The BEST episodes of Modern Marvels season 8

#1 - Apollo 13

Season 8 - Episode 5 - Aired 1/22/2001

When an oxygen tank exploded in the command module of Apollo 13, the prospects for the three astronauts aboard were exceedingly grim. But they defied the odds.

#2 - Lighthouses

Season 8 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/19/2001

From the earliest known lighthouses, such as the Pharos of Alexandria, to modern-day automated buoys and solar-powered lantern rooms, this history of lighthouses is rich with personal stories of lighthouse keepers, daring construction efforts, and ingenious optical discoveries.

#3 - Air Shows

Season 8 - Episode 32 - Aired 9/4/2001

Ever since the first air show captivated onlookers in 1909, stunt pilots and famous flyers have entertained enthusiasts with aerial acrobatics. MODERN MARVELS: AIR SHOWS looks at the history, technology, and amazing risks involved in producing these beloved airborne performances.

#4 - War Games

Season 8 - Episode 42 - Aired 11/13/2001

There is nothing like the real thing. But when your trade is war, live training is not possible. With some war games today, it's hard to tell the difference... WEAPONS AT WAR takes a look at one of the most vital parts of military training, the war games that prepare soldiers and commanders for the heat of battle. From the days of simple "hide and seek" games to a rare look inside the amazing war games center in Virginia, the program traces the history of these ever-more-realistic simulations. See how physical and virtual sessions each contribute to the overall training program, and hear from the men who are charged with perfecting the training. Soldiers talk about what it is like to endure these simulations, and reveal how they have applied the lessons on the field of battle. It is a world designed for one thing alone--to prepare soldiers for everything they might possibly encounter when they take up arms.

#5 - West Point

Season 8 - Episode 33 - Aired 9/11/2001

For nearly 200 years, the U.S. Military Academy® at West Point, New York, has trained students in the art of war. From humble beginnings, the Academy® grew with the nation, as each war forced changes to keep pace with America’s expanding world responsibilities.

#6 - Quarries

Season 8 - Episode 34 - Aired 9/18/2001

The history of how rocks are quarried for every day uses and the history of how Stone Age man began to quarry rocks to form civilization.

#7 - Diamond Mines

Season 8 - Episode 35 - Aired 9/19/2001

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.

#8 - The House Part 1

Season 8 - Episode 37 - Aired 10/15/2001

#9 - The House Part 2

Season 8 - Episode 38 - Aired 10/15/2001

#10 - Work Clothes

Season 8 - Episode 39 - Aired 10/17/2001

From 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” often means being able to get the job done. With the right work clothes, people have been able to go anywhere and do any job.

#11 - Bunkers

Season 8 - Episode 40 - Aired 10/23/2001

From 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 more potent forms of attack, bunkers function in a variety of forms.

#12 - Cemeteries

Season 8 - Episode 41 - Aired 10/30/2001

A look at dealing with the dead throughout the centuries, and at today's $20-billion funeral industry. Any way you look at it, it's a healthy business, with new generations of customers year after year.

#13 - Drive-Thru

Season 8 - Episode 42 - Aired 11/27/2001

Join us for a ride through the history of car-culture commerce. We chronicle the birth of the first drive-in restaurants that paved the way for a billion-dollar fast-food dynasty, and feature many lesser-known drive-thru venues, such as dry cleaners, flu-shot clinics, liquor stands, and drug stores.

#14 - Los Angeles

Season 8 - Episode 43 - Aired 11/28/2001

Los Angeles is explored. Marvels include the Metro Red Line subway system; the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum; Disneyland; the Getty Center; and the freeway system.

#15 - Times Square

Season 8 - Episode 44 - Aired 11/29/2001

It lies at the heart of one of the world’s greatest cities and ranks among the most popular tourist destinations on the planet. Modern Marvels takes you behind the scenes at Times Square, showing you how this marvel came to be and why it remains an icon to this day.

#16 - Glass

Season 8 - Episode 45 - Aired 12/1/2001

Glass 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 expression. We see how, when man learned that heating certain rocks and minerals together could produce glass, this remarkably transparent yet strong material began working its way into our culture and everyday life.

#17 - Firing Ranges

Season 8 - Episode 46 - Aired 12/4/2001

Discover 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 firing ranges.

#18 - The St. Louis Arch

Season 8 - Episode 47 - Aired 12/11/2001

It 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. We'll see how its simple and elegant form results from remarkable achievements in construction and engineering.

#19 - The M-16

Season 8 - Episode 18 - Aired 6/8/2001

Built in the 1950's, the M-16 has become the primary service rifle for the U.S. military. Many of the improvements which have taken place were done during and after Vietnam, when the rifle was often pitted against the Russian-made AK-47.

#20 - Battleships: Then and Now

Season 8 - Episode 14 - Aired 4/21/2001

#21 - The Secret Life of the Crash Test Dummy

Season 8 - Episode 36 - Aired 9/25/2001

A history of the history of crash test dummies. Beginning at the use of crash test dummies in airplane crash simulations to the newest automobile crash test dummies.

#22 - U-Boats

Season 8 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/20/2001

They prowled the chilly depths of the ocean. Like wolves they hunted in packs and picked off prey, and unleashed a special brand of mayhem on allied ships. They put a chock hold on England and nearly starved her into submission, twice in one century.

#23 - The Spitfire

Season 8 - Episode 28 - Aired 8/16/2001

The Supermarine Spitfire is a revolutionary fighter plane.

#24 - Home Tech

Season 8 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/3/2001

From the outhouse to the smart house, our lives have improved drastically in the last 150 years. Convenience and comfort have always been considerations in home design.

#25 - International Airports 2

Season 8 - Episode 16 - Aired 5/14/2001

The developments and technology of international airports' construction and operation.