Modern Marvels S18E16 · Alaska

Overview

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

Torrents

Subtitles

Episodes

1. 1 1. Inside Your Walls2011-10-03 · 44mDon'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 some
2. 2 2. Built by Hand2011-10-10 · 44mWe 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–th
3. 3 3. Swamp Tech2011-10-24 · 44mIt'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, g
4. 4 4. Pocket Tools2011-11-07 · 44mTeddy Roosevelt carried a revolver. The night they each died, Abraham Lincoln carried a $5 Confederate note and nine newspaper clippings, while John Wilkes Booth carried a candle a
5. 5 5. Food Trucks2011-11-14 · 44mFood Trucks are hitting the big time–across much of America, they're changing the way we eat. From humble beginnings as chuck wagons and hot dog carts, they've taken off as ethnic
6. 6 6. Weird Machines2011-11-28 · 44mIt has been said that necessity is the mother of all invention–but that is not always the case. Some strange machines are built for sheer spectacle, some a glimpse into the future
7. 7 7. More Candy2011-12-05 · 44mCandy is America's sweetest guilty pleasure–so appealing that we spend $25 billion annually to experience it. Our cameras venture from Chicago to Santa Cruz, California to show you
8. 8 8. Battle Ready2011-12-19 · 44mU.S. soldiers today face enormous challenges, often stationed in desolate locations behind enemy lines. Keeping them protected is priority number one–and the military is making eno
9. 9 9. Stink2011-12-26 · 44mJust 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 mea
10. 10 10. Waterproof2012-01-02 · 44mFrom the beginning of time we've worked to protect ourselves against the very element that keeps us alive…Water. We love it and hate it. With water covering 75% of the Earth's surf
11. 11 11. Wood2012-01-09 · 44mHundreds of years before steel and plastic, wood was the building block of America. But even today, it touches every aspect of our lives. It's underneath our feet and flying throug
12. 12 12. Convenience Stores2012-01-16 · 44m160 million Americans visit a convenience store every day. Why? Because it's fast. But what you probably didn't know is how every detail of its design has been engineered to work t
13. 13 13. Tiny Weapons2012-01-23 · 44m"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…
14. 14 14. Under Pressure2012-01-30 · 44mEvery 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 volc
15. 15 15. Shoes2012-02-06 · 44mShoes 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
16. 16 16. Alaska2012-02-20 · 44mOur 49th state is one tough terrain. In the air, on the ground–and deep beneath it–survival here requires an amazing array of technological innovations. From buildings to highways,