Modern Marvels S08E29 · Diamond Mines

Overview

Half a mile below the earth’s surface, men mine for rough diamonds–a pure carbon substance. Brilliant when cut and polished, they are marketed as the most precious gem in the world. From the earliest mines of the 4th century BC to today’s technological wonders in South Africa, we explore the history and technology of the diamond mine.

Torrents

Subtitles

Episodes

1. 1 1. Battle Gear.2001-01-08 · 44mFrom battle armor to bubble gum, you might be surprised by what soldiers have carried into battle–and what they'll carry in future wars. In this look at the development of weapons–
2. 2 2. Proving Grounds2001-01-16 · 44mWhere can you fire a missile without scaring the neighbors? Or lift millions of pounds in pursuit of a couple of ounces of gold? On a proving ground, of course, where performance i
3. 3 3. Commercial Jets2001-01-22 · 44mCommercial Jets traces the evolution of commercial aviation from the stumbling beginnings of the De Havilland Comet to the wide-body rocket ships of today. This is the story of a h
4. 4 4. Apollo 132001-01-29 · 44mThe Apollo 13 mission was intended to be a “routine” trip to the moon. But when an oxygen tank exploded, the spacecraft was crippled and its 3-man crew placed in mortal danger. The
5. 5 5. Survival Technology2001-02-07 · 44mIn an historic survey of man’s adaptation to killer environmental conditions, we travel to the desert, the Arctic, the sea, jungle, and space, charting the body’s physiological res
6. 6 6. Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel2001-02-12 · 44mNamed one of the seven engineering wonders of the modern age, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel connects Virginia proper with its easternmost landmass. Stretching 17 miles acros
7. 7 7. Garage Gadgets2001-02-22 · 44mThe household garage serves as the at-home sanctuary for the modern American male. Most men consider themselves to be “handy around the house”. Fathers and husbands see it as their
8. 8 8. Construction Machines2001-03-01 · 44mFeel the earth move under your feet and dig into the fascinating story of earthmoving equipment–from the simple spade to today’s powerful steam shovels. Meet legendary giants like
9. 9 9. Hadrian's Wall2001-03-12 · 44mLeonard Nimoy hosts half hour documentaries which explore unusual natural and supernatural phenomena. In this episode, he takes a look at Hadrian’s Wall.
10. 10 10. Monster Trucks.2001-03-19 · 44mRide shotgun in our rollicking history of the Monster Truck, and meet the father of the mythic beast, Bob Chandler, whose EM Bigfoot /EM gave birth to the sport in a cornfield year
11. 11 11. Lighthouses2001-04-11 · 44mFrom the earliest known lighthouses, such as the Pharos of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, to modern-day automated buoys and solar-powered lantern rooms,
12. 12 12. Computers2001-04-16 · 44mFrom colossal devices designed to save the world to mind-expanding, world-shrinking machines, we trace the evolution of mice and menus. Learn about the world’s most powerful comput
13. 13 13. Engineering Disasters 3.2001-05-07 · 44mWhen design flaws fell projects, the cost is often exacted in lives as we see in this look at engineering disasters. Why did the Tower of Pisa begin to lean by as much as 17 feet;
14. 14 14. Chemical And Biological Weapons2001-05-14 · 44mThis episode of Modern Marvels examines the history and technology of chemical and biological warfare, which can be traced back at least four-thousand years, to the wars of ancient
15. 15 15. International Airports II2001-05-21 · 44mIn this history of international airports, we focus on several airports to illustrate the developments and technology of their construction and operation, beginning with Miami’s Di
16. 16 16. Codes.2001-06-08 · 44mWhenever a culture reaches a level of sophistication in literacy, science, and language, codes spring up spontaneously. As the social life of a community increases in complexity, t
17. 17 17. The M-162001-06-11 · 44mThe most powerful assault rifle ever used in combat, the M-16 became the symbol of our lost war–Vietnam–and can easily be called America’s most unloved gun. Yet, 30 years after its
18. 18 18. The Colosseum2001-06-19 · 44mModern Marvels brings the heart of the Roman Empire back to life through the rich history of this famous amphitheater. Built in 70 AD, the Roman Colosseum seated 80,000 people, boa
19. 19 19. The World Trade Center2001-06-25 · 44mAn historical look at the technological engineering of the World Trade Center. The special was completed and the interviews took place before the tragic events of September 11, 200
20. 20 20. Hardware Stores2001-06-26 · 44mModern Marvels explores the evolution and future of the things that hold our world together. From the blacksmith to the Home Depot, it’s the story of nails, screws, mollybolts, duc
21. 21 21. Saloons2001-06-27 · 44mFrom a computerized liquor-dispensing system in modern L.A., to a ladle and a tin cup in an 1850′s mining camp, MODERN MARVELS investigates the history and technology of the Americ
22. 22 22. More Gadgets2001-07-24 · 44mA salute to the tools and toys that have stood the test of time–from the Zippo lighter to the Palm Pilot, the 21st century’s first great gadget. As we focus on the technology behin
23. 23 23. Cattle Ranches2001-07-25 · 44mFrom the 19th century’s legendary cattle drives to the million-acre ranch kingdoms that sprang to life with the end of the Open Range to 21st-century techniques that include artifi
24. 24 24. Cannons.2001-08-21 · 44mCannons have fired balls of iron and atomic bombs, changed the way wars are fought, and now come equipped with smart weapons. Beginning with 13th-century cannons that were designed
25. 25 25. Nuclear Subs2001-08-28 · 44mThe most priceless jewels in the arsenals of a handful of countries, some nuclear submarines carry more firepower than all the bombs dropped in history. Since the 1950s, these leth
26. 26 26. Air Shows2001-09-04 · 44mFrom barnstormers to Blue Angels, antique aircraft to supersonic jets, each year there are an astonishing 425 air shows in America alone, entertaining over 18-million spectators. F
27. 27 27. West Point2001-09-11 · 44mFor nearly 200 years, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, has trained students in the art of war. Located 50 miles north of New York City, its 25 buildings overlook
28. 28 28. Quarries.2001-09-18 · 44mDynamite explodes hills to bits, drills divide sheer stone walls, 400,000-pound blocks are pulled from pits by giant cranes, and men work around the clock to wrest rock out of the
29. 29 29. Diamond Mines2001-09-19 · 44mHalf a mile below the earth’s surface, men mine for rough diamonds–a pure carbon substance. Brilliant when cut and polished, they are marketed as the most precious gem in the world
30. 30 30. The House2001-10-15 · 44mIf walls could speak…And in the next two hours they will, as we build a house literally from the ground up, step by step, room by room. We’ll pour the foundation, frame the walls,
31. 31 31. Work Clothes2001-10-16 · 44mFrom the riveted blue jeans of the old ’49ers, working the gold mines of California, to the million-dollar suits astronauts wear in outer space, we see how “dressing for success” o
32. 32 32. Bunkers.2001-10-17 · 44mFrom the earliest bunkers of WWI through the ultra-futuristic ones of tomorrow's wars, we trace the story of defensive fortifications. In the constant struggle to hold off ever mor
33. 33 33. Cemeteries.2001-10-23 · 44mMore than 2-million people die in the U.S. each year. That works out to about 5,500 burials a day, with roughly 80 percent taking the long goodbye in a casket, and the remaining 20
34. 34 34. War Games2001-10-24 · 44mModern Marvels looks at how army maneuvers have changed from simple “hide and seek” games to extremely complex and sophisticated operations that use computer simulations.
35. 35 35. Drive-Thru2001-11-13 · 44mJoin us for a ride through the history of car-culture commerce from the first gas station to the drive-thru funeral parlors and wedding chapels of today. We chronicle the birth of
36. 36 36. Times Square2001-11-27 · 44mThe Crossroads of the World, New York City’s Times Square is the screaming marketplace of our culture and time. It’s urban life pushed to the limit–the most electrified, visceral,
37. 37 37. Los Angeles2001-11-29 · 44mUnruly and eclectic, Los Angeles is home to an array of engineering and construction marvels that rivals any city in the world. No single word can sum up the L.A. experience, but t
38. 38 38. Glass2001-11-30 · 44mGlass may be our most versatile material. It sheathes skyscrapers, contains liquids, aids vision, allows communication at unimaginable speeds, and yet remains a medium for artistic
39. 39 39. Firing Ranges2001-12-01 · 44mDiscover how military and police personnel, as well as private citizens, hone their shooting skills with one of the oldest of training techniques when we review the history of firi
40. 40 40. The St. Louis Arch2001-12-04 · 44mIt is a majestic structure that rises boldly over the Mississippi river–40,000 tons of steel and concrete that create the biggest arch of its kind in the world. Nothing like it had