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Explore the science and innovation it takes to transform basic ingredients into machines.
Explore the science, innovation and sheer genius it takes to transform the most basic ingredients into powerhouse machines.
Explore the science, innovation and sheer genius it takes to transform the most basic ingredients into powerhouse machines.
Episode 4 Preview | Bombardier
See tempered glass, titanium, fiberglass, lacquer and aluminum alloy become a jet.
Episode 4 Preview | Bombardier
Episode 3 Preview | Mack Truck
See how copper, petroleum, platinum, manganese and polyurethane create a highway truck.
Episode 3 Preview | Mack Truck
Watch as aluminum, leather, iron, wood and pigment are transformed into a luxury car.
Episode 2 Preview | Bentley
Providing Support for PBS.org
Providing Support for PBS.org
About the Show
Explore the science, innovation and sheer genius it takes to transform the most basic ingredients into powerhouse machines. From aircraft to big rigs to earth movers, venture deep inside factories and witness the hard work and craftsmanship necessary to build these incredible machines. Uncover the hidden stories of human ingenuity that have transformed the earth’s most essential raw materials into monumental marvels of modern technology.



About the Episodes
Episode 1 | Komatsu
To extract precious metals found beneath the earth requires a massive 232-ton, two-story-tall dump truck with a load capacity of 320 tons — a giant earth-mover like the Komatsu 930E. This amazing engineering achievement is made possible by five essential raw ingredients: coal, chromium, mineral oil, latex rubber and sulphuric acid, an electron superhighway that generates massive power.
Episode 2 | Bentley
It’s a century-old obsession to find the right raw materials to build a car that is fit for both king and race car driver — perfectly luxurious and perfectly fast. The Bentley Motor Company has built common raw ingredients into their signature Mulsanne, an engineering achievement made possible by aluminum, leather, iron, wood and pigment.
Episode 3 | Mack Truck
The highway truck — a modern workhorse, a heavy hauler vital to commerce — carries an 80,000-pound payload and must operate in every condition from sub-zero cold to triple-digit heat. To survive, it must be strong, durable and fuel-efficient, like the Mack Pinnacle, an engineering achievement made possible by platinum, petroleum, copper, manganese and polyurethane.
Episode 4 | Bombardier
With an average of one take-off every three seconds, short-range regional jets are the backbone of domestic air travel. To withstand this high volume of flights, these jets need to be comfortable, durable, and fuel efficient, just like the Bomardier CRJ-1000. Raw materials come together to make these planes succeed in the mission to provide safe, comfortable and affordable travel to the one hundred passengers on each flight.
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