Modern Marvels S06E46 · Niagara Power

Overview

An exploration of the rich history of one of the world’s greatest technological achievements–the harnessing of power from Niagara Falls. From the “War of the Currents”, a battle between geniuses Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla, to the Robert Moses Plant, primed to take the powerhouse into the 21st century, we highlight its story.

Torrents

Subtitles

Episodes

1. 1 1. Demolition1998-07-27 · 44mWhile a civilization’s greatness is reflected in the achievements of architects and engineers, equally impressive are spectacular acts of destruction throughout history. The cycle
2. 2 2. The Atlantic Wall1998-08-03 · 44mThe Atlantic Wall explores the construction of the shore fortifications built by the Nazis during World War II. We highlight the logistics of construction, types of fortifications,
3. 3 3. History of Tall Buildings1998-08-24 · 44mA look up at the symbol of the American Century–the skyscraper, the construction of which is a triumph of engineering and capitalism. Climb to the top of the Empire State Building,
4. 4 4. Aquariums1998-09-28 · 44mPublic aquariums have undergone dramatic changes since inception in mid-19th century. A series of technological innovations has transformed them into virtual oceans with spectacula
5. 5 5. Las Vegas Hotels.1998-10-06 · 44mOut of the bleakness of a vast desert arose a city built on wish fulfillment and indulgence. Unencumbered by tradition or notions of good taste, for 50 years Las Vegas has taken to
6. 6 6. The Oakland Bay Bridge.1998-10-12 · 44mSan Francisco's Oakland Bay Bridge stands as an incredible feat of engineering against the nearly impossible. Once chosen as one of the seven engineering wonders of the modern worl
7. 7 7. Monumental Statues1998-10-28 · 44mWhat inspires societies to create sculptures on a superhuman scale? We’ll examine gigantic statues and the monumental commitment of time, money, and talent needed to complete them.
8. 8 8. Antibiotics: The Wonder Drugs1998-11-03 · 44mIn 1941, penicillin was first used to save human life. But now, bacteria has emerged resistant to every known antibiotic, and scientists have begun to fear that the era of the wond
9. 9 9. The Police Car1998-11-09 · 44mMore than the gun, more than the billy club, it is the critical weapon in law enforcement’s arsenal. But for decades, police have struggled to stay ahead of well-equipped bad guys.
10. 10 10. Plastics1998-11-23 · 44mPlastics are everywhere–the home, the workplace, the car, the human body, outer space, and most conspicuously, the garbage heap and landfill. Artificially created test-tube materia
11. 11 11. Medical Imaging1998-12-07 · 44mThe story of medical imaging, the technology that allows us to see inside the human body, is full of amazing stories. Learn how X-rays were discovered in 1895, completely by accide
12. 12 12. Extreme Sports Gadgets1998-12-16 · 44mTo run faster, jump higher, and play longer–the ultimate goal of all athletes. But when training runs its course, science and technology jump in. Explore the history and technologi
13. 13 13. Bombs1998-12-23 · 44mBombs…the most feared and powerful weapon in any nation’s arsenal. What began as incendiary devices in the 7th century has evolved into weapons that can literally blow the human ra
14. 14 14. Prosthetics1998-12-28 · 44mFrom the earliest recorded account of an amputation and subsequent prosthesis in ancient Hindu writings, to a 16th-century fully articulated artificial hand controlled by an intric
15. 15 15. Weather Prediction1999-01-01 · 44mA study of the discoveries, inventions, and technological advances that have helped us understand and predict weather accurately. From simple observations made by early humans, to
16. 16 16. Stereos1999-01-25 · 44mThe ability to transmit sound in stereo transformed the music of life into a rich symphony of sound. For over 100 years, enthusiasts and scientists have worked to create the ideal
17. 17 17. Mail Delivery1999-02-08 · 44mThrough rain, snow, heat, or gloom of night, we expect postmen to deliver the mail. The U.S. Post Office handles over 603-million pieces of mail daily. Yet it represents only 43% o
18. 18 18. Clocks1999-02-22 · 44mDoes anybody really know what time it is? Set your clocks as we explore the relativity of time from antiquity–when man attempted to chart time with methods ranging from shadows, ca
19. 19 19. Airships.1999-03-09 · 44mFirst there were balloons and blimps. Then, visionaries enlarged, reinforced, and motorized them and the airship was born. The biggest aircraft ever flown, they remain one of the m
20. 20 20. Physical Fitness1999-03-15 · 44mMeet the Strong Men and Women who go beyond mere fitness to pursue major muscle mass–from ancient Greeks, to performers in the 1800s astounding audiences with feats of strength, to
21. 21 21. Engineering Disasters1999-03-30 · 44mThroughout history, the builders and engineers who paved our way out of the caves and into the modern world have also caused some of our worst disasters. What happens when their ca
22. 22 22. City Parks1999-04-26 · 44mEven in ancient times, city dwellers needed a scenic break from the urban landscape. But parks play a more important role than mere relief from tension–they also keep temperatures
23. 23 23. Spy Technology1999-05-01 · 44mEspionage has been used for at least the last 4,000 years. And where there are spies, you find gadgets! We focus on the last 100 years of cloak and dagger technology–from early cod
24. 24 24. Battlefield Medicine1999-05-25 · 44m“He who would become a surgeon should join the army and follow it,” Hippocrates counseled nearly 2,500 years ago. In this history of medicine under fire, we see how a small army of
25. 25 25. U.S. Mints: Money Machines1999-06-21 · 44mWhether it jingles in our pockets or folds in our wallets, it flows by the billions from government factories that have mastered the art of making it.
26. 26 26. Rescue Equipment1999-07-06 · 44mAvalanches, earthquakes, hurricanes, bombings–all mean human tragedy unless rescuers respond within a moment’s notice of disaster. Here are the latest advances in rescue technology
27. 27 27. Scuba And Deep Sea Diving1999-07-12 · 44mIn antiquity, a hollow reed served as an underwater link to oxygen. As in days of old, humans still need self-contained breathing equipment for a variety of reasons–food-gathering,
28. 28 28. Offshore Oil Drilling1999-07-19 · 44mOffshore drilling is one of the greaest technological dances mankind has ever attempted. From the very beginning of oil discovery, the oceans and their vast reserves became the ult
29. 29 29. Dynamite.1999-07-20 · 44mJoin us for a highly charged hour as we see why Alfred Nobel's invention of dynamite took on earthshattering dimensions as his product blasted out the natural resources that built
30. 30 30. Hoover Dam.1999-08-02 · 44mThe task was monumental: Build the world's largest dam in the middle of the desert, and tame the river that carved the Grand Canyon–all in seven years! When the Hoover Dam was comp
31. 31 31. Baseball Parks1999-08-09 · 44mStep up to the plate and play ball as we take you on a tour of those amazing edifices of the national pastime–baseball stadiums! From the sandlots and wooden ballparks of the 1800
32. 32 32. New York Bridges1999-08-23 · 44mMuch of New York City’s history can be viewed via its bridges–all 18 that connect Manhattan Island to its neighbors. Join us for a look at these architectural masterpieces from the
33. 33 33. Crash Testing1999-08-31 · 44mDelves into the little-known, hugely important, multi-billion-dollar industry of product testing–where wrinkles get ironed out and goods are stripped of marketing and hype to see i
34. 34 34. Parachutes1999-09-06 · 44mThe idea of floating to earth from great heights dates back centuries, and from the beginning parachutes combined entertainment with life-saving utility. The parachute has also pla
35. 35 35. Newspapers1999-09-13 · 44mTracks the technological innovations that made newspapers what they are today, while exploring the stories of the publishing tycoons who became some of the most powerful men of the
36. 36 36. Fireworks1999-09-27 · 44mSince the invention of gunpowder, fireworks have thrilled audiences around the world. We’ll view highlights of fireworks exhibitions throughout history, and go behind the scenes to
37. 37 37. Simulators1999-10-11 · 44mThough “simulations” date back to cave paintings, devices for interacting with “synthetic realities” are a recent invention. See how simulators are used as training tools for nearl
38. 38 38. The Tool Bench: Power Tools1999-10-12 · 44mThe history of civilization could easily be measured in terms of our ability to make, use, and improve tools–an activity that is at least 4 million years old! At the tip of our too
39. 39 39. The Tool Bench: Hand Tools1999-10-13 · 44mWell over two million years before the evolution of modern man, his primitive ancestors were making tools. The use of tools is thought to be one of the keys to human evolution itse
40. 40 40. More Earthmovers.1999-10-18 · 44mJoin us for a second look at the big earth-moving machines used to tackle the most challenging jobs on, under, and off Earth! We'll ride on specialized behemoth dump trucks, delve
41. 41 41. Forts1999-10-25 · 44mThe art of fortification evolved along with man’s need to defend his territory from attack. There was no other reason. From hills surrounded by branches and crude fences to intrica
42. 42 42. Emergency Room1999-11-08 · 44mEmergency room medicine has only been a recognized specialty since 1989, and it took close to two millennia to get to this point. We’ll examine advances that led to the modern emer
43. 43 43. Motorcycles1999-11-15 · 44mSet the sedan’s safety brake and hop on your “hog” for a 2-hour high-speed history of the motorcycle–from the 1868 “steam velocipede” to the early 20th century, when they were a lo
44. 44 44. Security Systems1999-11-16 · 44mSince civilization’s earliest days, man has sought protection from those who would rob him of riches, knowledge, and even life. This is the story of the evolving systems designed t
45. 45 45. More Engineering Disasters.1999-11-29 · 44mThroughout history the same builders and engineers that paved man's path out of the caves and into the modern world also caused some of mankind's worst disasters. Often a huge cala
46. 46 46. Niagara Power1999-12-08 · 44mAn exploration of the rich history of one of the world’s greatest technological achievements–the harnessing of power from Niagara Falls. From the “War of the Currents”, a battle be
47. 47 47. Casino Technology1999-12-13 · 44mPlace your bets and join us for an exciting spin through the history of the casino. We’ll go behind the neon lights, free drinks, and 24-hour gambling to see how the gaming industr
48. 48 48. Lost Marvels1999-12-14 · 44mThe very spirit that drives man to dream up ever more fantastic creations can also conceive changes that destroy old treasures. We look at great artistic and engineering feats that