Measure It

December 23, 2008

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Modern Marvels - S15 - E40

How do you weigh a whale? How does your speedometer work? Take a look at the five most common areas of measurement: distance, time, speed, weight, and temperature.

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Modern Marvels: Season 15 - 44 Episode s

15x1 - Milk
January 7, 2008
Got milk? Billions of pounds of milk are consumed worldwide on a daily basis. Milk is the basis for its own food group, and has been around since the dawn of mammals. Visit a farm with a milking parlor that looks more like a cow merry-go-round. Learn what pasteurization is really all about, and even milk a yak. Find out what those active cultures in yogurt are and discover if milk truly makes the body good. Wait until you discover just how many types of cows there truly are.
15x2 - Carbon
January 14, 2008
Carbon is the chemical basis of all known life and yet this simple element is also the foundation of modern technology. Carbon burns hotter, cuts deeper, insulates more thoroughly and absorbs more fully than any other material. See why carbon is the key both in heavy-duty industries, as well as in tools like the graphite pencil, the charcoal water filter, and the diamond saw blade.
15x3 - 90s Tech
February 7, 2008
The dot.com decade opened up the information superhighway and for the first time, people could shop, search, and surf online with the click of a mouse. Take a trip to the end of the 20th century and the beginning of today technologies.
15x4 - Superhighways
February 28, 2008
Millions of drivers travel the world's superhighways each year. See a multi-billion dollar expansion project in Houston where a stretch of superhighway is being widened to 20 lanes & Take a ride atop the High-Five, a 12-story, five-level interchange that's become the latest Dallas tourist attraction. Then it's off to China's 28,000-mile National Trunk Highway System.
15x5 - World's Strongest III
March 6, 2008
Witness some mind-blowing feats of strength starting with the world's most powerful elevators. Discover the world's strongest tire, the strongest mountain bike, the world's strongest land transport vehicle that carries the Space Shuttle & strongest home blender.
15x6 - Strange Weapons
March 10, 2008
Discover microwave-like rays that make the enemy flee; laser weapons mounted on trucks & planes that can blow missiles out of the sky; non-lethal weapons include a B.B. machine gun; and a flashing device that may make you lose your lunch.
15x7 - Whiskey
March 17, 2008
Visit some of the world's finest distilleries to see how each country brews this thousand-year old spirit. Go behind the scenes at Jim Beam, Jack Daniels and Canadian Club Whiskey.
15x8 - Alaskan Fishing
March 19, 2008
Takes a look inside the amazing ultra-modern world of high stakes commercial fishing where a wrong decision on the captain's part can cost not just the season's catch, but also the lives of his crew.
15x9 - Bread
March 24, 2008
It's the basic source of nourishment for half the world. Bake it, roast it, slice it, or toast it, it's a wonder with three simple ingredients.
15x10 - Gadgets 3
April 4, 2008
We're living in a gadget revolution. New and unimagined gizmos solve problems that we didn't even know we had. They emerge from cutting edge think tanks and tinkerers basement workshops. Will they usher in a techno utopia, or enslave us to pocket size technology?
15x11 - Locomotives
April 21, 2008
Race through the French countryside at nearly 300 MPH on the fastest locomotive in the world. Ride on the little engines that could as they guide giant ships through the Panama Canal. Watch two locomotives crash head-on as the federal government monitors safety. Descend 700 feet below the earth's surface where mining locomotives move miners through a maze of tunnels. Then, it's a "jiffy lube" for locomotives inside America's largest maintenance shop. Finally, glide into the future with a locomotive that levitates on a cushion of air.
15x12 - Rats
April 30, 2008
Feared by millions worldwide, rats are some of the most dangerous, destructive and useful animals on Earth.
15x13 - Mad Electricity
May 14, 2008
Nikola Tesla's bizarre vision of the future brought him failure, but his genius electrified the world.
15x14 - Axes
May 30, 2008
The axe is one of the world's oldest, most dangerous and efficient cutting tools. Visit one of the nation's largest axe manufacturers, take a swing with a Vikings' battle axe, then see which would win in a fight of sword vs axe. Learn why the tomahawk is making a comeback as a tactical weapon & see how the fireman's axe has evolved into a trailer full of high tech rescue tools.
15x15 - Most Dangerous
June 6, 2008
Discover that the deadliest snakes, sports and weather events are closer and more treacherous than you think.
15x16 - Super Hot
June 9, 2008
Explore the world of extreme temperatures.
15x17 - Lead
June 16, 2008
A versatile yet toxic metal, lead has served mankind for 6,000 years.
15x18 - Corpse Tech
June 20, 2008
Do you ever wonder what happens to your body after you die? You might be surprised to discover that the human body is host to a multitude of hidden secrets. Discover how coroners and forensic anthropologists use a body to both save lives and catch killers. Visit the University of Tennessee's famed "Body Farm," a crematorium, and one of the largest tissue banks in the United States.
15x19 - Ice Cream
June 23, 2008
From the gelato of Italy to the French Pot process of the 1800s to numerous assortments of frozen delights being served up today, learn the history of this delicious dessert.
15x20 - Bathroom Tech II
June 30, 2008
The most used room in the home is the bathroom and it's full of tech. Visit Kohler and see the new digitally controlled uber-shower, complete with steam, music and LED chromatherapy. Check out American Standard's Champion 4--the supposedly "uncloggable" toilet. Learn all about the low-flow alternatives for showers and toilets. Touch-free fixtures and a futuristic toilet from Japan ensure a more hygienic restroom experience. Finally, what is New York City's latest hi-tech solution for going on the go?
15x21 - Crashes
July 10, 2008
Explore collisions that shake our world from the astronomic to the subatomic. Indy car racing; motorcycles; skydiving; meteorites; and subatomic particles.
15x22 - Underwear
July 17, 2008
From itchy woolen union suits to comfortable briefs and boxers learn how our undergarments have evolved over the last 100 years.
15x23 - Batman Tech
July 21, 2008
He's caped, cowled and the coolest superhero of them all, because underneath that Batsuit, Batman only has his human strength and intellect to rely on. That and the greatest arsenal of crime fighting weaponry ever devised. But just where does comic book science fiction end and scientific fact begin? What technologies are behind the gadgets in Batman's utility belt? And just how plausible is the Batmobile? Get ready for a real life trip to the Batcave as we reveal the secrets behind Batman Tech.
15x24 - Coin Operated
July 24, 2008
Every 15 minutes, Americans insert over 3.5 million coins into vending machines. What are they buying? How do the machines work?
15x25 - Secrets of Oil
July 31, 2008
Rubber, plastic, nylon, aerosols, resins, solvents, & lubricants; none can exist without oil. If we stopped driving our cars tomorrow, America would still need 5 million barrels of oil a day.
15x26 - Iron
August 18, 2008
How iron mined in Minnesota is made into steel; iron weapons revolutionize warfare; military metallurgists customize weapons and demonstrate their firepower; iron magnets.
15x27 - Wheat
August 21, 2008
It feeds the world. See how harvesting crews brave months on the road, cutting thousands of acres, tour a pasta plant to see how special kinds of wheat becomes everything from spaghetti to rigatoni. Watch as grain is mashed into a thirst-quenching brew and finally visit a company that transforms wheat into plastic-like products.
15x28 - Dangerous Roads
August 28, 2008
Dangerous roads throughout the world are examined, including Bolivia's "Death Road" and Highway 99 in California. Also: a visit to the Federal Highway Administration's safety-test laboratory.
15x29 - Mold & Fungus
September 18, 2008
Learn about fungal organisms that live within our bodies, grow beneath our feet, float in the air and help create some of the foods and beverages we consume.
15x30 - Soft Drinks
September 29, 2008
They account for nearly 30% of all beverages consumed in the U.S. and have been quenching thirst for over a century.
15x31 - Corrosion & Decompositon
October 13, 2008
America's aging infrastructure is in danger of collapse due to corrosion, according to engineers; technology for battling corrosion; harnessing the destructive power of decomposition.
15x32 - Bulls-eye
October 20, 2008
Examining how frequently experts in various disciplines can hit their targets, including archers, sharpshooters and even a billiards player; the ancient world's ballista and trebuchet weapons; knife thrower; Cirque du Soleil's daring artists.
15x33 - Halloween Tech
October 31, 2008
An inside look at the technology used for the Halloween traditions such as producing latex masks, professional monster makeup, carving jack-o-lanterns, making fake blood and a glimpse of a popular haunted house attraction.
15x34 - The Horse
November 19, 2008
A celebration of the horse, the animal that helped mankind change the world; the thoroughbred racing industry in Kentucky; how a Minnesota logging company uses real horsepower; a Colorado program pairs horses and prison inmates.
15x35 - The Turkey
November 24, 2008
The turkey is the centerpiece of Thanksgiving dinners and one of the dumbest birds in the animal kingdom, but it has managed to survive since the dinosaurs; Butterball factory; turkey hunting; dining on turkey testicles and eggs.
15x36 - Salt
December 1, 2008
It's the only rock we eat, and we need it to live. History has shown that those who have salt rule the world--and today, this versatile substance has 14,000 known uses.
15x37 - Car Wash
December 8, 2008
The car wash's in America are a billion dollars a year industry, with tunnel systems to in-bay automatics, we'll show you how America keeps it's cars clean. We'll visit the largest car wash, seven acres wide which includes a dog wash, chapel, and barber shop. And then to a wash which uses trained electronic eyes, auto conveyors, and mega vacuums which can hold up a bowling ball. We also show tips for cleaning a car at home. Plus we'll add tar, glue, egg, bird droppings, and a bucket full of sludge to a ,000 Porsche, and then challenge a detailer to clean it off. Also, see how cars are built to survive a car wash.
15x38 - Retro Tech
December 19, 2008
Rummage around in your garage and you'll likely find remnants of gadgets past: a typewriter, analog TV, LPs, film cameras and brick-sized mobile phones. These products served us well and remember each one with nostalgic fondness. Take a trip down memory lane to examine how these oldies-but-goodies worked and find out how more advanced tech superseded them.
15x39 - Super Human
December 22, 2008
Whether humans have the ability to possess superpowers; a man can strap on an exoskeleton and lift hundreds of pounds with little effort; Mr. Cyborg can control machines with his thoughts; flying like Superman.
15x40 - Measure It
December 23, 2008
How do you weigh a whale? How does your speedometer work? Take a look at the five most common areas of measurement: distance, time, speed, weight, and temperature.
15x41 - Night
December 26, 2008
Some activities only occur when the world is dark; fishermen use lights to lure squid to their nets; finding night crawlers in Toronto; military night vision gear; police helicopter's Spectrolab spotlight; baseball stadium.
15x42 - Fry It
February 10, 2009
Fairgrounds fried classics such as funnel cakes and churros; frog legs; Twinkies and Coke; forging a cast iron frying pan; Kentucky's World Chicken Festival.
15x43 - Mega Meals
February 17, 2009
Preparing meals for large groups is examined. Included: a meal at a U.S. Naval base in Bangor, Wash.; aboard a nuclear submarine; for crowds at a Philadelphia Eagles game; and the after party of the American Music Awards. Also: airline meals in New York City.
15x44 - Library of Congress
February 19, 2009
Where in Washington DC is the nation's most incredible treasure chest? It's a library unlike any other in the world, the U.S. Library of Congress in Washington D.C. Modern Marvels explodes the myth that this 200 year old institution is simply "where members of Congress borrow books". Viewers are taken beyond the magnificent Jefferson Building Great Hall into the secret vaults where more than 600 miles of shelves hold 130 million items, many of them priceless treasures - from George Washington's hand-written diaries to Galileo's first images of the moon to the original camera film of the movie Frankenstein. See how a staff of 4000 catalogues protects and preserves these treasures and distributes them globally via a new World Digital Library.

15x1 - Milk

15x2 - Carbon

15x3 - 90s Tech

15x4 - Superhighways

15x5 - World's Strongest III

15x6 - Strange Weapons

15x7 - Whiskey

15x8 - Alaskan Fishing

15x9 - Bread

15x10 - Gadgets 3

15x11 - Locomotives

15x12 - Rats

15x13 - Mad Electricity

15x14 - Axes

15x15 - Most Dangerous

15x16 - Super Hot

15x17 - Lead

15x18 - Corpse Tech

15x19 - Ice Cream

15x20 - Bathroom Tech II

15x21 - Crashes

15x22 - Underwear

15x23 - Batman Tech

15x24 - Coin Operated

15x25 - Secrets of Oil

15x26 - Iron

15x27 - Wheat

15x28 - Dangerous Roads

15x29 - Mold & Fungus

15x30 - Soft Drinks

15x31 - Corrosion & Decompositon

15x32 - Bulls-eye

15x33 - Halloween Tech

15x34 - The Horse

15x35 - The Turkey

15x36 - Salt

15x37 - Car Wash

15x38 - Retro Tech

15x39 - Super Human

15x40 - Measure It

15x41 - Night

15x42 - Fry It

15x43 - Mega Meals

15x44 - Library of Congress

S1: Season 1

S2: Season 2

S3: Season 3

S4: Season 4

S5: Season 5

S6: Season 6

S7: Season 7

S8: Season 8

S9: Season 9

S10: Season 10

S11: Season 11

S12: Season 12

S13: Season 13

S14: Season 14

S15: Season 15

S16: Season 16

S17: Season 17

S18: Season 18

S19: Season 19

S20: Season 20

S21: Season 21

S22: Season 22

S23: Season 23