The Works

1 season available

Daniel H. Wilson reveals the extraordinary elements of everyday things.
Garbage
S1 E1

Disposing of garbage; following New York City trash to its final destination in a landfill; swirling vortex of trash in the Pacific Ocean; recycling; energy conversion; host: Daniel Wilson.

Steel
S1 E2

Steel's advantages as material; the secret that makes 3,500 kinds of steel possible; steel's applications in law enforcement, music and art.

Power Tools
S1 E3

Tracing the history of power tools; power tools that can slice mountains; developments in nanotechnology.

Sneakers
S1 E5

Some scientists believe sneakers might represent the next step in human evolution; biomechanical engineers perfect new designs; global industry.

Guns and Ammo
S1 E6

Tracing the history of guns; gun technology found in everyday objects; urine is a key ingredient in gunpowder; the future of ammunition.

Skydiving
S1 E9

Host Daniel H. Wilson uncovers the physics, biology and technology behind skydiving; military, firefighting and law enforcement applications of skydiving; why freefalling is so thrilling physiologically.

Robots
S1 E10

Host Daniel H. Wilson, who has more than a decade of experience studying artificial intelligence which can create smart houses, explores the world of robots.