Modern Marvels

S16 E03 · 2010-01-28 · 44 min

The Potato

It is among the most versatile, nutritious, and varied foodstuffs in the world. The Potato is the ultimate comfort food. We'll travel from the Potato's mysterious origins in the South American Andes to the ethnic enclaves of New York's lower Eastside, for some tasty Potato Knishes. In Northern Maine we'll discover a farmer of exotic potatoes: blue, green, pink, and dark purple varieties. We'll reveal how large-scale potato producers in Idaho and Pennsylvania slice, dice, freeze, and dehydrate millions of pounds of spuds annually. We'll learn how to mass produce Tater tots and Kettle Potato Chips. Potato Vodka now scores near perfection in international tasting competitions–and we'll visit a Maine distillery at the top of their game. Finally, we'll pay tribute to the iconic Mr. Potato Head, now celebrating its 50th Anniversary, then round out the show with an explosive visit to the makers of some of the world's most sophisticated Spud Guns.

S16 E04 · 2010-02-04 · 44 min

Tuna

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.

S16 E07 · 2010-03-04 · 44 min

Chrome

At 4 State Trucks in Missouri, the Chrome Shop Mafia adds some truckers' "bling" to a big rig as viewers tour its 35,000 square-foot treasure trove of chrome. In Illinois, learn just how automotive parts get their luster in a complex electroplating process. And out on the road with some bikers, take a look at how Harley Davidson puts chrome to work both as a decorative surface and a protective covering on engine parts. At a classic car gathering, collectors show off their sparkling tailfins and grilles–and in Michigan, peruse a unique collection of more than 3,000 chrome hood ornaments. See how workers chrome-plate plastic, and learn how chrome puts the "stainless" in stainless steel. Find out how stainless steel flatware is manufactured and explore the iconic, shimmering art deco dome of the Chrysler Building. Finally, a Colorado artist will show viewers how he rescues old chrome car bumpers from the scrap yard and transforms them.

S16 E08 · 2010-03-11 · 44 min

Start to Finish

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.

S16 E09 · 2010-03-18 · 44 min

Beans

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.

S16 E11 · 2010-04-22 · 44 min

Deliver It

Got something strange to deliver? From pizza to packages, we'll show you how it's packed, labeled and shipped. Head down the highway carrying gigantic wind turbine blades. See how UPS got China's invaluable terra cotta warriors to a Los Angeles art museum. Deliver luxury yachts aboard a submersible carrier ship. Ride to the track with prized thoroughbreds on their own special jet. Want dinner and a movie? Sounds like a visit to Netflix headquarters and Papa John's Pizza. Ride radical with bike messengers in New York City, and deliver a donor kidney to a waiting hospital. Take a tour of the UPS Worldport hub in Louisville, Kentucky, a mammoth center with delivery docks for 100 jets, and handles 1.2 million packages a day.

S16 E12 · 2010-04-29 · 44 min

Helicopters

In Alabama, fly with the Apache Longbow, the deadliest helicopter in world, and learn how to fly the Blackhawk, one of the most sophisticated and versatile helicopters in world. Then climb aboard a Coast Guard helicopter as a team trains for water rescues in the Gulf. In California, see how the immensely popular Robinson helicopters are hand-made and how the police use them to catch fleeing criminals. In Tennessee, learn how million dollar Bell helicopters are customized with everything from bars and entertainment systems to state of the art navigation. Then it's off to Arizona to see how anyone can build their own affordable helicopter in their garage. Finally, learn how drone helicopters that can shoot a movie or take out an enemy.

S16 E13 · 2010-05-06 · 44 min

Super Ships

Take a journey into the world of super sized, super strong, super unique ships. The Scripps Institution of Oceanography takes viewers out to sea to see how their FLIP research vessel flips a full 90 degrees, sinking over three quarters of its 355-foot length. In Miami, go behind the scenes of one of the largest cruise ships in the world. In California, step onboard the Navy's newest, most advanced transport ship and take a spin in one of America's strongest and greenest tugboats. In Boston, venture into the frigid world of an LNG carrier, transporting enough natural gas to power a million homes for an entire week. In Maine, hop on "the Cat," the fastest car ferry in North America–it's a huge twin-hulled catamaran. Finally, learn how a ship that looks like an enormous spider on water may someday save lives.

S17 E02 · 2010-11-05 · 44 min

Supersized Food

The US has become the culture of BIG–just look at the importance of size and how it has been infused into the lifestyle we choose to live, whether it's our homes, our appliances such as large screen TVs or even eccentric stretch limos. But big has also affected what we eat. This episode explores America's growing obsession with plus-sized meals and how we cook them! Discover the largest everyday offerings of gargantuan portions–from the biggest stacked burger in the world (at almost 250 pounds), a plus-sized Sicilian pizza that feeds almost 75 people, a 72-ounce steak no real cowboy can resist, and the seven-pound hot dog that's too big for a bun. Top it all off with a giant cupcake, humongous cinnamon roll or a five pound gummy bear… and chase it down with a monster bottle of beer that holds over 101 ounces of brew.

S17 E05 · 2010-11-26 · 44 min

Dogs

Man's best friend–fearless, faithful, determined and swift. They're our sharpest eyes, noses and ears–and among the bravest hunters, soldiers, rescuers, and protectors. From natural instincts to complex training, see what makes dogs a perfectly engineered Modern Marvel.

S17 E06 · 2010-12-03 · 44 min

Built to Last

Enter the amazing and ingenious ultra-sturdy shelters, machines, containers, materials and packaging designed to deny the ruination of society. The drive to create the indestructible has inspired some of the most prolific and awe inspiring results: The Cold War spawned personal bomb shelters in the 1950s. They weren't truly safe and secure, but today's 21st century version will last a millennium. And so will the special food you can get, along with all the comforts of home–like running water, plumbing and electricity. Caskets serve as our final resting place, but how long do they really last? Investigate how valuable data from a plane crash survives in a "black box" (that's not really black), to explain what might have caused the accident. And get an intimate look at the new "home" that protects and preserves one of the world's most valuable documents–the case that houses the original Declaration of Independence.

S18 E01 · 2011-10-03 · 44 min

Inside Your Walls

Don't look now–but there's a lot more to your walls than you'd ever imagine. Take a penetrating look inside something we consider utterly mundane, and uncover a surprising and sometimes shocking world. A computer-managed home in Colorado showcases the high tech gadgetry destined to inhabit every wall in the future. At the headquarters of Orkin in Atlanta, a network of walls with cutouts and Plexiglas windows reveal how pests and creepy crawlies of all kinds can congregate in huge numbers inside our homes. In Washington, scientists at Underwriters Labs play with fire in the name of research, investigating how our walls can keep us safe–or expose us to a fiery death. And in Los Angeles, a security company demonstrates innovative new technology that can "see" through walls–detecting motion, heat, breathing, even heartbeats.

S18 E02 · 2011-10-10 · 44 min

Built by Hand

We live in a highly mechanized world in which billions of products are made by machines–but there are some things that can be built only by using an even more sophisticated tool–the human hand. In New Mexico, a pilot who builds his own jet-powered glider takes to the skies–his very life depending on his handiwork. Canoe makers in Montana, and a knife maker in Washington, handcraft items so unique that customers are willing to pay significantly higher prices than if they were machine made. In the farmlands of Central California, craftsmen keep alive the ancient art of weapon making–see their gleaming suits of armor in action, as weekend warriors do battle. Ever wonder how those impressive animal skeletons in museums are constructed? The artists of Skulls International in Oklahoma City share their secrets. And in Hollywood, the Chiodo brothers reveal how handmade special effects have a charm and character that today's computer animators can't duplicate.

S18 E03 · 2011-10-24 · 44 min

Swamp Tech

It's a great American wilderness–millions of acres of wild, primeval land with its own people, its own technology…and its own rules. Survival there depends on smarts and science, guts and grueling work…and a unique approach to one of the world's most uncompromising environments–swamps. Watch an assembly of the distinctive airboat, then hop on board for a breathtaking journey and discover the surprising history behind this swamp staple of transportation. Take a wild ride on a big-tired swamp buggy, and taste test some local delicacies that bring new meaning to "acquired taste." Witness a massive engineering project to divert the mighty Mississippi River, and meet the machines that make that job possible. Plus come face to face, literally, with enormous pythons and menacing alligators.

S18 E09 · 2011-12-26 · 44 min

Stink

Just the whiff of a foul odor can make your head spin, your eyes water, your stomach turn–it can even send you hurling. From cesspools, military stink bombs, and rancid rotting meat… to cow farms and landfills… to bad breath, B.O and beyond, the world is full of stink–and we've spent centuries battling the funk. So how do we deal with these horrific odors? Hold your breath `cause these sensational stories are gonna STINK!

S18 E13 · 2012-01-23 · 44 min

Tiny Weapons

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

S18 E15 · 2012-02-06 · 44 min

Shoes

Shoes have come a long way from their humble beginnings as simple leather moccasins. Today footwear is built to withstand any extreme environment where a foot can tread — from the heart of a burning building to the track of an Olympic stadium. From high-tech soles to shoelaces, cowboy boots to sneaker design — step behind the scenes with the products that keep your feet covered.

S19 E01 · 2013-07-16 · 44 min

Mega Speed Countdown

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

S19 E02 · 2013-07-23 · 44 min

Mega Machine Countdown

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: Awe-Inspiring Machines–featuring the top ten mightiest, strangest, and most unique innovations from our archives.

S19 E03 · 2013-07-30 · 44 min

Mega Weapon Countdown

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: Amazing Weapons. They're every arsenal's best asset and every enemy's worst nightmare and we're counting them down to the most amazing weapon of all.

S19 E04 · 2013-08-27 · 44 min

Mega Food Countdown

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.

S19 E06 · 2013-09-14 · 44 min

Super Strong Countdown

America has always prided itself on its technological strength–and this countdown embarks on an odyssey featuring the strongest of the strong. Whether they lift, pull, hold or haul, every heavy-duty titan among our top ten choices has the muscle to reshape our world. Our contenders take our cameras on land, sea and air as they push the limits of power and endurance beyond the imaginable. And our choice at number 1 pulses with so much strength it could destroy our other nine finalists with one push of a button.

S19 E07 · 2013-09-21 · 44 min

Amazing Job Countdown

The variety of jobs in America is endless–but some have to be seen to be believed. Our countdown of the top ten most fascinating jobs from our archives proves how daring and innovative the American worker can be. A nationwide quest finds amazing jobholders in the wild blue yonder and the depths of a secret underworld…in occupations ranging from the daffy to the dangerous to the downright creepy. And at the end of our journey, we find two business partners performing a job so perilous that one misstep can be deadly.

S19 E08 · 2013-09-28 · 44 min

Strangest Countdown

This countdown special kisses the conventional goodbye, raiding the Modern Marvels archives for the most bizarre wonders we've ever presented. Our top ten contenders demonstrate that the inside scoop on innovation often lies outside the norm. You'll be scratching your head at the weird assortment of oddities–technologies ranging from a gooey slime that could be a terrorist's worst nightmare…to an exacting art form requiring the help of millions of ravenous beetles. The final destination at number 1: a devise so strange and destructive that its inventor allegedly destroyed it to avert a catastrophe.

S19 E10 · 2014-06-23 · 44 min

Amazing Gadgets Countdown

This countdown special goes gaga over gizmos–celebrating the most amazing gadgets Modern Marvels has ever featured. Our top ten contenders run the gamut from the indispensable to the insane…from golden oldies to newfangled novelties…all of them showcasing the wonder of human ingenuity. We'll unveil the secrets inside one of the 1960s' most iconic thingamajigs, reveal why an electronic doodad from the '90s was once considered a threat to national security, and rediscover the forgotten marvel created by Benjamin Franklin. Our number 1 pick: a household gadget reinvented so many times that it's inspired more than 4,500 unique patents.

S19 E11 · 2015-04-11 · 44 min

Panama Canal Supersized

The Panama Canal is considered the 7th wonder of the modern world. But today, it is too small. Now in order to fit the worlds’ growing fleet of super ships, the Panama Canal is getting a complete overhaul. This all-new, one-hour Modern Marvels takes us inside the billion dollar Panama Canal Expansion Project. With unprecedented access, this program features exclusive footage of the building of the new canal and shows us what it takes to complete one of the greatest construction projects in history. From massive explosions at the excavation site to eighteen hour concrete pours at the lock walls... from the assembly of the largest locks gates in the world to their transport on the backs of semi-submersible ships across the Atlantic... With the help of visually stunning photography and ample use of drone and time-lapse cameras, we'll follow the building of a modernized Panama Canal and capture the impressive scale and pace of this undertaking.

S20 E01 · 2021-02-21 · 44 min

Food: Cookies

Adam Richman visits baking behemoth Entenmann’s to see how they keep up with America’s insatiable demand for delicious and dunkable chocolate chip cookies. Then, find out how Otis Spunkmeyer creates the cookies you find at some of the biggest restaurant chains in America! From Fortune Cookies to your favorite childhood treats, Adam becomes a cookie connoisseur in this episode for all things cookies.

S20 E02 · 2021-02-28 · 44 min

Food: Cheese

Things get cheesy when Adam Richman visits a central Pennsylvanian cheese maker with an award-winning mozzarella they insist on making the authentic Italian way. And you don’t have to tell grocery giant Kroger that cheese is big business–we see how they slice, shred and package over 2.5-million lbs. of cheese per week. Adam learns all the history, incredible facts, and amazing processes behind one of America’s most beloved foods!

S20 E03 · 2021-03-07 · 44 min

Food: Ice Cream

We all scream for ice cream when Adam Richman visits the legendary Turkey Hill Dairy to see how they make their famous frosty treat for the masses! Then, sneak a peek into Dreyers’s flavor development process. And the last bite is the best when we find out how Joy Cone bakes over 2-billion ice cream cones per year. From the cow to Carvel, from soft serve to sprinkles, discover how your favorite sweet treat comes to be, and the epic history behind it!

S20 E04 · 2021-03-14 · 44 min

Food: Chocolate

Follow Adam Richman as he visits America’s oldest candy store to see how they craft decadent chocolate treats. Then, discover how internationally recognized Theo Chocolate produces up to 2.5-million pounds of chocolate per year! Find out where cacao is grown in the United States, how many famous chocolate Easter eggs get produced each day, and we visit the magical workshop of “Mr. Chocolate” himself–Jacques Torres.

S20 E05 · 2021-03-21 · 44 min

Food: Snacks

When it comes to snack foods there’s none wiser than Wise! We tag along as Adam Richman gets full access to see how Wise produces over 50-million bags of sweet and salty snacks per month. Then we get something meatier to bite into when we see how Jack Links is changing the jerky game by converting 17-million pounds of beef into meat sticks at just one of their facilities. Plus, see if Adam can singlehandedly unload 50,000 pounds of potatoes, and treat yourself to some tasty facts behind America’s greatest guilty pleasures!

S20 E06 · 2021-03-28 · 44 min

The Future of Food

Adam Richman travels through time to uncover: the Future of Food! With special security clearance to a U.S. Army lab we get a glimpse into the cutting-edge food research that’s taking a quantum leap into the future. At Impossible Foods, we make a delicious discovery and learn why it’s not impossible for plants to look, taste and even bleed like meat. Plus, science fiction becomes fact when we see food grilled and served by robots, food made to last for years, and food made to be eaten in Earth’s upper atmosphere. The future of food is here and it’s tasty!

S20 E07 · 2021-04-04 · 44 min

Fast Food

Follow as Adam Richman works the line at America’s original fast-food chain, White Castle, to discover how they grill and serve over a million sliders per day! Then, we go to KFC headquarters to uncover the secret history behind Colonel Sanders’ famous 11 herbs and spices. Plus, learn which restaurant claims to be the first drive-in in the United States.

S20 E08 · 2021-04-11 · 44 min

Food: Inventions and Innovations

Go behind-the-scenes to see how Jelly Belly creates delicious jellybeans in every flavor imaginable! Then Adam Richman explores kitchen innovator Blue Apron’s 495,000 square foot facility to see how they churn out 4 million mouth-watering meals every month. And, we see how innovating can lead to out-of-this-world ice cream when we go inside the home of Dippin’ Dots to see their super-cool process.

S21 E01 · 2021-07-25 · 44 min

Adventure Machines

Adrenaline runs high when Adam Richman visits the factory where Yamaha makes ATVs, Waverunners and more. Then, we get an inside look at a company built to get people sky-high in paramotors, as well as amusement park Diggerland USA, a place you have to see to believe. Can mech-suits become the sport of the future? Plus, learn all about a personal submarine built for under-sea sightseeing for two.

S21 E02 · 2021-08-01 · 44 min

Heavy Machinery

S21 E03 · 2021-08-08 · 44 min

Moving America

Adam Richman explores how a legendary long-hauler meticulously custom-builds each truck at Daimler.

S21 E04 · 2021-08-15 · 44 min

Power Tools

Adam Richman visits power tool manufacturing "mecca" Dewalt, where he discovers how they're using cutting edge technology to make cutting edge tools. Then, he goes back in time to uncover how one of America's oldest power tools is still cutting! Next, it's time to recharge as he finds out how power tools have changed the world, from the outer reaches of space to deep under the ocean, to pit crews racing cars and rescue teams racing time.

S22 E01 · 2021-11-28 · 44 min

Classic Toys

Adam's not playing around, he's working hard to find out how some toys transform into valuable collectibles and become iconic classics. Adam gets VIP access to see how Play-Doh is created, and how every can gets that amazing smell. Plus, he visits the mecca of pinball manufacturing to see how their pinball machines have outlasted the competition and even the law! Then, how have Slinkys kept springing back? And, an inside look at how Lionel trains keep chugging.

S22 E02 · 2021-12-05 · 44 min

Top Toys & Games

Adam Richman visits the legendary factory where one of the most popular board games of all time is made: Monopoly! Then he finds out how Masters of the Universe action figures are making a comeback in a big way. Plus, see how Mattel is using the latest technology to make new models of Hot Wheels come to life.

S23 E01 · 2022-02-16 · 44 min

Wild Rides

Sit tight and belt in because while there are over 230 million licensed drivers in America; we are going way beyond the driver's seat of your average automobile. It's time to jump behind the wheel of some of the biggest, fastest, most powerful machines on the planet. From battle tanks to blimps, helicopters to harvesters, you'll get the chance to sit in the driver's seat of some the world's most incredible vehicles for some truly Wild Rides.

S23 E02 · 2022-02-16 · 44 min

Steam Power

Turn up the heat because it's time for Steam Power. From Jay Leno's personal steam cars and 11-ton steam engine to carousels, boats and skyscrapers fueled entirely by steam, Modern Marvels takes a deep dive into one of the oldest means of locomotion. It's high tech - 1800s style - as we travel the country in search of the most incredible vehicles, engines and even robots that run on Steam Power.

S23 E03 · 2022-02-23 · 44 min

Ultimate Helicopters

Ready to take a ride on the most thrilling helicopters in the sky? From the military's deadliest and most sophisticated choppers to homemade helicopters and million-dollar models customized with everything from bars and entertainment systems - Modern Marvels explores some of the coolest copters to ever take flight.

S23 E04 · 2022-02-23 · 44 min

Maximum Horsepower

Buckle up as we take a rip-roaring ride through the world of extreme horsepower! From 8000 horsepower dragsters and hydroplanes with top speeds of 200 miles per hour, to a cargo ship propelled by the most powerful diesel engine on earth - a whopping 95,000 horsepower - Modern Marvels muscles through the most impressive engines ever built and how they achieve their incredible performance.

S23 E05 · 2022-07-11 · 42 min

Dangerous Drives

Better buckle up because one of these dangerous drives could be your last! From Bolivia's "Death Road," to California's fog-smothered Highway 99, to dodging IED's on the road to Baghdad Airport, Modern Marvels puts you in the driver's seat to experience the harrowing journey down some of the world's scariest roads.

S23 E06 · 2022-07-11 · 42 min

Car Wash Tech

Better roll up your windows and put it in neutral as we join the 2 million people who wash their car every single day! From one of the largest car washes in the U.S. to cleaning radioactive waste off a train to tips on getting tar, glue, egg and sludge off your priceless Porsche, Modern Marvels takes a look at all the awesome technology we use to keep our beloved vehicles sparkling clean.

S23 E07 · 2022-07-18 · 42 min

Freight Trains Plus

Get ready to ride the rails as we take a trip along the greatest freight transportation system in the world! From the early iron horses to today's sleek steel stallions, Modern Marvels climbs aboard the complex rail network that snakes throughs valleys, over rivers and across prairies to get America's goods from the factory to your front door.

S23 E08 · 2022-07-18 · 42 min

Locomotives Plus

All aboard! Modern Marvels takes a ride on the fastest and most powerful locomotives from around the globe. From France's 300 MPH speed train to future trains that glide on cushions of air to mining locomotives that traverse tunnels 700 feet underground, we'll catch a ride on the little--and big--engines that can.

S23 E09 · 2022-07-25 · 42 min

Harvesting Plus

Let's head to the fields as Modern Marvels takes a fascinating journey from farm to table! From the dizzying heights of California's date palm trees to the soggy Wisconsin cranberry marshes to the cavernous labyrinths of Pennsylvania's mushroom farms, we pick through the most unique and timeless forms of harvesting.

S23 E10 · 2022-07-25 · 42 min

Mad Electricity Plus

Prepare to be shocked and enlightened because it's time to enter the mad world of Nikola Tesla's remarkable inventions! From his 187-foot-high wireless network tower to his lifelong rivalry with Thomas Edison to his disturbing death ray and earthquake machines, Modern Marvels illuminates the genius--and the quirks--behind an electrifying mastermind.

S23 E11 · 2022-08-01 · 42 min

Tech Treasures

Better be kind and rewind because we're diving into some blasts from technology's past! From unwieldy television sets and vintage record-making to evolving Mustang motors, join Modern Marvels as we rediscover some of the most beloved retro devices that built the tech-driven world we live in today.

S23 E12 · 2022-08-01 · 42 min

Coin Operated Plus

Time to dig through those sofa cushions as Modern Marvels changes the way you think about coin-operated machines! From parking meters and pinball machines to vending machines and coin counters, we explore the ways people spend their quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies every day.