TV Guide: Modern Marvels

Police Pursuit

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:00:00 -0500

Sat Dec 5 07:00 PM HIST The technology of police pursuits is examined, including communication and airborne assistance.

Doomsday Tech 1

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:00:00 -0500

Fri Dec 4 01:00 PM HIST Part 1 of a two-part examination of current and proposed technology that could potentially lead to the destruction of civilization and Earth. Included: nuclear power; hydrocarbon-based-energy technology; and nanotechnology.

Fast Food Tech

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:00:00 -0500

Thu Dec 3 11:00 PM HIST A history of the fast-food industry follows the steps needed to sell the food, including harvesting, processing, packaging and preparation. Among the places featured are McDonald's, Wendy's, Carl's Jr. and Jack in the Box. Also: a visit to a potato-processing plant; and a segment on Taco Bell.

The Winchester

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 07:00:00 -0500

Wed Dec 2 07:00 AM HIST A history of the famed rifle of the American West, the Winchester repeating rifle, includes its use on the frontier and in the Civil War. Also: collectible rifles.

Coffee

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:00:00 -0500

Fri Nov 27 11:00 PM HIST A history of coffee. Included: roasting and packaging; the creation of U.S. coffee companies; the invention of instant coffee and freeze-dried coffee.

The Telephone

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500

Fri Nov 27 01:00 PM HIST Exploring the history of the telephone and its possible future innovations. Included: a look at AT&T archives; a visit to Lucent Bell Laboratories; and an exploration of the inner workings of the Los Angeles County 911 center.

More Snackfood Tech

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0500

Thu Nov 26 11:00 AM HIST A history of snack food and the technology that makes it all possible includes the handmade snacks of early civilizations, and modern mass-production techniques and tools.

Snackfood Tech

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:00:00 -0500

Thu Nov 26 10:00 AM HIST Snack-food technology is examined. Included: Utz Quality Foods in Pennsylvania; Masterfoods USA, which produces Snickers and Milky Way candy bars; and Tootsie Roll Industries.

The Turkey

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:00:00 -0500

Wed Nov 25 11:00 PM HIST The turkey's role in American traditions and history is examined. Included: a tour of the Butterball factory in North Carolina; and a visit to a turkey restaurant in Indiana. Also: turkey recipes.

Coin Operated

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500

Wed Nov 25 01:00 PM HIST The history of coin-operated machines is examined. Included: pinball machines; a gumball machine that holds 40,000 gumballs; and Coinstar. Also: a trip to Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum in Farmington Hills, Mich.

Harvesting

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:00:00 -0500

Wed Nov 25 07:00 AM HIST The history of harvesting and the tools used by farmers, from the sickle to modern technology.

More Bond Gadgets

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500

Tue Nov 24 01:00 PM HIST A look at “Bond gadgets” includes footage taken on the set of “Thunderball.”

Cheese

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:00:00 -0500

Mon Nov 23 11:00 PM HIST A history of cheese includes a visit to dairy farms in Wisconsin and cheese factories in California. Also: cheese varieties during the Roman Empire; and changes in the making and packaging of cheese during the industrial revolution.

James Bond Gadgets

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500

Mon Nov 23 01:00 PM HIST A look at some of the best gadgets featured in James Bond films. Included: the jetpack from “Thunderball”; the Aston Martin DB5 from “Goldfinger”; and the lethal attaché case from “From Russia with Love.”