Discovery Channel Documentaries
Season 2008
TV-G
Documentaries that have been produced by the Discovery Channel.
Where to Watch Season 2008
34 Episodes
- Flying Aircraft CarrierE6
Flying Aircraft CarrierWhen the USS Macon met its end, the Navy's zeppelin ambitions died with it. The USS Macon was one of only two flying aircraft carriers ever built. The other was her sister ship, the USS Akron. The Macon was built by Prague-born engineer Dr. Karl Arnstein in Akron, Ohio. Her first flight was in April 1933. Both the Macon and the Akron were capable of carrying small F9C “Sparrowhawk” propeller planes, which were launched and retrieved during flight. The Macon was 785 feet long. The wreck site of the Macon was finally discovered in 1990, 55 years after it sank to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. A fisherman who had marked the exact coordinates where he'd lost a net assisted the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Navy with locating the site. The crash was caused by a violent storm, which tore off the upper fin of the Macon and sent her spiraling down into the sea. The ship landed gently before it sank, however, and only two of eighty-three men were lost. The Macon’s site is the best documented underwater site in the world apart from the Titanic. The wreck site remains secret to the public. It lies within a marine sanctuary and is not accessible to divers due to its depth. The hangar for the USS Macon, which is large enough to fit three Titanics, still stands in Sunnyvale, California. A new zeppelin will soon be delivered to the site, which will then open as a tourist attraction. In its heyday, the Macon was used for scouting purposes over the Pacific Ocean. Some historians believe that the attack on Pearl Harbor might have been prevented if the ship had still been in use. - Unwrapping the Shroud: New EvidenceE7
Unwrapping the Shroud: New EvidenceThe Shroud of Turin is one of the great enduring mysteries of all time, with its authenticity debated for years. Many believe it's the burial cloth of Jesus and the only physical link to Him, while others maintain that it is nothing more than an elaborate hoax. In fact, in 1988, a team of scientists radiocarbon dated the Shroud and concluded it was fake, dating back to the Middle Ages (1290-1360), long after Jesus was crucified. And that's where the story stood, unchallenged -- until now. - The 10 Commandments of the Mafia
E12The 10 Commandments of the MafiaIn 2007, Italian police make an astonishing discovery during a raid on a Mafia boss' villa: a list of the Mafia's most sacred laws. It's an incredible find: a code of conduct for the Mob. Now, for the first time, former Mobsters speak out about the rules that govern their criminal world; and reveal what happened when gangland began to question the so-called 'Ten Commandments of the Mafia'. - Naica: Secrets of the Crystal CaveE14
Naica: Secrets of the Crystal CaveA team of international scientists explore a Mexican cave filled with giant crystals. With temperatures near 120 degrees Fahrenheit, and over 80 per cent humidity, the cave is one of the deadliest environments on earth. Without specialized suits and equipment, the scientists would die in minutes. Their mission: to unlock the secrets of the mysterious ancient crystals, some of the largest ever discovered. - Why Ancient Egypt FellE15
Why Ancient Egypt FellOnce the envy of the ancient world, the mighty civilization of Egypt stood for thousands of years until it underwent a swift decline and eventual fall. Find out how such a magnificent empire could collapse so entirely given its wealth, power and rich culture. - Unwrapping the Shroud: New EvidenceE18
Unwrapping the Shroud: New EvidenceThe Shroud of Turin is one of the great enduring mysteries of all time, with its authenticity debated for years. Many believe it's the burial cloth of Jesus and the only physical link to Him, while others maintain that it is nothing more than an elaborate hoax. In fact, in 1988, a team of scientists radiocarbon dated the Shroud and concluded it was fake, dating back to the Middle Ages (1290-1360), long after Jesus was crucified. And that's where the story stood, unchallenged -- until now. Discovery Channel's one-hour original special UNWRAPPING THE SHROUD: NEW EVIDENCE attempts to unravel the truth about the cloth on Sunday, December 14, 2008 from 10-11PM ET/PT. The special event features the story of Ray Rogers, a respected chemist from the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and member of the original team of scientists who examined the Shroud. Rogers came across a paper written by a husband and wife from Columbus, Ohio that claimed the 1988 radiocarbon dating was inaccurate. According to the couple, the test sample that was used had been taken from a section of the Shroud that had been repaired in the 16th Century, skewing the results. Expecting to prove this couple wrong, Rogers went back to examine the sample of the Shroud he tested years earlier, and what he found astonished even himself. In his last days (he had been battling cancer), Rogers made a video -- which before now has never been seen -- detailing his conclusions. - Killer Virus: Hunt for the Next PlagueE20
Killer Virus: Hunt for the Next PlagueThere is a strange and deadly new virus in Asia, and it claims the lives of nearly 50% of its victims. A team of virus hunters travels to Bangladesh, the latest front in the battle against the recently-discovered Nipah virus, to capture the puppy-sized bats that are believed to be the source of this frightening killer. We'll also trace the evolution of AIDS, SARS, West Nile, the Spanish Flu and the Avian Flu - all diseases that made the jump from animal to human, and then human to human. Increasingly, our global progress is itself a factor that helps these viruses to become resilient. What seems exotic and distant in Africa or Asia today could arrive on our doorsteps tomorrow. Is Nipah the next epidemic? - What's that about the Brewery?E21
What's that about the Brewery?How do beer giants make beer taste exactly the same in billions of bottles every year? Meanwhile, small and original brewers blaze new trails in beer making. Can chemical warfare help make better beer? Meet the builders of the latest high-tech breweries. See who's making the best - and some of the strangest - new suds on the market today. - Dark Fellowships: The VrilE22
Dark Fellowships: The VrilDark Fellowships attempts to uncover the truth about some of the most renowned and feared secret organizations throughout history. In the first episode, Dark Fellowships: the Vril, meet a bizarre occult group, whose members allegedly included many leaders of the Nazi Party, even Hitler himself. - Moon Machines: Saturn VE23
Moon Machines: Saturn VThis episode of MOON MACHINES immerses viewers in the incredible story of the mighty Saturn V moon rocket � technology that joined the vision of World War II German rocket scientists with that of a generation of young, dedicated engineers from across the United States. With the backdrop of Russia�s Sputnik launch and President Kennedy�s ambitious commitment to reaching the moon, engineers and scientists would produce a 363-foot-tall rocket with more than one million working parts that delivered 7.5 million pounds of thrust. Saturn V was so large that even those who built it were amazed and could hardly believe its power. - Moon Machines: Lunar RoverE24
Moon Machines: Lunar RoverIn the early days of the Apollo project, grand ideas were devised for how to travel on the moon. With excitement running high and "GO" fever very much the buzz, engineers came up with all manner of vehicles for traversing the new frontier. But one by one the projects were shelved as each was deemed too expensive or too dangerous. Lunar Rover reveals the untold story of how a small team of engineers convinced NASA to build what ultimately became the Lunar Rover. The greatest challenge for the Lunar Rover team was to design, build, test and deliver the final flight-worthy product to NASA in less than 18 months. - What's that about the Brewery?
E25What's that about the Brewery?How do beer giants make beer taste exactly the same in billions of bottles every year? Meanwhile, small and original brewers blaze new trails in beer making. Can chemical warfare help make better beer? Meet the builders of the latest high-tech breweries. See who's making the best - and some of the strangest - new suds on the market today. - Radioactive Paradise: Bikini AtollE26
Radioactive Paradise: Bikini AtollJuly, 1946. Bikini. It was the first of 23 nuclear tests the US government made in their race against the Soviets during the Cold War. Between 1946 and 1958 the United States embarked on one of the most spectacular scientific experiments the world has ever seen. To test the newly invented atomic weapon, 67 nuclear bomb tests were conducted in the South Pacific on Bikini and Enewetak Atoll – among them some of the biggest explosions the world has ever experienced. A remote atoll in the Marshall Islands, set in the vast blue expanse of the Pacific Ocean between the Philippines and Hawaii. Ironically though, it was this isolation, that sealed the atoll's fate: During "Operation Crossroads" in July of 1946, two atom bombs were used to sink a ghost fleet of 84 vessels, destroying the natural environment and leaving parts of the huge atoll ring permanently contaminated in the process. The islanders are still reliant on imported food even today. The American armed forces singled out Bikini Atoll as the place to detonate the first atomic bombs since Nagasaki. They assembled a huge fleet of decommissioned warships to be sunk in the most dramatic way possible. It wasn't just about testing the destructive power of the bombs though; at the outset of the cold war, they were also seeking to make an impression on the Soviet Union. In February 2008 a top team of scientists, historians, divers and Bikini experts embarked on an exciting scientific mission to this "paradise lost" in order to find some answers to the questions surrounding the atoll, its nature and how it has dealt with its nuclear history. A submersible designed to hold eight people allowed the scientists to explore the underwater world and the nuclear fleet it still harbours on its grounds in a way no scientist has ever been able to before. Spectacular, never seen before footage of the underwater world of Bikini is combined with outrageous air shots filmed from a helicopter and mind-blowing archive material that - Michelangelo Code: Secrets of The Sistine Chapel Part 2E28
Michelangelo Code: Secrets of The Sistine Chapel Part 2Next part of the art documentary in which top critic and art writer Waldemar Januszczak reveals the hidden meaning behind the most famous work of art in the world. His shocking discoveries come from 20 years of research and unprecedented access to the Vatican, taking him as far afield as Texas and Jerusalem, as well as all over Italy. - Jack the Ripper: The First Serial Killer
E31Jack the Ripper: The First Serial KillerCriminal psychologist at New Scotland Yard Laura Richard uses modern investigation techniques to try and build a portrait of the Victorian serial killer Jack the Ripper. She and other experts, including a pathologist, historian, profiler and policeman, examine the crimes and try and establish why the particular victims were chosen, and the possible motivations and reasons for the crimes. - Mars: The Quest for LifeE32
Mars: The Quest for LifeMars: The Quest for Life looks at the Phoenix lander and show follows the man in charge, Peter Smith, as he and his team struggle to defy the odds and get Phoenix safely onto the surface of Mars. Featuring never-before-seen footage of Phoenix’s dramatic, emotional landing, the program explores the secrets that Phoenix might finally unlock about life on another world.
