National Geographic Documentaries
Season 2006
TV-PG
Go behind the scenes of life on our planet with National Geographic videos. Share the wonder of the natural world with educational animal videos for kids. Let National Geographic be your all-access pass with documentary videos about the U.S. State Department, the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, or 9/11. Experience the past coming to life with culture and history videos, and engage more deeply with the present with science and nature.
Where to Watch Season 2006
24 Episodes
- Insect WarsE2
Insect WarsEvery dark element of a mighty human empire building has long been perfected by the insect world. In NGC's Insect Wars, the violent existences of insect empires are explored and the sometimes brutal battlefield tactics, ingenious defensive strategies andstruggles for power between empires are revealed. Go into the inner sanctums of the world's mightiest insect empires and catch a rare and close-up glimpse at the world of invertebrate power not often seen by the naked eye. - Challenger: The Untold Story
E3Challenger: The Untold StoryThe January 28, 1986, launch of the space shuttle Challenger was expected to be a historic first - schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe was to be the first ordinary U.S. citizen flown into space. Instead, the Challenger flight marked one of the greatest tragedies in American space exploration when the shuttle exploded 73 seconds after liftoff, killing all seven crew members on board. With the shuttle's explosion came serious questions. Could the tragedy have been averted? Why did NASA allow the Challenger to launch on that unseasonably cold morning? Did NASA knowingly put political, monetary or public relations considerations ahead of the astronauts' safety? On the eve of the disaster's twentieth anniversary, the National Geographic Channel (NGC) presents "Challenger: The Untold Story," which portrays the events and decisions leading up to the ill-fated launch with an immediacy that catapults viewers back to those tragic days. - The Gospel of JudasE4
The Gospel of JudasHe's one of the most hated men in history: Judas Iscariot, the apostle who betrayed Jesus. For centuries, his name has meant treachery and deceit. Hidden for nearly two thousand years, an ancient Gospel emerges from the sands of Egypt that tells a very different version of the last days of Jesus and questions the portrait of Judas Iscariot as the evil apostle. Join National Geographic and a team of Biblical detectives as they race to determine the authenticity of this ancient document, piecing together its delicate pages before they turn to dust. With movie-quality dramatizations and insightful analysis by the world's foremost experts, The Gospel of Judas reveals a new account of Jesus's betrayal to the modern world. - Blackbeard: Terror at SeaE5
Blackbeard: Terror at SeaHe stalked the Caribbean trade routes, striking fear into the hearts of all who dared sail the treacherous waters by pillaging no less than forty ships in the short time span of just two years. Now, thanks to the folks at National Geographic, viewers can board the ship of notorious pirate known the world over by the ominous moniker Blackbeard for a two-hour, high-definition look at the exploits of the intelligent and charismatic marauder born Edward Teach. A cunning thief whose terrifying and carefully constructed visage struck fear into the hearts of sailors while inspiring wild stories of wretched savagery, Blackbeard (portrayed here by actor James Purefoy)'s notorious reputation alone was often enough to cause his prey to give up without so much as a fight. With this documentary, history buffs will find out just why the old adage about truth being stranger than fiction has more merit than some give credit for. - Hannibal: The Man, The Myth, The Mystery
E7Hannibal: The Man, The Myth, The MysteryHis name resonates throughout history - a mythical figure, one of the greatest commanders of the ancient world. But what of the man behind the legend? A man who handed Rome the key to the future by allowing them to learn his tactics and use them against him; and who was ultimately betrayed by his own people, spending his final years on the run from the Romans. - Deadly DesignsE9
Deadly DesignsDelve into the terrifying world of structural engineering gone horribly wrong. Examine the chain of events that led to some of the world's worst structural disasters, including the collapse of a giant department store in South Korea; the collapse of the roof of terminal 2E at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris; and the collapse of two overhead walkways onto a crowded hotel lobby in Kansas City in the U.S. Follow the clues that led forensic experts to the fatal flaws that killed hundreds in the blink of an eye, and look at some of the newest, most futuristic building concepts and ask if, by pushing the limits of new materials and revolutionary technologies, are we not courting future disasters? - Saxon Gold New Secrets RevealedE10
Saxon Gold New Secrets RevealedIt was the treasure trove that sent shockwaves through the archaeological world - a fabulous collection of precious metal that captured the imagination of the public and experts alike. Now, in Saxon Gold: New Secrets Revealed, you can explore the true significance of the £3million Staffordshire Hoard, and sift through hundreds of precious artefacts to reveal the remarkable tales behind the bounty. British metal detecting enthusiast Terry Herbert struck gold when he uncovered over 3,500 Saxon artefacts in a field in 2009. The haul is now in the joint custody of the Birmingham and Stoke museums - find out how the professionals are using the mountains of glittering gold and shimmering silver to shed new light on the mysterious Dark Ages - and provide eye-opening evidence of Britain's violent past. Curator Dr. David Symons is your guide as he trawls through the treasure with the help of a team of Anglo-Saxon metalwork specialists, gemstone analysts and osteoarchaeologists. With the story of the Staffordshire Hoard slowly coming to light, examine the latest theories exciting archaeological experts worldwide and, above all, marvel at the craftsmanship, ingenuity and sophistication of Anglo-Saxon ancestors - Triple Cross: Bin Laden's Spy in America
E11Triple Cross: Bin Laden's Spy in AmericaThis is the true story of Egyptian spy Ali Mohamed. He infiltrated U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA and FBI, and joined the U.S. Army. At the same time, he took orders from the Egyptian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization and later joined forces with al Qaeda. He trained Osama bin Laden's jihadist warriors and helped plan terrorist attacks including the 1998 African embassy bombings - Secrets of Mary MagdaleneE12
Secrets of Mary MagdaleneSecrets of Mary Magdalene strips away the veils of history to reveal the flesh and blood woman who served as Jesus' foremost apostle and possibly the love of his life. Based on the nonfiction book "Secrets of Mary Magdalene" by bestselling authors Dan Burstein and Arne De Keijzer, this documentary special uncovers the latest information on one of the world's most controversial religious figures. - The Scrap HouseE13
The Scrap HouseThis documentary tells the story of how a team of architects, builders, structural engineers and scrap artists came together last year to build a house entirely out of garbage. Not the usual green materials everyone is talking about, something greener than that -- real and true garbage plucked straight from the waste stream. - Living in a Perfect WorldE14
Living in a Perfect WorldThe documentary tells the stories of four Mennonites (Aganetha, Cornelio, Pedro and Jacobo) living in two different communities. The colonies of El Savinal (El Sabinal) and El Capulin are settled in the Mexican state of Chihuahua and look like typical German farming communities of the 19th Century. - Emperors of the IceE15
Emperors of the IceIn the frozen wilderness of Antarctica, where oceans ice over and just staying alive is an achievement, one creature has perfected the art of survival - the emperor penguin. Eons of evolution have built an animal superbly adapted to the howling gales and sub-zero temperatures, but the emperor may have finally met its match. Parts of Antarctica are warming, giving birth to huge icebergs, and the consequences could be catastrophic for this majestic animal. In a place where all life is touched by the ice, it is a dramatic shift. Explore this region from its inhabitant's perspective, using state-of-the-art technology. By better understanding these amazing animals, researchers can help prepare for their future, as the balance of life in the Antarctic continues to change. - Space Launch: Along for the RideE16
Space Launch: Along for the RideNestled in the remote and desolate steppes of southern Kazakhstan, the Russian run Baikonur Cosmodrome is the oldest and largest space facility in the world. With 20 to 30 rocket launches annually, the stage is set for an unusual mission. American entrepreneur Greg Olsen has spent 20 million dollars to live out every stargazer's dream. He will become the third private citizen on the planet to hop aboard the Soyuz rocket, and journey to outer space. After completing 900 hours of intensive cosmonaut training, including zero G exercises, crisis drills, and launch simulators, Olsen joins two veteran astronauts on a mission to the International Space Station. Olsen turns his personal handy-cam on himself and records a daily diary while in orbit some 350 kilometers above the Earth. Throughout the training, launch, and re-entry procedures, cameras provide a rare peek inside a Russian space mission, gaining unprecedented access to the floor of mission control as well as the highly secure laun - San Francisco's Great QuakeE23
San Francisco's Great QuakeAs only National Geographic can, The Great Quake tells the terrifying and inspiring tale of a pitched battle between man and nature told by the stories of people who lived through it. On April 18, 1906 the greatest natural disaster in American history strikes without warning. Concrete buildings explode into clouds of dust and rubble and fires break out by the thousands. For the next three days, San Francisco's corrupt and charismatic Mayor takes the helm of this city under siege, making decisions that are swift and radical. This is the terrifying and inspiring tale of a pitched battle between man and nature told by the stories of people who lived through it.
