Modern Marvels: Season 15
Season 15 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of Modern Marvels Season 14.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 15 Progress Shield
Milk
Jan 7, 2008 · 44 min
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
Carbon
Jan 14, 2008 · 44 min
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
90s Tech
Feb 7, 2008 · 44 min
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 th
Superhighways
Feb 28, 2008 · 44 min
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
World's Strongest III
Mar 6, 2008 · 44 min
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 stronge
Strange Weapons
Mar 10, 2008 · 44 min
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
Whiskey
Mar 17, 2008 · 44 min
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.
Alaskan Fishing
Mar 19, 2008 · 44 min
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
Bread
Mar 24, 2008 · 44 min
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.
Gadgets 3
Apr 4, 2008 · 44 min
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 work
Locomotives
Apr 21, 2008 · 44 min
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 Can
Rats
Apr 30, 2008 · 44 min
Feared by millions worldwide, rats are some of the most dangerous, destructive and useful animals on Earth.
Mad Electricity
May 14, 2008 · 44 min
Nikola Tesla's bizarre vision of the future brought him failure, but his genius electrified the world.
Axes
May 30, 2008 · 44 min
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
Most Dangerous
Jun 6, 2008 · 44 min
Discover that the deadliest snakes, sports and weather events are closer and more treacherous than you think.
Lead
Jun 16, 2008 · 44 min
A versatile yet toxic metal, lead has served mankind for 6,000 years.
Corpse Tech
Jun 20, 2008 · 44 min
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 a
Ice Cream
Jun 23, 2008 · 44 min
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.
Bathroom Tech II
Jun 30, 2008 · 44 min
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 chromatherap
Crashes
Jul 10, 2008 · 44 min
Explore collisions that shake our world from the astronomic to the subatomic. Indy car racing; motorcycles; skydiving; meteorites; and subatomic particles.
Underwear
Jul 17, 2008 · 44 min
From itchy woolen union suits to comfortable briefs and boxers learn how our undergarments have evolved over the last 100 years.
Batman Tech
Jul 21, 2008 · 44 min
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 arsena
Coin Operated
Jul 24, 2008 · 44 min
Every 15 minutes, Americans insert over 3.5 million coins into vending machines. What are they buying? How do the machines work?
Secrets of Oil
Jul 31, 2008 · 44 min
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
Iron
Aug 18, 2008 · 44 min
How iron mined in Minnesota is made into steel; iron weapons revolutionize warfare; military metallurgists customize weapons and demonstrate their firepower; iron magnets.
Wheat
Aug 21, 2008 · 44 min
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 spag
Dangerous Roads
Aug 28, 2008 · 44 min
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
Mold & Fungus
Sep 18, 2008 · 44 min
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.
Soft Drinks
Sep 29, 2008 · 44 min
They account for nearly 30% of all beverages consumed in the U.S. and have been quenching thirst for over a century.
Corrosion & Decompositon
Oct 13, 2008 · 44 min
America's aging infrastructure is in danger of collapse due to corrosion, according to engineers; technology for battling corrosion; harnessing the destructive power of decompositi
Bulls-eye
Oct 20, 2008 · 44 min
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 trebuc
Halloween Tech
Oct 31, 2008 · 44 min
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 glim
The Horse
Nov 19, 2008 · 44 min
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 C
The Turkey
Nov 24, 2008 · 44 min
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; tur
Salt
Dec 1, 2008 · 44 min
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.
Car Wash
Dec 8, 2008 · 44 min
The car wash's in America are a $25 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 lar
Retro Tech
Dec 19, 2008 · 44 min
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 we
Super Human
Dec 22, 2008 · 44 min
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 t
Measure It
Dec 23, 2008 · 44 min
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.
Night
Dec 26, 2008 · 44 min
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 helicopte
Fry It
Feb 10, 2009 · 44 min
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.
Mega Meals
Feb 17, 2009 · 44 min
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
Library of Congress
Feb 19, 2009 · 44 min
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