National Geographic: Man-Made

Everything has a purpose: every ornament, every stone, every column, every arch, every room. Everything has its place, its form and thus its own meaning, its own deep symbolism. Cologne Cathedral is a stone creed, a book that hardly anyone can read anymore.

From soup to beer, the aluminum can is a trophy of human ingenuity and is one of the most ubiquitous Man-Made products on the planet. Across the globe, the can is mass produced on a mind-boggling scale: more than 220 billion cans a year, including 600 million a day and 400,000 every minute. It has become a necessity, a technology, an icon, a cultural artifact and even an object of desire. NGC takes you on a journey through the history of this everyday item.

Originally considered a novelty item, The Flashlight has quickly become one of the world's most trusted tools. Each American owns an average of 3 or 4 flashlights, but providing light is not their only function. Join the National Geographic Channel to trace the flashlight's history and take a look at its unexpected role in our lives. From a military flashlight that can blind an enemy to crime-fighting flashlights used to find hidden clues, innovators continue to expand the flashlight's use.

In the South Pole, temperatures can drop to more than 100 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. Now, witness as engineers go up against staggering odds to build a 160,000-square-foot, high-tech science facility in this frozen wasteland. Through exclusive access granted by the National Science Foundation, NGC"s cameras give viewers a glimpse of the intense danger & physical challenges of working in one of most inhospitable places on the planet.

In the city that never sleeps, one architects dream for a greener future has been realized. The One Bryant Park building in New York City is not only going to be the second tallest building in the city, but is set to be one of the most energy efficient skyscrapers in the world. Richard Cook and his team have taken on an exhilarating challenge to transform the modern approach to green technology. Both groups envisioned breaking new ground in the arena of environmentally conscious skyscrapers, a significant step forward in a city known for massive energy consumption. Join National Geographic as we examine the trials and triumphs of erecting a skyscraper whose blueprints just might map out a new design for our planets future.

Breaking through over 5 feet of ice demands a vessel of incredible power- the Icebreaker. These behemoths keep the worlds shipping lanes open during the harshest of conditions making them vital to the global economy. We follow the construction of a vessel that can break ice and carry cargo at the same time: The Arctic Icebreaking Containership.

Follow construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, NYC's first suspension bridge; the George Washington Bridge, the world's busiest bridge; and the Verrazano Narrows, NYC's longest bridge.