Modern Marvels - Season 8 (2001)

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The 17-mile long Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel connects two cities in Virginia that normally would require a 340 mile round trip. Featured are the history of the Chesapeake Bay and the engineering challenges of constructing a bridge and tunnel across a wild body of water not once but twice.

A look at garage gadgets, including leaf blowers and lawn mowers.

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A history of monster-truck racing with footage of stunts in California, Florida and Indiana and interviews with racers.

The history of lighthouses from ancient times to how they keep ships safe in modern times.

The development of computers from Charles Babbage's mechanical computers first used in the 1890 U. S. Census, to the computers developed during WW2 to break the German Enigma code. The computers that correctly predicted President Eisenhower's victory in the Presidential election. Transistor computers, integrated circuits and microcomputers used for the space race to the moon. Microprocessors that cut the size and price of computers in the 1970's. To networked computers sharing data and becoming easier to use as better software became available.

The background in the disasters that caused the Leaning Tower of Pisa, a 1961 nuclear accident in Idaho, the U.S. Air Force, Texas Tower radar station and the space disasters of Soyuz 11, the Mars Polar Lander, and Mars Climate Orbiter.

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Traces the development of codes from hieroglyphs and other ancient efforts to cyberspace and beyond.

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Everyday household items like transistor radios, lighters, shavers, and flashlights are profiled.

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The humble beginnings of cannons from the thirteenth century to its modern applications in tanks and more.

A look at the high stakes and dangerous world of nuclear submarines, their crews, and the history of the silent war machines.

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The history of the U.S. Army's academy West Point from foundation through modern times.

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.

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A look at the history of defensive fortification bunkers. Included: Hitler's Berlin bunker, NORAD, and the Greenbriar Hotel bunker in West Virginia built during the Cold War for Congress.

More than 2 million people die in the U.S. each year. That works out to about 5,500 burials a day. Take a look at dealing with the dead throughout the centuries - and at today's $20 billion funeral industry.

Hungry and in a hurry? Pick up a meal through the fast food window. Take a look at the technology used to get you a quick meal.

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The history of glass from BC times through the innovations of glass blowing to create all types of glass. Also featured are colored glass, eye glasses, microscopes, telescopes, mirrors, light bulbs, lighthouses, and Corning's development of fiber optic cable.

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The history of how the Gateway Arch in St.Louis was made.