The Secret Genius of Modern Life - Season 1
Season 1
Episodes
Bank Card
Hannah Fry takes a look at the bank card. This humble piece of plastic is often taken for granted, but it's the digital key to accessing cash and is packed full of extraordinary technological innovations - including some with surprising and sinister origins.
Hannah is granted the first ever TV access to Visa's European bank card data centre, discovers why we have Russian spies to thank for contactless payments, and finds out how the CIA and a 1950s housewife helped kickstart the bank card revolution.
Food Delivery App
Hannah Fry tucks into the tech behind food delivery apps like Deliveroo and Just Eat, which are now used by 24 million people in the UK.
Hannah meets the R&D team behind food delivery titan Deliveroo, finds out how pensioners ordering Greggs revolutionised food delivery, and discovers how pizza made us fall in love with the internet in the 1990s.
Virtual Assistant
Hannah Fry delves into the inner workings of virtual assistants, such as Google Assistant and Siri, which are now found in almost half of all UK homes.
Hannah goes behind the scenes with Alexa's chief scientist, reveals how secret technology invented to hunt U-boats led to their targeted hearing, and discovers modern wireless networks' debt to a 1940s Hollywood star.
Electric Car
Hannah Fry discovers why innovations in meat packing almost derailed the electric car revolution and how a breakthrough in camcorder batteries led to Elon Musk's electric empire, as well as demonstrating how not to drive a multimillion dollar prototype car of the future.
Fitness Tracker
With around a third of the population now owning fitness trackers, Britain has become a nation obsessed with tracking its every move.
Hannah Fry finds out how 1970s car crashes helped us to count our steps, why high-altitude WWII dog-fights led to a crucial health monitor and how fitness trackers are even being used to catch killers.
Trainer
Did you know that a family feud created two of the world's biggest trainer brands? Hannah Fry visits Ebay's authentication centre, where they are waging war against fake high-value trainers. She discovers how American breakfast waffles transformed our trainer soles, and how an 18th century tea set led to the use of celebrity endorsement.
Recently Updated Shows
Dateline: Secrets Uncovered
Real-life mysteries. Investigative reporting. Justice. Dateline is the long-running, award winning newsmagazine bringing viewers stories ranging from compelling mysteries to powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Hosted by NBC News' Craig Melvin, each episode of Dateline: Secrets Uncovered incorporates the classic elements of drama and great storytelling: good guys, bad guys, conflict with the highest stakes, suspense and resolution. Hear the chilling tales directly from those most affected and involved, including investigators tasked with cracking the case and the families confronting tragedy. In every story we tell, we help the real people who lived the events share their journeys with you.
Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head
In this new iteration, Beavis and Butt-Head are entering a whole new Gen Z world. Comedy Central has ordered two seasons of the new series with meta-themes relatable to both new and old fans - Gen X parents and their Gen Z kids. Judge is set to write, produce and provide voice over for both iconic characters.
Revival
Revival is set on one miraculous day in rural Wisconsin when the recently deceased suddenly rise from their graves. But this is no zombie story as the "revived" appear and act just like they once were. When local Officer and single mother Dana Cypress is unexpectedly thrown into the center of a brutal murder mystery of her own, she's left to make sense of the chaos amidst a town gripped by fear and confusion where everyone, alive or undead, is a suspect.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is an American comedy series about four friends in their late 20s with clear sociopathic tendencies who run an unsuccessful Irish bar, "Paddy's Pub," in South Philadelphia. The series deals with a variety of controversial topics, including abortion, gun control, physical disabilities, racism, sexism, religion, the Israeli/Palestinian situation, terrorism, transsexuality, slavery, incest, sexual harassment in education, the homeless, statutory rape, drug addiction, pedophilia, child abuse, mental illness, gay rights and dumpster babies.
Jimmy Kimmel Live
Jimmy Kimmel Live features a diverse lineup of guests that include celebrities, athletes, musical acts, comedians and human-interest subjects, along with comedy bits and a house band.