It’s been 125 years since the largest volcanic eruption in recorded history–the explosion, earthquake and subsequent tsunami caused by Krakatoa, an island in Indonesia. Krakatoa is still a benchmark for extreme seismic activity, as it’s explosion was 13,000 times more powerful than one of the bombs dropped on Hiroshima.
A profile of political painter Leon Golub and his wife, the prominent anti-war and feminist artist, Nancy Spero. Originally aired as just ‘Golub’ in 1990, the film was updated and lengthened in 2004. Watch now.
A woman in Littleton, New Hampshire inherited her husband’s aunt’s belongings, which include a curious 18th-century book titled “Trials of Patriots.” History Detectives investigates what appears to be President John Adams’ signature in three places, and an inscription in the book, “Charles Adams from His Father, 1794.” Watch video. Originally aired Aug. 18, 2008.
On this day in 2003, a major outage knocked out power across the Northeast U.S. and parts of Canada. Beginning at 4:10 pm EST, 21 power plants shut down in just three minutes, and 50 million people were left without electricity. Could it happen again? Read more…
This week’s NOW talks with Sabiha Sumar about her film “Dinner with The President”, about Pakistan and America, and about Pakistani President Musharraf’s desire to democratize his nation while functioning as its dictator. Watch the NOW video and clip of the documentary here.
Almost ten years before Charles Lindbergh’s famous solo flight across the Atlantic, the NC-4 was the first aircraft to make the transatlantic journey, in May 1919. History Detectives investigates the little-known story of the NC-4 and its historic voyage. Watch video. Originally aired Aug. 18, 2008.
On August 12, 1908, Henry Ford introduces the mass-produced and gasoline-powered Model T, which will have a profound effect on the U.S. automobile market, and ultimately the electric car’s downfall. Take a trip with NOW on PBS as they travel down a timeline on the “Life and Death of the Electric Car,” and find out [...]
Hosted by the International Documentary Assoc., a collection of 20 or so acclaimed docs will screen at Village East and IFC cinemas through the end of the week. A few of these docs have been previewed on Foreign Exchange. Read the full lineup here, including films about Liberia, water politics, a matador’s bio (pictured), Laos, [...]
In the spring of 1943, Allied forces to begin preparations for a top secret Allied raid. Each aircraft carried a top-secret weapon — a newly-invented bouncing bomb — designed to shatter Germany’s major dams. Watch episode online.
