Smithsonian Channel
The Apollo 13 Crew Faced a Major Threat After Abandoning Ship
- Title
- The Apollo 13 Crew Faced a Major Threat After Abandoning Ship
- Runtime
- 2:27
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- The crew of Apollo 13 had successfully repurposed the ship's lunar module to take them back to Earth. The problem was that the module was only designed to hold two astronauts - for no more than 40 hours.
From the Series: The Lost Tapes: Apollo 13 http://bit.ly/2PUWDwb
- Title
- Darwin Stag Beetles Fight for the Right to Mate
- Runtime
- 3:20
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Two Darwin Stag Beetles lock mandibles in a battle for mating supremacy. It's an epic confrontation on a tree branch, 60 feet above the Valdivian canopy - and the loser will find himself thrown all the way down.
From the Series: The Wild Andes: Patagonia Untamed http://bit.ly/2RUJLn4
- Title
- This Is What It Takes to Keep San Francisco's Bay Lights On
- Runtime
- 3:00
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- The spectacular 'Bay Lights' were originally set up on a temporary basis to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Due to its popularity, it was brought back as a permanent installation, in 2016.
From the Series: Aerial Cities: San Francisco http://bit.ly/2FG0PH0
- Title
- How Zambian Villagers Learned to Coexist With Elephants
- Runtime
- 1:44
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- In the 1950s, villagers waged a constant war against elephant herds that raided their crops. But a man named Norman Carr figured out a way to call a truce between the warring factions.
From the Series: Aerial Africa: Zambia http://bit.ly/2HEE5K7
- Title
- This Is What China's Version of Atlantis Looks Like
- Runtime
- 3:26
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- In China's Qiandao Lake, an ancient city lies hidden beneath the cold depths - this is Shi Cheng. It's China's very own version of Atlantis.
From the Series: China From Above: Mountains and Rivers http://bit.ly/2qPIRwS
- Title
- Chilean Mouse Opossum and Scorpion Fight to the Death
- Runtime
- 2:13
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- An elegant fat-tailed mouse opossum encounters a red scorpion - but the roles of predator and prey aren't what you'd think.
From the Series: The Wild Andes: Extreme Survival http://bit.ly/2OIglGR
- Title
- The Largest Outdoor Film Studio is Actually in China
- Runtime
- 3:50
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Hengdian World Studios, better known as 'Chinawood,' is the biggest outdoor movie set in the world. From ancient temples to modern streets, it's more than the size of Paramount and Universal, combined.
From the Series: China From Above: Future is Now http://bit.ly/2AD00Q6
- Title
- A Chinese Grandmother Crosses a River by Zipline
- Runtime
- 3:01
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- If you're a Lisu resident in Southern China and you want to cross a local river, odds are you won't be using a bridge. The preferred mode of transportation here is zipline - and it's not for the faint of heart.
From the Series: China From Above: Living Past http://bit.ly/2AD00Q6
- Title
- Dragon Boats are the Stars of This Chinese Water Festival
- Runtime
- 3:16
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Dragon boat races feature an vast number of oarsmen, a drummer and a burning desire to win - and few are anywhere near as competitive as the Water Festival races of Jing'an.
From the Series: China From Above: Living Past http://bit.ly/2AEya5O
- Title
- This Chinese Event is the Busiest Travel Day in the World
- Runtime
- 2:18
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- The Chinese New Year is the world's single biggest human migration of people: over 200 million travel to celebrate with family - many of them on the country's advanced bullet train network.
From the Series: China From Above: Future is Now http://bit.ly/2AD00Q6
- Title
- These Competitive Kite Flyers Will Blow You Away
- Runtime
- 3:01
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- In China, they take their kites very seriously. Case in point is the International Kite Festival in Shandong province. There, kite enthusiasts arrive to share their latest cutting-edge creations.
From the Series: China From Above: Dynamic Coast http://bit.ly/2Ph8J3d
- Title
- A Deadly Leak on Apollo 13 Endangers the Entire Mission
- Runtime
- 4:17
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- "Houston, we've had a problem here" - those were the actual words uttered by Apollo 13 astronaut Jack Swigert on April 13, 1970. They were a prelude to one of the most thrilling rescue operations in human history.
From the Series: The Lost Tapes: Apollo 13 http://bit.ly/2PUWDwb
- Title
- The Brutal Battle that Killed King Harold of England
- Runtime
- 2:25
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- According to the earliest surviving account of the 1066 Battle of Hastings, the invasion was a vicious affair that lasted over five hours. By the end of it, King Harold was dead - and William the Conqueror stood victorious.
From the Series: Europe's Last Warrior Kings: The Battle of Hastings http://bit.ly/2FHk3w4
- Title
- Why L.A. Uses 'Shade Balls' to Combat Drought
- Runtime
- 2:27
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- One third of L.A.'s water pours into the L.A. reservoir, but evaporation is a major concern. The result: an ingenious solution featuring 96 million plastic 'shade balls' covering the surface of the reservoir.
From the Series: Aerial Cities: Los Angeles http://bit.ly/2G2AIuj
- Title
- U.S. Soldier in Iraq Turns to Vietnam Vet for Answers
- Runtime
- 3:57
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- A solider stationed in Iraq sets out to find a solution to the deadly ambushes that were plaguing U.S. convoy trucks. His journey leads him to a Vietnam vet, who becomes a mentor and a friend.
From the Show: Gun Trucks of Vietnam http://bit.ly/2Qbr6TB
- Title
- The Abandoned Chinese Village that Nature Reclaimed
- Runtime
- 3:22
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- A deserted Chinese village called Houtouwan becomes completely overrun by vegetation, an urban world overrun by nature. The effect is so surreal that tourists from all over China stop by for a look.
From the Series: China From Above: Dynamic Coast http://bit.ly/2Ph8J3d
- Title
- Miami's Most Iconic Nightlife Spots You Should Visit
- Runtime
- 2:49
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- If you're ever looking for a sample of Miami's legendary nightlife, here's a handy trick: follow the shining neon lights on Ocean Drive, where some of the most famous clubs in the world are located.
From the Series: Aerial America: Miami http://bit.ly/2r0C0jG
- Title
- These U.S. Tycoons Turned Their Holidays into Marketing Gold
- Runtime
- 1:23
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- The friendship of Ford, Edison and Firestone was a perfect marketing opportunity, too good to miss. Footage of them vacationing together was shown in theaters around the country - further bolstering their brand status.
From the Series: America in Color: Titans of Industry http://bit.ly/2Qq9940
- Title
- How U.S. Soldiers Built Their Own Deadly Gun Trucks
- Runtime
- 4:15
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- It's 1967 in Vietnam, and U.S. truck convoys are being ambushed by the enemy on a regular basis. To counter this, the men begin to modify their trucks, adding upgraded armor and serious firepower.
From the Series: Gun Trucks of Vietnam http://bit.ly/2Qbr6TB
- Title
- The New Year's Attack That Turned the Tide of the Vietnam War
- Runtime
- 2:49
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Until January 30, 1968, the Vietnamese New Year had always brought an informal ceasefire. But this year, the cessation of hostilities would vanish in a deadly attack on the U.S. embassy in Saigon.
From the Series: The Lost Tapes: The Tet Offensive http://bit.ly/2CTCYGg
- Title
- How the Texas Oil Boom Led to This 1937 American Tragedy
- Runtime
- 2:02
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- The discovery of oil in Texas, in 1901, turned the fortunes of the Lone Star State, as money and prospectors began to pour in. But with wealth came negligence, resulting in the New London School explosion of 1937.
From the Series: America in Color: The Wild West http://bit.ly/2Oi1PW7
- Title
- Why U.S. Servicemen in Vietnam Loved Saigon
- Runtime
- 1:21
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- During the Vietnam War, Saigon more than lived up to its nickname as the 'Paris of the Orient.' It was safe, busy and a favorite hangout spot for servicemen looking for a little R&R.
From the Series: The Lost Tapes: The Tet Offensive http://bit.ly/2CTCYGg
- Title
- How T-Rex Preyed on Armored Dinosaurs
- Runtime
- 3:33
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- The biting force of T-Rex was around 400,000 pounds per square inch - the strongest bite of any animal to walk the earth. This enabled it to prey on large, often well-armored giants like the Triceratops.
From the Series: Top Ten Deadliest Beasts http://bit.ly/2q92EHb
- Title
- This Mighty Ship Works Around the Clock at an Offshore Rig
- Runtime
- 1:45
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Replacing risers at an offshore oil and gas field is a tricky operation - but it's also exactly the kind of task the Edda Freya was designed to do.
From the Series: Mighty Ships: Edda Freya http://bit.ly/2z70WKq
- Title
- Why Hunting A Dogtooth Can Be Very Challenging
- Runtime
- 2:57
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Andy Coetzee never saw a giant fish he didn't want to tackle. But his opponent this time is the fearsome Dogtooth - a torpedo-shaped predator that hunts in strong currents on the edges of the Indian Ocean's tropical coral reefs.
From the Series: Fishing for Giants: The Dogtooth http://bit.ly/2JqlUYn
- Title
- The Hazards of Operating a Remote Underwater Vehicle
- Runtime
- 2:03
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Two remotely operated vehicles, or ROVs, from the Edda Freya are working 1,000 feet below the surface. With limited visibility, they have to be careful not to get their cables entangled.
From the Series: Mighty Ships: Edda Freya http://bit.ly/2z70WKq
- Title
- Sperm Whales and Bats Have This One Thing in Common
- Runtime
- 3:41
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Sperm whales hunt for prey a mile beneath the surface, in total darkness. To do this, they rely on a unique process, also used by bats, to locate their prey.
From the Show: Top Ten Deadliest Beasts http://bit.ly/2q92EHb
- Title
- This Fisherman Nearly Loses His Prize Catch to a Hungry Crocodile
- Runtime
- 2:32
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Fisherman Andy Coetzee has used live bait to snare a giant perch. But a crocodile has seen the catch and the fish is now in danger of becoming bait.
From the Series: Fishing for Giants: The Nile Swallower http://bit.ly/2vthzl1
- Title
- Andy Coetzee Risks His Life to Catch a Nile Perch
- Runtime
- 2:53
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Murchison Falls in Uganda is one of the most treacherous fishing spots in the world even for the most capable fisherman. Naturally, Andy Coetzee is up for the challenge.
From the Series: Fishing for Giants: The Nile Swallower http://bit.ly/2vthzl1
- Title
- The Unusual Feature That Sets This Namibian River Apart
- Runtime
- 2:17
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Standing in contrast to the barren Namib desert is the nearby Kunene River - a 652-mile lifeline that extends all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. Its defining feature is its unique shade of emerald green.
From the Series: Aerial Africa: Namibia http://bit.ly/2HCJzFc
- Title
- Why Linda Tripp Taped Her Calls With Monica Lewinsky
- Runtime
- 2:54
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- When Linda Tripp first made claims about sexual impropriety in Washington, the White House responded by attacking her credibility. Fearing a perjury charge, her lawyer made a daring suggestion: tape your calls.
From the Series: The Lost Tapes: The Clinton Impeachment http://bit.ly/2ylSxU7
- Title
- Why Did This Pilot Land in the Middle of a Violent Storm?
- Runtime
- 3:36
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- In the midst of a fierce storm, the pilots of USAir Flight 1016 are given permission to land. Moments later, the plane crashes, killing 37 people. NTSB investigators want to know what air traffic control knew - and what they told the pilots.
From the Series: Air Disasters: Storming Out http://bit.ly/2COBIEZ
- Title
- South Africa's Oldest Existing Colonial Building
- Runtime
- 1:59
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- In 1652, the first settlement in the Western Cape was founded by the Dutch East India Company. Today, the 'Castle of Good Hope' is known as the oldest existing colonial building from that era.
From the Series: Aerial Africa: Western Cape http://bit.ly/2JEcauG
- Title
- The Valuable Commodity Behind King Solomon's Wealth
- Runtime
- 3:33
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- King Solomon was a key figure in biblical stories, renowned for his legendary riches. But the source of his wealth has always been a mystery - until now.
From the Series: Secrets: King Solomon's Mines http://bit.ly/2NORhxs
- Title
- Crossing the Atlantic 20,000 Years Ago May Have Been Quicker
- Runtime
- 3:06
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- How did Solutreans cross an ice-packed Atlantic Ocean all the way to America? Some scientists believe different weather conditions may have caused the journey to be shorter.
From the Show: Ice Bridge: Impossible Journey http://bit.ly/2vxSQfm
- Title
- How This Town Celebrates Your Favorite Canned Food
- Runtime
- 2:46
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Fried, sauteed, flambeed or stuffed, SPAM is one processed food that many chefs believe worthy of a gourmet makeover. Travel to Austin, TX to ham it up at Spamarama!
From the Series: America Wild and Wacky: Frozen Dead Guy Fest http://bit.ly/2AjRLIG
- Title
- Did a Faulty Thrust Reverser Bring Down Flight 1016?
- Runtime
- 2:50
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Thrust reversers are only supposed to deploy when a plane is landing. Did one of the thrust reversers on USAir Flight 1016 activate prematurely? And did that contribute to the crash on July 2, 1994?
From the Series: Air Disasters: Storming Out http://bit.ly/2COBIEZ
- Title
- These Ancient Slaves Were Served a Pretty Lavish Diet
- Runtime
- 4:05
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- The ancient copper mines of Timna Valley were believed to have been operated by slaves living in nearby workcamps. But evidence of a rich diet suggests that not all the workers were enslaved.
From the Series: Secrets: King Solomon's Mines http://bit.ly/2NORhxs
- Title
- The Scandalous Events That Brought Down a U.S. President
- Runtime
- 1:39
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- In the summer of 1995, against a backdrop of Democratic and Republican budgetary disputes, Bill Clinton began a steamy affair with one of the White House interns, Monica Lewinsky. It was an event that would shake the nation like an earthquake.
From the Series: The Lost Tapes: The Clinton Impeachment http://bit.ly/2ylSxU7
- Title
- Solutreans May Have Arrived in America Earlier Than Expected
- Runtime
- 2:49
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- The bi-pointed blades found in Chesapeake Bay bear a staggering similarity to other Stone Age weapons found across the Atlantic Ocean. Were the same people responsible for creating both?
From the Show: Ice Bridge: The Impossible Journey http://bit.ly/2vxSQfm
- Title
- This Chicago Prison Inspired a Popular TV Series
- Runtime
- 1:57
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Chicago's high-rise Metropolitan Correctional Center is unique in one special way: its roof serves as an exercise yard. In 2005, it also housed Piper Kerman, the woman who inspired the hit TV series 'Orange is the New Black.'
From the Series: Aerial Cities: Chicago 24 http://bit.ly/2GQzYOb
- Title
- This Crew Specializes in Underwater Pipeline Installations
- Runtime
- 3:10
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- The crew of the Sapura 500 have spent the last six days at an offshore oil and gas field, taking sections of pipes off a transport barge and welding them together. Then, it's time to carefully lower them into the water.
From the Series: Mighty Ships: Sapura 3500 http://bit.ly/2NAfTKr
- Title
- Ancient Egyptians May Have Kept Wild Animals to Ward Off Evil
- Runtime
- 3:29
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Archaeologists have a theory why ancient Egyptians maintained zoos filled with wild animals: it was an attempt to harness the power of these beasts, to combat the forces of nature - such as floods.
From the Series: Secrets: Beasts of the Pharaohs http://bit.ly/2CAlrU8
- Title
- Why The Pezula Golf Course Is So Popular
- Runtime
- 1:37
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus are just two of the big names who have played in the stunning golf courses of South Africa - many of which have also been designed by legends, like Ernie Els.
From the Series: Aerial Africa: Wild South Coast http://bit.ly/2HdB0ke
- Title
- Was This Ancient Egyptian Site The World's First Zoo?
- Runtime
- 3:15
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- A 6,000-year-old ancient Egyptian cemetery is uncovered, filled with the remains of wild animals such as ostriches, crocodiles and leopards. Was it a kind of zoo or could there be another explanation?
From the Series: Secrets: Beasts of the Pharaohs http://bit.ly/2CAlrU8
- Title
- Here's Why This Egyptian Mummy Was Dismembered
- Runtime
- 3:03
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Inside a modest tomb in Luxor's 'Valley of the Kings' lies a small coffin. But it's what was underneath the debris that shocked archaeologists: a second body, unwrapped and mutilated.
From the Series: Secrets: Egypt's Lost Princess http://bit.ly/2IAVPGM
- Title
- A Nightmare Scenario for a Cruise Ship's Lunch Plans
- Runtime
- 2:42
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Cruise ships rely on a regular port delivery of fresh ingredients to create their on-board meals. So when one truck fails to arrive for cruise ship Meraviglia, the supplies officer springs into action.
From the Series: Mighty Cruise Ships: Meraviglia http://bit.ly/2P8CdMA
- Title
- Why You Should Always Keep Your Plane Seatbelt Fastened
- Runtime
- 1:06
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Buckling up your seatbelt on a plane could end up saving your life - and not just during landing and take off. The deadly crash of Asiana 214 on July 6, 2013 is a stark reminder why.
From the Series: Air Disasters http://bit.ly/2x5yS84
- Title
- Why Pharaohs Switched from Pyramids to Underground Tombs
- Runtime
- 1:55
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Since the late 1700s, archaeologists in Egypt's famed 'Valley of the Kings' have uncovered the underground tombs of over 20 pharaohs. Only one of them was found with all its treasures intact.
From the Series: Secrets: Egypt's Lost Princess http://bit.ly/2IAVPGM
- Title
- How a Pharaoh's Bold Plans Rewrote the Course of History
- Runtime
- 3:03
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Ancient Egypt was in decline, ruled between two super powers. Once King Psamtik I became king by 664 BC, Egypt had a savvy and innovative ruler who wasn't afraid to stand up to oppressors.
From the Series: Secrets: The Pharaoh in the Suburbs http://bit.ly/2xG5ckd
