Discovery Channel Documentaries
Season 2009
TV-G
Documentaries that have been produced by the Discovery Channel.
Where to Watch Season 2009
56 Episodes
- The Beauty of SnakesE1
The Beauty of SnakesExplores every aspect of the snakes' lives. How they mate, give birth, hunt and feed, move and sense the world around them - from the deserts of Namibia to the forests of the Amazon. Snake-mounted cameras show off their remarkable control and grace as well as the blazing speed with which they strike. - Naica: Secrets of the Crystal Cave
E2Naica: 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. - Discovering Ardi
E3Discovering ArdiOlder than Lucy, "Ardi" reveals startling new details about the evolution of the hominid family tree. Following the publication in the journal Science on the find and study of a 4.4 million-year-old female partial skeleton nicknamed "Ardi," Discovery Channel will present a world premiere special. The two-hour groundbreaking special documents the sustained, intensive investigation leading up to the landmark publication of the Ardipithecus ramidus fossils. The scientific investigation that began in the Ethiopian desert 17 years ago opens a new chapter on human evolution, revealing the first evolutionary steps our ancestors took after we diverged from a common ancestor we once shared with living chimpanzees. "Ardi's" centrepiece skeleton, the other hominids she lived with, and the rocks, soils, plants and animals that made up her world were analyzed in laboratories around the globe. The scientists have now published their findings in the prestigious journal Science. "Ardi" is now the oldest skeleton from our (hominid) branch of the primate family tree. These Ethiopian discoveries reveal an early grade of human evolution in Africa that pre-dated the famous Australopithecus nicknamed "Lucy." Ardipithecus was a woodland creature with a small brain, long arms and short legs. The pelvis and feet show a primitive form of two-legged walking on the ground, but Ardipithecus was also a capable tree climber, with long fingers and big toes that allowed its feet to grasp like those of an ape. The discoveries answer questions about how hominids became bipedal. This landmark Discovery Channel special reveals the scientific analysis undertaken by an international team of 47 scientists as they painstakingly piece together the hominid bones and link the evidence of thousands of other animals and plant fossils. The international research team weighed in on the scope of the project and its findings: "These are the results of a scientific mission to our deep African past," s - A Bengal Tiger's Motherly LoveE4
A Bengal Tiger's Motherly LoveBengal tigers living in the forests of India are rarely seen, but we succeeded in filming a female tiger called Machali raising her cubs. Although known for their fierce nature, we witnessed an incredible affection of the mother tiger for her cubs. We also found a strict hierarchy exists among the little ones as their strategy to survive. It is said that male tigers take no part in the rearing of the cubs and will even occasionally kill them. However, for the first time, the camera has captured an endearing scene of a father tiger interacting with his offspring. - Jack The Ripper In AmericaE7
Jack The Ripper In AmericaThe greatest serial killer in history has never been named. But what if we are looking in the wrong place? In the 1890s a series of murders took place across the United States, and incredible new evidence may reveal the true identity of Jack the Ripper. - Americas First NationsE8
Americas First NationsThe Iroquois Confederacy's system of democracy begins with a legend. In the distant past, five nations were at war with one another. With the help of the warrior Hiawatha -- also called Ayonwatha -- a leader known as the Peacemaker united all five: the Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, Seneca and Cayuga. (Today, there are six nations -- the Tuscarora became part of the confederacy around 1720.) Central to the Peacemaker's plan was the creation of a body of leaders entrusted to govern the nations as a whole while preserving the rights of each tribe. - Factory CityE9
Factory CityThey live there. They eat there. Their children attend school there. But most of all, they work there. They are the 17,000 employees of EUPA, a "Factory City" in the southeast corner of China. EUPA's massive workforce pumps out 15 million irons per year, millions of sandwich grills, microwaves, coffee makers and blenders. Now they are about to take the manufacturing world by storm with their introduction of solar powered products. From the 2500 microwaves that come off the line each day to the four tons of rice served daily in the five cafeterias, we showcase the process and the personalities that keep this massive machine well-oiled. The show will focus not only on how the goods are made, but how the Factory City operates.It's a novel concept for the rest of the world. But it's become a way of life in China, where a new industrial revolution is unfolding on a scale the world has never seen. - A Rain StoryE12
A Rain StoryThe beautiful, mysterious world of rain is visualized using the latest filming technology. Ultra-high speed cameras capture breathtaking images in Odaigahara, the rainiest area in Japan that receives an annual rainfall of 5,000 millimeters. On the ground form lakes that only appear after summer heavy rains, allowing rare frogs to thrive. In winter, a unique natural phenomenon called Glazed Frost takes place if rain falls unfrozen and the air temperature is below zero. Through poetic cinematography, we discover just how rain enriches the natural beauty in Japan, a country unusually blessed with rain. - Secret AmericaE13
Secret AmericaThey're the most iconic symbols of America, but lurking behind each one are conspiracy theories, myths, and lies. The Statue of Liberty, White House, street plan of Washington D.C., U.S. Flag, and Great Seal all hold mysterious secrets: masonic markings, coded texts, ghosts and more inhabit our most well-known national treasures. 1. Are there really Masonic markings on the map of D.C, ghosts in the White House, satanic messages on the Great Seal, and sinister origins behind Lady Liberty? 2. The Washington Monument, Mount Rushmore, the Liberty Bell, U.S. Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial all hold untold tales of intrigue. Did the Freemasons imbed codes on Washington's most famous obelisk? What's Mount Rushmore's connection to the KKK? Are Lincoln's hands sending us a secret message? - Who Sank the Titanic?E14
Who Sank the Titanic?Who Sank the Titanic reveals the full story of the fateful decisions that led to the demise of the Titanic. From possible engineering flaws to a procession of bad decisions and unlucky circumstances, who was ultimately responsible for one of recent histories most famous tragedies? - Arctic Circle: On Thin Ice
E15Arctic Circle: On Thin IceChronicling the effects of climate change on the land and animal inhabitants, meet an international team of scientists who are vividly demonstrating how global warming threatens the very existence of polar bears, seals and other creatures. Later, witness huge ice shelves crumbling into the sea, polar bears struggling to survive and torrents of water flowing where there should only be ice. - Arctic Circle: Battle for the Pole
E16Arctic Circle: Battle for the PoleIn an epic race to claim territory, meet the very people battling to pump oil and gas from beneath the pristine Arctic seabed. For the engineers constructing ice-breaking tankers and the crew of the world’s northernmost oil rig, the pursuit is all about excitement, opportunity and new frontiers. But the more energy exploited from the Arctic, the more the ice will melt – locking into a destructive cycle whose effects are only starting to become apparent and which may be unstoppable. - America's Lost Submarine
E18America's Lost SubmarineA vacation along Panama's Pearl Islands led Archaeologist James Delgado to an astounding discovery, the world's first working submarine, rusting on a remote beach, forgotten for over 135 years. We follow Delgado as he uncovers the mystery surrounding this maritime treasure. How did the vessel work, what killed its inventor and crew, and why did it end up here in this deserted archipelago? We also trace the amazing life of emigrated German engineer Julius Kroehl and how he invented a diving craft that was half a century ahead of its time. - Prehistoric New YorkE19
Prehistoric New York200 million years PREHISTORIC NEW YORK was a region that was a semi-tropical landscape rattled by earthquakes and scarred by lava flows. It was home to a bizarre array of amphibians and reptiles, including the dinosaur Coelophysis, a meat-eating, ostrich-like creature. Mastodons roamed the streets of what is now Manhattan. Scientists believe the honey locust trees that now line Fifth Avenue near Rockefeller Center evolved their thorns to protect them from munching by these mastodons. - Two Weeks in Hell
E21Two Weeks in HellYou are given a pass into the intense training and testing that determines who will be allowed to become a Green Beret candidate. Over two weeks, the most insane, mind-twisting games are played, and physical limits are stretched beyond imagination to enable the watchers to select the right individuals. During the Green Beret DVD Two Weeks in Hell, you will see some of the most intelligent and creative individuals alive, and witness brutality of training like you have never before seen. - The Loch Ness Monster RevealedE22
The Loch Ness Monster RevealedIs the Loch Ness Monster a gigantic flesh-eating reptile that survived the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago? Or is it a giant squid or sturgeon? Or is this a creature not yet seen or understood in maritime history? Philippe Cousteau leads a team of eminent scientists on a mission to unravel the mystery that has captured the imagination for centuries. If this is a pre-historic creature or a more closely related species than we have yet seen, how did it get there, what does it look like and how does it survive. Philippe Cousteau dives into the murky depths of one of the places of greatest natural beauty on earth, in his bid to find the creature that may lurk there. This programme explores the truth behind the legendary creature who may or may not exist in Scotland's Loch Ness. Philippe Cousteau Jr. dives into the murky depths to examine the evidence, with a team of eminent scientists. - Under New York
E24Under New Yorkjourney through the New York water system, from high above the upstate New York watershed through the underground infrastructure to its final destination at an apartment tap in New York City. Along the way, intrepid hosts John Rosiello and Christine McKinley jump from a plane, bike down the steep slopes of the Catskill Mountains, kayak down the raging creeks that feed into the reservoir system, go deep underground to unearth the hidden workings of the intricate dam systems, explore abandoned aqueducts and scramble dozens of stories above the city streets atop a New York apartment building. Given unprecedented access by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Under New York goes underground with a crew digging an immense filtration plant deep in the earth and rappels down the face of a 240-foot dam with members of the specially trained DEP police team. The hosts join water crews on the streets of New York trying to trace buried water leaks and climb to the top of an apartment building where local guys are still doing things the old fashioned way when it comes to building a wooden water tower. Under New York celebrates engineering and ingenuity - and the people who make it all work and keep the water flowing. Under New York explores one of the greatest water systems of the world and takes viewers to places few have ever seen or can hope to see. Produced by Optomen Productions for Discovery, Under New York is an adventurous exploration of an engineering marvel. - Inside Planet Earth
E26Inside Planet EarthIt’s the ultimate voyage our world has to offer: a journey from the temperate surface of our world to the fiery core of the Earth. With the aid of stunning visual effects, the unexplored interior of the Earth is split wide open, giving us an unbelievable view. From glowing seams of pure iron ore to sparkling diamond caverns to the magnetic field that keeps us safe from the lethal radiation of space… for now, this is the fantastical world we live in — and never see. From the heights of Mount Everest to the molten lava fields of Hawaii to the very core of our planet, the geologic forces that have changed the planet’s face over the past 4.6 billion years are revealed. With state-of-the-art effects and the latest scientific information, this is the story of striking meteorites, gigantic eruptions, the movement of continents and other geologic events that have shaped our amazing Earth. - Inside The Aryan BrotherhoodE27
Inside The Aryan BrotherhoodFormed in the 1980s, the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas is one of America's fastest growing and most violent white supremacist gangs. Consisting of 5,000 members both in and outside of prison, they adhere to Nazi ideologies and are notorious for killings and kidnappings. For the first time, they have allowed cameras to access the criminal world they run from inside the prison walls. Viewers will learn the secrets of their drug smuggling methods as they strive to control the Texas Meth trade and their shocking plans to ignite a bloody gang war. Some of the most violent inmates belong to the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas and you will witness firsthand their attempts to govern by terror and ruthless behaviour. - The Last Beekeeper
E34The Last BeekeeperBees are vanishing. In 1950, there were 500,000 beekeepers in the U.S. Today there are less than 1,600. Examining the enormity of this loss, Jeremy Simmons' documentary The Last Beekeeper follows the lives of three commercial beekeepers (from South carolina, Montana, and Washington) over the course of a year as they struggle with Colony Collapse Disorder. When they take their bees to California's enormous annual almond pollination (an event so large it requires nearly all the bees in the US), it becomes painfully and poignantly clear the bind they are in. "If all the bees die, what do you have to live for?" asks one of the beekeepers. It's a question for all of us. The cause of Colony Collapse Disorder remains unknown and if honeybees continue to decline at the same rate, they will cease to exist in the U.S. by 2035. Jeremy Simmons' buzz-worthy documentary The Last Beekeeper, a World of Wonder film produced by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato. Emmy Award winner for "Outstanding Nature Programming" 2010. - Hudson Plane Crash - What Really HappenedE36
Hudson Plane Crash - What Really HappenedInside story of Flight 1549. How does a plane lose both engines over a city, and crash lands without a single death? New footage and exclusive interviews with crew, survivors, and rescuers tell the amazing story of survival. - Jack the Ripper - Killer RevealedE37
Jack the Ripper - Killer RevealedThe identity of Jack the Ripper has remained an unsolved mystery for over a century. Now historian Mei Trow presents a new theory on the unparalleled reign of terror in which at least five women were killed in London’s East End in 1888. Based on two years of exhaustive research, and using modern psychological and geographical profiling techniques, Trow identifies Robert Mann, a Whitechapel mortuary assistant, as the Ripper. Mann was mentioned during the original investigation but has never been put forward as a possible suspect – until now. As Trow pieces together the evidence linking Mann with the Ripper murders, he also makes the case for two additional Ripper victims. - Mystery of the Lost CatacombsE38
Mystery of the Lost CatacombsIn ‘Mystery of the Lost Catacombs’ venture beneath the Vatican in Rome, Italy, to witness the thousands of ancient Roman skeletons discovered by scientists in a catacomb. Delve into this intriguing case to determine who these people were and how they came to be buried piled high in a series of secret chambers. Numerous explanations of what may have potentially happened are revealed in this special documentary. Find out whether these bodies are evidence of a mass suicide, terrible disaster, an epidemic, or even a mass murder. - Did the Mob Kill JFK?E40
Did the Mob Kill JFK?“Did the Mob Kill JFK?” relies primarily on the testimony of author Lamar Waldron and a jailhouse informant who claims that mobster Carlos Marcello boasted that organized crime had orchestrated President Kennedy’s murder. The reason: Because the CIA had been working with the mob to try and assassinate Fidel Castro, with the mob participating in the hopes of getting their casinos in Cuba reopened. - Hudson Plane Crash – What Really Happened?E42
Hudson Plane Crash – What Really Happened?Inside story of Flight 1549. How does a plane lose both engines over a city, and crash lands without a single death? New footage and exclusive interviews with crew, survivors, and rescuers tell the amazing story of survival. - Stephen Hawking and the Theory of Everything (1)E43
Stephen Hawking and the Theory of Everything (1)The legendary physicist’s search for the secrets of the universe How did the universe come into being? Why are we here? And where are we headed? Stephen Hawking--one of the world’s most famous physicists and author of the international bestseller A Brief History of Time--wants to answer those questions. Trying to unify Einstein’s theory of relativity and quantum mechanics, he seeks a single explanation for the entire universe. But he’s racing against time, trapped in a relentlessly deteriorating body ravaged by Lou Gehrig’s disease. Join Hawking and other renowned thinkers as they explore the revolutionary new ideas that have evolved since the publication of his blockbuster book. Besides interviews, this stimulating documentary uses computer graphics and simple, easy-to-understand demonstrations to explain complex concepts. Topics include black holes, string theory, supersymmetry, dimensions beyond our perception, and the mysterious M force--all potential keys to unlocking the elusive "theory of everything" that seems so tantalizingly close. - The BodymachineE44
The BodymachineThe Body Machine is a landmark special on the human body that shows us just how much, how many, how large, how strong, how fast - just how amazing the body really is. Utilizing impressive large-scale real-life stunts, CGI and strong character stories, the show makes the staggering scale of the inner workings of the body tangible. We will show you how far our blood travels in just one day - an astounding 19, 000 km - from Quebec City to Buenos Aires and back. You will see all the cranial fluid you produce in your lifetime laid out in front of you - all 26,280 pint glasses worth. And in just one day you will take 23,000 breaths - enough air to fill 7,714 helium balloons. You will see all this and much more. - Revealed The Da Vinci ShroudE45
Revealed The Da Vinci ShroudOne of the holiest relics in Christianity, the Turin shroud is believed to have swathed the body of Christ after his death. The image of a bloodied, crucified man burned into the fabric of the cloth was first revealed in 1898 when it was captured in a photographic negative. Subsequent tests in 1988 ultimately dated the shroud to between 12601390AD, apparently confirming its status as a medieval forgery. According to Clive Prince and author Lynn Picknett, that forger was none other than Leonardo Da Vinci. A master artist, scientist and anatomist, Da Vinci was the only person with the talents to undertake such a project. Yet scientists have been unable to explain how the image was created. Over 50 attempts to duplicate the relic have failed. New research using Da Vinci’s other works for comparison has drawn some fascinating conclusions... - The World's Biggest and Baddest BugsE46
The World's Biggest and Baddest BugsThe World's Biggest and Baddest Bugs, follows host Ruud Kleinpaste, as he embarks on an entomological odyssey around the globe in search of the ultimate biggest and "baddest" creepy crawlies. The World's Biggest and Baddest Bugs will then profile the "stars" of the show, with Ruud explaining in his audience-friendly style exactly what makes them so amazing. - End of Extinction: Cloning the Tasmanian TigerE47
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. - The Last Maneater Killer Tigers of IndiaE48
The Last Maneater Killer Tigers of IndiaThe last tigers in the world to hunt, kill, and eat humans live in mangrove forest swamps of eastern India. Hear villagers' harrowing tales of survival and find out what it's like not living on the top of the food chain. - Planes That Never Flew: The Atomic Bomber
E49Planes That Never Flew: The Atomic BomberAn account of world-beating aircraft projects that were scrapped before their time. Each aircraft is recreated and shown using computer graphics. Includes archive footage and interviews. In the grip of a rapidly escalating Cold War America poured billions into developing a giant nuclear powered bomber, a plane so fantastic that it could stay aloft for months at a time. The Convair WS 125 was the ultimate doomsday machine... Recently declassified Russian Cold War era documents disclose they actually flew a prototype Atomic engined bomber. - Surviving the DroughtE53
Surviving the DroughtThe Ruaha National Park in the south of Tanzania used to be a true paradise for wildlife gathered around the rich Ruaha river. Today however, its sparkling waters are nothing more than a remote dream. Scorching heat and severe drought have dried up the riverbed, leaving animals wandering around, suffering from dehydration. A life-or-death quest for water has begun and the bewildered animals have no choice but to follow the dry riverbed upstream hoping to find water. Witness to this tragedy, a pride of hungry and thirsty lionesses and their cubs overlook the last pockets of water. Although it is dangerous for the young cubs to travel, the females have no choice but to follow the herds of herbivores in their migration. Days go by as the leaden sun scorches the savanna and the winds blow away the few hopes of rain. Will the lionesses and the other animals find water in time to save themselves? - DaVinci: Unlocking the Genius
E54DaVinci: Unlocking the GeniusLeonardo da Vinci was the original Renaissance man. He’s best known for having painted the Mona Lisa but he was also an engineer, a musician, a military weapons designer, a futurist and an unparalleled inventor. With remarkable foresight, da Vinci’s accomplishments came before Newton’s theory of gravity, Darwin’s The Origin of Species – and even before the world was known to be round.
