Engineering By CatastropheEngineering by Catastrophe Season: 1

Engineers worldwide push boundaries with bold bridges, tunnels, skyscrapers and spacecraft. By examining past failures — fires, floods and collisions — they gain lifesaving insights. Confronting disaster helps build a safer future for all.

Where to Watch Engineering By Catastrophe • Engineering by Catastrophe Season: 1

6 Episodes

Above and Beyond
E1
Above and BeyondSpace is perilous. Astronauts endure launches, brutal reentry forces and an environment where small errors cause catastrophe. To prepare Orion for deep space, NASA studies past disasters to shape safer suits, escape systems and materials.
Into the Depths
E2
Into the DepthsTunnels save time, money, and the environment by providing shortcuts through tough terrain. Follow the Brenner Base Tunnel and Fehmarnbelt link to explore how engineers use past disasters to make construction and travel safer.
After the Flood
E3
After the FloodStorm surges and extreme rainfall overwhelm cities. Tokyo builds underground river systems. Spain's Valencia floods shows a need for early warnings. In New Orleans, storm surge barriers were re engineered after the Katrina disaster.
Bridging the Divide
E4
Bridging the DivideThe 2018 Morandi Bridge collapse proved that every structure has a lifespan. As demand, traffic and extreme weather grow, engineers rethink bridge safety, using smart monitoring, robotics and other innovations to build safer bridges
Rise of the Supertalls
E5
Rise of the SupertallsThe New York twin towers disaster in 2001 reshaped skyscraper design, sparking global safety reforms. New standards, shared knowledge and the lessons learned, have produced the One World Trade Center and the Burj Khalifa.
Nuclear Power
E6
Nuclear PowerNuclear energy can power entire cities—or destroy them. Despite the risks, it is now considered one of the safest forms of energy and plays a vital role in the fight against climate change, as it is virtually carbon-free. Disasters such as those at Chernobyl, Fukushima Daiichi, and Three Mile Island continue to shape public perception to this day. However, crucial lessons have been learned from these incidents: modern plants are now considered significantly safer. Researchers are also working toward the vision of nuclear fusion—a potentially even safer and nearly unlimited source of energy.