NASA made history with the first live HDTV broadcasts from space, in cooperation with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Discovery HD Theater and Japanese broadcast network NHK.The broadcasts featured Expedition 14 Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria on the International Space Station, with Flight Engineer Thomas Reiter serving as camera operator aboard the 220-mile-high laboratory. "HDTV provides up to six times the resolution of regular analog video," said Rodney Grubbs, NASA principal investigator. "On previous missions, we've flown HDTV cameras but had to wait until after the mission to retrieve the tapes, watch the video and share it with the science and engineering community, the media and the public. For the first time ever, this test lets us stream live HDTV from space so the public can experience what its like to be there." Known as the Space Video Gateway, the system transmits high bandwidth digital television signals to the ground that are not only spectacular, but also valuable to scientists, engineers and managers.

Alcatraz was the countrys first maximum security penitentiary designed for troublemakers both high risk and high-profile. Infamous gangsters and cons like Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly and "The Birdman" Robert Stroud; and many other criminals who were no less dangerous. Over 29 years, these desperate inmates challenged the prison again and again. The Rock was tough, but the inmates were convinced they were tougher. Go behind the legend and discover the strengths and weaknesses of Alcatraz, on Building the Rock.

In 1980, in East Talpiot, Jerusalem, a bulldozer accidentally uncovered what may be the most explosive archaeological discovery of all time. Of the ten ossuaries, or stone coffins, found inside the first-century tomb, six bore inscriptions: Jesus, son of Joseph; Maria; Mariamene (the name by which Mary Magdalene was known), Joseph, Matthew, and Judah, son of Jesus. At first dismissed by archaeologists as coincidence, the ossuaries were deposited in the endless warehouses of the Israel Antiquities Association and forgotten. Twenty-five years later, Emmy-winning journalist Simcha Jacobovici and his team, Felix Golubev, journalist and producer; Hollywood kingpin James Cameron; Paleo-biologist and best-selling author Charles Pellegrino; and renowned Biblical scholar James Tabor, took a fresh look at this astounding cluster of New Testament names. Granted unparalleled access, but battling a host of problems, the team goes in search of the ossuaries…and the lost tomb…

In 1980, in East Talpiot, Jerusalem, a bulldozer accidentally uncovered what may be the most explosive archaeological discovery of all time. Of the ten ossuaries, or stone coffins, found inside the first-century tomb, six bore inscriptions: Jesus, son of Joseph; Maria; Mariamene (the name by which Mary Magdalene was known), Joseph, Matthew, and Judah, son of Jesus. At first dismissed by archaeologists as coincidence, the ossuaries were deposited in the endless warehouses of the Israel Antiquities Association and forgotten. Twenty-five years later, Emmy-winning journalist Simcha Jacobovici and his team, Felix Golubev, journalist and producer; Hollywood kingpin James Cameron; Paleo-biologist and best-selling author Charles Pellegrino; and renowned Biblical scholar James Tabor, took a fresh look at this astounding cluster of New Testament names. Granted unparalleled access, but battling a host of problems, the team goes in search of the ossuaries…and the lost tomb…

In Zambia, elephants and humans have had trouble coexisting. Salmoni travels to South Africa to determine if it is possible for an entire elephant population to turn "rogue."

Passport to Pluto takes you inside this historic NASA endeavor, from Pluto’s discovery at Lowell Observatory in 1930 through launch of the New Horizons spacecraft from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Enter the clean rooms, scan control screens, and visit the launch pad to see the mission come together for its voyage to Pluto and beyond.

There are endless gruesome ways that the world could end; through nasty, natural disasters or because of some man-made abomination. From maniac killer robots and super volcanoes, to an alien invasion and mutant psycho humans, all options are covered in Ten Ways the World Will End.

The story of the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 after she was torpedoed off the Irish coast. The story is told from the perspective of Prof. Holbourn (a passenger), the German U-boat and its captain and crew, and other passengers, crew and Admiralty staff.

Debating whether time is experienced from within the body or from the outside.

February 5th 1958, a U.S. Air Force B-47 jet bomber collided with a fighter craft during a military exercise. Badly damaged, the crew asked permission to jettison its thermonuclear device (H-bomb) to avoid a possible explosion while trying to land at the Army airport near Savannah, Georgia. The bomb was dropped into the Atlantic Ocean near the border between Georgia and South Carolina. Despite initially telling the public that only "parts of a nuclear bomb" were lost in the accident, the U.S. Government searched in vain for what was a potentially fully operational atomic weapon save for a "nuclear capsule" which was not present in the device when it was lost. Nevertheless, the ocean's elements could corrode and eventually open up the bomb, releasing the refined radioactive uranium that remains inside. This documentary shows efforts lately made to find and recover the weapon.

Explore some of King Tut's lavish funeral rites and treasure.

M.C. Escher is among the most intriguing of artists. In 1956 he challenged the laws of perspective with his graphic Print Gallery, and found himself trapped by an impossible barrier. His uncompleted master-piece quickly became the most puzzling enigma of modern art, for both artists and scientists. Half a century later, mathematician Hendrik Lenstra took everyone by surprise by drawing a fantastic bridge between the intuition of the artist and his own, and completed Escher's work mathematically. This story was made accessible to all audience and most magically presented in this 52-minute film awarded for best visual effects at the 3rd Bangkok Science Film Festival in 2007.

In 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear power lost control of one of its four reactors resulting chain reaction that created a series of explosions. 'Chernobyl: Life in the Dead Zone' explores how nature and animals would react and survive if the world was suddenly without humans. This fascinating programme takes place at the site of the world's worst nuclear accident - hastily abandoned by panic-stricken humans. In houses where people once lived and laughed, wildlife is making itself at home. Watch as the wild animals face challenges in an environment totally outside their comfort zone, while once-domestic species must rediscover their wild natures within.

Since the beginning of life on Earth, evolution has been dictated by Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection. And now, humanity is on the brink of a change so radical, so rapid and unlike any other stage in human history. And while most of us are waiting at the precipice, have some already taken the leap?

Since the beginning of life on Earth, evolution has been dictated by Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection. And now, humanity is on the brink of a change so radical, so rapid and unlike any other stage in human history. And while most of us are waiting at the precipice, have some already taken the leap?

'Birth of a Racer' is the true story of one man and his team of maverick engineers from around the world in their quest to build a motorcycle unlike any other in existence. Michael Czysz is a maverick with a dream. But Michael's dream has to become reality before he either runs out of money or kills himself riding the bike on the test track.

Between 1405 and 1433, with approximately 300 ships and 28,000 crewman, China`s Zheng traveled to Southeast Asia, the Persian Gulf, and Africa. Who was this extraordinary man who led seven voyages around the world eight decades before Columbus discover the New World.

Killer Squid, about the Humboldt squid, the most advanced of the mollusca, but which live only a year (until they breed) and actually go into cannibalistic feeding frenzies. The tentacles have 36000 teeth and the food is manipulated with a beak. But they can hunt in schools, and actually have social behavior not seen before in cephalapods. They have good problem solving ability, like octopuses. Over-fishing may have created the impression that they behave aggressively. This is as high as invertebrate evolution ever got.

We all remember that fateful day, but few of us know what really happened when Flight 77 slammed into the Pentagon, forcing ordinary men and women into the most extraordinary circumstances of their lives. Through eyewitness accounts, "Attack on the Pentagon," a 2003 DVD from The Discovery Channel, tracks the 757 as it descended to within 3,000 feet of the White House, banked over the Potomac River, made a sharp turn and headed straight for the Pentagon, knocking down lamp poles and street signs as it flew. Nearly 200 people lost their lives that day, and hundreds more were injured. Yet amidst the shock and sorrow, the triumph of the human spirit shone through. Hear from a worker in the Army's Accounting Office, whose unplanned meeting on another floor took her away from her normal workspace - and saved her life. Meet Lt. Col. Marilyn Wills, who wrung precious drops of water from her sweater - drenched by the building's sprinklers - into the mouths of gasping victims as she crawled from the rubble. And follow the men and women of the Fairfax County Urban Search & Rescue team, who - when reports came in that a second aircraft was headed for the Pentagon - were torn between saving their own lives and continuing their search efforts. From the testimonies of survivors, rescuers and those who lost loved ones, discover the untold stories of heroism - and tragedy - behind the attack on the Pentagon.