of the most active periods of UFO sightings. The most famous sightings of the decade are recalled and up-to-date information on the closest of encounters is provided. From Delphos, Kansas to Roswell, New Mexico, explore the mysterious and the unknown, and meet those who claim to have seen UFOs, or were even abducted by aliens. Is the truth out there? TVPG VL | CC

A deadly, slithering menace is taking over Florida and may be heading north. For more than 100 years, giant pythons have been discovered in parts of the Sunshine State, but since Hurricane Andrew in 1992, their territory has rapidly spread. Now, MonsterQuest searches for incursions in the outskirts of Miami, a population hotspot that is just moments from schools and homes. The team investigates whether pythons could hybridize and adapt, enabling them to threaten every state in the US. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Western Civilization has been influenced by many cultures, but it was born in Ancient Greece. The Ancient Greeks laid a foundation that has supported nearly 3000 years of European history. Philosophers like Aristotle and Socrates, Olympian gods, the beginnings of democracy and great conquering armies can be attributed to the Ancient Greeks. This strong and charismatic people strategically harnessed the materials and people around them to create the most advanced technological feats the world had ever seen. From The Tunnel of Samos: a mile-long aqueduct dug through a large mountain of solid limestone, to Agamemnon's Tomb, to The Parthenon, we will examine the architecture and infrastructure engineered by the Greek Empire. Peter Weller hosts. TVPG VL | CC

438 BC. The Parthenon is complete. This masterpiece is the crowning achievement for the Greek people. Without Alexander the Great, it is possible Greece's Golden Era would have been just a footnote in history. Tens of thousands would die during Alexander's relentless attacks on Persia and Egypt, yet, his armies carried Greek life, culture and values far abroad and this empire became known as the "Hellenistic" world. Greece's amazing engineering achievements and ideas are still with us today. TVPG VL | CC

At its pinnacle, the British Empire spanned every continent and covered one quarter of the Earth's land mass. Through the centuries, the rulers of this enormous powerhouse used extraordinary engineering feats to become an industrial and military titan, loaded with riches. Some of their many pioneering accomplishments include the world's first locomotive, a superhighway of underground sewers, the imposing and grand Westminster Palace, and the most powerful and technically advanced navy in the age of sail. Using cutting edge CGI, we'll take a look at the key leaders of the British Empire--and explore the mark each left on society. Peter Weller hosts. TVPG VL | CC

In 1990, the tomb of the High Priest Caiaphas was unearthed in Jerusalem. Along with inscribed "ossuaries" (bone boxes), two Roman nails were recorded in the official excavation report. However, the nails were not photographed, drawn, measured or widely publicized. Intrigued by the possibility of crucifixion nails in the tomb of the man who sent Jesus to the cross, filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici goes looking for them. He now finds that they have disappeared, and the tomb has literally been covered up. A dramatic investigation ensues. The goal is to find the missing artifacts and re-enter the tomb. Expect shocking revelations along the way. TVPG VL | CC

History tells us that the Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity in the 4th century. But did Christianity conquer Rome or did pagan Rome conquer Christianity? Archaeology in Rome and Istanbul, along with previously ignored episodes in Constantine's life, reveals that the Emperor had the instincts of a marketing genius. Strategically combining many deities, Constantine "sold" Christ as an amalgamation of sun gods. By force of arms, the new religion suppressed the original Jesus movement and the hundreds of Christian alternatives that had sprouted around it. Constantine's Christianity is still the world's most successful brand. TVPG VL | CC

Take a look at the technology of cold. Think your home freezer is "cool"? Try spending some time in a 12-story unit filled with 135 million pounds of ice cream. Enter Arctic vaults that store millions of different seeds and learn how scientists have mastered temperatures of -200 degrees F and below. Explore how the cold not only preserves and chills, but also shatters rubber tires, strengthens steel, and fuels rockets. Finally, visit Alcor, where researchers keep cadavers on ice in hopes of future revival. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Driven by the need for deep sea rescue and salvage capabilities, the US Navy Diving and Salvage Programs have gathered together a highly skilled team of divers, scientists and engineers, who have been involved in some of the most exciting and dangerous salvage operations ever undertaken. Ride aboard the USS Salvor, which is equipped with underwater remote operated robots and see how they were put to use following the crash of TWA Flight 800. We'll examine the bomb locating mini-sub Alvin and learn about "Saturation Diving" which allows divers to stay below for days at a time. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Today, vacationers travel from British Columbia north through the Yukon Pass on their way to Fairbanks, Alaska, thanks to one 2-lane roadway, the 1,522-mile long Alaska Highway. A bit treacherous in spots and best driven in the few summer months the region provides, it's an unrivaled engineering feat that took 11,000 soldiers, nearly 4,000 of them black, only eight months to build! Travel back to 1942 as they bulldoze their way into history while connecting the Lower 48 to the Alaskan Territory. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

On October 26, 1994, the U.S. government made their first official acknowledgement of Area 51. Six months later, nearly 4,000 acres of previously public land surrounding the base were closed. Now, over a decade later, satellite photos reveal new buildings, towers and runways finishing construction. Secret flights with blacked-out windows bring passengers from Las Vegas. And security surrounding the perimeter of the base is tighter than ever. The team heads to the epicenter of UFO and military conspiracy theories to visit new vantage points, speak with former base employees, and search the skies above America's most top-secret facility. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

NASA has been exploring space for decades, and there are persistent reports that the agency has uncovered surprising information about UFOs. The team speaks with former astronauts, employees and engineers, and delves into NASA videos to see if the space agency knows more than it is letting on. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Mining is one of the oldest endeavors of man. See where modern ore processing machines go when they wear out. Will they be restored, or scrapped for the furnace. Incredibly, a former uranium mine is now a world-famous health spa. A giant smelting facility has been transformed into a world class golf course. In one of the most extensive and complex projects of its kind ever attempted, witness the dramatic transformation of a 110-square mile mining complex. TVPG VL | CC

A look at the storied and strange history of marijuana in America and how it has been front and center in the war on drugs. While many in the general public think of marijuana as the "safe drug," the DEA has referred to it as a "gateway" drug that can open the door to the use of stronger substances. This illustrates the paradox of marijuana, which is underscored by the fact that while the U.S. has spent over $100 billion dollars to fight its import, sale, and distribution, 14 states including New Jersey and Michigan have legalized it for medicinal purposes. Additional states are set to make it legal for the same purposes. This special will examine the changing social and legal landscapes of marijuana and its history in a fresh and compelling way. TVPG VL | CC

Between October 1944 and August '45, General Douglas MacArthur and his men recaptured the Philippines from the Japanese, led by General Tomoyuki Yamashita, in the largest single US campaign in the Pacific War. As the Americans pushed forward, Yamashita had one weapon the US did not--kamikaze pilots, who sacrificed their lives for maximum destruction of the enemy. The fighting continued until the Japanese sued for peace--MacArthur lost 8,000 men, but Yamashita lost a staggering 192,000! TVPG VL | CC

In recent years the destructive power of natural disasters has been recorded--from Hurricane Katrina to the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan. Serial Killer Earth brings together a top team of experts to examine the most compelling footage from news and home video, as well as hear from eyewitness testimony in order to explain, understand and inform viewers of what actually happened during these disasters and how they compare and contrast with the most historic natural disasters of the past. In this episode, a massive tornado rips through a Midwestern town, destroying everything in it's path. Mother Nature unleashes a giant wall of snow in Canada and sends a monster tsunami into southeast Asia, killing two hundred and eighty three thousand people. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

A massive landslide chases a group of construction workers. A tornado tears through an airport; and an earthquake threatens a 700-year-old church. Mother Nature continues her killing spree. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Utahraptor, Allosaurus, Majungatholus, Albertosaurus and Tyrannosaurus were the elite killers of the prehistoric world. Scientists now know more about these predatory dinosaurs by studying their skeletal designs and using information revealed through CAT scanning technology. Listen as the expert's size up these predators found in numerous worldwide locations and various time periods in their search of the largest killer of all. TVPG VL | CC

Superhuman strength... Supernatural powers... And the awesome ability to fly. Throughout history, mankind has told incredible tales of gods with extraordinary powers. But are these accounts merely tall tales, or could they be based on factual events? If mythical gods really did exist, were they, as ancient astronaut theorists believe, extraterrestrial beings? And could this help to explain the enduring popularity of gods, titans and other so-called "super-heroes"? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Hindu scripture describes an enormous flying creature called a Garuda that shook the ground when it landed on Earth. Is it possible that this monster was actually a misinterpreted alien craft? Are hybrids like the Centaur, the Minotaur and Medusa just mythical creatures of fantasy--or could these ancient depictions of terrifying monsters have been the result of advanced extraterrestrial transplantation procedures? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

What really happened in Roswell, New Mexico in the summer of 1947? Did a flying saucer crash in the vast desert scrubland? The initial Army Air Force press release claimed they had recovered a flying disk. But a day later, the story dramatically changed--now they called it a weather balloon! In 1987, secret documents surfaced indicating the existence of the "Majestic 12"--an elite group of scientists and military and intelligence officials, allegedly brought together by President Harry Truman. Did the MJ-12 truly exist? If so, did these men forever trivialize the most talked-about UFO event in history, as well as all UFO sightings thereafter? TVPG VL | CC

At 4.6 billion years old, the Solar System is our solid, secure home in the Universe. But how did it come to be? In this episode we trace the system's birth from a thin cloud of dust and gas. Shocked by a nearby supernova, the pull of gravity and natural rotation spun it into a flat disc from which the Sun and planets coalesced. It all happened in the space of 700 million years, during which the planets jockeyed for position, dodging the brutal bombardment of deadly asteroids and setting into the neat, stable system that we now realize might be a rarity in the universe. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

It may seem like seem like science fiction, but the cosmos isn't just something way out there. Many times in human history, objects or forces from space have changed the course of life on earth. Many believe an asteroid played a role in the fall of the Roman Empire...and millennia earlier another asteroid might have been the "fire and brimstone" that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

An exploration of Earth's cosmic neighborhood. Looking beyond the borders of our solar system, what's nearby in our galaxy? How do the other objects in our local area influence life on Earth? And, how did Earth's place in the galaxy make it the perfect place for the development of advanced life? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Take another look at ancient texts that were edited out of the Bible. Are they the missing links to Christ's true teachings, or heretical attempts to rewrite history? Explore the kabalistic stories of angels and demons disavowed by orthodox leaders, and the apocalyptic visions and the sexual imagery that were barred from the Old Testament. Why was Peter's account of a "Lord of The Rings"-style battle of wits and magic repressed by Rome? With discoveries being made all across the world--in caves, ruined temples, ancient libraries and monasteries--these tantalizing fragments continue to be found and debated. Are they heresy or hidden truth? TVPG VL | CC

For generations, Alaska has exerted a powerful pull as the place to head for a job like no other; work that promises the adventure of a lifetime, the chance to strike it rich, and the very real prospect of never making it back alive. Plying their trades on America's last frontier, soldiers, Coast Guard crewmen, bush pilots, and truckers all work for the same boss from hell: a dangerous territory full of the most inhospitable weather and extreme terrain on earth. Even today, Alaska boasts four of the country's top 10 most dangerous jobs. We'll feature dramatic stories of four killer jobs from the last 150 years of Alaskan history and experience what it takes to survive and thrive in this intense and harsh climate by riding along with today's workers and hearing from old-timers who forged the way. And we'll weave in the traditions, technology, and tools that can mean the difference between life and death in Alaska's killer jobs. TVPG VL | CC

Take a look at the technology of cold. Think your home freezer is "cool"? Try spending some time in a 12-story unit filled with 135 million pounds of ice cream. Enter Arctic vaults that store millions of different seeds and learn how scientists have mastered temperatures of -200 degrees F and below. Explore how the cold not only preserves and chills, but also shatters rubber tires, strengthens steel, and fuels rockets. Finally, visit Alcor, where researchers keep cadavers on ice in hopes of future revival. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

For years, people have claimed to have had direct, personal contact with an alien. In this episode of our series, the team tracks down several people who claim to have had such contact. They'll also work along side medical and scientific professionals to try and discover what, if anything, really happed to these people. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

For years, the team has been tracking an elusive prey only seen at night--ships, shaped like triangles, impossibly huge, and videotaped over cities around the world. But are they ours, or theirs? The team investigates numerous UFO sightings that have recently been reported in Sonora, California, a charming old West town nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range nicknamed Triangle Alley. What makes these sightings so compelling are rare daytime footage of triangles in flight. This footage will be digitally analyzed to determine if these are indeed UFOs and not military jets. The team will also visit Texas to speak to military experts and witnesses to compelling triangle sightings. It's speculated that these triangle craft have been visiting us for centuries. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

On October 26, 1994, the U.S. government made their first official acknowledgement of Area 51. Six months later, nearly 4,000 acres of previously public land surrounding the base were closed. Now, over a decade later, satellite photos reveal new buildings, towers and runways finishing construction. Secret flights with blacked-out windows bring passengers from Las Vegas. And security surrounding the perimeter of the base is tighter than ever. The team heads to the epicenter of UFO and military conspiracy theories to visit new vantage points, speak with former base employees, and search the skies above America's most top-secret facility. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

A television news helicopter loses control over Brooklyn, New York, breaks into pieces and crash lands onto a rooftop. Everything is caught on tape. Watch as an Iowa cameraman and his brother find themselves rescuing their neighbors as a twister rips apart 40 homes. Next, disaster strikes as a Navy bomb is fired from a fighter...and hits another Navy plane. Then, as his family watches, a farmer bulldozes a 50-foot-tall silo down on top of himself. Witness one of the most spectacular accidents in the history of drag racing as a car hits the rail at 280 miles an hour, explodes into a fireball and disintegrates. And a fireworks factory explodes in Devon, England as the entire tiny town takes cover. TVPG VL | CC

Pilot Ben Moore manages to survive a nose first helicopter crash while trying to lift a 3,400 pound air conditioning cooling tower off a building. Next three young men attempt to drive through a flooded wash during a torrential rain storm. Considered the worst crash in Pro-Stock racing history, watch as driver Bruce Allen loses control of his racer and drives directly into Kenny Koretsky's lane. Then Hurricane Iniki, the most powerful storm to ever hit the Hawaiian Islands, pummels the island of Kauai with 200 mile an hour winds. Finally, as the U.S.S. Kittyhawk takes part in war games off the coast of Japan, one fighter comes in to low and clips the ship's stern--the plane explodes and the pilot parachutes directly into the fire. TVPG VL | CC

The fate of mankind's machinery of war: a sunken nuclear missile explodes, Pearl Harbor comes under renewed attacks, snow causes urban avalanches, and dairy cows are threatened. Featuring Denver, Hawaii, and a mysterious abandoned island near New York City. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

An horde of toxins and chemicals are unleashed in a world without people. Deadly gases turn lakes and rivers into acid. An abandoned town in America's heartland provides a glimpse into this dim future. Without man's help, Niagara Falls has a surprising fate. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

In recent years the destructive power of natural disasters has been recorded--from Hurricane Katrina to the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan. Serial Killer Earth brings together a top team of experts to examine the most compelling footage from news and home video, as well as hear from eyewitness testimony in order to explain, understand and inform viewers of what actually happened during these disasters and how they compare and contrast with the most historic natural disasters of the past. In this episode, a massive tornado rips through a Midwestern town, destroying everything in it's path. Mother Nature unleashes a giant wall of snow in Canada and sends a monster tsunami into southeast Asia, killing two hundred and eighty three thousand people. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

A deadly, slithering menace is taking over Florida and may be heading north. For more than 100 years, giant pythons have been discovered in parts of the Sunshine State, but since Hurricane Andrew in 1992, their territory has rapidly spread. Now, MonsterQuest searches for incursions in the outskirts of Miami, a population hotspot that is just moments from schools and homes. The team investigates whether pythons could hybridize and adapt, enabling them to threaten every state in the US. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

The most compelling evidence for the creature known as Bigfoot may be the increasing close encounters that are frightening witnesses in rural America. Historic stories have told of violent interactions that range from objects being thrown to frightening abductions by hairy beasts. As extraordinary as these stories sound, people continue to recount physical interactions with creatures that they cannot explain. Witnesses from Minnesota and Washington State have all had frightening run-ins with the monsters while driving; another witness in rural Indiana talks with terror of the night that he was grabbed by something very powerful out in a forest. MonsterQuest will investigate whether witness are seeing known animal or the same Bigfoot creature that has been spoken of throughout history. MonsterQuest employs polygraph examinations, DNA analysis and bite force tests to discover what monster is turning up its aggression. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Superhuman strength... Supernatural powers... And the awesome ability to fly. Throughout history, mankind has told incredible tales of gods with extraordinary powers. But are these accounts merely tall tales, or could they be based on factual events? If mythical gods really did exist, were they, as ancient astronaut theorists believe, extraterrestrial beings? And could this help to explain the enduring popularity of gods, titans and other so-called "super-heroes"? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Two men sharing startling visions of the future possess distinctly different backgrounds: Michel de Nostradamus was a French apothecary and healer in the 16th century; he would become the most famous seer in history. His 21st century counterpart is Dr. Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, a renowned political scientist who teaches game theory at New York University and Stanford. While Nostradamus looked to the stars and mysticism to divine his apocalyptic revelations, Dr. Bueno de Mesquita relies on the most omnipotent tool ever designed by man to predict future events: the computer. This special explores not only the commonalities of these men's visions about World War III, famine and the coming of the Anti-Christ, but it also traces the evolution from mysticism to hard math, and determines whether science has always existed in prophecy, manifesting itself in different forms through the ages. TVPG VL | CC

Not long ago South Africa stood poised on the edge of anarchy. The flames of violence threatened to engulf a nation that had already fought long and hard against the brutal burden of Apartheid. Massacres and assassinations unleashed a storm of angry recriminations that thundered over the land and echoed in the empty negotiating halls where peace talks had stalled. But, just over a year later, the country was celebrating its first, fully democratic election that culminated in the joyful inauguration of President Nelson Mandela. They achieved the unimaginable: a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world. This is the remarkable story of South Africa's transition to democracy, a singular achievement that astounded and inspired the world. Includes personal anecdotes from world leaders, local and global celebrities who tell of their small, but valuable contributions to the liberation of South Africa and her people. TVPG VL | CC

The Alaska Ocean is the largest factory-fishing boat in the US fleet. The crew's mission: hunt down, catch and process 300 tons of Alaskan Pollock each day on the unforgiving waters of the Bering Sea. We travel with them on the last voyage of a long and grueling season. The crew reveals the inner workings of one of the most sophisticated and complex vessels afloat. It is half fishing boat, half floating factory, processing and flash freezing Alaskan Pollock as fast as its crew can catch it. To meet their seasonal quota of Pollock, the crew must overcome obstacles of weather, mechanical dangers aboard the sea-tossed ship and the wiliness of the fish themselves. Captain Scott Symonds takes us inside the amazing ultra-modern world of high stakes commercial fishing where a wrong decision on his part can cost not just the season's catch, but also the lives of his crew. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Our 49th state is one tough terrain. In the air, on the ground--and deep beneath it--survival here requires an amazing array of technological innovations. From buildings to highways, brutal winters to bug-infested summers, this unforgiving landscape demands creative work-arounds. And then there's the constant threat of natural disasters...tsunami, anyone? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

It's the most popular fish in the American diet. From the school lunch box--to the high end sushi bar--to the outdoor barbecue, tuna crosses all demographic lines. We'll go fishing with the men who risk their lives to bring in a haul, stop in at Bumble Bee, the only major tuna cannery still operating in America, and visit the world's largest fish market in Tokyo, where a single tuna can sell for as much as $100,000. We'll also explore worldwide efforts to save the giant bluefin tuna, which has been over-fished to a point of peril. Then we'll head to sea with scientists who track the tunas' inter-oceanic migrations, and travel to South Australia, where entrepreneurs seek to breed the mighty bluefin in captivity. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Angkor Wat, Cambodia, is the world's largest ancient religious temple. Within its megalithic ruins, researches have discovered a depiction of a species of dinosaur--a stegosaurus. But how could the ancients have had knowledge of animals that mainstream science says died out millions of years ago? Why are dinosaurs extinct? Did an alien race of beings kill off the dinosaurs to make room for humankind? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

At nearly 14,000 years old, the ruins of Puma Punku are the oldest and most baffling on the face of the Earth. No one knows who designed and built this complex of sophisticated inter-locking blocks, and then vanished. Researchers investigate the ruins on-location in Peru and present new computer analyses. Forensic evidence on the ground, together with local myths and legends, suggest this site may have been designed and even once inhabited by a species of extraterrestrials. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

In 1975, Travis Walton claims to have been abducted and taken aboard a space ship inhabited by extraterrestrial beings. Several people witnessed his encounter and nearly 40 years later Walton's story of alien abduction, missing time and mind-telepathy manipulation has not wavered. But researchers say that abductions are not a modern phenomenon. The Hebrew Bible is filled with stories of abductions by otherworldly beings. Jonah, Moses, Ezekiel and Enoch all depict what can best be described as physically being taken to other dimensions and then returned. Is it possible that extraterrestrial beings have been abducting humans for thousands of years and if so, might there be an alien agenda behind the phenomena? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

They were the bad boys of popular music in the 1960's. But contrary to the usual stories, Frank Sinatra had nothing to do with starting the Rat Pack, Dean Martin was never really drunk to begin with, and Judy Garland wanted Sinatra so badly she stalked him. Author and historian David Eisenbach brings you all the cool details. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

The OK Corral was the site of the world's most famous Wild West gunfight. But the shootout didn't actually happen at the OK Corral, Wyatt Earp was more of a pimp than a lawman, and Doc Holliday didn't die with his boots on. Historian David Eisenbach heads straight to the scene of the crime to unearth what you don't know about the gunfight at the OK Corral. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Mormons built a politically powerful religion based on family, faith and clean living. But they also built Las Vegas, they owned brothels, and they copied some of their rituals from the Freemasons. These are just some of the secrets author and Historian David Eisenbach uncovers. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Caligula was a notoriously sadistic Roman Emperor with a wanton disregard for life. Roman citizens, even those with money and power of their own, lived in fear of Caligula's cruelty. In this episode, historian David Eisenbach reveals that Caligula also walked on water, played craps to make Rome rich, and engaged in incest with his own sisters. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Abraham Lincoln was the steady hand of leadership during the Civil War, only to be gunned down in his prime at Ford's Theater. Outspoken historian David Eisenbach delves into Lincoln's private life and reveals that the Great Emancipator was a racist, had trouble with women and actually enjoyed sleeping with men. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Benjamin Franklin was a multi-talented American founding father--but he also owned slaves, frequented sex clubs and was a suspected serial killer. In this episode of our new series, maverick historian David Eisenbach uncovers little-known details of Franklin's past, shedding new light on Franklin's eccentric behaviors and how they enabled him to help save the American Revolution. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Adolph Hitler was history's most notorious anti-Semite, so hell-bent on world domination that his Nazi war machine inflicted death and destruction on millions of innocent victims. Historian David Eisenbach reveals that Hitler had been homeless, that he feared sex with women and was a child of incest. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Around the world, archaeologists are uncovering artifacts that suggest the existence of previously unknown ancient civilizations, much like the mythical city of Atlantis. There is a growing belief among certain scientists and archeologists that tens of thousands of years ago, before the rise of today's man, sophisticated human societies populated large cities that possibly featured mechanized transportation, electricity, and advanced weapons systems. Proponents of this theory believe that these civilizations were wiped off the planet and that the evidence now lies buried miles beneath the Earth's surface. This two-hour special will investigate these beliefs and uncover the truth about people who lived before the beginning of recorded time. TVPG VL | CC

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

People on every continent have claimed to see the footprints of Bigfoot. And ancient myths and legends speak of an ape-like giant stalking the earth. What if, as Ancient Astronaut theorists believe, there is evidence to connect Bigfoot with an alien species that once visited Earth in the distant past? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Why were ancient civilizations around the world so focused on the Orion constellation? While scientists site many earthly connections, researchers suggest this point in the night sky may have been a so-called Stargate, or entry point, for alien life forms. If extraterrestrials have been visiting Earth for thousands of years, might they have originated from the Orion Nebula? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

The Newport Tower is considered by many to be the most mysterious structure in the United States. Some people think it's a colonial era windmill or perhaps all that's left of an early water tower, but Scott Wolter is convinced it's something far more significant. Because of the archaeoastonomy and solstice illuminations that take place inside of the meticulously planned stone structure, he believes the Knights Templar came to America and built it centuries ago. Now, he's dead set on proving his theory. While planning an elaborate laser light show designed to illustrate the Tower's miraculous features, Scott discovers something else significant that ties this structure--and the Templar's modern day initiates--to one of America's most visited and most treasured icons. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

A rapid-fire history of our world, from the beginning of time as we know it to present day. This two-hour CGI-driven special delves into the key turning points: the formation of earth, emergence of life, spread of man and the growth of civilization--and reveals their surprising connections to our world today. TVPG VL | CC