History 101

1. S01E01Fast FoodMay 22, 2020 6.8Cheap, quick and tasty, fast food became a culinary craze in the 1950s. But has our quest for convenience created an irreversible health cri
2. S01E02The Space RaceMay 22, 2020 7.3Fifteen international agencies spend $62 billion every year on space travel. What's fueling our costly — and dangerous — drive to explore th
3. S01E03Season's bestThe Rise of ChinaMay 22, 2020 8.0In the 21st century, China has become a global economic powerhouse. Why was the rest of the world so slow to notice its rise to the top?
4. S01E04PlasticsMay 22, 2020 7.7Plastics have transformed how we live, but progress comes at a high price: 7.8 billion tons of waste. Are plastics a miracle or a catastroph
5. S01E05Oil and the Middle EastMay 22, 2020 7.5Oil has brought great wealth to the Middle East and ignited major wars. Is it a blessing or a curse for the region, as well as the rest of t
6. S01E06RobotsMay 22, 2020 7.0We share the planet with an estimated 9 million robots, from self-driving cars to surgical arms. Could they one day completely replace human
7. S01E07FeminismMay 22, 2020 7.0Feminism has ushered in sweeping changes to society, securing rights for women around the world. How much further do we have to go?
8. S01E08Nuclear PowerMay 22, 2020 7.5Over 10% of the world's electricity comes from nuclear power. But with radioactive waste and the threat of nuclear meltdown, are we playing
9. S01E09AIDSMay 22, 2020 7.5Nearly 40 million people are living with HIV. After decades of research and activism, how far have we come in finding a cure and battling th
10. S01E10GeneticsMay 22, 2020 8.0DNA analysis has given us the tools to map disease, solve crimes and more. But in our rush to decode DNA, are we leaping before we look?

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

1. S02E01GPSAugust 25, 2022 8.0Once a secret military program, GPS now guides our daily lives, from providing directions to finding friends. But what do we trade for this
2. S02E02MP3sAugust 25, 2022 8.0MP3s transformed how we listen to music — and spawned digital piracy. Streaming helped the industry recover, but how can artists get their f
3. S02E03Season's bestCredit CardsAugust 25, 2022 8.5Credit cards changed the global economy and attitudes about personal spending, but record levels of consumer debt beg the question: Just who
4. S02E04PsychedelicsAugust 25, 2022 8.0Growing evidence suggests that psychedelic drugs could treat brain injuries and psychological problems. But can we get past their controvers
5. S02E05Bottled WaterAugust 25, 2022 8.5Bottled water is a big business, selling itself as a tastier and healthier alternative to the tap variety. Is there truth behind the claims?
6. S02E06Dating AppsAugust 25, 2022 8.0Thanks to dating apps, finding love is easier than ever. But are we now so focused on playing the game that we're missing out on real connec
7. S02E07LasersAugust 25, 2022 8.5They're used for everything from entertainment to medicine — and now for weapons straight out of science fiction. Have lasers become too hot
8. S02E08Home WorkoutsAugust 25, 2022 8.0The home fitness revolution has exploded into a multibillion-dollar industry. Are home workouts a healthy habit... or just hype?
9. S02E09IVFAugust 25, 2022 8.0A groundbreaking medical reproductive procedure has made parenthood possible for millions around the world... but at what cost?
10. S02E10High Fructose Corn SyrupAugust 25, 2022 8.0Sweet deal or bitter pill? High fructose corn syrup rose up to dominate supermarket shelves, but what is it doing to our health?

Season 2 ranked & reviewed