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Impossible Engineering
2015 - 2021 6.8 (15 votes) 10 Seasons
Official Website
Genres
Documentary
Networks
Science

Impossible Engineering

Overview

Behind every seemingly impossible marvel of modern engineering is a cast of historic trailblazers who designed new building techniques, took risks on untested materials and revolutionised their field. Each episode details how giant structures, record-beating buildings, war ships and spacecraft are built and work. As the show revels in these modern day creations, it also leaps back in time to recount the stories of the exceptional engineers whose technological advances made it all possible.

Top Cast

Mike Bratton
Mike Bratton

Narrator

Seasons

Season 0 poster
Season 0 (2016)

No overview available.

11 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: Kings of the Sea
2016-08-02

How the world's largest cruise ship was built. Also: the greatest submarine ever built.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 2: Fastest in the Universe
2016-08-09

How the fastest things in the universe were engineered.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 3: World's Toughest
2016-08-16

How some of the toughest things on Earth are engineered.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 4: World's Tallest
2016-08-23

World's Tallest Structures are investigated

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 5: Monster Gateways
2017-06-08

Behind every seemingly-impossible marvel of modern engineering is a cast of trailblazers who pioneered new building techniques that made it all possible.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 6: Giants of Asia
2017-06-15

Two giant construction projects in Asia are featured. The first half covers the construction of the world's largest and most powerful single-dish radio telescope, in Guizhou Province, southwest China. The second half features the construction of the Shanghai Tower, the second-tallest building in the world and the tallest building in China. The program was re-edited from two previous episodes of the series, with some new narration added.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 7: World's Most Powerful Ships
2017-06-22

Discover what it took to build Britain's newest Aircraft Carrier the HMS Queen Elizabeth and the biggest, longest, most powerful ship that is used to remove and install oil platforms, the Pioneering Spirit.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 8: Marvels of Japan
2017-06-29

Discover what it took to build the worlds tallest building, the Tokyo Skytree and build the Kansai Airport on man-made island.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 9: Built for Hell
2017-07-06

Discover what it took to build the 110 ton ice station, Halley-6 in Antarctica and build the 450 ton International Space Station which provide the platform for research into systems and procedures for deep space exploration.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 10: Future Transit
2017-07-13

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 11: Monsters of the Deep
2017-07-20

Runtime: 42 min
Season 1 poster
Season 1 (2015)

No overview available.

6 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: Mega Bridge
2015-04-13

The Rion Antirion Bridge is an engineering colossus, spanning almost two miles. Discover how engineers conquered deep water and hurricane force winds to build a structure that could stand strong in one of the most active earthquake zones on our planet.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 2: Ultimate Warship
2015-04-20

The HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier has a surface area larger than two soccer fields, and is stocked with cutting edge F35 fighter jets. Discover how this megaship ticks inside and out.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 3: Skyscraper of the Future
2015-05-11

Soaring over 2,000 feet into the sky, the Shanghai Tower is the second tallest building in the world, and a futuristic engineering marvel. Discovery how cutting-edge technology means that the building's occupants will never feel it sway.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 4: Ultimate Airport
2015-05-18

The Kansai International Airport in Osaka Bay, Japan, is built on the largest man-made island in the world. Discover how engineers built an artificial island on top of clay seabed to make the most daring engineering project of modern times a success.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 5: World's Fastest Train
2015-05-25

The Shanghai Maglev is the fastest passenger train in operation on the planet. Discover how engineers were able to design a train that could levitate, and reach a phenomenal top speed of 268 mph.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 6: World's Largest Plane
2015-06-01

We take the world's largest plane apart and show what makes this engineering marvel so incredible. Explore the Airbus A380 inside and out, and discover how its engineers redefined the limits of modern aviation.

Runtime: 42 min
Season 2 poster
Season 2 (2016)

How does a cruise ship containing 18 decks and 6,000 guests stay afloat? How was the world's heaviest man-made structure built? Which construction can hold the most football fans in the world? The second season answers these questions, and more.

8 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: NASA's Rocket to Mars
2016-03-16

For NASA to send a person to Mars, they will need to build the most powerful rocket ever built. Discover inside story behind the Orion Space Craft, an engineering feat designed to sustain astronauts for years in one of the universe's harshest environments.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 2: World's Tallest Bridge
2016-03-23

How did engineers build the tallest bridge on the planet? As tall as a skyscraper, the Millau Viaduct braves deadly wind speeds over an immense abyss, and we go inside the story behind this modern wonder.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 3: Ultimate Football Stadium
2016-03-30

The AT and T Stadium in Texas is home to the Dallas Cowboys and the world's largest retractable roof. This $1.2 billion stadium can house over 100,000 fans, and we'll go inside how this engineering feat was built.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 4: World's Most Powerful Dam
2016-04-06

China's Three Gorges Dam is the largest and heaviest concrete structure on earth, and it produces more power than any hydroelectric dam ever built. Discover how engineers reshaped a river to accomplish this incredible engineering feat.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 5: World's Longest Tunnel
2016-04-13

How did engineers move mountains to build the longest and deepest rail tunnel on the planet? Discover how 25 million tons of rock were moved to build this modern wonder, the Gotthard Base Tunnel.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 6: World's Biggest Cruise Ship
2016-04-20

Go inside the largest cruise ship on the planet: MS Harmony of the Seas. A massive ship that's 1,181 feet long and a staggering 227,000 tons.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 7: US Navy's Super Submarine
2016-04-27

The Virginia Class is one of the most advanced nuclear powered, fast attack submarines ever produced for the US Navy. These technological titans are almost 400 feet long, and weigh a staggering 7,800 tons.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 8: The Glass Skyscraper
2016-05-04

The Shard, a 73-story glass skyscraper in London, has 11,000 exterior glass panels, a colossal concrete core that supports luxury apartments, a hotel, and close to 600,000 square feet of office space.

Runtime: 42 min
Season 3 poster
Season 3 (2017)

No overview available.

12 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: World's Largest Radio Telescope
2017-03-30

Discover what it took to build the largest and most sophisticated radio telescope on the planet. This engineering colossus will help astronomers explore galaxies billions of light years away, and might help discover extraterrestrial life.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 2: Panama Canal Overhaul
2017-04-06

Go inside the ambitious engineering project that remade the famous Panama Canal. Billions of dollars were spent to move millions of cubic tons of earth, and ultimately, the canal will be able to accommodate the biggest ships in the world.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 3: World's Biggest Ship
2017-04-13

Find out what it took to build the largest ship in the world, the Pioneering Spirit. This 900,000-ton behemoth can install oil pipelines in the world's deepest waters and features state-of-the art thrusters and mammoth lifting beams.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 4: Ice Base
2017-04-20

Go inside a state-of-the-art research base located in Antarctica, the coldest continent on Earth. Halley VI is built atop giant skis on a floating ice shelf, and this innovative design helps scientists brave the dangers of this extreme environment.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 5: Mega City Railway
2017-04-27

Uncover what it took to build one of the most ambitious rail projects in history, London's Crossrail. This staggering feat will span over 73 miles and transport 200 million people a year around one of the world's largest and busiest cities.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 6: The Invincible Tower
2017-05-04

Discover what it took to build the world's tallest freestanding tower, the Tokyo Skytree. This record-breaking marvel faces some of the most deadly disasters on the planet, and must brave earthquakes and extremely high winds.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 7: International Space Station
2017-05-11

The International Space Station is the most expensive engineering project ever attempted, and the result is a masterpiece of modern ingenuity. This incredible vessel pushes the boundaries of space exploration and brings us closer to galactic colonization.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 8: US Navy's Super Ship
2017-05-18

The US Navy is the largest sea force on the planet and their new, ground-breaking Littoral Combat Ships are the fastest combat ships in its fleet. Built for speed, these innovative warships can travel at over 40 knots per hour in shallow water.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 9: Inside the Tesla Factory
2017-05-25

The Tesla car factory is one of the largest and most innovative factories in the world. This state-of-the-art facility is the home to high-tech robots that work around-the-clock to produce thousands of cutting-edge electric cars each week.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 10: World's Biggest Aircraft
2017-06-01

The world's largest aircraft combines the latest in technology and engineering to dwarf everything else in the skies. This marvel can stay airborne for five days and land anywhere in world, whether on land or at sea.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 11: World's Tallest Roller Coaster
2017-06-08

Kingda Ka is the tallest roller coaster in the world and fastest in the U.S., redefining the design of all thrill rides. This engineering colossus is one of the most innovative on the planet and features the fastest drop ride ever built.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 12: Monster Oil Rig
2017-06-15

The Perdido Oil Platform is one of the most advance feats in modern engineering, producing 100,000 barrels of oil each day; this structure is as tall as the Eiffel tower and manages to stay afloat in some of the deepest waters in the world.

Runtime: 42 min
Season 4 poster
Season 4 (2018)

Since their spectacular rise in the 19th century, railroads have been at the cutting edge of engineering and technology and that remains true, even today. Extreme Railroads shines a light on the world's most extraordinary rail systems, including New York's Arthur Kill Vertical Lift Bridge, Japan's Bullet Train and California's Central Pacific Railroad.

6 episodes

Season 5 poster
Season 5 (2019)

The new season includes Hudson Yards Project, a large-scale redevelopment program; the New Safe Containment being constructed around Chernobyl's damaged nuclear reactor; the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers, the largest warships ever designed, are currently being built and will introduce the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, which will launch aircraft with a state-of-the-art catapult system; and the London Array, the largest offshore wind farm on the planet.

10 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: Chernobyl's Toughest Fix
2019-01-03

The Chernobyl disaster created one of the world's deadliest places, and as a temporary fix around the damaged reactor begins to fail, engineers race to build a cutting-edge structure to contain the contamination that could threaten the world.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 2: NYC Mega Build
2019-01-10

New York City's biggest construction project ever features several brand-new buildings in Manhattan's Hudson Yards, where an army of ambitious engineers and builders are tasked with developing seven city blocks over 24-hour subway trains.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 3: US Army's Super Tank
2019-01-17

The US Army's Abrams tank is a 70-ton war machine capable of reaching speeds of 45 miles per hour on the most extreme terrains on earth, but before it enters the battlefield, it must face a set of brutal challenges to put its engineering to the test.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 4: Skyscrapers of the Deep
2019-01-24

To build the world's biggest offshore wind farm, engineers and builders braved the deadly waters of the North Sea. Using the latest science and tech, these innovators constructed 175 towering turbines that can withstand the most hellish conditions.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 5: The Real Iron Man Suit
2019-01-31

An ambitious team of engineers has created an Iron Man-like jet suit that can propel the user over 30 miles per hour, and using cutting-edge technology, these visionaries have made dreams of the distant future a reality.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 6: Underwater Mega Tower
2019-02-07

One of the most cutting-edge buildings in the world is a 16-story hotel built on the cliffs of an abandoned quarry, and using the latest science and tech, engineers race to build this innovative mega-structure with two underwater floors.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 7: US Navy's Aircraft Carrier
2019-02-14

The US Navy's brand-new Ford-class aircraft carrier is the world's largest warship, and using the latest naval and aeronautic technology, engineers and military personnel race to build and test this cutting-edge vessel.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 8: World's Fastest Car
2019-02-21

An ambitious team of engineers is building the world's fastest car, and using cutting-edge rocket technology, this record-breaking vehicle will be able to accelerate from zero to 1,000 mph in just 20 seconds.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 9: Himalayan Mega Train
2019-02-28

To build the world's tallest railway, engineers braved a deadly Himalayan environment and its -40 degree temperatures.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 10: World's Greatest Yacht
2019-03-07

The Black Pearl is one of the largest and fastest sailing yachts in the world, and using cutting-edge innovations in shipbuilding and engineering, its crew puts this brand-new $200 million vessel through the gauntlet to test its unique capabilities.

Runtime: 42 min
Season 6 poster
Season 6 (2019)

No overview available.

6 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: Beasts of the Bayou
2019-05-01

When engineers built railroads across the swamps of New Orleans, they used cutting-edge technology and methods to get it done, and these extreme trains attest to the innovative engineering required to conquer the most challenging water environments.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 2: The Trains That Built America
2019-05-08

The first railroads in the United States were engineering marvels built to conquer America's deadliest places. Using cutting-edge science, engineers and builders changed the nation by connecting the California frontier with the rest of the country.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 3: Monster of the Andes
2019-05-15

When engineers built a cutting-edge railroad to navigate the South American Andes, they use cutting-edge tech and engineering to conquer its deadly heights, and this trailblazing train sets new records on one of the most dangerous routes in the world.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 4: Himalaya Mega Bridge
2019-05-22

Experts use cutting-edge tech and bold engineering to build a record-breaking bridge that spans a deadly chasm in a remote section of the Himalayas. When completed, it will be the world's tallest railway bridge, towering almost 1,200 feet high.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 5: NYC Monster Train
2019-05-29

New York City is building an 11 billion dollar construction project to extend the busy Long Island Railroad, and using brand-new technology, engineers and builders blast bedrock to create a vast tunnel below Grand Central Terminal.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 6: Rise of the Hyperloop
2019-06-05

Engineers at Virgin are building the world's first hyperloop train system, an innovative high-speed technology that uses magnetic levitation to travel over 600 miles per hour and transform transportation as we know it.

Runtime: 42 min
Season 7 poster
Season 7 (2020)

No overview available.

16 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: Dubai's Impossible Island (Bluewaters)
2020-01-01

The man-made islands of Dubai are modern-day engineering marvels that turn the Arabian Sea into high-priced real estate. Today, a team of expert engineers use cutting-edge technology to build a brand-new city district where there was once only water.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 2: World's Toughest Tunnels (London's Super Sewer)
2020-01-08

A team of engineers are overhauling London's underground infrastructure to build a world-class sewer system. Using cutting-edge tech and the latest construction methods, they work to transform a centuries-old network into a modern-day masterpiece.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 3: F-35 Fighter Jet (F35 Lighting II)
2020-01-15

The F-35 is the most advanced fighter jet on the planet. Special access into the most expensive military program ever reveals how engineers use cutting-edge tech to outfit this 1,200 mile-per-hour aircraft with a state-of-the-art stealth system.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 4: NYC Mega Tower (111 W. 57th Street)
2020-01-22

The skinniest skyscraper in the world at 111 W. 57th Street, New York, will soon become the Big Apple's third tallest. Using an innovative, gravity-defying design, this colossal megastructure is breaking all the rules of engineering. Can engineers find a way to build this ultra-tall slender building?

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 5: World's Biggest Airport (Beijing Daxing)
2020-01-29

A look at the Beijing Daxing, set to become the biggest airport in the world, designed to accommodate a staggering 100 million travellers each year.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 6: Spy Plane Declassified (Nato AWACS)
2020-02-05

A state-of-the-art NATO airplane is one of the most complex surveillance tools in the world. Special access inside the behemoth reveals how cutting-edge engineering and a hi-tech midair refueling system helps its crew defend against security threats.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 7: World's Highest Bridge (Beipanjiang)
2020-02-12

The world's highest bridge, the Duge Bridge or Beipanjiang Bridge, impossibly spans an 1,800-foot chasm known as the Crack in the Earth, and to build this engineering marvel, experts use cutting-edge construction technology that can conquer the deadly cliffs of this rugged environment.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 8: Conquering Avalanche Country (Whistler, Canada)
2020-02-19

Deadly avalanches and catastrophic flooding are ever-present threats at one of the world's busiest ski resorts, but new technology and cutting-edge construction methods help engineers conquer the elements to keep this mountain-top getaway safe.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 9: Infantry Assault
2020-03-04

***This episode is a duplicate of S09E03, which is the correct episode number on IMDB and TVDB*** A look at the incredible machines built to get troops directly to the front line, on land, at sea and in the air.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 10: The Independent
2020-03-11

***This episode is a duplicate of S08E03, which is the correct episode number on IMDB and TVDB*** The Independent, a residential skyscraper in Austin, Texas. At 690ft, it is the tallest building in the city, surpassing the 683ft Austonian, another residential skyscraper.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 11: Supertanker Europe
2020-03-18

***This episode is a duplicate of S08E01, which is the correct episode number on IMDB and TVDB*** A look at the world's biggest oil tanker - the mighty Supertanker Europe of the record-breaking TI Class of ship.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 12: Beijing Daxing
2020-03-25

***This episode is a duplicate of S07E07, which is the correct episode number on IMDB and TVDB*** A look at the Beijing Daxing, set to become the biggest airport in the world, designed to accommodate a staggering 100 million travellers each year.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 13: 111 W. 57th Street
2020-04-01

***This episode is a duplicate of S07E04, which is the correct episode number on IMDB and TVDB*** The skinniest skyscraper on earth is being built in New York City. Can engineers find a way to build this ultra-tall slender building?

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 14: South-North Water Diversion
2020-04-08

***This episode is a duplicate of S09E02, which is the correct episode number on IMDB and TVDB*** Chinese authorities attempt a huge infrastructure project as they try to move vast amounts of water from the wet south of the country to the dry north.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 15: The Falkirk Wheel
2020-04-15

***This episode is a duplicate of S09E04, which is the correct episode number on IMDB and TVDB*** The Falkirk wheel is the first and only rotating boat lift, capable of moving 600 tonnes of boat and water over a 25-metre height difference in just minutes.

Runtime: 42 min
Episode 16: Stratolaunch
2020-04-22

***This episode is a duplicate of S09E01, which is the correct episode number on IMDB and TVDB*** Stratolaunch is designed to lift rockets, spacecraft and experimental high-speed hypersonic planes into the stratosphere, then release them for their onward journey into space.

Runtime: 42 min

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