Breakthrough: The Ideas That Changed the World

Breakthrough: The Ideas That Changed the World

Ended First aired 21/Apr/2019 United Kingdom English 1 season(s) 6 episode(s)
Documentary
Take a mind-blowing journey through human history, told through six iconic objects that modern people take for granted, and see how science, invention and technology built on one another to change everything.
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TimeScore 33% Skip It
Binge Meter 48% Slow Burn
Episode Pulse Quiet 40% activity score
Drop Rate 0% Very Low

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Season 1 · Season 1
6 episode(s) · Air date: 21/Apr/2019
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Season Overview

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S1E6
The Smartphone
Air date: 26/May/2019 · Time: 22:00 · Runtime: 60 min
Summary

Dial in to the fascinating history of the smartphone, from its roots in Morse Code to 2007, when Apple unveiled the first-ever iPhone. Plus, see how the next generation of smartphones will allow us to communicate through them just by thinking.

Summary

Dial in to the fascinating history of the smartphone, from its roots in Morse Code to 2007, when Apple unveiled the first-ever iPhone. Plus, see how the next generation of smartphones will allow us to communicate through them just by thinking.

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S1E5
The Rocket
Air date: 19/May/2019 · Time: 22:00 · Runtime: 60 min
Summary

Learn the explosive history of the rocket, from its origin in ancient China, to its use as a weapon of war, to how adding hydrogen allowed it to carry astronauts all the way to the moon.

Summary

Learn the explosive history of the rocket, from its origin in ancient China, to its use as a weapon of war, to how adding hydrogen allowed it to carry astronauts all the way to the moon.

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S1E4
The Car
Air date: 12/May/2019 · Time: 22:00 · Runtime: 60 min
Summary

Go for a ride through the 9,000-year history of the car, from its roots in dogsleds to Henry Ford's affordable and assembly line-built Model T, and meet the scientists working on the next generation of self-driving automobiles.

Summary

Go for a ride through the 9,000-year history of the car, from its roots in dogsleds to Henry Ford's affordable and assembly line-built Model T, and meet the scientists working on the next generation of self-driving automobiles.

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S1E3
The Robot
Air date: 05/May/2019 · Time: 22:00 · Runtime: 60 min
Summary

Learn how robots were first conceptualized in ancient Rome and see how their use has evolved over the centuries, from the calculator to the Roomba. Then, take a sneak peek at what future robots will be able to do.

Summary

Learn how robots were first conceptualized in ancient Rome and see how their use has evolved over the centuries, from the calculator to the Roomba. Then, take a sneak peek at what future robots will be able to do.

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S1E2
The Airplane
Air date: 28/Apr/2019 · Time: 22:00 · Runtime: 60 min
Summary

Take to the sky with the dreamers whose work gave humans the ability to fly. From Leonardo da Vinci's "flying machines" to the modern commercial plane, without these inventions, we may have never left the ground.

Summary

Take to the sky with the dreamers whose work gave humans the ability to fly. From Leonardo da Vinci's "flying machines" to the modern commercial plane, without these inventions, we may have never left the ground.

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S1E1
The Telescope
Air date: 21/Apr/2019 · Time: 22:00 · Runtime: 60 min
Summary

Meet the brilliant minds throughout history, from Galileo to Edwin Hubble, responsible for creating the telescope. Today, their invention allows humanity to reach the furthest limits of seeing 13 billion light-years out.

Summary

Meet the brilliant minds throughout history, from Galileo to Edwin Hubble, responsible for creating the telescope. Today, their invention allows humanity to reach the furthest limits of seeing 13 billion light-years out.

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Cast

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Jim Al-Khalili
Jim Al-Khalili
Self - Presenter
Patrick Stewart
Patrick Stewart
Narrator (voice)
Robert Ryan
Robert Ryan
Louis Daguerre

Crew

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Ben Harding
Director
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Anthony Willis
Editor
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Ben Bowie
Executive Producer
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Iain Riddick
Executive Producer
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Tim Green
Producer
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Erin E. O'Flaherty
Production Executive

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