About this season
An insider's look at the engineering and scientific miracles behind the things that form the modern world.
Episodes (20)
1. Harris Tweed, Turntables, Fermented Shark
Aired 28 August 2017 • 22 min
How do the islanders of the Outer Hebrides use pedal power to weave world-famous Harris tweed? And, in Iceland, how do they prepare fermented shark?
2. Beds-Hastens, Satellites, Indoor Salads
Aired 26 September 2017 • 22 min
How do they make the world's most expensive and luxurious beds? And, how do they deliver supplies and equipment to the International Space Station?
3. Borsalino Hats, Folding Bicycle
Aired 6 October 2017 • 22 min
How do they make the distinctive Borsalino hat worn by Indiana Jones? And, how do they make a bicycle which can fold up to a tenth the size of a...
4. Fender Stratocaster • Kalles Kaviar • Endurance Racing
Aired 23 October 2017 • 22 min
How do they make the world's most famous electric guitar, the Fender Stratocaster? How do they a Swedish delicacy from fermented cod roe? And what are the secrets behind prepping for of the world's most grueling sports?
5. Pisa's Leaning Tower, Eider Down, Chocolate Digestive
Aired 23 October 2017 • 22 min
It's been tipping over for 800 years - what's the gravity-defying magic behind Pisa's leaning tower? And, how are chocolate digestive biscuits manufactured?
6. Parchment, Shuttlecocks, Salt
Aired 28 October 2017 • 22 min
How did the ancient Greeks invent parchment with techniques still used today? And how do they make shuttlecocks, the fasting moving object in sport?
7. Ballpoint Pens, Pizza, Reed Rugs
Aired 9 November 2017 • 22 min
How do they make some world's smoothest writing ballpoint pens that don't leak or fade? And, how do they make pizza for soldiers on the frontline?
8. Violins, Milk Delivery, Volcanic Rock Houses
Aired 27 November 2017 • 22 min
In Cremona, how do they make modern violins that sound as good as the legendary Stradivarius? And, how do they build houses with volcanic rock?
9. Fastest Superyachts, Space Suit, Katsuabushi
Aired 29 November 2017 • 22 min
How does a Dutch company make the world's fastest superyachts? And, how do they make a new space suit that weighs and costs the fifth of the previous design?
10. Parma Ham, Rowing Machines, London Underground Signs
Aired 9 December 2017 • 22 min
How is Parma ham, the most famous ham in the world, made? Plus, how do they make rowing machines, and how are the iconic London Underground signs made?
11. Beach Landing Planes, Tomatoes, Bavarian Lederhosen
Aired 12 December 2017 • 22 min
How do planes take off and land on a beach at one of the world's oldest airports? And, how do they hand-make the national dress of Bavaria, lederhosen?
12. Lobsters, Chesterfield Sofas, 4K Television
Aired 13 December 2017 • 22 min
How do they catch the world's largest lobsters? How do they build the iconic chesterfield sofa? And, how do they capture the world's sharpest TV pictures?
13. Car Weather Factory • Baseball Gloves • Christmas Puddings
Aired 14 December 2017 • 22 min
How do they take a car from Siberia to the Sahara without leaving Germany? How do they hand craft a baseball glove that will last a lifetime? And how do they keep alive a Christmas tradition that's more than 300 years old?
14. Print Newspapers • Knitting Socks • Ribena
Aired 15 December 2017 • 22 min
How do they print over 10 million copies a day of the world's best-selling newspaper? How do they knit 32,000 pairs of socks a day at South Africa's biggest sock...
15. Raisins, Showers, Papyrus
Aired 16 December 2017 • 22 min
How do they produce 99% of America's raisins in California's San Joaquin Valley? Plus, how do they make the world's oldest type of paper?
16. Charcoal Briquettes, Soba Noodles, Vaulting Poles
Aired 18 December 2017 • 22 min
How do they use ancient techniques and modern technology to produce thousands of tonnes of barbecue charcoal? How do they cook up Japan's soba noodles?
17. Freshwater Pearls, Knives, Hippo Roller
Aired 19 December 2017 • 22 min
How do they grow America's only freshwater pearls in Tennessee? How are the world's sharpest knives made, and how do they forge the world's sharpest knives?
18. Sugar, Feather Dusters, Balloons
Aired 20 December 2017 • 22 min
How do they turn ugly root vegetables into sweet sugar? How do they make feather dusters? And, how do they make billions of balloons to keep parties popping?
19. Pencils, Liquorice, Lace
Aired 21 December 2017 • 22 min
How do they turn trees into billions of pencils? How do they make liquorice? And, how do they use traditional techniques to weave the world's most fashionable lace?
20. Platinum, Manga Comics, Limoncello
Aired 22 December 2017 • 22 min
How do they mine one of the world's most valuable metals, platinum? How do they produce manga comics? How do they turn lemons into an Italian after-dinner drinks?