The BEST episodes of History 101
Every episode of History 101 ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of History 101!
Infographics and archival footage deliver bite-size history lessons on scientific breakthroughs, social movements and world-changing discoveries.
#1 - GPS
Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 8/25/2022
Once a secret military program, GPS now guides our daily lives, from providing directions to finding friends. But what do we trade for this convenience?
#2 - High Fructose Corn Syrup
Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/25/2022
Sweet deal or bitter pill? High fructose corn syrup rose up to dominate supermarket shelves, but what is it doing to our health?
#3 - IVF
Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/25/2022
A groundbreaking medical reproductive procedure has made parenthood possible for millions around the world... but at what cost?
#4 - Home Workouts
Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 8/25/2022
The home fitness revolution has exploded into a multibillion-dollar industry. Are home workouts a healthy habit... or just hype?
#5 - Lasers
Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 8/25/2022
They're used for everything from entertainment to medicine — and now for weapons straight out of science fiction. Have lasers become too hot to handle?
#6 - Dating Apps
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 8/25/2022
Thanks to dating apps, finding love is easier than ever. But are we now so focused on playing the game that we're missing out on real connection?
#7 - Bottled Water
Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 8/25/2022
Bottled water is a big business, selling itself as a tastier and healthier alternative to the tap variety. Is there truth behind the claims?
#8 - Psychedelics
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 8/25/2022
Growing evidence suggests that psychedelic drugs could treat brain injuries and psychological problems. But can we get past their controversial history?
#9 - Credit Cards
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 8/25/2022
Credit cards changed the global economy and attitudes about personal spending, but record levels of consumer debt beg the question: Just who's in charge?
#10 - MP3s
Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 8/25/2022
MP3s transformed how we listen to music — and spawned digital piracy. Streaming helped the industry recover, but how can artists get their fair share?
#11 - Fast Food
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 5/22/2020
Cheap, quick and tasty, fast food became a culinary craze in the 1950s. But has our quest for convenience created an irreversible health crisis?
#12 - Genetics
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 5/22/2020
DNA analysis has given us the tools to map disease, solve crimes and more. But in our rush to decode DNA, are we leaping before we look?
#13 - AIDS
Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 5/22/2020
Nearly 40 million people are living with HIV. After decades of research and activism, how far have we come in finding a cure and battling the stigma?
#14 - Nuclear Power
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 5/22/2020
Over 10% of the world's electricity comes from nuclear power. But with radioactive waste and the threat of nuclear meltdown, are we playing with fire?
#15 - Feminism
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/22/2020
Feminism has ushered in sweeping changes to society, securing rights for women around the world. How much further do we have to go?
#16 - Robots
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/22/2020
We share the planet with an estimated 9 million robots, from self-driving cars to surgical arms. Could they one day completely replace humans?
#17 - Oil and the Middle East
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/22/2020
Oil has brought great wealth to the Middle East and ignited major wars. Is it a blessing or a curse for the region, as well as the rest of the world?
#18 - Plastics
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/22/2020
Plastics have transformed how we live, but progress comes at a high price: 7.8 billion tons of waste. Are plastics a miracle or a catastrophe?
#19 - The Rise of China
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/22/2020
In the 21st century, China has become a global economic powerhouse. Why was the rest of the world so slow to notice its rise to the top?
#20 - The Space Race
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 5/22/2020
Fifteen international agencies spend $62 billion every year on space travel. What's fueling our costly — and dangerous — drive to explore the universe?