NOTE: We are listing both EST/Pacific Time and individual television ratings. All rated [G] or [PG] unless noted. [NR] = Not Rated, news-related program.Sorry for the delay, apparently everyone at A&E was in the illegal alien rallies yesterday Monday, May 1, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Dangerous Cargo. Toxic traffic is everywhere! An average of 800,000 shipments of hazardous materials hit our highways and railways daily. From Wild West wooden crates filled with explosives to HAZMAT containers of nuclear waste, we shadow dangerous cargo. We ride shotgun on a hazardous material shipment that's tracked by satellites; hunt down the hush-hush "ghost fleet"--trucks carrying classified government materials; and board a Con-Air flight moving another kind of nasty stuff--dangerous felons! 8-9pm -- UFO Files - The Day after Roswell. Delve into the aftermath and repercussions of the 1947 Roswell incident, when many believe an alien spacecraft crashed in New Mexico. Based on The Day after Roswell by Lt. Col. Philip J. Corso and William Birnes, we explore if technologies like the laser, fiber optics, the integrated circuit, super-strong fibers, and night vision were developed with the aid of aliens. Career officer Corso claims his first alien encounter came on July 6, `47, while on late-night security rounds at Ft. Riley, Kansas, where he saw bodies of EBEs (Extraterrestrial Biological Entities) inside shipping crates. In 1961, as Chief of Foreign Technology in the Army's department of Research and Development, his job included analyzing alien technology from Roswell, then introducing it into America's technological mainstream--thus, reverse-engineering alien artifacts. And we talk to many scientists involved at the time, who credit hard work, not alien contact, with these technological advances. 9-10pm -- Digging for the Truth - The Real Temple of Doom. Thousands of years before the Inca ruled the nation now called Peru, a strange and unique civilization dominated the region. It was called Chavin, and its story is one of the most bizarre in history. Unlike the other civilizations of the Americas, Chavin's status as a regional superpower wasn't based on its military muscle. Instead, the rulers of Chavin exercised a cult-like control over their subjects with the aid of hallucinogenic plants. Josh Bernstein ventures deep into the miles of tunnels beneath the ruins of Chavin de Huantar, comes face to face with some of the most fearsome animals of the Peruvian Amazon, and investigates a real temple of doom. As he tries to understand this mysterious culture, he takes part in one of the ancient rituals still practiced by the country's powerful shaman-priests. 10-11pm -- Deep Sea Detectives - Mystery of the Channel Collision. On a stormy night in March 1899, two ships head toward each other in the English Channel. The Duke of Buccleugh, a 380-foot iron steamer is bound for India, with a mixed cargo of china, glassware, and industrial goods. The Vandalia, a wooden sailing ship loaded with barrels of petroleum is hurrying to reach London. Shortly after 1pm, the two ships collide with deadly, but surprising results. The iron Duke sinks quickly, with her entire crew of 47; the badly damaged wooden Vandalia limps ashore. The surviving captain reports his sailing ship was operating properly when suddenly rammed by the iron steamer, and for 100 years, his claim goes unchallenged. But now, evidence on the wreck suggests a different story. Did the Duke of Buccleugh ram the Vandalia or was it the other way round? And just how does wood sink iron? Join our intrepid divers, John Chatterton and Richie Kohler, as they seek answers. ____________________________________________________ Tuesday, May 2, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Hadrian's Wall. 74-miles long and 2,000 years old, Hadrian's Wall winds over the hills and valleys of Northern England, marking the northernmost extent of a long-dead empire. Built of stone and mortar by Roman soldiers, it is the most significant Roman ruin in England. Ordered built by the Emperor Hadrian around the time of his visit in 122 AD, it was more a permanent demarcation and less a defensive barrier. We'll visit this archaeological treasure, which teaches us much of what the Roman era was like for Britain. Patrick Macnee thinks he was mad. 8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Hi-Tech Hitler. Was it possible for good science to come out of the Nazi regime, and why did science and technology thrive during this time? When Hitler came to power, Germany was one of the world's most advanced technological countries. We'll examine five crucial scientific advances of the Nazi period that still have an impact today. Nazi scientists were the first to establish a direct link between smoking and cancer. Hitler exploited the discovery of Hi-Fi recording equipment to boost Nazi propaganda broadcasts. The first jet fighter flew in Germany, eventually commissioned by Hitler, but too late to win the war in the air, and with it came the first pilot ejection seat. Even the electron microscope, one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century, was discovered in Germany, but ignored by the Nazis. This is the true story of the scientific feats and failures of Hitler's Nazi Germany. 9-10pm -- Tsunami 2004: Waves of Death - The 2004 Tsunami, centered in the Indian Ocean, was caused by a 9.3 earthquake--the second strongest quake on record. Join us for a minute-by-minute look at nature's fury at its worst, when the tsunami kills more than 200,000 people in 14 countries. In this special, we examine the tsunami as it moves from coast to coast through the eyes of people who lived through it and scientists now studying its path of devastation. Drawing on the extraordinary volume of amateur video that recorded the disaster, we take viewers inside the world's deadliest tsunami. 10-11pm -- Mega Movers - B-25 Bomber In 1943, a B-25 Mitchell, WWII's most versatile twin-engine bomber, crash-landed in South Carolina. It sank 150 feet to the bottom of a lake and over time was forgotten. Now, 60 years later, a local doctor is determined to raise the giant bomber intact and give it to a museum. Our team--divers, engineers, and preservationists--takes on the job of moving the 20,000-pound bomber to the surface, while faced with the challenges of working in nearly zero-visibility murky waters and the wrath of an approaching hurricane, plus fear that the plane may be breaking apart! ____________________________________________________ Wednesday, May 3, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 6-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Motorcycles. Set the sedan's safety brake and hop on your "hog" for a 2-hour high-speed history of the motorcycle--from the 1868 "steam velocipede" to the early 20th century, when they were a low-cost alternative to automobiles; from Harley-Davidsons preferred by Hell's Angels and police to motocross riders who take bikes into the air and onto the dirt. We also look to the motorcycle's future, featuring Jay Leno's jet-propelled Y2K sportbike and Erik Buell's bike-without-a-gas-tank creation. 8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Diamond Mines. 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. 9-10pm -- Modern Marvels - Silver Mines. It was called the "mother lode", a deposit of silver so massive that it would produce $300-million in its first 25 years of operation, establish Nevada as a state, and bankroll the Union Army in the Civil War. Named after an early investor, we'll see how the Comstock Lode, discovered near Virginia City, proved to be a scientific laboratory from which vast improvements in mining technology and safety were pioneered, including innovations in drilling, ventilation, drainage, and ore processing. 10-11pm -- Modern Marvels - Shovels. From a prehistoric sharpened digging stick to today's $15-million monster machines, our journey for the ultimate shovel begins in California's borax mines, where the P&H 4100 uses advanced electronics, brute strength, and savvy operators to excavate 170-ton chunks in a single scoop. We travel back to 1835, when William Otis set off an American digging frenzy with his patented steam shovel. And at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, we kick the legs of NASA's latest Mars Lander: Phoenix. This stationary probe has a robotic arm with a shovel scoop designed to dig into the soil, locate ice, and analyze its properties. Back on Earth, the Hitachi Corporation's 200-ton hydraulic humanitarian shovel is designed to locate and explode landmines in Third-World countries. ____________________________________________________ Thursday, May 4, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Drag Racing. Legendary drivers lead us on a record-breaking race through a century-long search for sheer acceleration that began before World War One, when hot-rodders modified Model-T Fords to see how fast they could go. Today's dragsters can cover a quarter-mile from a standing start in 4.5 seconds, hitting top speeds above 330 mph. Top driver Gary Clapshaw shows us how to put together a modern dragster and revolutionary designer Bob Norwood unveils his newest car. 8-9pm -- Ancient Marvels - Pyramids: Majesty and Mystery. Standing majestically for centuries, the world's great pyramids have long inspired and mystified scholars. Leading experts and historians explore the engineering genius that created some of the largest structures on the planet. From ancient Egypt to Central America, we visit these technological masterpieces. 9-10pm -- Decoding The Past - Mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle, Part 2. In this hour we take a scientific look at just what may be the causes for shipwrecks and plane crashes in the Triangle. We employ a team of scientific investigators from various disciplines to help us in the search for legitimate explanations. Included on the team are a meteorologist, oceanographer, aviation expert, and an accident investigator. Using this team of scientific investigators, we attempt to unravel Triangle mysteries, with a focus on the tragedy of Flight 19. We examine likely causes such as the area's harsh weather conditions, rapid underwater currents, and mechanical and human error. Finally, we provide a minute-by-minute reconstruction of Flight 19. In it, our accident investigator sorts through all the evidence and presents the logical verdict as to just what caused 27 airmen to lose their lives in 1945 over the Bermuda Triangle. 10-11pm -- Declassified - Secrets of World War I. This is the secret story of "the War to End All Wars" and what happened when the first weapons of mass destruction reached the battlefield. We uncover the forgotten story of the secret deals, government mistakes, political intolerance, and America's role in the war. We mine formerly guarded vaults and archives worldwide, reviewing once top-secret footage and declassified materials to search for the facts behind the thrilling stories with which we've become familiar. ____________________________________________________ Friday, May 5, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Bullet Trains. Traveling between 135 and 190 miles per hour with an astonishingly high safety record, bullet trains can be found throughout Europe, Japan, and on the US eastern seaboard. How high-speed trains are propelled is rooted in fundamentals that haven't changed since the first electric trolleys appeared in the 19th century. We see how scientists are looking at new alternatives to electricity, including magnetic levitation that can move passenger trains 345 miles per hour and beyond! 8-9pm -- Super Tools - Ship. A modern-day aircraft carrier is like a floating city: with 5,000 crewmembers, 80 aircraft, and a four-and-a-half acre big flight deck. It's nearly as long as the Empire State Building is tall, and has its very own 20-story skyscraper balanced on top of it. Constructing one of these is as much a marvel as the ship itself. We take viewers to the Newport News Shipyard in Virginia, where the George H. W. Bush--the latest Nimitz-class aircraft carrier--is inching closer to completion. Gone are the hammers, nails, and even rivets of the old shipyards, replaced with plasma, lasers, and robots that are pressed into service building the largest warship afloat. We go deep inside the guts of this warship-in-the-making to get up close to the tools that rule the shipbuilding world: the plasma beveling cutter, robotic welder, shafting lathe, laser tracker, and pneumatic drill. 9-10pm -- Super Tools - Tunnel. In this episode, we dig deep into the workings, history, and technology of the superstar tools that enable us to burrow beneath the earth. Tunnels--underground, through mountains, beneath oceans and rivers--are among engineering's great achievements. Workers must create a seamless and waterproof space where only unforgiving rock existed before. We'll visit one of America's biggest tunnel projects, Atlanta's CSO (Combined Sewage Overflow). To help manage waste water during torrential rains, two four and a half mile long tunnels are being constructed under the city to channel storm water overflow to a pumping station. We'll watch the action of the five superstar tools of tunnel construction--the rock drill, explosives, the tunnel boring machine, the gas detector, and the shotcrete gun. What began as backbreaking labor with a simple hammer and chisel is today a state-of-the-art hi-tech industry thanks to the ever-improving technology of these five essential tools. 10-11pm -- Super Tools - Skyscraper. Skyscrapers are an extraordinary feat of human engineering: exposing millions of pounds of concrete and steel to the enemy forces of wind and gravity. Starting with the foundation and on through the support structures and concrete flooring, every piece of these superstructures has to be super-strong. We'll soar high to spotlight the construction of three new buildings: a 30-story hotel tower for the Palms Casino in Las Vegas; a 52-story office building in Manhattan, the new headquarters of The New York Times; and a 92-story residential and commercial building in Chicago, the Trump International Hotel and Tower. Along the way, we go behind the scenes with the five tools that make these buildings possible: the foundation drill rig, the tower crane, the impact wrench, the power trowel, and the total station. Each of these tools has evolved over the 100-plus year history of the skyscraper era. ____________________________________________________ Saturday, May 6, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Oil Tankers. The biggest moving objects ever built by man, oil tankers dominate the world's waterways, both in size and numbers. Upwards of 10,000 strong, the world tanker fleet's vast number results from the modern, insatiable thirst for oil. We'll dig into the history of oil transport--from Civil War days to the critical WWII years and invention of the supertanker in the 1950s. And we examine the financial impact of modifying these steel leviathans to prevent future catastrophic environmental disasters. 8-10pm -- Boneyard: Where Machines End Their Lives - Where do machines go when they die? From B-52 Bombers to massive aircraft carriers, from passenger cars to Cold War cruise missiles and remnants of the Twin Towers, all that we manufacture has a lifespan. But reaching the end of their original purposes can be just the beginning. Join us on a fascinating visual journey as we follow some of our greatest achievements in manufacturing, design engineering, and construction to their after-lives and final resting places. 10-12am -- The World Trade Center - On September 11, 2001, terrorists did the unthinkable when they flew two fuel-loaded jetliners into the World Trade Center. The Twin Towers' physical height and symbolic stature made them the perfect target. They were remarkable achievements in architecture, construction, and technology. In this 2-hour profile, we look at how the WTC was constructed and talk to representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers, New York's Office of Emergency Management, FEMA, and DNA experts about the aftermath. 3000 names ____________________________________________________ Sunday, May 7, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Comets: Prophets of Doom - Part 2. At the conclusion of two spectacular NASA missions that sent spaceships to rendezvous with these mysterious objects, we examine the scientific and historical record of comets, including man's reaction to them. Did a comet lead the Wise Men to Bethlehem? Did they foretell the death of kings, the destruction of civilizations? How did Halley's Comet provide Isaac Newton with the clues for his theories of gravity? Finally, what comprises this "dirty snowball" and how can we protect ourselves if headed on a collision-course with one? 8-10pm -- Mega Movers - Moving the Impossible. From the engineers of ancient Egypt to the architects of Renaissance Rome and the modern era's moving miracles--the men, methods, and machines of structural moving have pushed the limits of imagination and technology for over 5,000 years. In this 2-hour chronicle, we'll investigate the amazing feats of mega moving from primitive civilization through the Industrial Revolution into the 21st Century--including the evolution of technology that allows a 3,000-ton building to be driven down the street by remote control! From the granite blocks of Stonehenge to the awesome Vatican Obelisk and the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, see how ambition and ingenuity have continued to defy convention, break records, and achieve the unthinkable in moving! 10-12am -- Meteors: Fire in the Sky - Meteors, comets, and asteroids cross the solar system to offer clues about our planet and universe. Can they destroy civilizations? Did they wipe out the dinosaurs? Have they brought life to our planet? And when will the next one hit? Aided by elaborate animation and live-action footage, we learn what these mysterious space rocks really are and imagine what likely happened 65-million years ago, when an object plowed into the Yucatan Peninsula. We see how certain spectacular meteor falls advanced our understanding of what they are and the danger that they pose. We talk to leading experts--astronomers and geologists including David Levy and Carolyn Shoemaker, co-discoverers of the Shoemaker-Levy comet that fell into Jupiter in 1994. And we talk to NASA scientists about recent missions to asteroids and comets and speculate on ways to move Earth-threatening asteroids and comets out of our way. Because it isn't a question of if but when the next deadly impact will take place. ____________________________________________________ Monday, May 8, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Engineering Disasters: New Orleans. One of the deadliest natural disasters experienced by US, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans--submerging it under a torrent of floodwater. We investigate why the levees and water-pumping system failed and join a "Geological Detective" as he sifts through the rubble to uncover how 80% of the city was left underwater and discovers how the levee system was a potential disaster in the making. We also delve deep into the 80-year-old pumping system to unearth how it flooded and why it took weeks to drain the city of up to 25 feet of water. We learn the engineering cause behind the nightmare suffered by victims seeking shelter in the Superdome. And our investigators discover the design flaws on one of the major escape routes of the city. Using satellite global positioning, we find that New Orleans and the entire Louisiana wetland coastline are actually sinking. How can New Orleans stop this from ever happening again and should it be rebuilt at all? 8-9pm -- UFO Files - Alien Engineering, Part 1. Prepare for an exercise in imagination. Suppose that an alien spacecraft crashed in the desert and we humans recovered it. What could we learn from its engineers? Using data gleaned from years of UFO sightings, we recreate a typical ship using cutting-edge animation, discover why aliens choose the craft shapes they do, learn how they overcome the effects of Earth's atmosphere, defy gravity, cancel inertia, and travel faster than the speed of light! Our experts--reverse engineers--show us what's "under the hood" of alien craft. We explore the technology that makes other-world visitations possible, what distance-shrinking device or wormhole excavator permits ships to travel space's expanse in minutes, and how the semi-transparent spacecraft skin functions. At first inspection, the technology seems crazy, but according to our experts, nothing is beyond the realm of possibility. 9-11pm -- Mega Disasters: San Francisco Earthquake - At the dawn of the 20th century, San Francisco was the place to be; a hub of trade and travel, business and banking. Located just to the east of the San Andreas Fault, the bay area is interlaced with eight major earthquake-producing faults. We examine the cataclysmic earthquake that struck on April 18, 1906--it jolted the city for 50 seconds, the earth split for 270 miles, and a resulting firestorm raged for three days. Amazing photographs document the city's destruction and efforts to rebuild. But the rush to get back in business came at a price--the city was rebuilt on the same seismic hazards. Now scientists warn that if it happens again damage and casualties will be much worse. The potential catastrophe unfolds through state-of-the-art graphics with bridges collapsing, high-rise fires, and freeways destroyed. A similar seismic jolt today would lead to a mega-disaster in San Francisco, with billions of dollars in damage and casualties in the tens of thousands. ____________________________________________________ Tuesday, May 9, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Nature's Engineers 2. Think man is unique within the animal kingdom? You might not after this hour that features an amazing collection of earth's non-human inhabitants that use tools, build intricate structures, create traps to capture prey, and perform complex procedures, including farming. From Egyptian vultures utilizing stones to crack open hard-shelled ostrich eggs to chimpanzees using a "tool kit" to extract termites from their nests, we learn that our ability to create tools is not exclusive. Other mammals create subterranean structures, including those prodigious diggers Prairie Dogs, and many animals and insects make devices to augment hunting, such as the Ogre-faced Spider that spins a small web to throw down on unsuspecting passersby. And we're not the only ones to work as a unified, multi-skilled force. Aphid-Raising Ants protect and care for herds of plant juice-sucking aphids that they "milk". 8-9pm -- Rogue Waves - Join us for the amazing story of one of nature's most terrifying forces. With striking visuals from ships in storm-tossed seas, the special presents dramatic tales of rogue wave disasters throughout history, and explores the astonishing scientific discoveries surrounding this deadly phenomenon. Aided by mind-blowing CGI footage from the motion picture Poseidon by Wolfgang Petersen, director of The Perfect Storm, we reveal the awesome power of this ocean menace as it really is--a monster rising from the deep! 9-10pm -- Mega Disasters - West Coast Tsunami. What would happen if a massive earthquake and tsunami were to strike the West Coast of the United States? Experts say it could easily match the catastrophic 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in scale and might. A 700-mile stretch of coast, from northern California to southern British Columbia lies just off the extremely volatile Cascadia Subduction Zone. Many seismologists say that after more than 300 years of massive pressure build-up, it is likely to erupt in the not too distant future. And it has happened in the past. Geologists have discovered evidence of a massive tsunami that struck the Pacific Northwest in 1700--as powerful as the devastating Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004. Hundreds of thousands of lives are at stake. We'll talk to emergency planners, seismologists, and other researchers who are trying to get a handle on when Cascadia will blow, and what--if anything--we can do to minimize the disaster. 10-11pm -- Mega Movers - Locomotives. Travel back to the golden age of railroads in this episode when a small town in the state of Washington is determined to save its cherished train depot from the wrecking ball. But time and Mother Nature have taken their toll on the aging structure. Will the old depot once again welcome tourists to the town of Morton? Meanwhile, in two Texan cities, we move two unique locomotives using two different methods--one used for more than 150 years, and another that's on the cutting edge of technology. Watch how these giant locomotives roll again for the first time in 50 years. ____________________________________________________ Wednesday, May 10, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- History's Mysteries - Ship of Gold. In 1857, en route to New York from California, the steamship Central America vanished in a killer storm off North Carolina's coast, taking with her 400 passengers and nearly 21 tons of gold bullion. Here is the story of the worst US peacetime sea disaster, and how high-tech treasure hunters recovered her fortune over 130 years later. 8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - The Lumberyard. At the center of the American Dream is the home--and at the center of its creation or renovation is the lumberyard. We'll explore the options lumberyards provide for builders and renovators--from natural to engineered woods. We'll show how plywood and pressed woods are made, trace exotic woods to jungle and desert, visit a special lumberyard that deals in recycled and antique woods, and go on an underwater expedition as divers locate ancient logs buried in the Great Lakes and New Zealand. We'll see how 50,000-year-old ancient Kauri wood is "mined" from a bog and is now all the rage among those who live in mansions and travel on yachts. From the lowly 2-by-4 used to build a tract home, to a reclaimed set of historic planks used to make a million-dollar bar in a 5-star hotel, this eye-opening program hits the nail right on the head. 9-10pm -- Modern Marvels - Logging Tech. When Paul Bunyan cried "Timber!", he never foresaw today's cutting-edge, controversial industry that feeds a ravenous, lumber-crazy world--a world striving to protect nature while devouring it. Come into the woods to see how he-men and hi-tech combine forces to topple 4-billion trees annually; journey to 19th-century America, when lumberjacks cut a legend as large as the timber they felled; and travel with a tree from stump to sawmill and learn its non-wood uses--from aspirin to film to toothpaste! 10-11pm -- Modern Marvels - Drilling. Spiraling deep into the ground...driving holes through solid rock...rotating, hammering, and scraping its way through whatever it may encounter...whether it's earth or ice, steel or stone, nothing can stand in its way! This episode penetrates the world of drilling and explores various types of drilling's colorful histories. From drilling for water in the New Mexico desert to searching for oil in the Gulf of Mexico, we'll show you how it's done. The program features the quest to drill the deepest hole ever and the scientific drill ship expected to perform the feat, and also looks at drills used to recover ice cores that will unearth thousands of years of climate history. We also examine the latest and greatest tunnel boring machines, robotic drills, and handheld power drills. Finally, we check out laser drills--both large and small--including a drill that can bore a hole a fraction of the diameter of a human hair. ____________________________________________________ Thursday, May 11, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Panzers. German tanks revolutionized military doctrine. Their speed and tactical usage, backed up by the Luftwaffe, helped create the Blitzkrieg (lightning war) that stormed over Europe and dominated battlefields. 8-9pm -- Snipers - One Shot--One Kill. Statistics prove it's damned hard to kill an enemy soldier on the battlefield. That's why the US Marine Corps urges its best marksmen to become snipers--human machines, inhuman patience and precision. From distances up to three miles, tomorrow's Marines train to neutralize enemies with one shot from their rifles--a shot that can mean the difference between peaceful surrender and bloody assault. We journey from Vietnam to Africa and Eastern Europe to observe these snipers watching...waiting...firing. 9-10pm -- Snipers - World's Deadliest Snipers. Among the world's best, the British Royal Marines build on their noble traditions and the lessons of history to hone the skills of snipers and place them in a proud global lineage. The daring British Commandos, perfecting their use of camouflage and stalking, cleared the hedgerows at Normandy. The Russian Red Army snipers, known for patience and stealth, helped to break the siege of Stalingrad. We also look at a little-known force--the Red Army's deadly women snipers, who fought alongside the men. 10-11pm -- Declassified - The Taliban. To the United States and the Soviet Union, Afghanistan was always a pawn in a much bigger game. First the Soviets bought them off and then the US sent in arms. The Russians sent in troops and we sent in the CIA to train the Mujahedin to kill Russians. But then came the Taliban and the pawns started moving on their own... We'll mine the guarded vaults and archives around the world to reveal the untold story of how the pieces turned on the players and the jihad came to Kabul and the streets of New York. ____________________________________________________ Friday, May 12, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Egyptian Pyramids. Constructed as tombs for the ancient pharaohs, over 100 pyramids remain in Egypt. Built during a span of well over 1,000 years, they stand as cultural and engineering marvels of staggering proportions. But many things about these monuments, including the exact methods used to construct them, remain tantalizingly obscure. Travel back in time as we investigate their evolution--from the earlier mastaba to the Step Pyramid, Bent Pyramid, and of course, the magnificent necropolis at Giza. 8-10pm -- Warrior Empire: The Mughals - From 1526 to 1858, the Mughals, a dynasty of nomadic Asian rulers, created a massive and powerful empire covering much of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, passing along an appetite for territory expansion and brutality. But they were also technological innovators and builders of some of the most enduring architecture in South Asia. Through their conquests and achievements, we learn about their military innovations like composite bows, matchlock guns, rocketry, chain mail, and cannons. We explore their feats of archery on horseback and use of elephants as fearsome weapons. And we examine their culture and enduring architecture, including palaces, forts, water systems, gardens, and the Taj Mahal--a tomb that took 22 years to build in honor of the most beloved of the sultan's wives. Join us for a sweeping history of the military ambition, innovative weapons and battle strategies, material excess, architectural wonders, and cultural flowering that shaped modern India. 10-11pm -- High Hitler - Adolf Hitler dreamt of creating a master race, but achieved a Holocaust--the murder of millions of Jews and those deemed physical or mental defects. But the Führer, an appalling hypochondriac, abused laxatives and suffered from stomach cramps and embarrassing flatulence. And that was just the start! When he committed suicide in 1945, the great dictator was frail with tremors and a shuffling walk--a feeble condition concealed from the world. We explore the relationship between Hitler and his personal physician, Dr. Theodore Morell. How did amphetamine abuse, Parkinson's Disease, and tertiary syphilis impact on his state of mind? ____________________________________________________ Saturday, May 13, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 8-9pm -- The Antichrist - Part 1. How would you recognize the most evil person on Earth? According to many historical texts, you should look for a brilliant, enigmatic public figure who transforms the world for good--for a while. Basically, the last person you'd tap as Satan's human emissary. While many believe the Antichrist has come and gone, just as many believe he will soon arrive, if he's not already in our midst. Join us for harrowing look at an evil so obscure that he answers only to Satan. Real? Our group of prophecy believers and historical experts help sort it out. We follow the emergence of the Antichrist from pre-Judaic texts, through the Book of Daniel and Revelation, into Christian writings of the Middle Ages, and other religious traditions as well. Aided by interviewees both religious and secular, comprised of eminent clergy, scholars, historians, psychologists, and culture makers, we'll examine the evil enigma from every conceivable angle. It's an omen 9-10pm -- The Antichrist - Zero Hour From popes and presidents to dictators, Antichrists have been identified in all periods of recorded history and in all walks of life. Even nations, movements, and technologies have been thought by some to be the agents of the Antichrist. Throughout history, people have seen their own times as the most morally bankrupt and have recognized signs of the coming of the Apocalypse. If the end is near, what will it be like? What is the Antichrist's agenda? How does he intend to take over the world and wreak destruction? Is this escapist fantasy or inescapable fate? 10-12am -- Time Machine - The world of the Bible was one beset by terror, when disasters of truly biblical proportions ravaged humanity. It was a time of global flooding, fiery destruction, plagues, earthquakes, killer epidemics, and famine. Are these biblical accounts fact or fiction? We'll explore new and controversial evidence as we seek to learn how ancient disasters may provide valuable insight for a modern world besieged by similar catastrophes. ____________________________________________________ Sunday, May 14, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Mega Disasters - West Coast Tsunami. What would happen if a massive earthquake and tsunami were to strike the West Coast of the United States? Experts say it could easily match the catastrophic 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in scale and might. A 700-mile stretch of coast, from northern California to southern British Columbia lies just off the extremely volatile Cascadia Subduction Zone. Many seismologists say that after more than 300 years of massive pressure build-up, it is likely to erupt in the not too distant future. And it has happened in the past. Geologists have discovered evidence of a massive tsunami that struck the Pacific Northwest in 1700--as powerful as the devastating Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004. Hundreds of thousands of lives are at stake. We'll talk to emergency planners, seismologists, and other researchers who are trying to get a handle on when Cascadia will blow, and what--if anything--we can do to minimize the disaster. 8-10pm -- Titanic's Final Moments: Missing Pieces - In August 2005, John Chatterton and Richie Kohler, hosts of Deep Sea Detectives, led an expedition to the wreck of RMS Titanic. Diving 2½ miles down in Russian submersibles, they searched outside the known debris field for new evidence. On their final dive they made an extraordinary find: two large intact sections of the bottom hull of the Titanic in pristine condition with the red bottom paint still on them. For four months, a team of historians, marine architects, and engineers has been conducting a forensic analysis of this find. All agree that it's the most significant new discovery since the wreck was located in 1985. Analysis is ongoing, but preliminary indications are that these bottom sections will change our understanding of how the ship broke apart, and rewrite the story of the final moments of the Titanic. 10-11pm -- Rogue Waves - Join us for the amazing story of one of nature's most terrifying forces. With striking visuals from ships in storm-tossed seas, the special presents dramatic tales of rogue wave disasters throughout history, and explores the astonishing scientific discoveries surrounding this deadly phenomenon. Aided by mind-blowing CGI footage from the motion picture Poseidon by Wolfgang Petersen, director of The Perfect Storm, we reveal the awesome power of this ocean menace as it really is--a monster rising from the deep! ____________________________________________________ Monday, May 15, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Engines. Story of the development of engines and motors, with particular emphasis on the ones that have profoundly changed society. Beginning with the steam engine, we see how it was created, how it works, and how it led to the Industrial Revolution. We review the electric motor, internal combustion engine, jet engine, and rocket engine, and conclude with a look at futuristic engine technologies, including hydrogen-powered cars and microtechnology engines so small that they fit on the tip of a finger. 8-10pm -- Beyond The Da Vinci Code - Is it the greatest story ever told - or the greatest story ever sold? A best-selling novel sparks a debate that could change Christianity forever. Were Jesus and Mary Magdalene married and co-leaders of their movement? Was Mary Magdalene, herself, the Holy Grail - the vessel said to hold Jesus's blood--and mother of his descendants? Did the early Church know this "truth" and deliberately mislead followers? Is there a secret, ancient society, the Priory of Sion, which still protects this bloodline? Have some of the most illustrious names in art and science been members? These are some of the questions that Dan Brown's best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code raises. We examine both sides of the story--the conventional view of Christianity and the "alternate history" proposed by Brown--so that viewers can decide. 10-11pm -- Digging for the Truth - The Da Vinci Code: Bloodlines. Josh Bernstein searches for solid evidence behind the controversial theory laid out in Dan Brown's book The Da Vinci Code. Brown's theory claims that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and that she conceived a child. It also suggests that the bloodline continues--unbroken--to this day. Josh shows what's true and what's clearly make-believe in Dan Brown's bestseller. From musty libraries to ancient churches, Josh's unique quest leads him to seek the DNA evidence that might prove or disprove one of the most sensational claims in modern history. Most remarkably, he'll orchestrate the first ever DNA test on a Merovingian royal to find out if the story of a divine bloodline stretching back to Jesus and Mary Magdalene could possibly be true. ____________________________________________________ Tuesday, May 16, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Racetrack Tech. A look at the "science of safety" as applied to Indy or NASCAR racing. From tires to roll-cages to hood flaps, we examine the incredible technology that's helping prevent crashes and enabling drivers to survive the inevitable ones. See how today's innovative minds digitally reconstruct crashes and design new technology that keeps pushing the limits of racing. The drivers may grab the glory, but they wouldn't dare get behind the wheel if it weren't for the guys in white lab coats. (1-hour version) 8-9pm -- Opus Dei Secrets Revealed - Secretive and cult-like or divinely inspired and misunderstood? Opus Dei, a conservative organization within the Roman Catholic Church, was thrust into an unforgiving spotlight because of the way it was portrayed in Dan Brown's thriller The Da Vinci Code. Opus Dei claims it's more fiction than fact and that it's misrepresented. Founded in 1928 by Spaniard Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, it encourages members to find God through work and daily life. Members can be found in 61 countries and the majority are lay professionals. Another fraction is comprised of priests. The most orthodox commit to a celibate life, live in Opus Dei residences, give the majority of their income to the organization, and practice corporal mortification, the infliction of self-pain as a holy act of sacrifice. Now, Opus Dei leaders grant unprecedented access as we lift the veil surrounding their mysterious organization to reveal the truths and demystify the myths. 9-10pm -- Mega Disasters - Tornado Alley Twister. What happens when the most intense tornado ever measured strikes Dallas, Texas? With winds clocked at 318 miles per hour, the monster twister carves a path through the city up to a mile wide. It happened once before, just 200 miles to the north in Oklahoma City. There, in May 1999, a "MegaTornado" scoured the earth for 85 minutes along a 38-mile path. 43 people died and property damage was enormous. It became history's first billion-dollar tornado. But in more densely developed Dallas, the scenario is worse: as many as 1,000...and FIVE-billion dollars in damage. 10-11pm -- Mega Movers - Lost & Found. In Pennsylvania, our movers must lift an historic 1938 diner out of a building that has covered it for more than 50 years. But moving the cherished landmark unscathed will pose quite a challenge for everyone involved. Meanwhile, a determined mining historian must rescue a gigantic 1923 steam shovel that has been hidden high up in the Colorado Rockies. Will 30 years of sludge and rugged terrain stop this move before it even begins? ____________________________________________________ Wednesday, May 17, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Oil. From the first well in Pennsylvania to the gushing Spindletop and modern supertankers, the story of oil is the story of civilization as we know it. We'll take a look at the ingenious and outrageous men who risked everything for "black gold" and unimaginable wealth. 8-10pm -- The Templar Code - For nearly two centuries, the Knights Templar were the medieval world's most powerful order, a fearsome and unstoppable Crusader militia. Then came accusations of unspeakable crimes. Who were the Templars, really? How did they become so powerful, so fast, and why did they fall just as quickly? Evidence hints that the Templars excavated under Jerusalem's Temple of Solomon. What did they find there? Was it, as The Da Vinci Code suggests, the true identity of the Holy Grail--the bloodline of Christ? Or an unimaginable treasure, documented in the Dead Sea Scrolls, buried 1,000 years before Christ's birth? We explore the Templar's origin, how they lived, trained, fought and became a medieval world power, and the suspicious circumstances behind their sudden downfall. Plus, we reveal why these warriors, dead for seven centuries, and their treasure still populate Hollywood blockbusters. Narrated by Ed Herrmann and featuring preeminent Templar authors. 10-11pm -- Modern Marvels - Axes, Swords and Knives. Blade implements have been a part of civilized man's arsenal since the Paleolithic Age, when sharp tools were chipped off of flint or obsidian. But with the discovery of metallurgy, people were able to forge stronger, more versatile blade implements. We visit an axe-throwing contest in Wisconsin for an introduction to the least subtle of the blade tools. Then we visit a swordsmith and an experienced swordfighter who work in traditional methods from ancient sources, and review the history of knives. ____________________________________________________ Thursday, May 18, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Custom Cars. For most of us, cars are an ordinary fixture of daily life. But then there are custom cars--literal labors of love. Supercharged hot rods, sublimely sculpted classics, flashy tricked-out lowriders, neon-bright "import tuners"--an eye-popping blend of fine art and mechanical know-how. In this episode, we trace the history, technology, and cultural connections between successive generations who have turned the common car into an American art form. We'll ride with hot rodders and lowriders and visit the speed shops and paint shops where ordinary cars become art. 8-9pm -- Mysteries of the Freemasons - The Beginning. Suspected throughout their long history of plotting to overtake the world, accused of fomenting revolution, and reviled as devil worshippers that stole King Solomon's treasure, the Freemasons claim they're merely a civic-minded fraternity, bound together by harmless rituals. Our high-energy cocktail of dramatic reenactment, expert interviews, and on-location footage entertains historians Akram Elias, Stephen Bullock, and Brent Morris to retell the Freemasons' central myth concerning Hiram Abiff, mythical builder of Jerusalem's Temple of Solomon. During construction, he was killed by three workers who believed his "secret" would impart magical powers--representing the three evils against which Freemasons believe they're still struggling: ignorance, fanaticism, and tyranny. Today, the world's 2.5 million Freemasons meet to reenact the ritual of Hiram's murder as the initiation ceremony for the main rank of Master Mason. 9-10pm -- Mysteries of the Freemasons - America. Is America the creation of the Freemasons? For hundreds of years, suspicions of a plot to take over America have swirled around the Freemasons, the world's oldest secret society. Freemasons led the Revolution, framed the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, designed our nation's capital, and in the early years of the Republic, grew to unmatched heights of influence and power. The untold story of the Freemasons in America reveals secret codes, patterns in the sky, murder, and a radically new picture of the nation's Founding Fathers. We'll explore this remarkable story through dramatic reenactments, expert interviews, sophisticated CGI, and original location documentary footage. Features historians Stephen Bullock, Dan Burstein, Brent Morris, Akram Elias, and author David Shugarts. But will a rational view reveal the Freemasons as an important and honorable thread in the fabric of America? 10-11pm -- Modern Marvels - Da Vinci Tech. Nearly 500 years after his death, Leonardo da Vinci still intrigues us. Most people think of him as a great artist, but he was also a remarkable scientist and inventor. His love of mechanics was unparalleled and he filled his notebooks with pages of incredible machines--from weapons of war to "Ships of the Skies", from submarines and scuba suits to robots and an analogue computer...even contact lenses and alarm clocks! How did a 15th-century man envision such modern innovations? If we follow his plans, would any of his designs work? We need wonder no more. With recent technological advances and new materials, we're the first generation able to bring Leonardo's drawings to life--to learn whether his "mechanical dreams" were workable plans. We explore the fascinating intersection of his art, science, and engineering marvels, and use them to offer insight into this "Genius of Geniuses", who remains as elusive as Mona Lisa's smile. ____________________________________________________ Friday, May 19, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Gas Tech. Gas--it makes a balloon go up, cooks our food, and fills our lungs. But this invisible state of matter does far more, and has a very visible impact on the world. We follow natural gas from well tip to stove top and trace its use from 3rd century BC Chinese salt producers to modern appliances. Next, we investigate the most plentiful gas in the universe--hydrogen--which may also prove to be the most powerful. We also experience the cryogenic world of industrial gasses--what they do and where they come from--as we travel to the British Oxygen Company's Braddock Air Separation Plant to see how they freeze millions of tons of oxygen and nitrogen. And at the Bush Dome Helium Reserve in Texas, we learn why the US government sits atop 36-billion cubic feet of the stuff. Finally, we look inside the colorful world of gas and neon lights. So lay back, breathe deep, and count backwards from 10... 8-9pm -- Behind The Da Vinci Code - Before Dan Brown's book The Da Vinci Code, there was Holy Blood, Holy Grail, written by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln, that is known for its revelation of the possibility of a sacred bloodline continued by Jesus and Mary Magdalene. It was their research on which Brown based much of his novel. Now, 30-some years since they wrote their last follow-ups, Henry Lincoln continues to investigate the source of the story. In this special, the man who launched the whole story breaks his silence, allowing viewers to unlock his secrets and addressing critics who say the whole thing is a hoax. We also explore the connection to the Knights Templar. 9-10pm -- The Holy Grail - Christ's cup from the Last Supper. Medieval poets sang its praises, and King Arthur's knights chased it to the ends of the earth. Did Joseph of Arimathea really claim the cup after the Last Supper and collect Jesus's blood in it at the Crucifixion? Why are there so many Grail tales, no two of which fully agree? And why does the scent of heresy linger about the sacred cup? Many treasures are bigger, but none more precious or elusive as we discover in this quest for the venerable vessel. 10-12am -- Nostradamus: 500 Years Later - The life story of Nostradamus unfolds in medieval Europe at the time of the Great Plague and the Inquisition. He lived in an age of superstition and magic and believed that he could foretell the future. For this he was labeled both a prophet and a heretic, and his cryptic journals continue to inspire controversy just as they did in the 16th century. In this 2-hour examination of his life, we visit his birthplace in France and trace his career as doctor, astrologer, father, and seer. ____________________________________________________ Saturday, May 20, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Fire. Fire--we have learned to create and control it, but have yet to tame it? It's alive--it breathes, feeds, and grows. Fire is behind essentially every component of the modern world and has spawned entire industries. We'll feature great feats in pyrotechnology, or the intentional use and control of fire by humans--from the massive 8-story fire-breathing boilers that create steam heat for downtown Philadelphia, to the nearly 2,000 degree flames that create electricity at a biomass plant. From the massive coal-fired locomotives that powered us across the continent, to the rocket engines that took us to the moon, we'll cover what fire is, how we have learned to create and harness it, and its behavior with various fuel sources. At a match factory, we see how the seeds of fire are made and explore the significance of this seemingly simple innovation. We also take a look at the important role that fire has played in technological advances as well as warfare. 8-9pm -- Digging for the Truth - The Da Vinci Code: Bloodlines. Josh Bernstein searches for solid evidence behind the controversial theory laid out in Dan Brown's book The Da Vinci Code. Brown's theory claims that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and that she conceived a child. It also suggests that the bloodline continues--unbroken--to this day. Josh shows what's true and what's clearly make-believe in Dan Brown's bestseller. From musty libraries to ancient churches, Josh's unique quest leads him to seek the DNA evidence that might prove or disprove one of the most sensational claims in modern history. Most remarkably, he'll orchestrate the first ever DNA test on a Merovingian royal to find out if the story of a divine bloodline stretching back to Jesus and Mary Magdalene could possibly be true. 9-10pm -- Opus Dei Unveiled - Secretive and cult-like or divinely inspired and misunderstood? Opus Dei, a conservative organization within the Roman Catholic Church, was thrust into an unforgiving spotlight because of the way it was portrayed in Dan Brown's thriller The Da Vinci Code. Opus Dei claims it's more fiction than fact and that it's misrepresented. Founded in 1928 by Spaniard Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, it encourages members to find God through work and daily life. Members can be found in 61 countries and the majority are lay professionals. Another fraction is comprised of priests. The most orthodox commit to a celibate life, live in Opus Dei residences, give the majority of their income to the organization, and practice corporal mortification, the infliction of self-pain as a holy act of sacrifice. Now, Opus Dei leaders grant unprecedented access as we lift the veil surrounding their mysterious organization to reveal the truths and demystify the myths. 10-12am -- The Templar Code - For nearly two centuries, the Knights Templar were the medieval world's most powerful order, a fearsome and unstoppable Crusader militia. Then came accusations of unspeakable crimes. Who were the Templars, really? How did they become so powerful, so fast, and why did they fall just as quickly? Evidence hints that the Templars excavated under Jerusalem's Temple of Solomon. What did they find there? Was it, as The Da Vinci Code suggests, the true identity of the Holy Grail--the bloodline of Christ? Or an unimaginable treasure, documented in the Dead Sea Scrolls, buried 1,000 years before Christ's birth? We explore the Templar's origin, how they lived, trained, fought and became a medieval world power, and the suspicious circumstances behind their sudden downfall. Plus, we reveal why these warriors, dead for seven centuries, and their treasure still populate Hollywood blockbusters. Narrated by Ed Herrmann and featuring preeminent Templar authors. ____________________________________________________ Sunday, May 21, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Behind The Da Vinci Code - Before Dan Brown's book The Da Vinci Code, there was Holy Blood, Holy Grail, written by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln, that is known for its revelation of the possibility of a sacred bloodline continued by Jesus and Mary Magdalene. It was their research on which Brown based much of his novel. Now, 30-some years since they wrote their last follow-ups, Henry Lincoln continues to investigate the source of the story. In this special, the man who launched the whole story breaks his silence, allowing viewers to unlock his secrets and addressing critics who say the whole thing is a hoax. We also explore the connection to the Knights Templar. 8-10pm -- Beyond The Da Vinci Code - Is it the greatest story ever told - or the greatest story ever sold? A best-selling novel sparks a debate that could change Christianity forever. Were Jesus and Mary Magdalene married and co-leaders of their movement? Was Mary Magdalene, herself, the Holy Grail - the vessel said to hold Jesus's blood--and mother of his descendants? Did the early Church know this "truth" and deliberately mislead followers? Is there a secret, ancient society, the Priory of Sion, which still protects this bloodline? Have some of the most illustrious names in art and science been members? These are some of the questions that Dan Brown's best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code raises. We examine both sides of the story--the conventional view of Christianity and the "alternate history" proposed by Brown--so that viewers can decide. 10-12am -- Da Vinci & the Code He Lived By - Known as "the Mind of the Renaissance", this amazing artist, scientist, and inventor envisioned flying machines, submarines, parachutes, armored cars, and multi-barreled guns centuries before their time. His mysterious painting the Mona Lisa still moves us and his fresco The Last Supper remains an icon of faith. His secretly recorded dissection of human bodies that brought accusations of consorting with Satan led to the early understandings of human anatomy. Against a backdrop of 15th-century Italian opulence, intrigue, and corruption, he navigated through the glittering palaces of merchant princes. The bastard son of a notary in the town of Vinci, Leonardo couldn't even take his father's name, but sensed that he must develop a way to overcome the limitations of illegitimacy. And so a code emerged, a pattern of decision-making that evolved throughout his life, enabling him to become the greatest of men in a time of great men--a mind above all others. ____________________________________________________ Monday, May 22, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Harvesting. Cutting, digging, picking, stripping, shaking, and raking--whatever the crop, there's a custom machine to harvest it. It all began with handpicking and today it's often one man and one machine harvesting hundreds of acres in a single day. The farmer may even get a little help from satellites. Far above the earth, high-resolution photography is giving the grower more opportunities to cut costs and maximize the harvest. From the debut of the sickle in ancient Egypt to McCormick's famous Reaper to the field of ergonomics that assists human harvesters, we'll dig into the past and future of the harvest. 8-9pm -- UFO Files - Alien Engineering, Part 2. If an alien spaceship crash-lands on Earth, the first thing we'll want to do is take it apart and learn how it works. Maybe go for a tour inside and learn what kind of options it has--like an anti-matter reactor, laser weapons, and even a teletransporter. Amazingly, many of these "science fiction" devises are based on real science. And many have human-designed counterparts right here on Earth. Super-powerful laser weapons can be found on our own prototype weapons. We're even researching ways to hide vehicles behind plasma-generated "invisibility cloaks". Cutting-edge animation and live-action recreations help us "imagine" an alien spacecraft and learn how many amazing devices and mechanisms are really possible, and likely to be available in a few years. 9-10pm -- Digging for the Truth - America's Pyramids. In 1539, Hernando de Soto's Conquistadors landed in Florida in search of new lands and treasure for the Spanish Crown. Three years later, they were run off the continent by Native American warriors that lived on enormous, earthen pyramids along the Mississippi River. Who were these people? And how did they defeat one of the world's most powerful armies? Follow Josh Bernstein as he paddles down the bayous; builds his own earthen pyramid with modern equipment; and scuba-dives the cold, dark waters of Wisconsin to solve the mystery of America's pyramid builders. 10-11pm -- Deep Sea Detectives - Underwater Train Wreck. Our shipwreck hunters become railroad experts when they find two ghostly locomotives, upright and intact, just a few miles off the coast of New Jersey. How did these massive land vehicles end up 90 feet below the Atlantic in the first place? With no shipwreck nearby to explain their existence, we launch an investigation to find out how these locomotives wound up in deep water seven miles from land. Maybe the locomotives slid off a vessel during a storm? Perhaps they were jettisoned to save a ship? Our investigators are going to have to narrow down the time frame of when these trains were built to find out how they sank. To help solve the mystery, we bring in experts to analyze the evidence. But can we piece together this puzzling problem before time and/or some unscrupulous diver removes the evidence forever? ____________________________________________________ Tuesday, May 23, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Survival Technology. In 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 responses to extreme circumstances such as frostbite, heatstroke, and hypothermia. We talk with military survival experts and learn about the latest cutting-edge survival gear, as well as the equipment aboard the space station, and look to the future, when nano-technology will create a new type of technology. 8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Weird Weapons: The Allies. In this hour we uncover Allied secrets off WWII, such as a battleship made of ice, bat bombs, floating tanks, rocket-propelled wheels that would roll through enemy lines, pigeon-guided missiles, and earthquake bombs designed to penetrate the earth and shake structures to pieces. Join us for more bizarre stories of extraordinary armaments dreamt up by the some of the time's most inventive minds--weird weapons unlike anything before. And what about the atomic bomb? 9-10pm -- Mega Disasters - New York City Hurricane. What would happen if a Category 3 Hurricane were to hit New York City? With an awesomely high storm surge and intense winds attacking one of the most heavily populated and economically vital locations in the world, the potential for massive destruction is almost unprecedented. We explore the less-known but extensive history of previous northeast hurricanes--especially the "Great Hurricane" of 1938--in order to create empirical evidence that a storm of this size is not science fiction but a very real possibility in the near future. We'll also explore the scientific nature and origins of hurricanes and get an overview of some of the engineering changes that are taking place in the field of hurricane damage prevention. Using computer animation, models, and recreations the story concludes with a jaw-dropping view of what a storm like this might look like from inside the Big Apple. 10-11pm -- Mega Movers - America Moves. In America's heartland, few structures are as iconic as the country barn and the local church. In Nebraska, our team attempts to transport an historic gothic horse barn to a new farm. Working in sub-zero temperatures, they'll have to maneuver the massive structure through 26 miles of extremely narrow, unpaved country roads to reach their destination. And in Texas, a 115-year-old church has to be cut into five pieces before being relocated to a new spot two miles away. Will our Mega Movers be able to reassemble this cherished chapel and preserve it for future congregations? ____________________________________________________ Wednesday, May 24, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Commercial Fishing. Battered and fried or simply raw--seafood is a popular dish, no matter how you serve it. Americans consume more than 5-billion pounds yearly, an order that takes more than a fishing rod to fill and worries conservationists. We follow the fish, the fishermen, and the science trying to preserve fisheries for future generations--from ancient ships on the Nile to a modern technologically sophisticated factory trawler on the Bering Sea to the University of New Hampshire's open-ocean aquaculture research project. And we witness a wide variety of fishing methods--from gillnetting and longlining to lobster trapping. Hop aboard and sail through time and around the globe as we explore the harsh conditions of life at sea and experience firsthand one of history's deadliest jobs. Brace yourself and feel the ice-cold, salt spray on your face as we explore commercial fishing! 8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Candy. It pulls, stretches, bubbles, hardens, crunches, and melts! We eat about 7-billion tons of it yearly. We're talking about Candy--loved by kids and savored by adults. Candy-making evolved from a handmade operation to high-tech mass production. Nowhere is that more apparent than at Hershey's. On a tour of their newest production facility, we learn how they process the cocoa bean. At See's Candy, we see how they make their famous boxed chocolates--on a slightly smaller scale than Hershey's. We get a sweet history lesson at Schimpff's Confectionery, where they still use small kettles, natural flavors, and hand-operated equipment. Then, we visit Jelly Belly, purveyors of the original gourmet jellybean. Saltwater-taffy pullers hypnotize us on our sweet-tooth tour; we gaze at extruders making miles of licorice rope; and watch as nostalgia candy bars Abba-Zaba and Big Hunk get packaged. And in this sugary hour, we digest the latest sensations--gourmet chocolates and scorpion on a stick! 9-10pm -- Modern Marvels - More Snackfood Tech. They crunch; they ooze; they crackle; they pop--mmmmm, yeah! Soft drinks, donuts, meat snacks, popcorn, and gum. What's your weakness? From the handmade treats of the earliest civilizations to hi-tech mass production, these snacks are borne of man's need to feed his cravings. Join us for an hour-long tasty treat as we examine the history of snackfoods and check out how they are made today. 10-11pm -- Modern Marvels - '80's Tech. Remember "brick" cell phones, Pac-Man, Rubik's Cube, Sony Walkman, and the first music CDs? Remember all the new and exciting gadgets of the 1980s? Join us as we investigate the transition from Industrial to Information Age--a digital decade dedicated to ergonomics and entertainment. The microchip ushered in an era that revolutionized the way we work, play, and communicate. And we tour Silicon Valley--birthplace of some of the greatest inventions from an amazing time of change, including the modern personal computer. Steve "Woz" Wozniak tells us about the evolution of Apple computers, and we talk to Sony--makers of the Walkman, Betamax, and the first CD players. A visit to the Computer History Museum shows fun technological "artifacts", primitive by today's standards. At Intel, makers of the first microchips, we learn why technology moves at such a fast pace. We also take a ride in a DeLorean DMC-12 sports car--few things moved faster. ____________________________________________________ Thursday, May 25, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Demolition. While a civilization's greatness is reflected in the achievements of architects and engineers, equally impressive are spectacular acts of destruction throughout history. The cycle of construction and destruction reflects the shifting values of any given era. We'll trace the evolution of planned destruction from ancient to modern-day. 10-11pm -- Modern Marvels - Ben Franklin Tech. You may know him as a man of great wit and wisdom, as the oldest and wisest Founding Father. But now you'll get to know Dr. Franklin as the late 18th Century's foremost scientist, and one of the greatest inventors of any era. From the humble Pennsylvania Stove to the spectacular lightning rod--Franklin was concerned with putting scientific principals to practical use. We'll explore his many inventions, including: his unique musical instrument, the glass armonica, for which both Mozart and Beethoven wrote pieces; his crafty anti-counterfeiting techniques, including multi-colored inks, elaborate ornamentation, and the use of "leaf printing"--when a metal engraving plate is made from a plant's leaf, making it impossible to copy; and bifocal glasses. And we'll see how Franklin's inventive genius extended to entire systems, including: the modern volunteer fire department, first fire insurance company, Daylight Savings Time, and America's first lending library. ____________________________________________________ Friday, May 26, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Hunting Gear. They are lethal tools that ensured our survival, altered our evolution, and maintained our dominion over other animals. Though hunting technology is the backbone of a multi-billion-dollar sports industry, current cutting-edge gear is a far cry from prehistoric man's rudimentary tools. From the crude knife to 24-hour digital cameras that monitor animal movement and earmuffs with microphones to amplify outside noise while blocking gunshot sound, we examine the development of hunting weapons and gear. 10-11pm -- Modern Marvels - Snackfood Tech. Extruders, molds, in-line conveyor belts. Are these machines manufacturing adhesives, plastics, or parts for your car? No, they're making treats for your mouth--and you will see them doing their seductively tasty work in this scrumptious episode. First, we visit Utz Quality Foods in Hanover, Pennsylvania, that produces more than one million pounds of chips per week, and Snyder's of Hanover, the leading US pretzel manufacturer. Next, we focus on the world's largest candy manufacturer, Masterfoods USA, which makes Milky Way, Snickers, Mars, and M&Ms, and take a lick at the world's largest lollipop producer, Tootsie Roll Industries. And at Flower Foods' Crossville, Tennessee plant, an army of cupcakes rolls down a conveyer belt. The final stop is Dreyer's Bakersfield, California plant, where 20,000 ice cream bars and 9,600 drumsticks roll off the line in an hour. ____________________________________________________ Saturday, May 27, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Ancient Discoveries - Machines II. How did the ancients harness power? Did Archimedes use solar power to defeat the Romans? Was he the first to concentrate the power of the sun? Early historical accounts of the battle of Syracuse in 212 BC claim that Archimedes used polished shields to focus light onto the sails of the invading Roman ships and set them ablaze. We investigate this and other intriguing and incredible objects. An earthenware jar about the size of a man's fist sits in the National Museum of Iraq. Its existence could require history books throughout the world to be rewritten. The jar appears to be an electric battery pre-dating Christ. Did the ancient world master electricity nearly two millennia before the modern world? A recent discovery of a flour mill in Barbegal in southern France contained 16 waterwheels that operated the mill. Is this one of the first examples of Roman industrial-revolution technology--1,800 years before our own? 8-9pm -- History Alive - Cocaine. Derived from South America's coca leaf, cocaine was touted as a cure-all in the late 19th century and was the secret ingredient in many medicines and elixirs such as Coca-Cola. But cocaine's allure quickly diminished as racism entered the picture--the concept of the "cocaine-crazed Negro" even led police to strengthen the caliber of their guns from .32 to .38. We'll see how, though it was outlawed in 1914, its popularity soared in the 1980s and '90s and gave birth to a deadlier form--crack. 9-10pm -- History Alive - Marijuana. In a series investigating the history of drug use, we begin our trip tracing the rise of marijuana and synthetic amphetamines. Marijuana, from the Indian hemp plant, has been used worldwide as a source of rope, cloth, and paper; its medicinal qualities were first documented 4,000 years ago in China. But it's best known as the drug of choice of the 1960s. During WWII, US troops were given an estimated 200 million amphetamines to fight drowsiness and battle fatigue, and they're still used to fight depression. 10-11pm -- Modern Marvels - George Washington Carver Tech. One of the 20th century's greatest scientists, George Washington Carver's influence is still felt. Rising from slavery to become one of the world's most respected and honored men, he devoted his life to understanding nature and the many uses for the simplest of plant life. His scientific research in the late 1800s produced agricultural innovations like crop rotation and composting. Part of the "chemurgist" movement that changed the rural economy, he found ingenious applications for the peanut, soybean, and sweet potato. At Tuskegee Institute, Dr. Carver invented more than 300 uses for the peanut, while convincing poor farmers to rotate cotton crops with things that would add nutrients to the soil. A visionary, Carver shared his knowledge free of charge, happy in his Tuskegee laboratory where he could use his gifts to help others. ____________________________________________________ Sunday, May 28, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 6:40-8pm -- Band of Brothers - Carentan. After regrouping in the town of Angoville-au-Plain, Easy Company tries to capture the town of Carentan. Two days after D-Day, some members of Easy Company are still lost and alone in Normandy, including Pvt. Albert Blithe (Marc Warren), who finds the rest of the unit just in time to help take Carentan, which Allied armor from Utah and Omaha beaches need in order to link up. Later, the company returns to England, but celebrations are short-lived when news comes that they'll be moving out again. 8-9:15pm -- Band of Brothers - Replacements. Fresh replacements join Easy Company in time for a massive paradrop into German-occupied Holland. The Dutch townspeople of Eindhoven welcome them as liberators, but when Easy and a cluster of British tanks move into a nearby town, a superior German force inflicts many casualties and forces a retreat. As they move onto another assignment in Holland, Capt. Winters (Damian Lewis) laments the retreat, and Capt. Nixon (Ron Livingston) thinks that the ambitious Allied operation seems to have failed. 9:15-10:25pm -- Band of Brothers - Crossroads. Capt. Winters (Damian Lewis) leads a contingent of Easy Company men on a risky mission over a Dutch dike that results in a "turkey shoot" of fleeing Germans, and is promoted to Battalion Executive Officer, leaving Easy Company in the hands of Lt. "Moose" Heyliger (Stephen McCole). After moving back off the line to France, Lt. Nixon (Ron Livingston) insists that Winters take a break and see Paris. But when Winters returns, news comes in of a massive German counterattack in the Ardennes Forest. 10:25-11:45pm -- Band of Brothers - Bastogne. In the dead of winter, in the forest outside of Bastogne, Belgium, Easy Company struggles to hold the line alone, while fending off frostbite and hunger. An overwhelmed Medic Eugene Roe (Shane Taylor), on edge and close to combat exhaustion, finds friendship with a Belgian nurse (Lucie Jeanne). Easy spends a miserable Christmas in the trenches, but is buoyed after hearing news that General McAuliffe met the German Army's demand for surrender with the defiant answer: "Nuts!" 11:45pm -- Mail Call #19: LAV/Landing Craft/Doughboy/OPFOR/Chain Mail/Military Salute ____________________________________________________ Monday, May 29, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 6:45-8pm -- Band of Brothers - Points. Major Winters (Damian Lewis) leads Easy Company into the Bavarian town of Berchtesgaden--once home to top Nazi officers--and receives orders to take the abandoned Eagle's Nest, Hitler's mountaintop fortress. As German officers hand over their weapons, soldiers raid wine cellars and snap up souvenirs. But their elation is short-lived--most of the division faces redeployment to the Pacific Theater. A closing vignette tells what happened to the men of Easy Company after they returned home. 8-9pm -- To Be Determined - To Be Announced. Programming to be announced. 9-11pm -- Washington the Warrior - The George Washington we all know is larger than life, an icon of mythic proportions. But before becoming "Father" of his country, he was a soldier. This unique, in-depth portrait of the Washington we don't always think about begins in 1753, when the 21-year-old obtained an officer's commission in the Virginia militia. While serving alongside British regulars, did brash and sometimes reckless decisions help ignite the French and Indian War? Washington retired from the militia in 1758, but continued to hone his leadership skills. Managing his vast Mount Vernon estate required many of the same talents as commanding soldiers in the field. When America declared independence, Washington was the consensus choice to lead the Continental Army. This is the epic story of Washington's journey to greatness--propelled by intense, often painful, transformation. The man who emerged was a warrior of the purest sort...a man who preferred liberty to power and justice to glory. ____________________________________________________ Tuesday, May 30, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- To Be Determined - To Be Announced. Programming to be announced. 8-9pm -- Decoding The Past - The Antichrist, Part 1. How would you recognize the most evil person on Earth? According to many historical texts, you should look for a brilliant, enigmatic public figure who transforms the world for good--for a while. Basically, the last person you'd tap as Satan's human emissary. While many believe the Antichrist has come and gone, just as many believe he will soon arrive, if he's not already in our midst. Join us for harrowing look at an evil so obscure that he answers only to Satan. Real? Our group of prophecy believers and historical experts help sort it out. We follow the emergence of the Antichrist from pre-Judaic texts, through the Book of Daniel and Revelation, into Christian writings of the Middle Ages, and other religious traditions as well. Aided by interviewees both religious and secular, comprised of eminent clergy, scholars, historians, psychologists, and culture makers, we'll examine the evil enigma from every conceivable angle. 9-10pm -- Mega Disasters - American Volcano. The 1980 Mount St. Helens' eruption alerted the world to the dangers of an explosive volcano in the Cascade Range. The fiery blast that killed every living thing within a 25-mile radius and unleashed the biggest landslide in recorded history. Now, Mount Rainier, 60 miles east of Seattle, threatens an even greater loss of life and property. This 14,000-foot peak holds more ice and snow than all other volcanoes in the Cascade Range combined. Even a small eruption at Rainier could unleash a debris mudslide that would entomb several towns in the valley below. Tens of thousands of people are in grave danger. Geologists say that it's not a question of if Rainier, an active volcano, will erupt...but when. Experts have mapped out the hazard zone and engineered a sophisticated warning system. But when Rainier blows, the window for evacuation is small. As we'll see, people must have an efficient evacuation plan, or else the loss of lives will be incredible. 10-11pm -- Mega Movers - 900 Ton Building. The Matyiko brothers are a legendary Mega Mover family. Their company Expert House Movers entered the record books when they moved the historic Gem Theatre in Detroit, Schubert Theatre in Minneapolis, and the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. In this episode the brothers battle time and the elements. In Massachusetts, the clock is ticking to move a 900-ton brick building to its new location. Any delays will cost the veteran house movers thousands of dollars. And in North Carolina, three vacation houses must make a perilous journey across eight miles of open beach to reach their new home. Will the homes arrive safely? Or, will the treacherous waters of the Outer Banks claim yet another victim? ____________________________________________________ Wednesday, May 31, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- To Be Determined - To Be Announced. Programming to be announced. 8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Coffee. Traces the origins of this tasty drink from Ethiopia over 1,000 years ago to the espresso-fueled explosion of specialty coffee stores like Starbucks today. Along the way, we'll see how American companies like Hills Brothers, Maxwell House, Folgers, and MJB grew to be giants. Discover how billions of coffee beans make their journey from coffee farms and plantations, and are processed in gigantic roasting and packaging plants before showing up in coffee cups all over the world. Details the invention and production of instant coffee, decaffeinated coffee, freeze-dried coffee, and the espresso machine. Also, we explain how coffee made shift work in factories possible, while coffeehouses provided a creative cauldron that brewed political and artistic progress in the 18th and 19th centuries. And, we also provide tips on how to make a better cup at home! 9-10pm -- Modern Marvels - Brewing. It's one of the world's oldest and most beloved beverages--revered by Pharaohs and brewed by America's Founding Fathers. Today, brewing the bitter elixir is a multi-billion-dollar global industry. Join us for an invigorating look at brewing's history from prehistoric times to today's cutting-edge craft breweries, focusing on its gradually evolving technologies and breakthroughs. We'll find the earliest known traces of brewing, which sprang up independently in such far-flung places as ancient Sumeria, China, and Finland; examine the surprising importance that beer held in the daily and ceremonial life of ancient Egypt; and at Delaware's Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, an adventurous anthropologist and a cutting-edge brewer show us the beer they've concocted based on 2,700-year-old DNA found in drinking vessels from the funerary of the legendary King Midas. 10-11pm -- Modern Marvels - Distilleries. From water and grain...to mash...still...vat...barrel and bottle--the distilling of alcoholic spirits is a big business and near-sacred religion. Its acolytes eye the color, swirl the glass, inhale the bouquet, sip, then ponder their ambrosia. What's your pleasure? Bourbon, Scotch, Rum, Gin, Vodka, or Tequila? We trace the history of distilling from the one-man/one-still tradition to the Voldstead Act of 1920 that devastated American distilleries to the mega-sales and high-volume distillery of today. ____________________________________________________ Thursday, June 01 @ 9:30am, repeated @ 3:30pm Mail Call #41: Blimp/Military Shotguns/Navy Graveyard/Poop Deck Saturday, June 03 @ 11am, not repeated Mail Call #36: Military Pilot Training/Flak/Doolittle Raid/One-Man Submarine/Military Radios
Watch Mail Call every week if you know what's good for you, scumbag,
hosted by R. Lee Ermey of Full Metal Jacket
(movie available on video and DVD)
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From the invention of the electric battery in 1800 to the murdered remains of missing Washington intern Chandra Levy being discovered in a Washington D.C. park*, find out what happened when with our exclusive History of the World Timeline!You might also check out A&E Prime Time listings for this month
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* Congressman Gary Condit (D), who reportedly told police he'd had an affair with Levy, is no longer considered to be a suspect in the case. Condit lost his bid for re-election in the Democratic Primary of 2002.
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