Engineering by Catastrophe

National Geographic In Development

1 Season · 3 Episodes · Premiered May 17, 2026

Across the globe, engineers are creating extraordinary modern masterpieces, structures that push beyond the limits of what came before. Each year, innovations grow more impressive as bridges, tunnels, skyscrapers and even spacecraft become bigger, bolder and more ambitious. Yet, every breakthrough brings new risks. To ensure the safest outcomes, engineers must study worst-case scenarios in which major structures are pushed to their limits and fatal flaws are exposed. Fires, explosions, floods and catastrophic collisions are difficult to confront but essential to understand. In this series, we learn from the past to build a safer future.

Where to Watch: National Geographic

Official Site

Next Air Time: Sun, May 17 2026 7:00 PM GMT+0000

Seasons & Episodes

Season 1

3 episodes
E01
Above and Beyond
Sun, May 17 2026 7:00 PM GMT+0000 60 min
Sending humans into space is perilous. Astronauts endure powerful 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.
E02
Into the Depths
Sun, May 24 2026 7:00 PM GMT+0000 60 min
Tunnels save time, money, and the environment by providing shortcuts through tough terrain. But they can also be dangerous, especially as today's tunnels grow longer and deeper. Follow the Brenner Base Tunnel and Fehmarnbelt link to explore how engineers use past disasters to make construction and travel safer.
E03
After the Flood
Sun, May 31 2026 7:00 PM GMT+0000 60 min
Flood risks are rising worldwide as storm surges and extreme rainfall overwhelm cities. Tokyo builds vast underground rivers to manage typhoons, while Spain's Valencia floods highlight the need for early warnings. In New Orleans, storm surge barriers were reinvented after America's worst flood disaster.

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