Discovery Channel Documentaries
Season 2002
TV-G
Documentaries that have been produced by the Discovery Channel.
Where to Watch Season 2002
30 Episodes
- The Ultimate Guide VolcanoesE1
The Ultimate Guide VolcanoesTake a look at the latest volcanic survey data and marvel at the frightening number of volcanoes heating up around the world. Is this a simple, geological coincidence, or the sign of some larger, potentially deadly pattern at work? Join one group of scientists as they reveal a number of cutting-edge theories to explain the sudden surge in volcanic activity. Then, watch as they put those theories to the test at the summit of smoldering Mount Tungurahua in Ecuador. It's a high-stakes game of man versus the mountain; because if any of these theories prove correct, they could help forecast future volcanic activity and save lives all over the planet. - Tracking Africa's DinosaursE2
Tracking Africa's DinosaursThe discovery of a previously unknown dinosaur skeleton in Morocco sheds some light on a period in history about which we know relatively little. In the high Atlas Mountains of Morocco lie the fascinating footprints of an unknown species of dinosaur, estimated to be 180 million years old. Two world-renowned palaeontologists, Dale Russel, from North Carolina University and Philippe Taquet, from Paris Natural History Museum investigate and reconstruct the fossilized skeleton of the oldest vegetarian dinosaur who lived on earth. - Fun HouseE3
Fun HouseThe history of the fun house, from the 1901 ride "A Trip to the Moon," dark rides and water rides through Disneyland's film-inspired rides to Universal Studios Florida Theme Park "Terminator 2: 3D," which combines moving, 3-D images, live actors and computer-generated special effects. - Engineering the Impossible
E5Engineering the ImpossibleThis documentary focuses on three incredible, yet physically possible, engineering projects: the nine mile (14 km)-long Gibraltar Bridge, the 170-story Millennium Tower and the 4000+-foot-long Freedom Ship. This program won the Beijing International Science Film Festival Silver Award, and earned Discovery's second-highest, weeknight rating for 2002. - End of Extinction: Cloning the Tasmanian TigerE6
End of Extinction: Cloning the Tasmanian TigerHidden away in a Sydney vault is a young, pickled pup. For almost 140 years, it's remained locked in its glassy tomb. But this is no ordinary pup. In fact, it's not a pup at all. It's a fetus of an animal more closely related to an Australian kangaroo. It was a marsupial which looked like a dog had stripes like a tiger, yet carried its young in a pouch. How the Tasmanian tiger, or thylacine, came to be extinct is a tragedy, and how it might live again is the pursuit of a scientific miracle. Is it possible or wishful thinking? Herein find the story of one man's obsession and his quest to reverse extinction. - Attack and Capture: The Story of U-Boat 505E9
Attack and Capture: The Story of U-Boat 505On June 4, 1944 Captain Daniel Gallery and his men of the U.S. Naval Task Force 22.3 did the nearly impossible - they captured a German U-boat. It was the first enemy vessel-of-war captured in battle on the high seas by the U.S. Navy since 1815. - Escape from BerlinE10
Escape from BerlinA programme on the courage and ingenuity of East Germans who were willing to risk their lives escaping through, over, and even under, the murderous Wall that divided Berlin between 1961 and 1989. The programme includes astonishing actuality footage of escapes as they happened (such as tunnelling, swimming and even escaping in a microlight aircraft) along with recreations of some of the most daring escape attempts, and some of the deadly failures. - The Real EveE11
The Real EveNarrated by actor Danny Glover, "The Real Eve" reveals that our shared genetic heritage links every living person on earth and traces the expansion of modern humans throughout the world. The discovery of the Eve gene stunned the world. It seems we could all be descended from just a few females �“ or even just one. In this telling anthropological video, we access the very latest DNA reconstructions, and for the first time, tell conclusively the story of where, when and how the human race came about and then populated the world. - The Emperor of the SteppesE13
The Emperor of the SteppesHordes of men on horseback dominated the steppes of central Asia 2,000 years ago. They were the Hsiung-nu and their vast empire reigned from 300 BC to 200 AD. From conquests to defeats, their history is written in blood and fire. Fearsome archers on horseback, the Hsiung-nu crossed the steppes of Mongolia. Opposing the Hsiung-nu warriors was an equally fearsome army, comprised of Chinese warriors who considered the Hsiung-nu to be barbarians. The first emperor of China had life-sized reproductions of his men placed in his tomb, each with unique facial features. Comprised of foot soldiers, archers, crossbowmen and cavalry riders, this phantom army mounted an eternal guard over its emperor Qin Shi-huang, the Hsiung-nu's worst enemy. Writing was not known by the Hsiung-nu - archaeological remains are the only trace of their history. - Raising the KurskE14
Raising the KurskK-141 Kursk was an Oscar-II class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine of the Russian Navy, lost with all 118 hands when it sank in the Barents Sea on August 12, 2000. At 154m long and four stories high it was the largest attack submarine ever built. Our film reenacts the explosion and actual footage portrays the raising of the submarine. (By CineNova for Worldwide Discovery Channel, with NBC’s ‘Dateline’.) - Island of the Pygmy MammothE17
Island of the Pygmy MammothMammoths have always fascinated people. From the creators of the earliest known cave paintings and carvings to the 20th century practitioners of modern art and even to today's tourists, humans have tried to grasp the essence of this magnificent creature - its enormous size, strength and beauty and its coexistence with and importance to humans. In 1994, palaeontologists made the remarkable discovery of a pygmy mammoth on Santa Rosa Island, the most complete collection of its kind in the world. - James Cameron's Expedition - BismarckE19
James Cameron's Expedition - BismarckExpedition: Bismarck is a 2002 documentary film produced for the Discovery Channel by Andrew Wight and James Cameron, directed by James Cameron and Gary Johnstone, and narrated by Lance Henriksen. The film follows an underwater expedition to the German battleship Bismarck and digitally reconstructs events that led up to the ship's sinking during World War II. In 2003 the film was honored with an Emmy award for Outstanding Sound Editing for Non-Fiction Programming. - Vulcans, Victors and CubaE20
Vulcans, Victors and CubaAt the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the world came closer than it has ever come to all-out nuclear war. As the situation worsened, Britain's war cabinet made preparations to evacuate to 'Turnstile', the top secret nuclear bunker tunnelled deep under the Wiltshire hills. From here, they controlled the RAF's nuclear bombers, which were fully armed and standing by at 4 minute readiness. This is the story of just how close those bombers came to taking off. - Warriors of the French Foreign LegionE23
Warriors of the French Foreign LegionThe Legion is an army surrounded by romance, myth and intrigue. Its history spans more than a hundred and fifty years. The Legion is world renowned for its bravery. From fighting Russian Cossacks in 1853 to patrolling Sarajevo in 1992, they have always been in the thick of the action. At any one time there are approximately ninety to a hundred different nationalities serving in the French Foreign Legion. Men from China, Japan, America, Africa, Iceland, Australia, and Russia have found their way into the hallowed ranks of the Legion. Legionnaires sworn allegiance, and only obligation, is to the Legion itself, not to France. The legions motto is simple: Legio Patria Nester - The Legion Is Our Country. The Legion never leave their weapons behind, and never fail to take an objective. Death comes first. - Weather Extreme - TornadoE24
Weather Extreme - TornadoWeather Extreme - Tornado is both a fascinating and terrifying examination of the potential impact of a full-force tornado on crowded metropolitan areas. Immerse yourself in the fury of a devastating Force-5 tornado as it demolishes downtown Dallas. How well is Dallas prepared for these disasters? What's been planned? What's been neglected? Find out in these gripping, heart-stopping depictions of megastorm events that scientists predict are actually close at hand. With dramatic footage from past disastrous storms, mesmerizing eyewitness accounts, and photo-realistic computer animation, you'll get as close as you'll ever want to be to Mother Nature's rage. - Cuban Missile Crisis: Secret SubmarinesE28
Cuban Missile Crisis: Secret SubmarinesThe untold, true story of the underwater siege, with four submarines at the front line of a nuclear standoff. It's a tale that takes you inside the heads of the Soviet submariners and their US Navy counterparts in an eyeball to eyeball confrontation.
