The History Channel

Rubber, Plastic, Nylon, Aerosols, Resins, Solvents, and Lubricants--none can exist without oil. If we stopped driving our cars tomorrow, America would still need five million barrels of oil a day. Visit Vulcan Materials, where oil tanks are emptied into massive double-barrel mixers to make asphalt and then continue to the Rolls Royce Aerospace Facility where complex jet fuels are blended. Travel back to the 1870's to see how an unemployed whale oil salesman turned a greasy oil-drilling by-product into a household staple: Vaseline. Finally discover how cutting-edge recycling techniques can breathe new life into used motor oil, and where a number of renewable fuels and technologies take aim at oil sovereignty. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

It's full steam ahead when we drop in at Jay Leno's garage as Jay fires up two of his classic steam cars and takes viewers for a couple of rides. Jay also shows off his 11-ton steam engine built in 1860, back when pigs had to be slaughtered to keep it lubricated. In northern Nevada, fire up a coal burning boiler and get a 100-year-old steam locomotive chugging across the rugged landscape. In New Orleans, board an authentic paddlewheel steamboat. Trek to the Southern California desert where geothermal steam rushes up from the ground and drives electricity producing turbines, powering over 300,000 homes. In New York City, find out why manmade steam surges into some of the world's most famous skyscrapers. Steam clean some very dirty machines, and do a little laundry, too. And ride a steam-driven carousel and play with some strange, steam-powered robots that are part of a movement called--what else--"steampunk." TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Celebrate the animal that helped man change the world--the horse. Take a look behind-the-scenes at the thoroughbred racing industry in Lexington, Kentucky. Visit state-of-the-art veterinary clinics and breeding farms that provide everything from arthroscopic surgery to "bachelor-padded" breeding sheds. See how a Colorado prison proves that both wild horses and inmates change for the better when paired up as part of a Mustang protection program. Learn the different ways that cultures have used horses throughout the ages and finally, see why French Canadian connoisseurs think horse tenderloin means fine dining. 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

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

Modern Marvels is going big, and counting down. We take the "best of" Modern Marvels and give you the MEGA Top 10 countdown. On this edition, the top ten guilty pleasures you just can't resist... America's Favorite Foods. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

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

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

It is America's most 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

Unearthly visitations... Heavenly messengers... Close encounters... Accounts of humans interacting with celestial beings have existed since the beginning of mankind. Many of these encounters resulted in moral, philosophical and artistic inspirations. But did these contacts involve ethereal beings from heaven or extraterrestrials from other worlds? Are holy books the word of God, or guidebooks passed down by more advanced civilizations? Who told Joan of Arc how to defeat the English Army--saints or extraterrestrials? Could a young boy from India have learned advanced mathematical formulas from a Hindu goddess? What message did an American serviceman receive while touching an alien aircraft? If the Ancient astronaut theory is correct, then are beings from other worlds communicating with us for our benefit... or theirs? Just what is the purpose of these alien contacts? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Ancient underwater cities can be found around the globe, but could these aquatic worlds be the ruins of unknown civilizations--or even proof of extraterrestrial visitations? The infamous tale of the long lost city of Atlantis may be a preserved memory of an ancient alien metropolis. Beneath Lake Titicaca in Peru, the ruins of recently discovered temples support local legends of an underwater UFO base. Ancient Indian texts, known as Sangams, describe sunken cities where aliens and humans intermingled thousands of years ago. Who could have built the 600-foot stepped stone structure off the coast of Japan--a site that may predate the Egyptian pyramids by thousands of years? Could evidence of ancient alien contact lie buried in Earth's deepest oceans? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

The office of the President of the United States was designed to operate with greater transparency than any other world-leader... but how much do we really know about what goes on behind the doors of the Oval Office? This episode looks beyond the headlines to uncover the real stories behind the greatest White House scandals. What was President Nixon really trying to hide with the Watergate break-in? How much did President Reagan know about Iran-Contra? Why did Sandy Berger, President Clinton's National Security Advisor, remove documents from the National Archive? Did the Obama Administration know more about the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi than they let on? Former presidential advisors, historians, and journalists will reveal how much secrecy exists within the White House and what methods presidents use to cover up their actions or establish "plausible deniability." TVPG VL | CC Show Site

They are secretly stalking America's streets and highways, hiding in plain sight and compelled by one simple motive: the thrill of taking another person's life. Since the 1970s, the United States has produced an estimated 1,400 serial killers--more than double the combined total of the rest of the world. What causes a seemingly normal human being to engage in serial acts of murder? This episode uncovers the psychological, biological and sociological make-up of these dangerous murderers. Why do they kill? How can they be identified and stopped before they strike? Former FBI profiler Clint Van Zandt, criminal psychologists Eric Hickey and Helen Morrison, journalists, scientists and law enforcement experts reveal the secret motives of serial killers like "BTK Killer" Dennis Rader and Jeffrey Dahmer--and explain why Ted Bundy, Donald Harvey "The Angel of Death" an the "Grim Sleeper" Lonnie Franklin Jr. were able to evade capture for years while they amassed a shocking number of victims. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

No club in America is more secretive than the Hells Angels. Members are forbidden to publically discuss their biker brotherhood and others who have "insider" information are too afraid to talk... until now. Get the real story about the Hells Angels from all sides--from motorcycle world insiders to club infiltrators to law enforcement officials. Special Agent, Jay Dobyns, exposes the shocking reasons why he feels the U.S. government is failing in the war against motorcycle clubs. Charles Falco, a government informant now in the Witness Protection Program, divulges the secrets he learned about the Hells Angels during the time he spent as an undercover outlaw motorcycle gang member. How were the Hells Angels able to transform themselves from a small crew of California bikers, dedicated to booze and babes, to an international criminal syndicate--one the FBI says poses a threat to six continents and a corporation worth millions of dollars? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

From conquering the depths of the oceans to defending the freedoms of the seas--ancient man pushed the technological boundaries to the limits in the mega battle for the oceans. New discoveries will reveal how an ancient destroyer rammed its way to victory in one of the most significant battles in human history. In Denmark, a team of divers build and test the world's first ever deep sea diving suit that was designed 350 years before the history books tell us it was possible to walk along the seabed. Can CSI science unravel the mystery of a time traveling ghost ship? And in a groundbreaking sea cannon experiment, naval experts will discover how a 16th century war fleet blasted their way to victory against an enemy armada seven miles wide, without the loss of a single ship. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Discover the ancient Roman navy SEAL technique of capturing enemy ships from underwater and replicate the feat with a champion free-diver who will work with ancient tools underwater on one breath for six minutes. We attempt to solve one of History's greatest mysteries, the tactics of ancient Roman war dog units; we meet a historically savage breed of dog--the Mastiff--that may have been used on the battlefields of antiquity. Learn the secrets of the samurai sword--how it was made and how it became the most legendary blade in History. Finally, we build and test an ancient Horro--a Japanese device that could protect a galloping cavalryman from arrow fire, yet was only made from a billowing layer of thin silk. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Sex is one of the most powerful human needs and many people have tried to harness its power for their own gain. But those attempts often backfire. From Jack Parsons, an American rocket scientist who thought he could harness the power of sex, to Thomas Jefferson's attempt to trap Alexander Hamilton in an affair, find out what happens when basic instincts back fire. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Across borders, cultures and time, food is one thing that all people share. And from the time of the caveman to today's spaceman we like our food to go. While the burger and fries reign supreme in the world of fast food, grub on the go has taken us way past the drive-thru. Quick eats like beef jerky have allowed us to explore new frontiers and pocket-sized portables like protein bars enable us to push our bodies to the limit, no matter the conditions. Fueled by pizza, we have burned the midnight oil, and from the battleground (MREs) to the final frontier (space food,) food is always along for the ride. This is the countdown of fast foods that takes us back, propels us forward, and sometimes even gazes into the future (the fortune cookie.) TVPG VL | CC

Food fight! Time to take sides in America's greatest ongoing food rivalries. Who makes the best cheese steak in Philly? The most authentic clam chowder? Watch and decide! Plus, we attempt to resolve the L.A. French Dip riot that's been raging for over a century. TVPG VL | CC

What's the food whose very name makes American's smile? Cheese! We celebrate cheese in all its forms, and find there's almost nothing Americans won't sprinkle it on top of or stuff it into. We meet legions of lactose-tolerant artisans who've built a life around cheese, and say "Moo" to the happiest cows on Earth. TVPG VL | CC

Gunny pulls the trigger on pistols--and takes aim at handgun history with vintage flintlock dueling pistols to modern day, rapid firing machine pistols. Amazing high-speed photography captures multiple ballistics tests designed to observe the course of a bullet's flight and its impact. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Gunny explores the history of armored vehicles--the steel plated, multi tasking vehicles designed to do everything from carry troops to field reconnaissance to bringing their own brand of firepower to the battlefield. Featured armored vehicles include: The M8 Greyhound; the German 251 Halftrack; the Bradley Fighting Vehicle; and the high-tech MRAPS, designed to protect our troops from IED's and roadside bombs. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Gunny explores the history of shotguns--from a 17th century Blunderbuss to the modern day, gas-assisted M4 Super 90. Along the way, he "rides shotgun" on a stage coach as he tests a Wells Fargo Coach Gun; fires the groundbreaking shotguns of legendary gun designer John Browning; tests his skeet shooting skills against Olympic Gold medalist markswoman Kim Rhode; and heads to Camp Pendleton to check out the Marines' state-of-the-art shotguns. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Gunny explores the history of the weapons that ruled the world for thousands of years before guns came. Featured weapons include: English Long Bow vs. Medieval Crossbow--Gunny tests out the armor piercing power of these legendary weapons; the Roman Pilum--Gunny tests out the Roman throwing spear that helped create an empire, and explores its surprising and revolutionary design; the Lance--Gunny trains on the cavalry spear that roamed the battlefields from Medieval times all the way to WWI; and Gunny gives us a detailed exploration of the tech and design behind swords from ancient Bronze to the Japanese Samurai sword to today's modern day bayonet, still being used by military around the world. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

It is the most personal yet ubiquitous weapon of all time. It has evolved from a crude ballistic pipe to a fifteen-rounds-per-second jet of bullets. It is the rifle--and R. Lee Ermey is taking a second shot at this battlefield boomstick! Gunny gets hands-on with America's most proven and famous firearms--like the M1 Garand, 1853 Enfield and the 1903 Springfield. Plus, advanced 3D graphics take us deep inside the workings of rifles. Gunny also tests which rifles were the greatest through history. Comparing weapons like the American M16 and Soviet AK-47...in a cold war shoot out! You will also meet the experts, engineers and warriors who use these weapons, as Gunny crosses America to show you the engineering evolution that lead to today's rifle. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

In 1942, Hitler demands a silent, deadly weapon that is capable of completely destroying London in a matter of days. At a top-secret facility, young physicist Wernher von Braun complies, creating the world's first supersonic rocket-powered delivery system. Armed with a warhead, von Braun's V2 rockets become Hitler's last hope and the world's first ballistic missile. The "V" stands for vengeance--and Hitler plans to rain down thousands of V2s every day on the Allies. Hitler believes his V2 arsenal will change the course of WWII. Join us as we explore history's fusion of man, moment, and machine--the life of von Braun, his incredible invention, Hitler's plan to destroy London, and with war's end imminent, von Braun's hidden treasure of technical documents and carefully planned surrender to the Americans. Hosted by former Navy "Top Gun" pilot Hunter Ellis. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

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

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

Informational programming. TVPG VL | CC

On a pilgrimage of weird worship, hosts Mark Sceurman and Mark Moran begin with America's birth and pious exiles seeking refuge. In California, they meet a man who spent the last 20 years building a shrine to Jesus from car parts, tires, adobe, and more than 100,000 gallons of paint. In Iowa, they visit "The Grotto of the Redemption", a huge monument handmade from rocks and semi-precious stones. In Florida, they stop at one of America's earliest cults--the Koreshan Unity Movement, which maintained life was lived on the inside, not the outside, of planet Earth. Returning to California, they visit the UNARIUS Academy of Science, where it's taught that past-life regression, channeling messages from other worlds, and impending contact with "space brothers" will help us achieve enlightenment. TVPG VL | CC

Most are aware of the historical significance and grave costs of rebellion in America that made our country what it is for better and worse. But US history is also full of lesser-known plots to rebel, revolt, and subvert the government, and they're kind of weird as hosts Mark Sceurman and Mark Moran learn. They uncover the story of US history's one and only emperor; wade through cutlasses, treasure, and talking severed heads on the trail of one of America's original rebels, the pirate Blackbeard; and visit a fledgling nation--complete with its own passports and government. Our two Marks trek the country in search of bizarre, unexplained, or just plain zany stories that somehow flew under the radar screen of American History. TVPG VL | CC

If you thought our borders were set in stone, you'd be wrong. Who stole a corner of Washington, DC? Is Ohio actually a state? And why isn't St. Louis our nation's capital? One thing's for sure -- our map could look very different. How did we create order out of so much chaos? With the vote. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Could a killer earthquake strike America's heartland? If history proves true, the answer is yes. The 1811-1812 New Madrid Earthquakes (centered in southeast Missouri) rank as some of North America's most catastrophic natural disasters. Stretching more than 160 miles, a system of earthquake faults lurks beneath the Mississippi River basin, loaded and ready to erupt. And it's happened before. Pioneer residents of New Madrid, Missouri were thrown from their beds in the early hours of December 16, 1811 when an estimated 8-point earthquake hit. But it wasn't just one event. Multiple shocks were experienced over the next three months--the largest caused the Mississippi to flow backwards. No earthquake sequence has lasted so long, produced so many shocks, nor created such astonishing phenomena on land and water. The New Madrid Fault remains a seismically active area and experts expect a repeat. The only question is when... TVPG VL | CC Show Site

A controversial scientific theory states that gigantic eruptions of methane gas from deep in the ocean have occurred regularly throughout history. Although a global-scale methane eruption today is highly unlikely, there may be stagnant, oxygen-poor basins in the ocean where methane might accumulate. Even a small explosion could cause a catastrophe. Imagine what would happen if such an event occurred in the mid-Pacific. Tsunamis would be generated in continuous waves, striking Hawaii and the entire West Coast. Coastal areas would be flooded for miles inland. Methane/water clouds would auto-ignite and the massive fires could cause widespread destruction. Consequences could be global. Whatever humanity survives would be thrown into a Dark Age. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

This island in the middle of San Francisco Bay has a forbidding reputation. Native Americans believed it to be a place of evil spirits. When it became a federal prison in 1934, only the most violent and difficult prisoners in the U.S. were sent there. It was reputed to be escape proof; only three men have ever managed to get off the island. They left in 1962 and have never been found. MysteryQuest investigates to determine whether they could have survived the icy waters of San Francisco Bay. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

The apocalyptic devastation unfolds in the skies. History's most important planes are grounded in a life after people. Air Force One suffers an explosive malfunction. A devastating swarm of locusts returns to the Midwest, and mysterious cargo on the Cassini Satellite could change the universe. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Examine the apocalyptic fate of every home in the world. Gas leaks turn suburbs into infernos; a famous castle is toppled by a hidden flaw. Paint causes some high-end homes to explode in flames. Houses fall from the world tallest apartments to the most crowded complexes. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

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

Meteors, comets, and asteroids cross the solar system to offer clues about our planet and universe. Can they destroy civilizations? Did they wipe out the dinosaurs? Have they brought life to our planet? And when will the next one hit? Aided by elaborate animation and live-action footage, we learn what these mysterious space rocks really are and imagine what likely happened 65-million years ago, when an object plowed into the Yucatan Peninsula. We see how certain spectacular meteor falls advanced our understanding of what they are and the danger that they pose. We talk to leading experts--astronomers and geologists including David Levy and Carolyn Shoemaker, co-discoverers of the Shoemaker-Levy comet that fell into Jupiter in 1994. And we talk to NASA scientists about recent missions to asteroids and comets and speculate on ways to move Earth-threatening asteroids and comets out of our way. Because it isn't a question of if but when the next deadly impact will take place. TVPG VL | CC

The crushing weight of water generates the Underwater Universe's ultimate weapon: Pressure. It has banished humans from much of the world's oceans, only a handful have defied it head on and survived. The deeper man goes, the greater the power of water. The bends, exploding lungs, oxygen toxicity, nitrogen narcosis, and imploding submersibles... Is it possible for anything to survive the deepest place on earth some seven miles down? Answers will surprise. Plunge through five ocean zones, each deadlier than the last, to uncover the mysteries of "Fatal Pressure." TVPG VL | CC

The Seven Wonders of the World were a celebration of religion, mythology, art, power, and science. They were built by the ancients in a time before Christ and their scale and majesty continues to mesmerize us today. The structures were created on a scale that's hard to imagine, and their architects pushed engineering to a new height which still astounds us today. TVPG VL | CC

The construction of the "unsinkable" Titanic needed an army of workers and the resources of a purpose-built town complete with an array of specially built docks and facilities to construct it. This is the forgotten story of Belfast's "Titanic Town." TVPG VL | CC

Surgeries, amputations, prescription medicine, fertility and contraception...all the things we associate with the practice of modern medicine were actually introduced by the ancient Egyptians more than 5,000 years ago. Host Michael Guillen takes us to the temple of Kom Ombo where surgical instruments dating back to 2500 BC can be plainly seen, carved on the temple wall. He conducts an experiment comparing the sharpness of ancient obsidian scalpels to modern, surgical steel ones. Watch as we test the accuracy of an ancient Egyptian pregnancy test. The picture that emerges is one of amazing medical treatments being practiced by an ancient civilization without any knowledge of germs or bacteria. TVPG VL | CC

Mining the earth for coal, erecting drilling rigs for oil and natural gas, and smelting iron ore are all fundamentals of the modern industrialized world, but they are nothing new. Travel to China to explore the origins and use of these vital resources more than 2000 years ago. Host Michael Guillen explores the site of ancient drilling rigs that drilled for gas centuries before anyone else. We explore the modern science of "geobotany" using vegetation to tell us what is in the earth beneath, and how the Chinese pioneered this. TVPG VL | CC

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

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

What secrets are hiding in our map? What's behind the "blank spots" like Area 51? What possessed the citizens of Key West to throw down their margaritas and secede from Florida? And even in the heartland, there are those living on the edge -- in Kansas, old missile bunkers are now five bedroom dream homes. And what about the county in Georgia that was left off the state's quarter? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

JFK brought Camelot to Washington and forever cemented the Kennedy name in the political sphere. But he was also a courier in Nazi Germany, a body builder and was seriously addicted to danger. Maverick historian David Eisenbach will uncovers these and more little-known details about the life of John F. Kennedy. 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

On a pilgrimage of weird worship, hosts Mark Sceurman and Mark Moran begin with America's birth and pious exiles seeking refuge. In California, they meet a man who spent the last 20 years building a shrine to Jesus from car parts, tires, adobe, and more than 100,000 gallons of paint. In Iowa, they visit "The Grotto of the Redemption", a huge monument handmade from rocks and semi-precious stones. In Florida, they stop at one of America's earliest cults--the Koreshan Unity Movement, which maintained life was lived on the inside, not the outside, of planet Earth. Returning to California, they visit the UNARIUS Academy of Science, where it's taught that past-life regression, channeling messages from other worlds, and impending contact with "space brothers" will help us achieve enlightenment. TVPG VL | CC

Best-selling author Brad Meltzer and his team dig into one of the Civil War's most enduring legends: that millions of dollars' worth of missing gold and silver from the Confederate treasury are still buried in secret hiding places across America. According the legend, the only way to find that buried treasure is to decode cryptic signs and symbols left behind by a shadowy Confederate group known as the Knights of the Golden Circle. Brad and the Decoded team join veteran treasure hunter Bob Brewer, whose lifetime effort to understand the KGC's secret code paid off when he uncovered a small fortune in buried Confederate coins. Bob soon shows just how well he understands those codes as he and the team follow KGC clues to the location of another possible treasure trove. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Does Mount Rushmore, one of America's greatest icons of Democracy have a more sinister meaning? Buddy, Mac and Scott travel to Big Sky country to decode the intended message possibly hidden within this great American symbol. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Could a killer earthquake strike America's heartland? If history proves true, the answer is yes. The 1811-1812 New Madrid Earthquakes (centered in southeast Missouri) rank as some of North America's most catastrophic natural disasters. Stretching more than 160 miles, a system of earthquake faults lurks beneath the Mississippi River basin, loaded and ready to erupt. And it's happened before. Pioneer residents of New Madrid, Missouri were thrown from their beds in the early hours of December 16, 1811 when an estimated 8-point earthquake hit. But it wasn't just one event. Multiple shocks were experienced over the next three months--the largest caused the Mississippi to flow backwards. No earthquake sequence has lasted so long, produced so many shocks, nor created such astonishing phenomena on land and water. The New Madrid Fault remains a seismically active area and experts expect a repeat. The only question is when... TVPG VL | CC Show Site

The U.S. Bullion Depository, better known as Fort Knox, is home of the United States Army and one of the world's most top secret fortresses. Hidden deep inside the vault is an estimated $73 billion dollars in gold. Almost all information about it is classified. Through interviews with eyewitnesses, rare photos and rarely seen films, we will construct a picture of what the building might look like. Hear testimony of those journalists and congressmen who were among the select few invited inside in 1974. Discover the history and secrets behind the Army's tank warfare and the classified military technologies it will use to fight the wars of the future. TVPG VL | CC

The apocalyptic devastation unfolds in the skies. History's most important planes are grounded in a life after people. Air Force One suffers an explosive malfunction. A devastating swarm of locusts returns to the Midwest, and mysterious cargo on the Cassini Satellite could change the universe. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Scientists are continually challenged by unidentified strains of bacteria with mysterious origins. Could some of our most crippling plagues and epidemics be traced to the darkest voids of space--or even extraterrestrial intervention? During the Black Death of the Middle Ages, people reported bronze flying ships emitting a strange mist. As recently as 2011, NASA scientist Richard Hoover published evidence of life in meteorites. Is it possible that ancient aliens--as small as microbes--have shaped human history? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Mysterious legends and crumbling ruins are all that is left of our planet's lost worlds. But could there be proof of ancient alien visitors hidden among the artifacts of civilizations that have long vanished? Strange carvings suggest the Mayan city of Copan was ruled by the descendants of otherworldly beings. And some believe the ancient Nazca people altered their bodies--and their lands--to signal the star gods to return. Are the astounding accomplishments of lost civilizations merely the products of ancient folklore--or could they have been something... out of this world? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Known as "the Mind of the Renaissance", this amazing artist, scientist, and inventor envisioned flying machines, submarines, parachutes, armored cars, and multi-barreled guns centuries before their time. His mysterious painting the Mona Lisa still moves us and his fresco The Last Supper remains an icon of faith. His secretly recorded dissection of human bodies that brought accusations of consorting with Satan led to the early understandings of human anatomy. Against a backdrop of 15th-century Italian opulence, intrigue, and corruption, he navigated through the glittering palaces of merchant princes. The bastard son of a notary in the town of Vinci, Leonardo couldn't even take his father's name, but sensed that he must develop a way to overcome the limitations of illegitimacy. And so a code emerged, a pattern of decision-making that evolved throughout his life, enabling him to become the greatest of men in a time of great men--a mind above all others. 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

With Americans eating more than 85 billion tortillas a year, Mexican Food is very popular. But did you know that a donkey is a key to great tequila? Ever wondered how many times they refry refried beans? And what do sound waves have to do with guacamole? Watch host Bobby Bognar as he travels south of the border to help an old artist make a classic Mexican cooking dish from volcanic rock. On the high seas, he'll try to keep his cookies in a rough and tumble hunt for mahi mahi. And he'll show us how a fruit that resembles a human brain becomes a classic Mexican after-dinner drink. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Since an influx of Chinese immigrants to America in the mid 1800s, Americans have devoured Chinese take-out. But have you ever wondered what's really in an egg roll? What is the secret ingredient in beef and broccoli? And did you know a fortune cookie can actually make you rich? Host Bobby Bognar is off to the far reaches of America to find some ancient Chinese secrets. From the amount of salt in those hard to open soy sauce packets, to the waxing of Pekin Ducks, it's time for take out ...Chinese style. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

You can fry it up, eat it for breakfast, or quaff it down on a hot summer day. It's the world's most versatile grain: RICE. At last count, there were over 140,000 types--white, brown, long-grain, wild, short-grain, jasmine, Arborio, Basmati, black Thai, sweet, sticky--enough to satisfy any discerning palette. From the mountaintops of Nepal to the fertile fields of California and Arkansas, we'll find out everything there is to know about growing, harvesting and milling this tiny, life saving fare. We'll travel to restaurants and distilleries to experience the delicious creations talented masters whip up. It comes in all the colors of the rainbow, served up everyday in countless dishes. It even brews into alcoholic drinks--sake and beer. We'll also go inside the factories that make Rice Cakes and Rice Krispie Treats to discover how they use RICE to make their "snackable" delights. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

What does it take to turn twenty tons of steel into top-notch vehicles in less than a day? How does a pile of lumber become a million dollar home in a mere week? Every process, from beginning to end, is a unique and incredible adventure. From the fiery birth of high tech golf clubs to the cataclysmic end of old buildings... get ready to race from Start to Finish. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Nikola Tesla's bizarre vision of the future brought him failure, but his genius electrified the world. Travel to Niagara Falls, where in 1893, Tesla installed his new system of Alternating Electrical Current known as AC--the same power we use today. Uncover the forgotten ruins of Tesla's dream experiment---a huge tower on Long Island Sound he hoped would wirelessly power the world. Radar, death rays, invisibility devices and earthquake machines: Tesla claimed to have created them all. More than 100 years ago Tesla foresaw the need for alternative energies like geothermal and solar. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

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

If you thought our borders were set in stone, you'd be wrong. Who stole a corner of Washington, DC? Is Ohio actually a state? And why isn't St. Louis our nation's capital? One thing's for sure -- our map could look very different. How did we create order out of so much chaos? With the vote. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Ever since the Pilgrims boarded the Mayflower, what we believe and how we believe has shaped the American map. Could Utah have been bigger than Texas? How did religion shatter New England into such odd little shapes? And did the Civil War actually begin... in Kansas? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

What secrets are hiding in our map? What's behind the "blank spots" like Area 51? What possessed the citizens of Key West to throw down their margaritas and secede from Florida? And even in the heartland, there are those living on the edge -- in Kansas, old missile bunkers are now five bedroom dream homes. And what about the county in Georgia that was left off the state's quarter? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

JFK brought Camelot to Washington and forever cemented the Kennedy name in the political sphere. But he was also a courier in Nazi Germany, a body builder and was seriously addicted to danger. Maverick historian David Eisenbach will uncovers these and more little-known details about the life of John F. Kennedy. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

This island in the middle of San Francisco Bay has a forbidding reputation. Native Americans believed it to be a place of evil spirits. When it became a federal prison in 1934, only the most violent and difficult prisoners in the U.S. were sent there. It was reputed to be escape proof; only three men have ever managed to get off the island. They left in 1962 and have never been found. MysteryQuest investigates to determine whether they could have survived the icy waters of San Francisco Bay. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

According the official public record, Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his underground bunker as allied troops stormed Berlin at the end of World War II. But no one actually saw him die. No body was ever produced. No photographs were ever taken. Some believe Hitler managed to escape, and for years there were sightings of the former dictator in many parts of the world. Then, in the 1990s the Russians revealed secret evidence taken from Hitler's bunker decades earlier that they said proved he had died there. Among the evidence is a piece of skull. MysteryQuest obtained access to this evidence for testing and the results are startling. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Best-selling author Brad Meltzer and his team dig into one of the Civil War's most enduring legends: that millions of dollars' worth of missing gold and silver from the Confederate treasury are still buried in secret hiding places across America. According the legend, the only way to find that buried treasure is to decode cryptic signs and symbols left behind by a shadowy Confederate group known as the Knights of the Golden Circle. Brad and the Decoded team join veteran treasure hunter Bob Brewer, whose lifetime effort to understand the KGC's secret code paid off when he uncovered a small fortune in buried Confederate coins. Bob soon shows just how well he understands those codes as he and the team follow KGC clues to the location of another possible treasure trove. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

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

Amazingly some of the world records that still stand today were set in the ancient world. The most valuable thing in the ancient world is still the most valuable thing today--2000 dollars per gram! And incredibly it is made from nothing more than rotting shellfish. What was the fastest thing in the ancient world and is it still the fastest man-made machine today? Ancient Discoveries builds a replica of a 2000 year old jet engine. A weapons team finally reveal the only weapon in history that can shoot around corners--and solve a 500 year old debate. Explosives experts reveal that the world's first gun was made of fruit. And on a windswept beach in Britain, can a team of historians and engineers beat the ancient world land speed record? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

The crushing weight of water generates the Underwater Universe's ultimate weapon: Pressure. It has banished humans from much of the world's oceans, only a handful have defied it head on and survived. The deeper man goes, the greater the power of water. The bends, exploding lungs, oxygen toxicity, nitrogen narcosis, and imploding submersibles... Is it possible for anything to survive the deepest place on earth some seven miles down? Answers will surprise. Plunge through five ocean zones, each deadlier than the last, to uncover the mysteries of "Fatal Pressure." TVPG VL | CC

The pull of the moon and spin of the earth generates mighty forces in the oceans that sweep relentlessly around the planet. Four of the Underwater Universe's most powerful tides and currents pose the greatest potential threat to mankind: the Gulf Stream, the extreme tides of England's Morecambe Bay, the killer rip currents of Kauai and finally--biggest of all, one that helped wipe out over 80 percent of all species some 251 million years ago, the Great Ocean Conveyor. How did an ocean current trigger the planet's most devastating mass extinction event? And could it happen again? TVPG VL | CC

Scientists are continually challenged by unidentified strains of bacteria with mysterious origins. Could some of our most crippling plagues and epidemics be traced to the darkest voids of space--or even extraterrestrial intervention? During the Black Death of the Middle Ages, people reported bronze flying ships emitting a strange mist. As recently as 2011, NASA scientist Richard Hoover published evidence of life in meteorites. Is it possible that ancient aliens--as small as microbes--have shaped human history? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

The Battle of the Little Big Horn is one of the most iconic events in American history. It is an amazing story, but until now it has never been fully told. Many questions still remain but one question remains above all the others, did any of Custer's soldiers survive? New evidence suggests that a soldier named August Finkle was the lone survivor of "Custer's Last Stand," a battle that is practically synonymous with "no survivors." His tale of what actually went on in the battle may revise our interpretation of the events of the day. TVPG VL | CC

Follow the soybean from field to refinery with CHS, Inc. as they convert billions of soybeans into vegetable oils, flour, and soy meal. These products, in turn, end up in salad dressings and margarines, baked goods, animal feed and even bio-fuel and plastics. Pay a visit to the Kelley Bean Company which cleans 80,000 pounds of dry beans per day. B & M Baked Beans stirs up some New England tradition by baking beans in steel kettles and brick ovens. Then, Italian chef and bean lover Cesare Casella whips up a few bean dishes using rare heirloom beans, some of which cost $35 per pound. For dessert, Japanese pastry makers prepare traditional bean-based confections with the azuki bean. Fry up some falafel and puree some beans into a paste called hummus with the most widely consumed legume in the world...the chickpea. Last but not least, the makers of Beano explain how it works to prevent that unfortunate bean byproduct: gas. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

An old-fashioned style of cooking, barbecue has evolved into a modern food craze and spawned a multi-billion dollar industry. We digest famous barbecue cook-offs and visit long-established barbecue restaurants like Arthur Bryant's in Kansas City, where the huge grills and taste thrills of true barbecue are more popular than ever. At home, three out of four US households own a grill. After WWII's end, the phenomenon of backyard barbecuing swept the nation, thanks to inexpensive and mass-produced grills, including the kettle-shaped Weber. Our tour of Weber's modern factories shows how they keep pace with demand by manufacturing more choices than ever, including portable mini-grills. We also examine the variety of fuels available for the savory selection of spicy sauces and rubs. Join us as we devour the mouthwatering flavors of BBQ in this episode. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

It is said that the pig is as smart as a three-year-old human. The pancreas, heart valve and intestines of the pig have been transplanted into human bodies, yet the primary use of the pig is for food. Watch the pig transform into bacon, ham, ribs and sausage, using a high tech water knife, at Burger's Smokehouse in Missouri. Then Chef Chris Cosentino re-creates old world dishes from pig parts and culinary artisans attempt to duplicate long-vanished pork specialties like prosciutto and acorn-fed pigs. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

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

What does it take to turn twenty tons of steel into top-notch vehicles in less than a day? How does a pile of lumber become a million dollar home in a mere week? Every process, from beginning to end, is a unique and incredible adventure. From the fiery birth of high tech golf clubs to the cataclysmic end of old buildings... get ready to race from Start to Finish. 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

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

Modern Marvels is going big, and counting down. We take the "best of" Modern Marvels and give you the MEGA Top 10 countdown. On this edition, the top ten guilty pleasures you just can't resist... America's Favorite Foods. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

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

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

It is America's most 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

Unearthly visitations... Heavenly messengers... Close encounters... Accounts of humans interacting with celestial beings have existed since the beginning of mankind. Many of these encounters resulted in moral, philosophical and artistic inspirations. But did these contacts involve ethereal beings from heaven or extraterrestrials from other worlds? Are holy books the word of God, or guidebooks passed down by more advanced civilizations? Who told Joan of Arc how to defeat the English Army--saints or extraterrestrials? Could a young boy from India have learned advanced mathematical formulas from a Hindu goddess? What message did an American serviceman receive while touching an alien aircraft? If the Ancient astronaut theory is correct, then are beings from other worlds communicating with us for our benefit... or theirs? Just what is the purpose of these alien contacts? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Ancient underwater cities can be found around the globe, but could these aquatic worlds be the ruins of unknown civilizations--or even proof of extraterrestrial visitations? The infamous tale of the long lost city of Atlantis may be a preserved memory of an ancient alien metropolis. Beneath Lake Titicaca in Peru, the ruins of recently discovered temples support local legends of an underwater UFO base. Ancient Indian texts, known as Sangams, describe sunken cities where aliens and humans intermingled thousands of years ago. Who could have built the 600-foot stepped stone structure off the coast of Japan--a site that may predate the Egyptian pyramids by thousands of years? Could evidence of ancient alien contact lie buried in Earth's deepest oceans? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

The office of the President of the United States was designed to operate with greater transparency than any other world-leader... but how much do we really know about what goes on behind the doors of the Oval Office? This episode looks beyond the headlines to uncover the real stories behind the greatest White House scandals. What was President Nixon really trying to hide with the Watergate break-in? How much did President Reagan know about Iran-Contra? Why did Sandy Berger, President Clinton's National Security Advisor, remove documents from the National Archive? Did the Obama Administration know more about the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi than they let on? Former presidential advisors, historians, and journalists will reveal how much secrecy exists within the White House and what methods presidents use to cover up their actions or establish "plausible deniability." TVPG VL | CC Show Site

They are secretly stalking America's streets and highways, hiding in plain sight and compelled by one simple motive: the thrill of taking another person's life. Since the 1970s, the United States has produced an estimated 1,400 serial killers--more than double the combined total of the rest of the world. What causes a seemingly normal human being to engage in serial acts of murder? This episode uncovers the psychological, biological and sociological make-up of these dangerous murderers. Why do they kill? How can they be identified and stopped before they strike? Former FBI profiler Clint Van Zandt, criminal psychologists Eric Hickey and Helen Morrison, journalists, scientists and law enforcement experts reveal the secret motives of serial killers like "BTK Killer" Dennis Rader and Jeffrey Dahmer--and explain why Ted Bundy, Donald Harvey "The Angel of Death" an the "Grim Sleeper" Lonnie Franklin Jr. were able to evade capture for years while they amassed a shocking number of victims. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

No club in America is more secretive than the Hells Angels. Members are forbidden to publically discuss their biker brotherhood and others who have "insider" information are too afraid to talk... until now. Get the real story about the Hells Angels from all sides--from motorcycle world insiders to club infiltrators to law enforcement officials. Special Agent, Jay Dobyns, exposes the shocking reasons why he feels the U.S. government is failing in the war against motorcycle clubs. Charles Falco, a government informant now in the Witness Protection Program, divulges the secrets he learned about the Hells Angels during the time he spent as an undercover outlaw motorcycle gang member. How were the Hells Angels able to transform themselves from a small crew of California bikers, dedicated to booze and babes, to an international criminal syndicate--one the FBI says poses a threat to six continents and a corporation worth millions of dollars? TVPG VL | CC Show Site

From conquering the depths of the oceans to defending the freedoms of the seas--ancient man pushed the technological boundaries to the limits in the mega battle for the oceans. New discoveries will reveal how an ancient destroyer rammed its way to victory in one of the most significant battles in human history. In Denmark, a team of divers build and test the world's first ever deep sea diving suit that was designed 350 years before the history books tell us it was possible to walk along the seabed. Can CSI science unravel the mystery of a time traveling ghost ship? And in a groundbreaking sea cannon experiment, naval experts will discover how a 16th century war fleet blasted their way to victory against an enemy armada seven miles wide, without the loss of a single ship. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Discover the ancient Roman navy SEAL technique of capturing enemy ships from underwater and replicate the feat with a champion free-diver who will work with ancient tools underwater on one breath for six minutes. We attempt to solve one of History's greatest mysteries, the tactics of ancient Roman war dog units; we meet a historically savage breed of dog--the Mastiff--that may have been used on the battlefields of antiquity. Learn the secrets of the samurai sword--how it was made and how it became the most legendary blade in History. Finally, we build and test an ancient Horro--a Japanese device that could protect a galloping cavalryman from arrow fire, yet was only made from a billowing layer of thin silk. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Sex is one of the most powerful human needs and many people have tried to harness its power for their own gain. But those attempts often backfire. From Jack Parsons, an American rocket scientist who thought he could harness the power of sex, to Thomas Jefferson's attempt to trap Alexander Hamilton in an affair, find out what happens when basic instincts back fire. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Across borders, cultures and time, food is one thing that all people share. And from the time of the caveman to today's spaceman we like our food to go. While the burger and fries reign supreme in the world of fast food, grub on the go has taken us way past the drive-thru. Quick eats like beef jerky have allowed us to explore new frontiers and pocket-sized portables like protein bars enable us to push our bodies to the limit, no matter the conditions. Fueled by pizza, we have burned the midnight oil, and from the battleground (MREs) to the final frontier (space food,) food is always along for the ride. This is the countdown of fast foods that takes us back, propels us forward, and sometimes even gazes into the future (the fortune cookie.) TVPG VL | CC

Food fight! Time to take sides in America's greatest ongoing food rivalries. Who makes the best cheese steak in Philly? The most authentic clam chowder? Watch and decide! Plus, we attempt to resolve the L.A. French Dip riot that's been raging for over a century. TVPG VL | CC

What's the food whose very name makes American's smile? Cheese! We celebrate cheese in all its forms, and find there's almost nothing Americans won't sprinkle it on top of or stuff it into. We meet legions of lactose-tolerant artisans who've built a life around cheese, and say "Moo" to the happiest cows on Earth. TVPG VL | CC

Take a ride along some of the world's most dangerous roads. From Bolivia's "Death Road," to California's fog-shrouded Highway 99, find the danger that waits behind every blind curve. Visit the Federal Highway Administration's test laboratory to see what's being done to make roads safer in the U.S. Finally, ride along in extreme four-wheel drive trucks with some adrenaline junkies that drive boulder-strewn trails just for the fun of it! TVPG VL | CC Show Site

They are elements that occupy a select portion of the periodic table and are so essential to America's economic and military might that they are stored in the National Defense Stockpile in case of all-out war. We plan a riveting visit. Some of the vital heavy metals that we survey include copper, uranium, lead, zinc, and nickel. We also take a look at superalloys--consisting of steel combined with chromium, cobalt, and dozens of other heavy metals--that resist corrosion and perform increasingly elaborate functions. From Earth to space, from cosmetics to vitamins, in a million different ways, heavy metals are here to stay! TVPG VL | CC Show Site

Every aspect of our lives involves pressure. It's what puts the bubbles in soft drinks, propels shaving cream from its can, cools the contents of your refrigerator, and causes volcanoes to erupt. But when pressure suddenly changes, you better look out! Rapid pressure changes can be as violent as explosions. And variable atmospheric pressure? We call that the weather. TVPG VL | CC Show Site

What's the food whose very name makes American's smile? Cheese! We celebrate cheese in all its forms, and find there's almost nothing Americans won't sprinkle it on top of or stuff it into. We meet legions of lactose-tolerant artisans who've built a life around cheese, and say "Moo" to the happiest cows on Earth. TVPG VL | CC