About this season
An insider's look at the engineering and scientific miracles behind the things that form the modern world.
Episodes (20)
1. Underground World, Gunmakers
Aired 4 June 2010 • 22 min
Head underground into America's largest mine to find out how lead is extracted. And how do they manufacture and test made-to-measure shotguns?
2. Diggers, Taste Of The Orient, Into The Void
Aired 10 June 2010 • 22 min
How do they operate the world's most versatile construction machines? Plus, how do they maintain the Willis Tower Skydeck in Chicago?
3. Peanut Butter, Breaking Point
Aired 11 June 2010 • 22 min
How are peanuts harvested, roasted and transformed into peanut butter; and how are domestic appliances tested?
4. Smooth As Marble, Hot Stuff, Umbrellas
Aired 18 June 2010 • 22 min
How do they mine marble for Washington's monuments; how do they make Tabasco Sauce; and how do they produce storm proof umbrellas?
5. Tales From The Black Stuff, Silk, In The Can
Aired 25 June 2010 • 22 min
How do they make Irish stout and how do they use silkworms to create gunpowder bags and clothes? Plus, how do they put soup into cans?
6. Fire Extinguishers, Cruise Liner
Aired 2 July 2010 • 22 min
How are phosphates used to put out fires; and how are cruise liners fuelled up and stocked with supplies before a voyage?
7. Aircraft Tyres, Six Shooters, Fever Pitch
Aired 9 July 2010 • 22 min
How do they make aeroplane tyres; how do they fire the fastest guns in the west; and how do they make artificial turf for football pitches?
8. Soft As Sponge, The Knowledge
Aired 16 July 2010 • 22 min
In this episode, learn how they dive for sponges and how taxi drivers know their way to so many different destinations.
9. Money Movers, Catch Of The Day, Amazing Grace
Aired 23 July 2010 • 22 min
How do they transport cash securely; how do they land big game fish; and how do they produce bagpipes?
10. Crash Testing, Books Etc, Margarine
Aired 30 July 2010 • 22 min
How do they design cars that will protect you in a crash; how do they print a bestseller; and how do they transform oil into margarine?
11. Whisky Galore, Disaster Prevention
Aired 6 August 2010 • 22 min
How is water transformed into whisky; and how are they preparing for another natural disaster like Hurricane Katrina?
12. Sugar, Fish Farming
Aired 13 August 2010 • 22 min
How do they transform raw cane into sugar; how do they farm fish; and how do they create tailor made suits that are ready within the day?
13. Money, Shoe-In
Aired 20 August 2010 • 22 min
How are banknotes designed and printed; and how is leather hide transformed into pairs of shiny shoes?
14. Battery Power, Chocolate, Toothbrushes
Aired 27 August 2010 • 22 min
How do they make toothbrushes; how do they produce millions of car batteries; and how are cacao beans transformed into chocolate?
15. Eiffel Tower, Snowboards
Aired 3 September 2010 • 22 min
How do they carry out maintenance on the Eiffel Tower; and how do they design and build the ultimate snowboards?
16. Decaf Coffee, Smoked Fish, Water Jets
Aired 10 September 2010 • 22 min
How do they turn coffee beans into decaffeinated coffee; how do they smoke fish; and how do they use water to power ships?
17. Blaze Cops, Oaked
Aired 17 September 2010 • 22 min
How do investigators establish the cause of a fire; and why are oak barrels important in traditional French winemaking?
18. Lawnmowers, Bread, Clean Water
Aired 24 September 2010 • 22 min
How do they build the world's fastest lawnmowers; how do they set the price of bread; and how do they use coconuts to clean water?
19. Matches, Chrome
Aired 1 October 2010 • 22 min
How do they produce millions of matches; and how do they buff and polish chrome for the perfect shine?
20. Off-Roaders, Saddles, Cakes
Aired 8 October 2010 • 22 min
How do they build the best off-road cars; how can cowboys stay on a bucking bronco; and how do they transform flour into cakes?