The worst episodes of History 101
Ranked by viewer rating, lows first. Lit marks on the season rail place this list across the run. Vote on a placement to back it or contest it.
- 01
Cheap, quick and tasty, fast food became a culinary craze in the 1950s. But has our quest for convenience created an irreversible health crisis?
- 02
We share the planet with an estimated 9 million robots, from self-driving cars to surgical arms. Could they one day completely replace humans?
- 03
Feminism has ushered in sweeping changes to society, securing rights for women around the world. How much further do we have to go?
- 04
Fifteen international agencies spend $62 billion every year on space travel. What's fueling our costly — and dangerous — drive to explore the universe?
- 05
Nearly 40 million people are living with HIV. After decades of research and activism, how far have we come in finding a cure and battling the stigma?
- 06
Plastics have transformed how we live, but progress comes at a high price: 7.8 billion tons of waste. Are plastics a miracle or a catastrophe?
- 07
Oil 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 the world?
- 08
Over 10% of the world's electricity comes from nuclear power. But with radioactive waste and the threat of nuclear meltdown, are we playing with fire?
- 09
DNA 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?
- 10
The home fitness revolution has exploded into a multibillion-dollar industry. Are home workouts a healthy habit... or just hype?
- 11
A groundbreaking medical reproductive procedure has made parenthood possible for millions around the world... but at what cost?
- 12
Sweet deal or bitter pill? High fructose corn syrup rose up to dominate supermarket shelves, but what is it doing to our health?
- 13
In 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?
- 14
Once a secret military program, GPS now guides our daily lives, from providing directions to finding friends. But what do we trade for this convenience?
- 15
MP3s transformed how we listen to music — and spawned digital piracy. Streaming helped the industry recover, but how can artists get their fair share?
- 16
Growing evidence suggests that psychedelic drugs could treat brain injuries and psychological problems. But can we get past their controversial history?
- 17
Bottled water is a big business, selling itself as a tastier and healthier alternative to the tap variety. Is there truth behind the claims?
- 18
Thanks 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 connection?
- 19
They're used for everything from entertainment to medicine — and now for weapons straight out of science fiction. Have lasers become too hot to handle?
- 20
Credit cards changed the global economy and attitudes about personal spending, but record levels of consumer debt beg the question: Just who's in charge?
