1 00:00:01,810 --> 00:00:03,276 NARRATOR: FROM THE EARLIEST OF TIMES, 2 00:00:03,376 --> 00:00:06,076 WE HUMANS HAVE BEEN DRIVEN TO EXPLORE. 3 00:00:06,176 --> 00:00:08,143 [DOGS BARKING] 4 00:00:08,243 --> 00:00:11,610 THIS INNATE INSTINCT MOBILIZED HUMANITY... 5 00:00:13,076 --> 00:00:15,777 AND IT CHANGED THE WORLD... 6 00:00:17,209 --> 00:00:19,877 AND IT'S ABOUT TO TRANSFORM US AGAIN. 7 00:00:20,977 --> 00:00:23,476 THE STORY OF HOW WE GOT HERE IS 8 00:00:23,576 --> 00:00:26,777 FULL OF ASTONISHING TWISTS AND UNLIKELY TURNS. 9 00:00:26,877 --> 00:00:29,010 [TIRES SQUEAL] 10 00:00:29,109 --> 00:00:33,643 IT WOULD TAKE AN ALLIANCE WITH A DANGEROUS PREDATOR... 11 00:00:33,743 --> 00:00:36,510 DEVASTATING FLOODS... 12 00:00:38,343 --> 00:00:41,043 A 19th-CENTURY PUBLICITY STUNT... 13 00:00:41,143 --> 00:00:44,743 AN AVALANCHE OF HORSE MANURE, 14 00:00:44,843 --> 00:00:47,743 EXPLODING CANNONS, 15 00:00:47,843 --> 00:00:51,243 AND A TRIP TO THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE... 16 00:00:53,443 --> 00:00:57,676 TO GET THE ULTIMATE FREEDOM MACHINE-- 17 00:00:57,777 --> 00:00:59,843 THE CAR. 18 00:01:02,643 --> 00:01:06,044 THESE ARE THE INVENTIONS THAT HAVE DEFINED OUR AGE 19 00:01:06,143 --> 00:01:09,410 AND CHANGED OUR WORLD FOREVER, 20 00:01:09,510 --> 00:01:12,877 THAT ALLOWED US TO MOVE BOTH ON THE GROUND 21 00:01:12,977 --> 00:01:15,010 AND IN THE AIR, 22 00:01:15,109 --> 00:01:17,743 TO CONNECT AND TO EXPLORE 23 00:01:17,843 --> 00:01:20,309 THE FURTHEST REGIONS OF THE UNIVERSE, 24 00:01:20,410 --> 00:01:23,243 EACH A STORY OF INGENUITY, 25 00:01:23,343 --> 00:01:25,410 OF WONDER... 26 00:01:28,810 --> 00:01:31,410 OF BREAKTHROUGH. 27 00:01:42,176 --> 00:01:44,076 NARRATOR: THE FIRST MODERN HUMANS WALKED OUT 28 00:01:44,176 --> 00:01:48,777 OF AFRICA AROUND 180,000 YEARS AGO. 29 00:01:52,176 --> 00:01:56,743 AND, STEP BY AGONIZING STEP, THEY MOVED ACROSS THE WORLD. 30 00:01:58,810 --> 00:02:03,243 TODAY, AROUND 1.2 BILLION AUTOMOBILES TRANSPORT US 31 00:02:03,343 --> 00:02:05,243 FROM PLACE TO PLACE 32 00:02:05,343 --> 00:02:08,943 ON SOME 20 BILLION MILES OF ROAD. 33 00:02:12,943 --> 00:02:15,443 LANDSCAPES THAT WOULD HAVE TAKEN OUR ANCESTORS 34 00:02:15,543 --> 00:02:20,209 MANY MONTHS TO CROSS, WE CAN NOW COVER IN HOURS... 35 00:02:21,810 --> 00:02:26,209 BUT THE CAR IS MUCH MORE THAN A MEANS OF TRANSPORT. 36 00:02:29,109 --> 00:02:31,977 MAN: I THINK, AS HUMANS, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO GET 37 00:02:32,076 --> 00:02:34,943 TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN, 38 00:02:35,043 --> 00:02:38,643 AND THE QUICKEST WAY TO GET THERE IS DRIVING. 39 00:02:39,977 --> 00:02:41,576 CARS REPRESENT FREEDOM. 40 00:02:43,777 --> 00:02:45,276 JIM AL-KHALIL: CARS HAVE BECOME SYMBOLS 41 00:02:45,376 --> 00:02:48,276 THAT DEFINE AN ENTIRE SOCIETY OR COUNTRY. 42 00:02:49,977 --> 00:02:53,343 MAN 2: WITH THE AUTOMOBILE CAME A COMPLETE TERRAFORMING 43 00:02:53,443 --> 00:02:55,043 AROUND THIS TECHNOLOGY. 44 00:02:58,410 --> 00:03:00,076 NARRATOR: WHAT'S MORE, 45 00:03:00,176 --> 00:03:02,943 THE CAR IS ON THE CUSP OF A NEW REVOLUTION; 46 00:03:03,044 --> 00:03:05,943 AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES MAY SOON REMOVE THE NEED 47 00:03:06,044 --> 00:03:08,410 FOR A DRIVER ALTOGETHER, 48 00:03:08,510 --> 00:03:12,010 MAKING THE CAR THE ULTIMATE FREEDOM MACHINE 49 00:03:12,109 --> 00:03:14,209 FOR ALL. 50 00:03:14,309 --> 00:03:18,943 MAN 2: AUTOMATED VEHICLES COULD OFFER EVERYONE MOBILITY, 51 00:03:19,044 --> 00:03:24,010 REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITIES TO ACTUALLY DRIVE A CAR. 52 00:03:33,843 --> 00:03:37,743 NARRATOR: SO HOW DID WE GO FROM TWO LEGS TO 4 WHEELS? 53 00:03:37,843 --> 00:03:41,343 IT'S A STORY THAT BEGAN THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO, 54 00:03:41,443 --> 00:03:45,343 HERE IN THE FROZEN ARCTIC, 55 00:03:45,443 --> 00:03:48,943 WITH A BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL... 56 00:03:49,044 --> 00:03:53,743 AND AN UNLIKELY ALLIANCE BETWEEN MAN AND BEAST. 57 00:03:58,309 --> 00:04:00,209 WOMAN: I'M AN OSTEOARCHEOLOGIST. 58 00:04:00,309 --> 00:04:03,676 I STUDY SKELETAL REMAINS TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN TELL US 59 00:04:03,777 --> 00:04:05,710 ABOUT LIFE IN THE PAST. 60 00:04:07,309 --> 00:04:11,610 AND IT'S ANCIENT BONES THAT HOLD THE CLUE 61 00:04:11,710 --> 00:04:15,877 TO THE FIRST REVOLUTION IN OVERLAND TRANSPORT. 62 00:04:17,276 --> 00:04:20,176 NARRATOR: THE EARLIEST EVIDENCE OF HUMANS HERE 63 00:04:20,276 --> 00:04:23,276 DATES BACK 45,000 YEARS. 64 00:04:25,309 --> 00:04:29,810 WITH TEMPERATURES AS COLD AS -58 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT 65 00:04:29,910 --> 00:04:33,376 AND THE LAND PERMANENTLY LOCKED UNDER ICE, 66 00:04:33,476 --> 00:04:35,777 EVERY DAY WAS A BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL 67 00:04:35,877 --> 00:04:38,243 IN THIS KNIFE-EDGED WORLD. 68 00:04:39,843 --> 00:04:42,343 ROBERTS: OUR ANCESTORS WERE COMPLETELY RELIANT 69 00:04:42,443 --> 00:04:44,777 ON TAKING THE WORLD AS THEY FOUND IT-- 70 00:04:44,877 --> 00:04:47,710 ON WILD PLANTS, WILD ANIMALS. 71 00:04:49,076 --> 00:04:51,576 NARRATOR: REINDEER WERE A MAJOR SOURCE OF FOOD 72 00:04:51,676 --> 00:04:54,276 AND PROVIDED FUR FOR CLOTHING. 73 00:04:55,877 --> 00:04:59,376 BUT THEY WERE PERMANENTLY ON THE MOVE, 74 00:04:59,476 --> 00:05:02,843 TRAVELING UP TO 20 MILES A DAY. 75 00:05:02,943 --> 00:05:05,810 THIS PRESENTED A MORTAL PROBLEM 76 00:05:05,910 --> 00:05:08,810 FOR THOSE EARLY ARCTIC SETTLERS. 77 00:05:08,910 --> 00:05:11,810 ROBERTS: OUR EARLY ANCESTORS COULD ONLY GO AS FAR 78 00:05:11,910 --> 00:05:15,010 AND AS FAST AS THEIR OWN LEGS WOULD CARRY THEM. 79 00:05:15,109 --> 00:05:18,610 IF THEY WERE TO TRY FOLLOWING A HERD OF REINDEER, 80 00:05:18,710 --> 00:05:22,710 THEY SIMPLY COULDN'T KEEP UP. 81 00:05:25,109 --> 00:05:28,610 NARRATOR: 300 MILES NORTH OF MAINLAND RUSSIA, 82 00:05:28,710 --> 00:05:32,209 ON THE BLEAK ZHOKHOV ISLAND, ARCHAEOLOGISTS RECENTLY 83 00:05:32,309 --> 00:05:36,743 UNCOVERED A 9,000-YEAR-OLD SETTLEMENT. 84 00:05:36,843 --> 00:05:39,343 IT HOLDS THE CLUE TO HOW 85 00:05:39,443 --> 00:05:43,443 THOSE EARLY HUMANS SURVIVED IN THE FROZEN NORTH. 86 00:05:45,044 --> 00:05:47,543 AMONG THE EVIDENCE OF HUMAN ACTIVITY 87 00:05:47,643 --> 00:05:51,643 WERE THE REMAINS OF WHAT COULD BE MISTAKEN FOR WOLVES. 88 00:05:56,044 --> 00:06:00,109 NARRATOR: BUT THESE WERE NOT THE BONES OF WILD PREDATORS. 89 00:06:01,977 --> 00:06:06,943 INSTEAD, THESE ANIMALS HAD DEVELOPED STRIKING ADAPTATIONS. 90 00:06:07,043 --> 00:06:09,343 THEY WERE MUCH LIGHTER AND STRONGER 91 00:06:09,443 --> 00:06:11,343 THAN THEIR ANCESTOR THE WOLF, 92 00:06:11,443 --> 00:06:14,943 BETTER ADAPTED TO RUN AND PULL. 93 00:06:15,043 --> 00:06:19,643 THEY WERE, IN FACT, THE BONES OF PRIMITIVE DOGS. 94 00:06:19,743 --> 00:06:24,044 ROBERTS: THE VERY FIRST SPECIES THAT BECAME TAMED 95 00:06:24,143 --> 00:06:27,209 WAS THE EUROPEAN GREY WOLF, THE ANCESTOR 96 00:06:27,309 --> 00:06:29,576 OF ALL OF OUR DOMESTICATED DOGS TODAY. 97 00:06:31,510 --> 00:06:33,410 [DOGS HOWL] 98 00:06:33,510 --> 00:06:36,410 NARRATOR: WHAT'S MORE, IT'S CLEAR THESE PRIMITIVE DOGS 99 00:06:36,510 --> 00:06:39,910 WERE BEING BRED FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. 100 00:06:41,910 --> 00:06:43,877 THE FINAL PIECE OF THE PUZZLE CAME 101 00:06:43,977 --> 00:06:46,676 FROM THE FRAGMENTS OF SHAPED WOOD. 102 00:06:46,777 --> 00:06:50,977 THESE WERE THE RUNNERS FROM SLEDS. 103 00:06:51,076 --> 00:06:52,710 WHOO! 104 00:06:54,109 --> 00:06:56,010 ROBERTS: 9,000 YEARS AGO, 105 00:06:56,109 --> 00:06:59,710 THE REINDEER HERDERS OF ZHOKHOV ISLAND 106 00:06:59,810 --> 00:07:02,676 WERE USING DOG SLEDS. 107 00:07:04,276 --> 00:07:06,543 NARRATOR: THESE ANCIENT PEOPLE WERE AMONG THE FIRST HUMANS 108 00:07:06,643 --> 00:07:09,643 TO PUT ANIMALS TO WORK, 109 00:07:09,743 --> 00:07:11,843 AND IN DOING SO, 110 00:07:11,943 --> 00:07:14,843 THEY EVOLVED A NEW SUB-SPECIES. 111 00:07:14,943 --> 00:07:19,209 LONG BEFORE THERE WAS HORSE POWER, THERE WAS DOG POWER. 112 00:07:19,309 --> 00:07:21,610 ROBERTS: IT WAS A REVOLUTIONARY IDEA THAT WOULD 113 00:07:21,710 --> 00:07:25,643 SPREAD RIGHT ACROSS THE FROZEN LANDS OF THE NORTH. 114 00:07:25,743 --> 00:07:29,044 NARRATOR: NOW HUMANS COULD KEEP UP WITH THE REINDEER 115 00:07:29,143 --> 00:07:33,576 AND THRIVE IN ONE OF EARTH'S MOST HOSTILE ENVIRONMENTS, 116 00:07:33,676 --> 00:07:36,977 STARTING A COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP THAT HAS SHAPED 117 00:07:37,076 --> 00:07:40,977 OUR DESTINY AND THAT OF OUR FURRY FRIENDS. 118 00:07:41,076 --> 00:07:43,777 ROBERTS: IT'S QUITE INCREDIBLE TO THINK, 119 00:07:43,877 --> 00:07:46,610 THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO, HUMANS HAD HARNESSED 120 00:07:46,710 --> 00:07:49,443 POWERED TRANSPORT FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. 121 00:07:52,810 --> 00:07:57,309 NARRATOR: DOGS WERE HUMANKIND'S FIRST ENGINE... 122 00:07:57,410 --> 00:08:02,076 DOMESTICATED THOUSANDS OF YEARS BEFORE THE OX AND THE HORSE... 123 00:08:03,676 --> 00:08:06,109 BUT DOG SLEDS HAD A MAJOR PROBLEM. 124 00:08:11,977 --> 00:08:14,243 UNLESS YOU'RE MOVING OVER ICE OR SNOW, 125 00:08:14,343 --> 00:08:16,343 THEY'RE PRACTICALLY USELESS. 126 00:08:17,543 --> 00:08:19,443 [CAR HORNS HONKING] 127 00:08:19,543 --> 00:08:21,777 TO MOBILIZE HUMANKIND 128 00:08:21,877 --> 00:08:25,610 WOULD TAKE ONE OF OUR GREATEST INVENTIONS, 129 00:08:25,710 --> 00:08:30,476 AND NOT JUST THAT, IT WOULD TAKE THE WHEEL, TOO. 130 00:08:32,010 --> 00:08:34,109 DANNY FORSTER: IT'S FUNNY, WE THINK OF THE WHEEL 131 00:08:34,209 --> 00:08:35,710 AS A FAIRLY ANCIENT INVENTION. 132 00:08:35,810 --> 00:08:38,109 I HAVE THIS IMAGE OF BARNEY RUBBLE AND THE FLINTSTONES 133 00:08:38,209 --> 00:08:41,476 ROLLING A STONE WHEEL ACROSS SOME PREHISTORIC LANDSCAPE. 134 00:08:41,576 --> 00:08:43,476 THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY THE CASE. 135 00:08:43,576 --> 00:08:45,476 THE WHEEL ACTUALLY CAME RELATIVELY LATE 136 00:08:45,576 --> 00:08:47,076 IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF HUMAN INNOVATION, 137 00:08:47,176 --> 00:08:49,576 AROUND 3500 OR 4000 BC. 138 00:08:49,676 --> 00:08:52,710 [MEN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY] 139 00:08:52,810 --> 00:08:54,710 NARRATOR: BEFORE THE WHEEL, 140 00:08:54,810 --> 00:08:58,010 OBJECTS WERE TRANSPORTED OVER TREE TRUNKS. 141 00:09:01,676 --> 00:09:06,243 AT STONEHENGE, ARCHAEOLOGISTS RECENTLY DISCOVERED, 142 00:09:06,343 --> 00:09:09,510 WITH THE HELP OF A FEW DOZEN VOLUNTEERS... 143 00:09:11,109 --> 00:09:15,010 THAT ITS STONE MONOLITHS WERE PROBABLY TRANSPORTED HERE 144 00:09:15,109 --> 00:09:17,476 ON THE TRUNKS OF SYCAMORE TREES. 145 00:09:17,576 --> 00:09:21,710 THE ANCIENT BRITONS COULD TRANSPORT THE 22-TON STONES 146 00:09:21,810 --> 00:09:24,777 10 MILES A DAY USING THIS METHOD. 147 00:09:29,743 --> 00:09:30,943 MAN: STOP! 148 00:09:31,044 --> 00:09:32,943 NARRATOR: AND WE NOW KNOW THAT OTHER CULTURES 149 00:09:33,043 --> 00:09:36,510 WERE TRANSPORTING HEAVY OBJECTS USING SIMILAR MEANS. 150 00:09:36,610 --> 00:09:38,910 [SCATTERED CHEERING] 151 00:09:39,010 --> 00:09:41,309 FORSTER: FOR MANY YEARS, PEOPLE HAD CHOPPED DOWN TREES, 152 00:09:41,410 --> 00:09:44,309 LINED UP LOGS, AND ROLLED ITEMS ALONG THEM. 153 00:09:44,410 --> 00:09:46,276 IN A SENSE, THAT'S A FORM OF A WHEEL. 154 00:09:46,376 --> 00:09:48,576 A SORT OF EXTRUDED WHEEL IS A CYLINDER, RIGHT? 155 00:09:48,676 --> 00:09:50,243 MAN: PULL! 156 00:09:50,343 --> 00:09:53,443 FORSTER: BUT THAT DOESN'T CHANGE HISTORY. 157 00:09:53,543 --> 00:09:57,543 FOR A WHEEL TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE, TO CHANGE SOCIETY... 158 00:09:59,610 --> 00:10:01,510 YOU NEED ACCOUTREMENT, YOU NEED OTHER ELEMENTS 159 00:10:01,610 --> 00:10:04,109 THAT WILL ACTUALLY MAKE IT OPERATIVE. 160 00:10:04,209 --> 00:10:06,710 NARRATOR: THE STROKE OF BRILLIANCE THAT GAVE US 161 00:10:06,810 --> 00:10:09,710 WHEELED TRANSPORTATION 162 00:10:09,810 --> 00:10:12,676 WAS NOT SO MUCH THE INVENTION OF THE WHEEL 163 00:10:12,777 --> 00:10:16,076 AS THE BREAKTHROUGH THAT ALLOWED US TO CONNECT IT 164 00:10:16,176 --> 00:10:19,643 TO A STATIONARY PLATFORM... 165 00:10:19,743 --> 00:10:22,109 THE AXLE. 166 00:10:23,710 --> 00:10:27,010 FORSTER: THE AXLE ENABLES YOU TO AFFIX A WHEEL TO A PLATFORM 167 00:10:27,109 --> 00:10:29,610 IN ORDER TO CARRY WEIGHT AND TRAVEL A DISTANCE. 168 00:10:29,710 --> 00:10:32,610 THE TRICK IS, IN ORDER TO PRODUCE THOSE TWO THINGS, 169 00:10:32,710 --> 00:10:35,010 YOU HAD TO DO IT PRECISELY AND ACCURATELY, 170 00:10:35,109 --> 00:10:37,109 OTHERWISE IT DIDN'T WORK. 171 00:10:41,209 --> 00:10:43,243 ROBERT HURFORD: IF THE AXLE ISN'T ROUND, 172 00:10:43,343 --> 00:10:48,044 AND THE HOLE WHICH THE AXLE IS SITTING IN ISN'T ROUND, 173 00:10:48,143 --> 00:10:51,044 THEN IT WILL JAM AT CERTAIN POINTS. 174 00:10:51,143 --> 00:10:53,610 [WOOD CRACKING] 175 00:10:53,710 --> 00:10:56,610 IF YOU MAKE THE AXLE TOO BIG, THEN THE WHOLE THING 176 00:10:56,710 --> 00:10:59,610 RUNS A RISK OF JAMMING SOLID. 177 00:10:59,710 --> 00:11:03,076 AND IF THE GAP BETWEEN THE AXLE 178 00:11:03,176 --> 00:11:06,109 AND THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL IS TOO BIG, 179 00:11:06,209 --> 00:11:08,910 THEN THE WHEEL WILL WOBBLE ABOUT. 180 00:11:10,510 --> 00:11:12,977 AND IN AN EXTREME CASE, IT COULD LEAD 181 00:11:13,076 --> 00:11:15,810 TO THE THING KNOCKING ITSELF TO PIECES. 182 00:11:19,810 --> 00:11:22,710 FORSTER: AND YOU CANNOT ACHIEVE THAT LEVEL OF PRECISION 183 00:11:22,810 --> 00:11:25,309 WITHOUT METAL. 184 00:11:25,410 --> 00:11:27,910 NARRATOR: AROUND 7,000 YEARS AGO, 185 00:11:28,010 --> 00:11:29,910 THE MESOPOTAMIANS DISCOVERED 186 00:11:30,010 --> 00:11:32,676 THAT CERTAIN ROCKS CONTAINED METALS. 187 00:11:32,777 --> 00:11:36,176 BY 3,000 YEARS AGO, THEY HAD WORKED OUT HOW 188 00:11:36,276 --> 00:11:40,276 TO EXTRACT THE METAL BY A PROCESS CALLED SMELTING 189 00:11:40,376 --> 00:11:43,276 AND DISCOVERED THAT BY COMBINING TWO METALS-- 190 00:11:43,376 --> 00:11:45,276 COPPER AND TIN-- THEY COULD MAKE 191 00:11:45,376 --> 00:11:48,276 A MUCH STRONGER ALLOY CALLED BRONZE. 192 00:11:48,376 --> 00:11:52,843 THIS GAVE US OUR FIRST PRECISION TOOL. 193 00:11:54,843 --> 00:11:57,943 IT MAY NOT LOOK STATE-OF-THE-ART TODAY, 194 00:11:58,044 --> 00:12:01,810 BUT THIS EARLY BRONZE CHISEL WAS, FOR ITS TIME, 195 00:12:01,910 --> 00:12:04,810 ONE OF THE MOST ADVANCED PIECES OF TECHNOLOGY 196 00:12:04,910 --> 00:12:07,476 HUMANS HAD EVER MADE. 197 00:12:07,576 --> 00:12:11,076 DURABLE AND SHARP, IT WAS THE BRONZE CHISEL THAT 198 00:12:11,176 --> 00:12:15,743 ULTIMATELY MADE THE CIRCULAR WHEEL-AND-AXLE POSSIBLE, 199 00:12:15,843 --> 00:12:19,743 AND TOGETHER, THEY MOBILIZED HUMANKIND. 200 00:12:21,143 --> 00:12:23,243 FORSTER: THE WHEEL AND THE AXLE CHANGED THE GAME, 201 00:12:23,343 --> 00:12:25,443 'CAUSE YOU CAN NOW MOVE MORE ITEMS 202 00:12:25,543 --> 00:12:27,910 OVER LONGER DISTANCES WITH LESS EFFORT. 203 00:12:29,510 --> 00:12:32,209 NARRATOR: THE WHEEL-AND-AXLE'S INVENTION COINCIDED 204 00:12:32,309 --> 00:12:35,209 WITH THE DOMESTICATION OF THE HORSE AND OX. 205 00:12:35,309 --> 00:12:38,209 FOR THE FIRST TIME, ORDINARY PEOPLE COULD TRAVEL 206 00:12:38,309 --> 00:12:42,209 OUTSIDE THEIR SETTLEMENTS, AND IT TRIGGERED SOCIAL REVOLUTION 207 00:12:42,309 --> 00:12:44,910 ACROSS THE ANCIENT WORLD. 208 00:12:46,543 --> 00:12:48,977 FORSTER: IT'S ABOUT CONNECTIONS, IT'S ABOUT NETWORKS. 209 00:12:49,076 --> 00:12:50,910 YOU CAN MEET PEOPLE WHO ARE PRODUCING ITEMS, 210 00:12:51,010 --> 00:12:52,910 PEOPLE WHO ARE GROWING ITEMS, PEOPLE WHO ARE THINKING PEOPLE, 211 00:12:53,010 --> 00:12:55,510 WHO ARE CREATING AND SO FORTH, AND IT'S THAT INTERACTION 212 00:12:55,610 --> 00:12:59,109 THAT CREATES THE INNOVATIONS THAT WE HAVE TODAY. 213 00:12:59,209 --> 00:13:02,176 NARRATOR: IT EVEN SPREAD LANGUAGE. 214 00:13:02,276 --> 00:13:06,176 ALMOST ALL EUROPEAN AND ASIAN LANGUAGES DERIVE 215 00:13:06,276 --> 00:13:10,176 FROM PROTO-INDO-EUROPEAN-- THE LANGUAGE SPOKEN 216 00:13:10,276 --> 00:13:14,176 IN CENTRAL EUROPE BY THE WHEEL-AND-AXLE'S INVENTORS. 217 00:13:15,777 --> 00:13:19,576 THAT IS HOW THE AXLE TOOK THE WHEEL AND TRANSFORMED HISTORY. 218 00:13:21,109 --> 00:13:24,010 NARRATOR: HORSE-POWERED VEHICLES DOMINATED TRANSPORTATION 219 00:13:24,109 --> 00:13:26,676 FOR THE NEXT 5,000 YEARS. 220 00:13:28,076 --> 00:13:32,376 IT TOOK DEVASTATING FLOODS AND A BAPTIST PREACHER 221 00:13:32,476 --> 00:13:35,877 TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN THE STORY OF THE CAR. 222 00:13:40,877 --> 00:13:43,777 IN EARLY 18th-CENTURY BRITAIN, 223 00:13:43,877 --> 00:13:47,376 A WAVE OF NEW INNOVATIONS TRANSFORMED THE LIVES 224 00:13:47,476 --> 00:13:49,476 OF EVERYDAY FOLK. 225 00:13:52,676 --> 00:13:55,576 MINES WERE DUG DEEP BENEATH THE GROUND 226 00:13:55,676 --> 00:13:58,176 TO SATISFY THE GROWING DEMAND FOR COAL, 227 00:13:58,276 --> 00:14:01,143 COPPER, AND TIN. 228 00:14:01,243 --> 00:14:05,476 BUT AN OBSTACLE GOT IN THE WAY OF PROGRESS... 229 00:14:06,710 --> 00:14:08,209 WATER. 230 00:14:08,309 --> 00:14:10,810 AL-KHALIL: WATER WAS A CONSTANT ENEMY UNDERGROUND, 231 00:14:10,910 --> 00:14:14,476 AND THE DEEPER YOU WENT, THE GREATER THE CHALLENGE. 232 00:14:16,476 --> 00:14:20,044 HAND PUMPS COULD ONLY RAISE WATER A FEW FEET, 233 00:14:20,143 --> 00:14:22,443 AND SO THE DEEPER THEY MINED, 234 00:14:22,543 --> 00:14:25,610 THE MORE MEN THEY NEEDED, THE MORE PUMPS THEY NEEDED. 235 00:14:25,710 --> 00:14:27,910 NARRATOR: FOR EVERY MINE, 236 00:14:28,010 --> 00:14:30,243 HUNDREDS OF MEN WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK 237 00:14:30,343 --> 00:14:32,343 TO STEM THE FLOOD, 238 00:14:32,443 --> 00:14:35,343 BUT IT WAS A LOSING BATTLE. 239 00:14:35,443 --> 00:14:38,510 AL-KHALIL: AND AT SOME POINT, THEY REACHED A DEPTH 240 00:14:38,610 --> 00:14:42,743 WHEREBY IT BECAME JUST UNECONOMICAL TO DIG ANY DEEPER. 241 00:14:42,843 --> 00:14:45,343 NARRATOR: MINES CLOSED, 242 00:14:45,443 --> 00:14:47,943 OTHERS COLLAPSED, COSTING THE LIVES 243 00:14:48,044 --> 00:14:50,044 OF COUNTLESS MEN. 244 00:14:51,443 --> 00:14:53,943 WITH MILLIONS NOW DEPENDENT ON COAL 245 00:14:54,044 --> 00:14:57,943 FOR HEATING ALONE, IT TRIGGERED A NATIONAL CRISIS, 246 00:14:58,044 --> 00:15:02,576 AND IT SPARKED THE INTEREST OF AN UNLIKELY HERO. 247 00:15:02,676 --> 00:15:04,777 AL-KHALIL: THERE WAS FAME AND FORTUNE TO BE HAD 248 00:15:04,877 --> 00:15:07,176 FOR ANY INVENTOR WHO COULD BUILD A MACHINE 249 00:15:07,276 --> 00:15:10,276 THAT COULD EFFICIENTLY PUMP WATER. 250 00:15:11,710 --> 00:15:14,610 NARRATOR: THOMAS NEWCOMEN WAS A BAPTIST LAY PREACHER 251 00:15:14,710 --> 00:15:16,710 AND A BLACKSMITH. 252 00:15:17,910 --> 00:15:20,010 HE PROCLAIMED THAT VIRTUE CAME 253 00:15:20,109 --> 00:15:22,610 THROUGH HARD WORK AND ENTERPRISE. 254 00:15:22,710 --> 00:15:26,710 FAITH, HE BELIEVED, WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF FLOODING. 255 00:15:28,109 --> 00:15:30,010 BUT WITH A FORTUNE TO BE MADE, 256 00:15:30,109 --> 00:15:33,543 NEWCOMEN COULDN'T LEAVE THE SOLUTION TO GOD ALONE. 257 00:15:34,977 --> 00:15:37,543 HE BEGAN BUILDING PARTS OF WHAT HE BELIEVED WOULD BE 258 00:15:37,643 --> 00:15:40,176 A REVOLUTIONARY MACHINE, 259 00:15:40,276 --> 00:15:44,143 AN ENGINE THAT HARNESSED A NEW TYPE OF POWER... 260 00:15:44,243 --> 00:15:45,743 [HISS] 261 00:15:45,843 --> 00:15:47,443 STEAM. 262 00:15:48,777 --> 00:15:51,376 THIS IS WHAT HE CAME UP WITH-- 263 00:15:51,476 --> 00:15:55,376 A 20-TON, 31-FEET-TALL ROCKING BEAM 264 00:15:55,476 --> 00:15:58,044 WITH CHAINS ON EITHER END. 265 00:15:58,143 --> 00:16:01,676 THE CHAINS TO ONE SIDE EXTENDED DOWN THE MINE 266 00:16:01,777 --> 00:16:04,076 TO A PUMP AT ITS BASE. 267 00:16:04,176 --> 00:16:07,676 THE CHAINS ON THE OTHER SIDE ATTACHED TO A PISTON 268 00:16:07,777 --> 00:16:12,510 THAT DREW STEAM FROM A VAT OF BOILING WATER INTO A CYLINDER. 269 00:16:13,910 --> 00:16:16,309 THE STEAM COOLED AND CONDENSED, 270 00:16:16,410 --> 00:16:19,309 CREATING A VACUUM INSIDE THE CYLINDER 271 00:16:19,410 --> 00:16:21,510 THAT PULLED THE PISTON DOWN. 272 00:16:21,610 --> 00:16:23,610 THIS RAISED THE OTHER END OF THE BEAM 273 00:16:23,710 --> 00:16:27,209 AND OPERATED THE PUMP AT THE END OF THE CHAIN... 274 00:16:27,309 --> 00:16:31,610 ONLY NEWCOMEN'S ENGINE DIDN'T WORK VERY WELL. 275 00:16:31,710 --> 00:16:36,410 THE STEAM CONDENSED TOO SLOWLY TO EFFECTIVELY POWER THE PUMP, 276 00:16:36,510 --> 00:16:40,209 SO HE ATTACHED A COLD-WATER JACKET AROUND THE CYLINDER 277 00:16:40,309 --> 00:16:44,810 TO CONDENSE THE STEAM FASTER, BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK, EITHER, 278 00:16:44,910 --> 00:16:47,777 UNTIL FATE INTERVENED. 279 00:16:47,877 --> 00:16:51,376 DURING ONE TEST, A JOINT CRACKED IN THE CYLINDER, 280 00:16:51,476 --> 00:16:55,209 AND COLD WATER FROM THE OUTER CASING FLOODED IN. 281 00:16:55,309 --> 00:16:59,743 IT TRIGGERED A POWERFUL AND INSTANTANEOUS VACUUM, 282 00:16:59,843 --> 00:17:03,109 AND IT DESTROYED NEWCOMEN'S MACHINE. 283 00:17:03,209 --> 00:17:05,810 [EXPLOSION] 284 00:17:08,810 --> 00:17:12,209 BUT IT GAVE HIM HIS BREAKTHROUGH. 285 00:17:13,810 --> 00:17:16,510 HE REBUILT HIS ENGINE, ADDING A VALVE 286 00:17:16,610 --> 00:17:19,910 THAT INJECTED COLD WATER DIRECTLY INTO THE CYLINDER 287 00:17:20,010 --> 00:17:22,810 EACH TIME IT FILLED WITH STEAM. 288 00:17:24,410 --> 00:17:27,309 THIS PRODUCED A POWERFUL VACUUM, 289 00:17:27,410 --> 00:17:30,910 INCREASING THE ENGINE'S SPEED EXPONENTIALLY. 290 00:17:31,010 --> 00:17:35,977 NEWCOMEN HAD CREATED THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL STEAM-POWERED ENGINE. 291 00:17:42,977 --> 00:17:45,877 WITHOUT FEAR OF FLOODING, MINES SOON EXTENDED 292 00:17:45,977 --> 00:17:48,476 MUCH DEEPER BENEATH THE EARTH, 293 00:17:48,576 --> 00:17:52,076 AND PRODUCTIVITY INCREASED DRAMATICALLY, 294 00:17:52,176 --> 00:17:57,076 BUT NEWCOMEN'S MACHINE REQUIRED SO MUCH COAL TO MAKE IT RUN, 295 00:17:57,176 --> 00:18:01,343 IT WAS ONLY REALLY PRACTICAL NEAR A MINE. 296 00:18:01,443 --> 00:18:04,743 NONETHELESS, PEOPLE SOON BEGAN TO IMAGINE A WORLD 297 00:18:04,843 --> 00:18:07,710 POWERED BY SIMILAR ARTIFICIAL MACHINES, 298 00:18:07,810 --> 00:18:11,710 PERHAPS EVEN MACHINES THAT COULD TRANSPORT US. 299 00:18:13,143 --> 00:18:17,243 BUT IF THAT DREAM WAS EVER TO BECOME A REALITY... 300 00:18:18,843 --> 00:18:23,243 WE NEEDED MUCH MORE EFFICIENT AND SMALLER ENGINES... 301 00:18:24,810 --> 00:18:28,810 AND THAT MEANT OVERCOMING ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT HURDLE. 302 00:18:31,044 --> 00:18:33,410 AL-KHALIL: BURNING THE FUEL WAS EASY, 303 00:18:33,510 --> 00:18:37,810 HEATING THE WATER WAS EASY, MAKING STEAM--EVEN TRANSPORTING 304 00:18:37,910 --> 00:18:41,610 THE STEAM THROUGH PIPES-- WAS EASY, BUT BUILDING A PISTON 305 00:18:41,710 --> 00:18:44,610 THAT FITS SO PRECISELY WITHIN A CYLINDER 306 00:18:44,710 --> 00:18:47,810 THAT COULD CONTAIN THAT STEAM UNDER HIGH PRESSURE 307 00:18:47,910 --> 00:18:51,510 WAS REALLY TRICKY FOR 18th-CENTURY ENGINEERS. 308 00:18:51,610 --> 00:18:55,510 IF THE PISTON WASN'T PERFECTLY MATCHED TO THE CYLINDER, 309 00:18:55,610 --> 00:18:57,710 THEN STEAM WOULD LEAK OUT, AND WITH IT, 310 00:18:57,810 --> 00:19:00,243 THE POWER OF THE ENGINE. 311 00:19:00,343 --> 00:19:04,109 NARRATOR: TO MANUFACTURE A PISTON AND CYLINDER SO PRECISE 312 00:19:04,209 --> 00:19:07,209 THAT IT COULD ONE DAY POWER A CAR 313 00:19:07,309 --> 00:19:10,810 WOULD TAKE A SUNDAY STROLL ON GLASGOW GREEN 314 00:19:10,910 --> 00:19:14,010 AND EXPLODING CANNONS. 315 00:19:14,109 --> 00:19:16,376 [PATRIOTIC MUSIC PLAYING] 316 00:19:16,476 --> 00:19:18,376 [CANNONS FIRING] 317 00:19:18,476 --> 00:19:22,010 ♪ 318 00:19:22,109 --> 00:19:24,010 IN 1774, 319 00:19:24,109 --> 00:19:28,676 BRITAIN'S ROYAL NAVY FACED A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE. 320 00:19:30,543 --> 00:19:33,410 THEIR CANNONS KEPT BACKFIRING, 321 00:19:33,510 --> 00:19:36,410 AND THEY WERE LOSING COUNTLESS MEN. 322 00:19:36,510 --> 00:19:41,043 AT THE TIME, IRON CANNONS WERE CAST AROUND A MOLD. 323 00:19:41,143 --> 00:19:46,076 ANY INCONSISTENCIES IN THE MOLD CREATED DEVIATIONS 324 00:19:46,176 --> 00:19:48,877 INSIDE THE MUZZLE, AND THIS CAUSED THE CANNONBALL 325 00:19:48,977 --> 00:19:51,343 TO JAM AND EXPLODE. 326 00:19:51,443 --> 00:19:52,910 [EXPLOSION] 327 00:19:53,010 --> 00:19:57,610 ENTER INDUSTRIALIST JOHN "IRON-MAD" WILKINSON. 328 00:19:59,044 --> 00:20:01,343 WILKINSON REALIZED THE SOLUTION WAS 329 00:20:01,443 --> 00:20:05,443 TO CREATE A PERFECTLY CYLINDRICAL MUZZLE... 330 00:20:07,044 --> 00:20:11,810 AND THIS WAS HIS ANSWER-- A HORSE-POWERED BORING MACHINE. 331 00:20:13,209 --> 00:20:17,810 IT SPUN THE CANNON BARREL ONTO A FIXED BORING BAR. 332 00:20:19,810 --> 00:20:22,109 THE RESULT-- A SMOOTH MUZZLE 333 00:20:22,209 --> 00:20:25,643 AND THE MOST ACCURATE CANNONS EVER MADE. 334 00:20:25,743 --> 00:20:27,243 ♪ 335 00:20:27,343 --> 00:20:29,843 IT WAS A HUGE HIT WITH THE ROYAL NAVY, 336 00:20:29,943 --> 00:20:34,443 WHOSE CANNONBALLS WERE SOON SMASHING INTO FRENCH SHIPS. 337 00:20:34,543 --> 00:20:38,044 BUT IT WOULD MAKE AN EVEN BIGGER SPLASH WHEN IT CAME 338 00:20:38,143 --> 00:20:42,044 TO THE ATTENTION OF A RECLUSIVE SCOTTISH INSTRUMENT MAKER 339 00:20:42,143 --> 00:20:44,843 AT GLASGOW UNIVERSITY. 340 00:20:47,843 --> 00:20:50,743 ONE MAY SUNDAY IN 1765, 341 00:20:50,843 --> 00:20:53,343 JAMES WATT, A SELF-TAUGHT INVENTOR 342 00:20:53,443 --> 00:20:56,343 AND POLYMATH, WAS TAKING A STROLL 343 00:20:56,443 --> 00:20:59,543 ACROSS GLASGOW GREEN TO CLEAR HIS MIND. 344 00:20:59,643 --> 00:21:02,209 [BIRDS CHIRPING] 345 00:21:02,309 --> 00:21:04,476 WATT HAD BEEN GIVEN THE UNIVERSITY'S 346 00:21:04,576 --> 00:21:08,576 MODEL NEWCOMEN ENGINE TO REPAIR. 347 00:21:11,977 --> 00:21:16,877 HE HAD BECOME FIXATED BY ITS CYLINDER-AND-PISTON SYSTEM, 348 00:21:16,977 --> 00:21:20,476 WHICH COOLED THE CYLINDER ON EVERY CYCLE 349 00:21:20,576 --> 00:21:23,476 AS THE STEAM CONDENSED. 350 00:21:23,576 --> 00:21:26,543 [HISS] 351 00:21:28,676 --> 00:21:30,576 BUT ON THAT SUNDAY MORNING, 352 00:21:30,676 --> 00:21:34,576 WATT SUDDENLY HAD A BREAKTHROUGH. 353 00:21:34,676 --> 00:21:36,977 HE IMAGINED A SEPARATE VESSEL, 354 00:21:37,076 --> 00:21:40,576 ATTACHED TO THE CYLINDER, THAT WAS KEPT COOL. 355 00:21:40,676 --> 00:21:42,977 HE CALLED IT A CONDENSER. 356 00:21:43,076 --> 00:21:46,143 IF A VALVE WAS OPENED WHEN THE CYLINDER WAS FULL 357 00:21:46,243 --> 00:21:49,543 OF HOT STEAM, THE CONDENSER WOULD COOL THE STEAM 358 00:21:49,643 --> 00:21:54,343 MUCH MORE RAPIDLY, CREATING A POWERFUL VACUUM 359 00:21:54,443 --> 00:21:57,143 THAT WOULD SUCK THE STEAM OUT OF THE CYLINDER 360 00:21:57,243 --> 00:22:00,910 WITHOUT COOLING THE CYLINDER ITSELF. 361 00:22:02,343 --> 00:22:04,243 AND, HEARING ABOUT THE BREAKTHROUGH 362 00:22:04,343 --> 00:22:08,977 IN THE ROYAL NAVY'S CANNONS, HE HIRED IRON-MAD WILKINSON 363 00:22:09,076 --> 00:22:13,543 TO BORE HIM THE WORLD'S FIRST PRECISION CYLINDERS AND PISTONS. 364 00:22:13,643 --> 00:22:16,710 AL-KHALIL: AN ENGINE THAT MINIMIZES STEAM LEAKAGE IS 365 00:22:16,810 --> 00:22:21,510 MORE EFFICIENT, IT USES LESS FUEL, AND CAN WORK HARDER. 366 00:22:21,610 --> 00:22:24,510 NARRATOR: BUT WATT HAD ANOTHER BIG IDEA. 367 00:22:24,610 --> 00:22:26,910 AL-KHALIL: INSTEAD OF USING A PISTON AND CYLINDER 368 00:22:27,010 --> 00:22:29,943 TO DRIVE A BEAM, 369 00:22:30,043 --> 00:22:33,910 HE FOUND A WAY OF MAKING IT TURN A WHEEL. 370 00:22:35,510 --> 00:22:38,010 NARRATOR: WATT'S BREAKTHROUGH MADE STEAM A VIABLE SOURCE 371 00:22:38,109 --> 00:22:41,610 OF POWER; NOW MACHINES COULD BE BUILT ANYWHERE 372 00:22:41,710 --> 00:22:46,309 AND EXPLOIT ENERGY-DENSE FOSSIL FUELS LIKE COAL. 373 00:22:48,309 --> 00:22:52,209 IT MADE HIM VERY RICH, AND IT TRIGGERED ONE 374 00:22:52,309 --> 00:22:56,209 OF THE BIGGEST BREAKTHROUGHS IN THE HISTORY OF HUMANKIND, 375 00:22:56,309 --> 00:22:58,877 THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION. 376 00:23:01,443 --> 00:23:05,343 FOR THE FIRST TIME, MACHINES HAD FAR GREATER MUSCLE POWER 377 00:23:05,443 --> 00:23:08,243 THAN ANIMALS OR MEN COULD MUSTER, 378 00:23:08,343 --> 00:23:11,910 AND FACTORIES BEGAN POPPING UP EVERYWHERE. 379 00:23:13,309 --> 00:23:16,610 STEAM-POWERED ENGINES MOVED PEOPLE AND RESOURCES 380 00:23:16,710 --> 00:23:21,309 INTO CITIES AND TRANSPORTED GOODS OUT... 381 00:23:23,309 --> 00:23:26,576 ALL THANKS TO STEAM-POWERED PRECISION MACHINES 382 00:23:26,676 --> 00:23:29,109 THAT COULD TURN WHEELS. 383 00:23:29,209 --> 00:23:31,710 AND IT'S THIS SETUP THAT'S BEEN AT THE HEART 384 00:23:31,810 --> 00:23:35,576 OF ALMOST EVERY CAR BUILT IN THE LAST CENTURY. 385 00:23:35,676 --> 00:23:38,777 NARRATOR: BUT STEAM HAD ONE HUGE DRAWBACK 386 00:23:38,877 --> 00:23:42,109 WHEN IT COMES TO THE STORY OF THE CAR. 387 00:23:43,710 --> 00:23:46,410 AL-KHALIL: THE STEAM ENGINE WAS SO BIG AND CUMBERSOME 388 00:23:46,510 --> 00:23:49,044 AND USED SO MUCH FUEL THAT IT COULD REALLY 389 00:23:49,143 --> 00:23:51,010 ONLY BE USED IN RAILWAYS. 390 00:23:51,109 --> 00:23:52,610 [WHISTLE BLOWS] 391 00:23:52,710 --> 00:23:55,410 NARRATOR: PEOPLE STILL HAD TO RELY ON OLD-FASHIONED 392 00:23:55,510 --> 00:23:58,877 HORSE-POWER TO ULTIMATELY GET TO WHERE THEY WERE GOING, 393 00:23:58,977 --> 00:24:03,343 UNTIL ONE WOMAN SET OUT WITH HER TWO SONS 394 00:24:03,443 --> 00:24:05,877 TO VISIT HER MOTHER. 395 00:24:07,476 --> 00:24:11,977 IN 1886, GERMAN INVENTOR AND ENGINEER KARL BENZ 396 00:24:12,076 --> 00:24:15,176 HAD HIS PATENT ACCEPTED FOR WHAT IS REGARDED 397 00:24:15,276 --> 00:24:18,977 AS THE WORLD'S FIRST AUTOMOBILE. 398 00:24:19,076 --> 00:24:22,777 BENZ HAD HIT ON THE IDEA OF INCORPORATING A NEW 399 00:24:22,877 --> 00:24:27,743 AND INNOVATIVE ENGINE THAT HAD JUST LAUNCHED ONTO THE MARKET. 400 00:24:27,843 --> 00:24:30,309 IT USED THE SAME PRINCIPLE OF PISTON AND FLYWHEEL 401 00:24:30,410 --> 00:24:32,910 THAT JAMES WATT HAD DEVELOPED, 402 00:24:33,010 --> 00:24:35,543 BUT WAS MUCH, MUCH SMALLER. 403 00:24:40,710 --> 00:24:44,010 INSTEAD OF BURNING COAL TO TURN WATER INTO STEAM 404 00:24:44,109 --> 00:24:49,243 IN A BOILER, WHICH THEN PUSHED A PISTON INSIDE A CYLINDER... 405 00:24:49,343 --> 00:24:51,843 THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE 406 00:24:51,943 --> 00:24:54,643 IGNITED A PETROLEUM-BASED FUEL 407 00:24:54,743 --> 00:24:57,743 INSIDE THE CYLINDER ITSELF. 408 00:24:59,143 --> 00:25:03,710 THE MOTORWAGEN, AS IT WAS CALLED, RAN BEAUTIFULLY, 409 00:25:03,810 --> 00:25:08,710 BUT THERE WAS A FUNDAMENTAL OBSTACLE BLOCKING ITS SUCCESS. 410 00:25:08,810 --> 00:25:12,109 FOR IT TO BECOME A VIABLE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION, 411 00:25:12,209 --> 00:25:14,309 IT REQUIRED INFRASTRUCTURE, 412 00:25:14,410 --> 00:25:18,410 BUT GARAGES AND GAS STATIONS HADN'T BEEN INVENTED YET. 413 00:25:19,643 --> 00:25:21,543 THE INFRASTRUCTURE WAS ALREADY IN PLACE 414 00:25:21,643 --> 00:25:23,476 TO SERVICE THE HORSE AND CART, 415 00:25:23,576 --> 00:25:27,443 AND IT COULD TRAVEL 60 MILES A DAY COMFORTABLY, 416 00:25:27,543 --> 00:25:32,443 SO THE MOTORWAGEN WAS VIEWED AS NOTHING MORE THAN A NOVELTY, 417 00:25:32,543 --> 00:25:35,044 AND FOR TWO YEARS, POOR KARL BENZ 418 00:25:35,143 --> 00:25:39,143 DIDN'T HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO SELL A SINGLE MACHINE. 419 00:25:41,343 --> 00:25:46,010 FACING FINANCIAL RUIN, KARL PLUNGED INTO DEPRESSION. 420 00:25:50,276 --> 00:25:53,176 WOMAN: HIS SKILL WAS ENGINEERING, BUT NOT SO MUCH 421 00:25:53,276 --> 00:25:55,777 MARKETING, AND WE CAN SEE THAT VERY OFTEN, 422 00:25:55,877 --> 00:25:58,176 THAT IF YOU ARE A FANTASTIC ENGINEER, YOU ARE SO MUCH 423 00:25:58,276 --> 00:26:01,743 IN THE DETAIL OF THIS MECHANIC THAT YOU FORGET THE REST AROUND. 424 00:26:03,143 --> 00:26:05,043 NARRATOR: THANKFULLY FOR HUMANITY, 425 00:26:05,143 --> 00:26:08,343 ONE PERSON SAW GREAT POTENTIAL IN THE MOTORWAGEN, 426 00:26:08,443 --> 00:26:13,376 SOMEONE WHO ALSO KNEW HOW TO GENERATE A BIT OF PUBLICITY... 427 00:26:15,443 --> 00:26:18,443 KARL'S WIFE, BERTHA. 428 00:26:21,109 --> 00:26:25,010 EARLY IN THE MORNING OF AUGUST 5, 1888, 429 00:26:25,109 --> 00:26:27,610 WHILE KARL WAS SOUND ASLEEP, 430 00:26:27,710 --> 00:26:30,810 BERTHA ROUSED THEIR TWO SONS, 431 00:26:30,910 --> 00:26:34,243 LEFT A NOTE ON THE KITCHEN TABLE, 432 00:26:34,343 --> 00:26:37,910 AND QUIETLY PUSHED THE CAR A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE HOUSE 433 00:26:38,010 --> 00:26:40,810 SO NOT TO WAKE HER HUSBAND. 434 00:26:42,643 --> 00:26:44,543 BERTHA HAD DECIDED TO VISIT HER PARENTS 435 00:26:44,643 --> 00:26:46,543 IN PFORZHEIM, 436 00:26:46,643 --> 00:26:49,243 A 66-MILE JOURNEY, 437 00:26:49,343 --> 00:26:51,510 FURTHER THAN WAS COMFORTABLY POSSIBLE 438 00:26:51,610 --> 00:26:54,610 BY HORSE AND CART IN A DAY. 439 00:26:56,209 --> 00:26:58,710 BERTHA AND HER SONS WERE PLANNING TO TRAVEL 440 00:26:58,810 --> 00:27:01,777 THE WHOLE WAY IN AN UNTESTED VEHICLE, 441 00:27:01,877 --> 00:27:06,109 WITHOUT A MAP, ON COUNTRY TRACKS. 442 00:27:07,443 --> 00:27:09,443 KLEINSCHMIDT: I HAVE TO SEE IF THERE IS PETROL. 443 00:27:09,543 --> 00:27:10,877 OH, YEAH. LOOKS GOOD. 444 00:27:10,977 --> 00:27:12,843 NARRATOR: IT'S CERTAINLY MORE DIFFICULT 445 00:27:12,943 --> 00:27:14,843 TO GET MOVING THAN A HORSE. 446 00:27:14,943 --> 00:27:17,777 KLEINSCHMIDT: I'M A BIT AFRAID, BUT--NO CHANCE-- I HAVE TO TRY IT. 447 00:27:17,877 --> 00:27:20,777 I CAN SEE THAT YOU HAVE TO PUMP IT FIRST A BIT 448 00:27:20,877 --> 00:27:22,810 LIKE ON A MOTORBIKE. 449 00:27:22,910 --> 00:27:24,743 OK. 450 00:27:24,843 --> 00:27:27,410 NOW WE SWITCH ON THE IGNITION. 451 00:27:27,510 --> 00:27:29,510 BIG MOMENT IS COMING UP. 452 00:27:29,610 --> 00:27:31,243 YEAH! 453 00:27:31,343 --> 00:27:32,777 [ENGINE SPUTTERS] 454 00:27:32,877 --> 00:27:36,243 GO, GO, GO, GO, GO! CLOSE. HA HA HA HA! 455 00:27:36,343 --> 00:27:39,109 1, 2, 3! 456 00:27:39,209 --> 00:27:40,810 [CLANKING] 457 00:27:44,076 --> 00:27:47,109 YEAH! HA HA HA! GREAT! 458 00:27:51,910 --> 00:27:53,910 NARRATOR: KARL BENZ NEVER THOUGHT HIS CAR 459 00:27:54,010 --> 00:27:57,643 WOULD TRAVEL FURTHER THAN ACROSS TOWN. 460 00:27:57,743 --> 00:28:00,877 HE HADN'T CONSIDERED THAT IT COULD BE USED 461 00:28:00,977 --> 00:28:03,476 OVER LONG DISTANCES 462 00:28:03,576 --> 00:28:06,476 OR THAT IT WOULD BE DRIVEN BY A WOMAN. 463 00:28:06,576 --> 00:28:09,476 AND WITH THAT IMAGE SURELY IN HER MIND, 464 00:28:09,576 --> 00:28:11,476 BERTHA SET OFF. 465 00:28:11,576 --> 00:28:14,476 KLEINSCHMIDT: IMAGINE YOU HAVE REALLY NO MAP, 466 00:28:14,576 --> 00:28:17,410 YOU HAVE NO ROAD SIGNS. 467 00:28:17,510 --> 00:28:19,576 THERE WAS NO TARMAC ROAD. 468 00:28:19,676 --> 00:28:22,076 IT WAS ALL OFF-ROAD. 469 00:28:23,676 --> 00:28:26,476 THERE WAS A LOT OF OBSTACLES TO GO OVER, 470 00:28:26,576 --> 00:28:29,176 AND THERE WAS A BIG CHANCE THAT SHE FAIL. 471 00:28:33,143 --> 00:28:37,044 I REALLY RELATE TO BERTHA A LOT. 472 00:28:37,143 --> 00:28:40,877 WHEN I DID MY FIRST DAKAR RALLY, IT WAS A BIT THE SAME. 473 00:28:42,276 --> 00:28:46,243 NOT REALLY GOOD-EQUIPPED AND NO GPS... 474 00:28:46,343 --> 00:28:48,343 NO MAPS... 475 00:28:49,743 --> 00:28:51,643 JUST DOING IT, 476 00:28:51,743 --> 00:28:54,543 AND THAT'S WHAT SHE WAS DOING. 477 00:28:56,943 --> 00:29:00,610 NARRATOR: BUT BERTHA FACED AN EVEN GREATER CHALLENGE. 478 00:29:03,610 --> 00:29:07,676 WITH NO GAS STATIONS, SHE HAD TO STOP REGULARLY 479 00:29:07,777 --> 00:29:12,476 TO FILL THE CAR'S TINY TANK WITH A PETROLEUM-BASED SOLVENT 480 00:29:12,576 --> 00:29:16,209 THAT SHE'D PURCHASED FROM PHARMACIES EN ROUTE. 481 00:29:20,710 --> 00:29:24,610 THE ENGINE OFTEN OVERHEATED, SO BERTHA COOLED IT 482 00:29:24,710 --> 00:29:27,476 WITH WATER FROM DITCHES AND STREAMS. 483 00:29:27,576 --> 00:29:31,676 AND THE CAR ONLY HAD TWO GEARS, SO WHEN IT CAME TO HILLS, 484 00:29:31,777 --> 00:29:35,676 BERTHA AND HER BOYS HAD TO GET OFF AND PUSH. 485 00:29:37,977 --> 00:29:41,443 AND ONCE OVER THE SUMMIT, THE JOURNEY DOWNHILL 486 00:29:41,543 --> 00:29:44,176 WAS TERRIFYING. 487 00:29:44,276 --> 00:29:47,543 KLEINSCHMIDT: THE BRAKING IS NOT THE SAME. YOU HAVE TO THINK AHEAD. 488 00:29:49,977 --> 00:29:51,877 YEAH, SO YOU CANNOT, UH, BRAKE 489 00:29:51,977 --> 00:29:54,576 IN THE LAST MOMENT LIKE WE MAYBE DO TODAY. 490 00:29:54,676 --> 00:29:58,576 NARRATOR: THE HAND-OPERATED SHOE BRAKE WAS A STRUGGLE TO USE, AND 491 00:29:58,676 --> 00:30:03,043 BERTHA LEARNED THAT CONTROLLING THE SPEED WAS ESSENTIAL. 492 00:30:05,044 --> 00:30:06,943 KLEINSCHMIDT: I CAN SEE HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS TO DRIVE 493 00:30:07,044 --> 00:30:08,977 THE CAR BECAUSE YOU HAD ONLY 3 WHEELS, 494 00:30:09,076 --> 00:30:10,977 AND IF YOU WOULD TURN IT MAYBE A BIT TOO MUCH, 495 00:30:11,076 --> 00:30:13,176 IT CAN FLIP VERY EASILY. 496 00:30:13,276 --> 00:30:16,977 NARRATOR: TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR, BERTHA PAID A COBBLER 497 00:30:17,076 --> 00:30:21,176 TO COVER THE BRAKE SHOES WITH LEATHER... 498 00:30:21,276 --> 00:30:26,276 AND IN DOING SO, SHE INVENTED THE WORLD'S FIRST BRAKE PADS. 499 00:30:29,309 --> 00:30:30,643 KLEINSCHMIDT: YEAH! 500 00:30:30,743 --> 00:30:33,044 NARRATOR: INEVITABLY, THE MOTORWAGEN BROKE DOWN 501 00:30:33,143 --> 00:30:35,076 FROM TIME TO TIME. 502 00:30:35,176 --> 00:30:38,243 WHEN A FUEL LINE BECAME BLOCKED, 503 00:30:38,343 --> 00:30:42,243 BERTHA FIXED IT BY JABBING HER HATPIN INTO THE PIPE. 504 00:30:42,343 --> 00:30:46,843 WHEN AN EXPOSED IGNITION WIRE NEEDED INSULATING, 505 00:30:46,943 --> 00:30:49,443 SHE USED ONE OF HER GARTERS. 506 00:30:49,543 --> 00:30:51,643 KLEINSCHMIDT: I'M SURE SHE WAS LOOKING LIKE ME, 507 00:30:51,743 --> 00:30:54,610 COMPLETELY DIRTY IN THE FACE AND ALL THE CLOTHES IS BLACK 508 00:30:54,710 --> 00:30:57,176 AND FULL OF DUST, BUT I THINK THEY DIDN'T CARE. 509 00:30:57,276 --> 00:30:59,276 THEY JUST DID IT. HA HA HA HA! 510 00:31:01,143 --> 00:31:02,643 NARRATOR: WITH THE LIGHT FADING, 511 00:31:02,743 --> 00:31:06,810 BERTHA FINALLY APPROACHED HER PARENTS' HOME. 512 00:31:06,910 --> 00:31:09,410 THE MOTORWAGEN HAD COMPLETED 513 00:31:09,510 --> 00:31:12,376 ITS FIRST LONG-DISTANCE JOURNEY. 514 00:31:12,476 --> 00:31:17,376 BERTHA HAD COVERED 66 MILES IN AROUND 12 HOURS, 515 00:31:17,476 --> 00:31:21,977 A FEAT THAT WAS HARD TO MATCH WITH A HORSE AND CART. 516 00:31:22,076 --> 00:31:25,576 SHE HAD PROVED THAT YOU DON'T NEED A HORSE AND CART 517 00:31:25,676 --> 00:31:28,576 TO TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES. 518 00:31:28,676 --> 00:31:32,576 THE MOTORWAGEN WAS A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE. 519 00:31:32,676 --> 00:31:34,777 AND SOMETHING ELSE HAD HAPPENED, 520 00:31:34,877 --> 00:31:38,376 SOMETHING THAT BERTHA BENZ HAD HOPED FOR-- 521 00:31:38,476 --> 00:31:41,176 NEWS OF A WOMAN TRAVELING THROUGH THE LANES 522 00:31:41,276 --> 00:31:45,643 MILES FROM TOWN IN A MOTORCAR HAD SPREAD QUICKLY. 523 00:31:45,743 --> 00:31:49,043 NEWSPAPERS HEADLINED THE STORY. 524 00:31:49,143 --> 00:31:52,043 EVERYONE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE MOTORWAGEN, 525 00:31:52,143 --> 00:31:56,443 A REMARKABLE NEW INVENTION-- THE AUTOMOBILE. 526 00:31:57,943 --> 00:32:00,410 KLEINSCHMIDT: THEY UNDERSTOOD, "WOW, THIS IS SOMETHING. 527 00:32:00,510 --> 00:32:05,877 WE CAN TRAVEL WITH THIS KIND OF MOTORWAGEN." 528 00:32:05,977 --> 00:32:08,877 SO IT WAS A HUGE, HUGE STEP FORWARD 529 00:32:08,977 --> 00:32:11,877 FOR THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY. 530 00:32:11,977 --> 00:32:15,076 NARRATOR: BERTHA BENZ, PERHAPS THE LAST PERSON 531 00:32:15,176 --> 00:32:18,076 TO STILL BELIEVE IN HER HUSBAND'S INVENTION, 532 00:32:18,176 --> 00:32:22,076 HAD STAGED THE WORLD'S FIRST LONG-DISTANCE TEST DRIVE 533 00:32:22,176 --> 00:32:25,910 AND THE FIRST MOTOR PUBLICITY STUNT. 534 00:32:26,010 --> 00:32:28,910 AND SHE'D MADE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS 535 00:32:29,010 --> 00:32:32,510 TO THE MOTORWAGEN IN THE PROCESS. 536 00:32:32,610 --> 00:32:36,910 BERTHA HAD TRANSFORMED THE CAR FROM A NOVELTY MACHINE 537 00:32:37,010 --> 00:32:39,877 INTO SOMETHING PEOPLE WANTED. 538 00:32:39,977 --> 00:32:42,276 KLEINSCHMIDT: THIS JOURNEY CHANGED THEIR LIFE, 539 00:32:42,376 --> 00:32:46,109 AND THIS JOURNEY CHANGED OUR FUTURE. 540 00:32:53,143 --> 00:32:56,243 NARRATOR: BEFORE LONG, NUMEROUS MAKES OF AUTOMOBILES 541 00:32:56,343 --> 00:33:00,710 WERE ON THE MARKET, AND THEY BECAME A MUST-HAVE PLAY-THING 542 00:33:00,810 --> 00:33:03,476 FOR THE RICH AND FAMOUS. 543 00:33:05,076 --> 00:33:08,543 BUT NOT ALL MANUFACTURERS AGREED WITH BENZ'S CHOICE 544 00:33:08,643 --> 00:33:12,143 OF THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. 545 00:33:12,243 --> 00:33:16,410 TELEVISION PERSONALITY AND CAR ENTHUSIAST JAY LENO 546 00:33:16,510 --> 00:33:18,710 HAS ONE OF THE MOST EXTENSIVE 547 00:33:18,810 --> 00:33:21,309 AUTOMOBILE COLLECTIONS IN AMERICA. 548 00:33:21,410 --> 00:33:23,510 IT'S A RARE CHANCE TO SEE SOME 549 00:33:23,610 --> 00:33:26,676 OF THESE EARLY MACHINES IN ACTION. 550 00:33:26,777 --> 00:33:29,676 AND THIS GETS ABOUT... 551 00:33:29,777 --> 00:33:32,510 A MILE PER GALLON OF WATER. 552 00:33:32,610 --> 00:33:34,676 NARRATOR: BY NOW, STEAM-POWERED 553 00:33:34,777 --> 00:33:36,676 ENGINES WERE SMALLER, AND IN A WORLD 554 00:33:36,777 --> 00:33:41,143 WITHOUT GAS STATIONS, THEY MADE A GOOD DEAL OF SENSE. 555 00:33:43,143 --> 00:33:46,943 MAN: IN ORDER TO GET A STEAM CAR TO RUN, YOU NEEDED WATER. 556 00:33:47,044 --> 00:33:49,176 THAT WAS READILY AVAILABLE. 557 00:33:49,276 --> 00:33:51,209 WHAT I'M DOING NOW, 558 00:33:51,309 --> 00:33:53,977 I'M PUSHING FUEL INTO THE MOTOR TO GET IT HOT. 559 00:33:54,076 --> 00:33:55,977 CHRIS GERDES: YOU ALSO NEEDED FUEL, 560 00:33:56,076 --> 00:33:57,977 BUT THAT FUEL COULD BE VERY FLEXIBLE. 561 00:33:58,076 --> 00:33:59,543 IF YOU HAD GASOLINE, USE GASOLINE. 562 00:33:59,643 --> 00:34:01,576 IF YOU HAD KEROSENE, USE KEROSENE. 563 00:34:01,676 --> 00:34:05,576 LENO: I USE GASOLINE BECAUSE IT'S THE MOST READILY AVAILABLE. 564 00:34:05,676 --> 00:34:08,576 NARRATOR: BUT STEAM-POWERED CARS ALSO HAD 565 00:34:08,676 --> 00:34:10,576 SOME SIGNIFICANT DRAWBACKS. 566 00:34:10,676 --> 00:34:12,576 LIKE IF YOUR WIFE'S HAVING A BABY, 567 00:34:12,676 --> 00:34:14,276 YOU GOT TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL, 568 00:34:14,376 --> 00:34:16,043 THIS IS NOT THE CAR TO TAKE. 569 00:34:16,043 --> 00:34:16,143 HA HA HA! 570 00:34:16,143 --> 00:34:17,877 [HORN BLOWS TWICE] 571 00:34:17,977 --> 00:34:21,676 GERDES: STEAM ACTUALLY CAME FROM APPLICATIONS 572 00:34:21,777 --> 00:34:25,076 LIKE FACTORIES AND LOCOMOTIVES, WHERE YOU COULD HAVE 573 00:34:25,176 --> 00:34:28,476 THE STEAM ENGINE OPERATING IN EXACTLY THE SAME CONDITION 574 00:34:28,576 --> 00:34:31,476 FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, AND THAT'S A VERY EFFICIENT WAY 575 00:34:31,576 --> 00:34:34,977 TO RUN A SYSTEM, BUT THAT'S REALLY NOT WHAT A VEHICLE NEEDS. 576 00:34:35,076 --> 00:34:37,176 FUN WITH STEAM. YEAH. 577 00:34:37,276 --> 00:34:40,910 GERDES: IN A CAR, YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO COME TO A STOP, 578 00:34:41,010 --> 00:34:43,109 YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO START QUICKLY. 579 00:34:43,209 --> 00:34:45,209 AND SO WE GOT FIRE, SO WE'RE OK. 580 00:34:45,309 --> 00:34:47,243 GERDES: AND NONE OF THESE THINGS ARE REALLY 581 00:34:47,343 --> 00:34:49,309 INHERENTLY ADVANTAGES OF STEAM. 582 00:34:49,410 --> 00:34:53,676 YOU'RE NOT ONLY A DRIVER, YOU ARE A POWER-PLANT OPERATOR. 583 00:34:53,777 --> 00:34:56,676 SO IF YOU BOUGHT ONE OF THESE BACK IN THE DAY, 584 00:34:56,777 --> 00:34:58,676 YOU'D HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO DO 585 00:34:58,777 --> 00:35:00,276 THIS KIND OF WORK FROM TIME TO TIME. 586 00:35:00,376 --> 00:35:02,343 UH, YEAH. OH, ALL THE TIME. 587 00:35:02,443 --> 00:35:04,543 HERE WE GO. 588 00:35:04,643 --> 00:35:07,209 NARRATOR: BUT WHILE STEAM WASN'T EASY, 589 00:35:07,309 --> 00:35:09,910 THERE WAS A FUEL THAT WAS. 590 00:35:10,010 --> 00:35:11,743 GERDES: SO THIS LOOKS PRETTY EASY TO DRIVE. 591 00:35:11,843 --> 00:35:12,977 OH IT'S VERY SIMPLE TO DRIVE. 592 00:35:13,076 --> 00:35:15,810 NARRATOR: IN 1900, 1/3 OF ALL THE CARS 593 00:35:15,910 --> 00:35:19,243 WERE POWERED BY ELECTRICITY. 594 00:35:19,343 --> 00:35:21,243 TOP SPEED IS ABOUT 23 MILES AN HOUR, 595 00:35:21,343 --> 00:35:23,243 WHICH SEEMS INCREDIBLY SLOW, BUT 596 00:35:23,343 --> 00:35:25,643 IT WAS FASTER THAN A HORSE AND CARRIAGE. 597 00:35:25,743 --> 00:35:27,643 THEY WERE MARKETED PRIMARILY 598 00:35:27,743 --> 00:35:29,877 AS A WOMAN'S CAR BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T 599 00:35:29,977 --> 00:35:32,476 HAVE TO CRANK IT, THERE WAS NO SMOKE, 600 00:35:32,576 --> 00:35:35,476 THERE WAS NO LOUD BANG, IT DIDN'T BACKFIRE. 601 00:35:35,576 --> 00:35:37,910 IT WAS EASY TO DRIVE. WOMEN LIKED IT. 602 00:35:40,276 --> 00:35:42,777 NARRATOR: FOR WEALTHY OWNERS, TRAVELING OCCASIONALLY 603 00:35:42,877 --> 00:35:46,576 OVER SHORT DISTANCES, CARS LIKE THIS BAKER ELECTRIC WERE 604 00:35:46,676 --> 00:35:49,576 A GREAT ALTERNATIVE TO THE HORSE AND CARRIAGE, 605 00:35:49,676 --> 00:35:51,977 BUT THEY WERE LESS OF A THREAT 606 00:35:52,076 --> 00:35:55,243 TO THE MORE WORKADAY HORSE AND CART. 607 00:35:55,343 --> 00:35:57,243 GERDES: ELECTRIC VEHICLES FACED 608 00:35:57,343 --> 00:36:00,143 SOME VERY SIGNIFICANT ENGINEERING CHALLENGES. 609 00:36:00,243 --> 00:36:03,209 ELECTRICITY WAS NOT WIDELY AVAILABLE; 610 00:36:03,309 --> 00:36:06,176 WHERE IT WAS AVAILABLE, IT WOULD TAKE A LONG TIME 611 00:36:06,276 --> 00:36:08,977 TO CHARGE THE BATTERIES, AND THE BATTERIES THEMSELVES 612 00:36:09,076 --> 00:36:11,576 COULD ONLY HOLD A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CHARGE, 613 00:36:11,676 --> 00:36:14,610 SO THE RANGE OF THESE VEHICLES WAS VERY LIMITED. 614 00:36:14,710 --> 00:36:17,209 NARRATOR: BELIEVING THAT ELECTRICITY WAS 615 00:36:17,309 --> 00:36:21,309 A BETTER TECHNOLOGY TO POWER CARS, THOMAS EDISON SET OUT 616 00:36:21,410 --> 00:36:25,309 TO MAKE LONG-DISTANCE ELECTRIC CARS VIABLE. 617 00:36:25,410 --> 00:36:27,376 IN 1901, 618 00:36:27,476 --> 00:36:29,777 HE INVENTED A NICKEL IRON BATTERY 619 00:36:29,877 --> 00:36:33,376 THAT COULD POWER A CAR FOR 100 MILES, 620 00:36:33,476 --> 00:36:36,977 BUT IT COST $500 TO MANUFACTURE-- 621 00:36:37,076 --> 00:36:39,943 $10,000 IN TODAY'S MONEY. 622 00:36:40,043 --> 00:36:42,543 UNABLE TO FIND A WAY TO LOWER THE PRICE, 623 00:36:42,643 --> 00:36:45,543 EDISON EVENTUALLY GAVE UP ON THE IDEA. 624 00:36:45,643 --> 00:36:50,176 ELECTRIC CARS WOULD HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER HUNDRED YEARS. 625 00:36:52,777 --> 00:36:54,676 IN THE EARLY 20th CENTURY, 626 00:36:54,777 --> 00:36:58,576 THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE WAS ABOUT TO CHANGE THE WORLD... 627 00:37:00,143 --> 00:37:04,109 THANKS PARTLY TO THE INSIGHT OF A FORMER EDISON EMPLOYEE 628 00:37:04,209 --> 00:37:07,443 AND A WHOLE LOT OF HORSE MANURE. 629 00:37:09,109 --> 00:37:11,810 TOWARDS THE END OF THE 19th CENTURY, NEW YORK 630 00:37:11,910 --> 00:37:15,143 WAS THE FASTEST-GROWING CITY ON EARTH. 631 00:37:16,543 --> 00:37:18,309 FORSTER: THE RATE OF URBANIZATION OF NEW YORK CITY 632 00:37:18,410 --> 00:37:20,977 DURING THE TURN OF THE CENTURY WAS SHOCKING. 633 00:37:21,076 --> 00:37:23,576 THEY WENT FROM 60,000 RESIDENTS 634 00:37:23,676 --> 00:37:26,176 TO 3.5 MILLION RESIDENTS 635 00:37:26,276 --> 00:37:28,510 IN UNDER A HUNDRED YEARS. 636 00:37:28,610 --> 00:37:30,510 UP UNTIL THAT POINT, NO CITY IN HUMAN HISTORY 637 00:37:30,610 --> 00:37:32,977 HAD URBANIZED THAT QUICKLY. 638 00:37:33,076 --> 00:37:35,410 YOU'VE GOT SKYSCRAPERS BEING BUILT, YOU'VE GOT IMMIGRANTS 639 00:37:35,510 --> 00:37:37,810 COMING OVER FROM EUROPE, YOU'VE GOT NEW YORK CITY TRANSFORMING, 640 00:37:37,910 --> 00:37:40,010 AND THIS MASSIVE RISE IN THE HUMAN POPULATION 641 00:37:40,109 --> 00:37:42,910 ALSO BROUGHT WITH IT A MASSIVE RISE... 642 00:37:43,010 --> 00:37:45,943 IN THE HORSE POPULATION. 643 00:37:50,710 --> 00:37:52,977 NARRATOR: BY THE 1890s, 644 00:37:53,076 --> 00:37:57,977 NEW YORK WAS HOME TO SOME 200,000 HORSES, 645 00:37:58,076 --> 00:38:01,243 TRANSPORTING OVER A MILLION INHABITANTS 646 00:38:01,343 --> 00:38:05,343 AND THOUSANDS OF TONS OF PRODUCE DAILY. 647 00:38:07,010 --> 00:38:11,643 BUT THE HORSES DEPOSITED 60,000 GALLONS OF URINE 648 00:38:11,743 --> 00:38:14,643 AND 2.5 MILLION POUNDS OF MANURE 649 00:38:14,743 --> 00:38:17,643 ONTO NEW YORK STREETS EACH DAY. 650 00:38:17,743 --> 00:38:20,643 ROADS BECAME BLOCKED, 651 00:38:20,743 --> 00:38:23,910 VACANT LOTS FILLED WITH MOUNTAINS OF MANURE 652 00:38:24,010 --> 00:38:25,910 6 STORIES HIGH. 653 00:38:26,010 --> 00:38:28,810 FORSTER: IMAGINE LIFE THEN. IMAGINE THE ODOR. 654 00:38:28,910 --> 00:38:31,710 NARRATOR: 20,000 DEATHS EACH YEAR WERE BLAMED 655 00:38:31,810 --> 00:38:35,510 ON FLIES FEEDING ON HORSE MANURE. 656 00:38:35,610 --> 00:38:38,510 FORSTER: WITH THAT MANY HORSES AND THE INABILITY TO REMOVE 657 00:38:38,610 --> 00:38:41,376 WASTE FROM THE CITY, THEY HIT A CRITICAL BREAKING POINT. 658 00:38:42,977 --> 00:38:46,476 NARRATOR: ALL INDUSTRIALIZED CITIES FACED A SIMILAR PROBLEM, 659 00:38:46,576 --> 00:38:50,877 AND IN 1898, CITY PLANNERS FROM ACROSS THE WORLD 660 00:38:50,977 --> 00:38:54,476 DESCENDED ON NEW YORK FOR A 10-DAY SYMPOSIUM 661 00:38:54,576 --> 00:38:57,076 TO BRAINSTORM A SOLUTION. 662 00:38:57,176 --> 00:39:01,143 THEY GAVE UP AFTER JUST 3. 663 00:39:01,243 --> 00:39:05,143 IT WOULD TAKE A FARMER'S SON FROM MICHIGAN TO SOLVE 664 00:39:05,243 --> 00:39:08,743 THE HORSE MANURE CRISIS, A MAN WHOSE NAME WOULD BECOME 665 00:39:08,843 --> 00:39:11,343 SYNONYMOUS WITH THE AUTO INDUSTRY-- 666 00:39:11,443 --> 00:39:13,309 HENRY FORD. 667 00:39:13,410 --> 00:39:17,309 GERDES: I THINK IT TAKES A HUGE LEAP TO LOOK AROUND AT 668 00:39:17,410 --> 00:39:22,143 A WORLD WHERE ONLY THE WEALTHY OWN AUTOMOBILES AND SAY, 669 00:39:22,243 --> 00:39:26,076 "THIS COULD BE SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO." 670 00:39:26,176 --> 00:39:28,143 TAKE THE HANDLE OUT OF THE LEATHER THERE. 671 00:39:28,243 --> 00:39:29,676 OK. YEAH. 672 00:39:29,777 --> 00:39:31,877 GERDES: THE FAMILIAR TECHNOLOGY THAT EVERYBODY KNEW WAS 673 00:39:31,977 --> 00:39:34,476 THE HORSE, BUT AS HENRY FORD PROVED, 674 00:39:34,576 --> 00:39:36,676 THERE WERE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO COULDN'T WAIT 675 00:39:36,777 --> 00:39:39,044 TO GIVE UP THAT TECHNOLOGY; THEY JUST NEEDED SOMETHING 676 00:39:39,143 --> 00:39:40,309 THAT THEY COULD AFFORD. 677 00:39:40,410 --> 00:39:41,510 ALL RIGHT. 678 00:39:41,610 --> 00:39:42,743 KEEP YOUR THUMB INSIDE. 679 00:39:42,843 --> 00:39:45,610 OK. PUSH IN AND PULL UP. 680 00:39:45,710 --> 00:39:47,576 THERE WE GO. 681 00:39:49,476 --> 00:39:52,376 LENO: HENRY FORD WAS A FARM KID 682 00:39:52,476 --> 00:39:55,010 AND HE HATED FARM LIFE, 683 00:39:55,109 --> 00:39:58,610 AND HE WENT TO THE CITY AND HE WORKED FOR THOMAS EDISON. 684 00:39:58,710 --> 00:40:01,209 NARRATOR: FORD HAD BEEN FASCINATED WITH POCKET WATCHES 685 00:40:01,309 --> 00:40:04,543 SINCE CHILDHOOD, AND IT'S SAID HE BOUGHT ONE 686 00:40:04,643 --> 00:40:06,743 WITH HIS FIRST PAYCHECK. 687 00:40:06,843 --> 00:40:09,743 HE WAS SO SURPRISED TO DISCOVER THAT IT WAS MADE 688 00:40:09,843 --> 00:40:14,343 OF SUCH SIMPLE COMPONENTS, HE SAW AN OPPORTUNITY 689 00:40:14,443 --> 00:40:17,810 AND DREAMT UP A LOW-COST WATCH-MAKING BUSINESS 690 00:40:17,910 --> 00:40:21,510 THAT MASS-PRODUCED ITS PARTS. 691 00:40:22,910 --> 00:40:26,410 LUCKILY FOR HUMANITY, FORD'S FATHER FELL ILL, 692 00:40:26,510 --> 00:40:29,410 AND SO HE RETURNED HOME TO TEND TO THE FARM. 693 00:40:29,510 --> 00:40:32,810 WHEN FORD ARRIVED BACK IN THE CITY WEEKS LATER, 694 00:40:32,910 --> 00:40:37,910 THE YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR HAD ALREADY MOVED ON TO A NEW IDEA. 695 00:40:41,743 --> 00:40:43,843 IN HIS SPARE TIME, HE WOULD GET ALL THE MAGAZINES 696 00:40:43,943 --> 00:40:45,843 OF THE PERIOD AND READ ABOUT ALL THESE ENGINES. 697 00:40:45,943 --> 00:40:48,843 AND HE BUILT HIS OWN ENGINE IN THE KITCHEN SINK, AND IT WOULD 698 00:40:48,943 --> 00:40:51,843 PUTT, PUTT, PUTT, PUTT, AND HE WENT, "OH, WHY COULDN'T I SCALE THIS UP? 699 00:40:51,943 --> 00:40:55,676 AND HE BUILT A CAR IN HIS LITTLE WORKSHOP BEHIND HIS HOUSE, 700 00:40:55,777 --> 00:40:58,276 AND WHEN HE FINISHED THE CAR, HE REALIZED THERE'S NO WAY 701 00:40:58,376 --> 00:41:00,643 TO GET IT OUT OF HERE 'CAUSE THE DOOR ISN'T WIDE ENOUGH. 702 00:41:00,743 --> 00:41:03,910 SO HE KNOCKED THE WALL DOWN, MUCH TO THE LANDLORD'S CHAGRIN, 703 00:41:04,010 --> 00:41:07,843 HE GOT IT OUT, AND HE WENT FOR A RIDE IN 1896. 704 00:41:10,044 --> 00:41:13,309 NARRATOR: IT HAD TAKEN FORD 3 YEARS OF EXPERIMENTING 705 00:41:13,410 --> 00:41:16,910 TO COMPLETE HIS QUADRACYCLE, MOST OF IT AT NIGHT 706 00:41:17,010 --> 00:41:20,510 AFTER HE'D FINISHED WORK AT EDISON'S FACTORY. 707 00:41:20,610 --> 00:41:24,109 IT HAD A TWO-CYLINDER, ETHANOL-POWERED ENGINE 708 00:41:24,209 --> 00:41:27,710 AND A TOP SPEED OF 20 MILE AN HOUR. 709 00:41:27,810 --> 00:41:30,910 IT WAS STILL AN EXPENSIVE TOY, 710 00:41:31,010 --> 00:41:34,476 BUT IT WAS ENOUGH OF A SUCCESS TO INTEREST INVESTORS 711 00:41:34,576 --> 00:41:38,376 WHO SET UP FORD WITH HIS OWN COMPANY 712 00:41:38,476 --> 00:41:41,376 SO HE COULD PURSUE A BIGGER AMBITION-- 713 00:41:41,476 --> 00:41:45,710 TO MAKE LOW-COST CARS THAT THE AVERAGE JOE COULD AFFORD. 714 00:41:45,810 --> 00:41:49,643 BUT HE REALIZED HE NEEDED TO SIMPLIFY THE ENGINE 715 00:41:49,743 --> 00:41:52,743 AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. 716 00:41:54,143 --> 00:41:56,276 [ENGINE TURNS OVER] 717 00:41:56,376 --> 00:41:59,476 GERDES: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S MOST STRIKING WHEN YOU OPEN 718 00:41:59,576 --> 00:42:03,877 THE HOOD OF A MODEL T IS, IN SOME WAYS, WHAT'S NOT THERE. 719 00:42:05,877 --> 00:42:09,777 FORD WAS ABLE TO LOOK AT THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE 720 00:42:09,877 --> 00:42:12,343 AND FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU COULD TAKE AWAY. 721 00:42:12,443 --> 00:42:14,610 LENO: HERE'S THE BEAUTY OF THE ENGINE--ANYTHING 722 00:42:14,710 --> 00:42:16,877 THAT YOU DIDN'T NEED, HENRY FORD GOT RID OF. 723 00:42:16,977 --> 00:42:20,076 THERE'S NO WATER PUMP; THE HOT WATER PUSHES 724 00:42:20,176 --> 00:42:22,076 THE COLD WATER THROUGH THE SYSTEM... 725 00:42:22,176 --> 00:42:24,076 MM-HMM. SO IT RUNS FINE. 726 00:42:24,176 --> 00:42:25,676 YOU DON'T NEED A WATER PUMP. 727 00:42:25,777 --> 00:42:27,276 YOU DON'T NEED ANY OF THAT STUFF. 728 00:42:27,376 --> 00:42:29,877 YOU DON'T NEED A FUEL PUMP BECAUSE 729 00:42:29,977 --> 00:42:32,243 THE GAS IS HIGHER THAN THE ENGINE, SO 730 00:42:32,343 --> 00:42:35,243 GRAVITY FEEDS DOWN, SO GET RID OF THAT. 731 00:42:35,343 --> 00:42:37,243 HOW MUCH IS A FUEL PUMP, $16? 732 00:42:37,343 --> 00:42:39,044 GET RID OF THAT. SAVE MONEY THERE. 733 00:42:39,143 --> 00:42:40,643 HOW MUCH IS A WATER PUMP, 60 BUCKS? 734 00:42:40,743 --> 00:42:42,443 GET RID OF THAT. SAVE MONEY THERE. 735 00:42:42,543 --> 00:42:44,843 SO, SEE, IT'S VERY SIMPLE. 736 00:42:44,943 --> 00:42:47,176 NARRATOR: FORD'S SECOND BREAKTHROUGH WAS 737 00:42:47,276 --> 00:42:49,576 TO MASS-PRODUCE THE PARTS. 738 00:42:49,676 --> 00:42:52,943 WHEREAS OTHER MANUFACTURERS HANDMADE ONLY A FEW 739 00:42:53,044 --> 00:42:55,209 HIGH-PRICED VEHICLES, 740 00:42:55,309 --> 00:42:58,676 FORD GAMBLED ON SELLING LOTS OF CARS. 741 00:42:58,777 --> 00:43:03,143 IN 1909, THE MODEL T's FIRST YEAR OF PRODUCTION, 742 00:43:03,243 --> 00:43:08,543 HE SOLD OVER 10,000 AT $825 EACH-- 743 00:43:08,643 --> 00:43:13,510 THE EQUIVALENT OF AROUND $18,000 TODAY. 744 00:43:13,610 --> 00:43:15,810 IT WAS A PROMISING START, 745 00:43:15,910 --> 00:43:19,810 BUT FORD HAD SET HIS SIGHTS ON A MUCH BIGGER MARKET. 746 00:43:19,910 --> 00:43:23,843 HE JUST NEEDED TO SPEED UP THE MODEL T's PRODUCTION 747 00:43:23,943 --> 00:43:26,443 AND SLASH ITS PRICE IN HALF. 748 00:43:26,543 --> 00:43:29,576 THEREIN LAY HIS BIGGEST CHALLENGE, 749 00:43:29,676 --> 00:43:34,076 FOR, AS SIMPLE AS IT WAS, BUILDING A MODEL T WAS STILL 750 00:43:34,176 --> 00:43:38,076 A TIME-CONSUMING, LABOR-INTENSIVE PROCESS. 751 00:43:38,176 --> 00:43:42,010 THE SOLUTION WOULD BE FOUND IN THE MOST UNLIKELY 752 00:43:42,109 --> 00:43:46,476 AND UNSAVORY OF PLACES... 753 00:43:46,576 --> 00:43:48,743 A SLAUGHTERHOUSE. 754 00:43:50,877 --> 00:43:53,710 SHORTLY AFTER THE MODEL T BEGAN TO SHIP, 755 00:43:53,810 --> 00:43:55,977 ONE OF FORD'S SENIOR EMPLOYEES, 756 00:43:56,076 --> 00:43:58,076 A MAN NAMED PA KLANN, 757 00:43:58,176 --> 00:44:01,743 VISITED A CHICAGO MEAT-PACKING PLANT. 758 00:44:01,843 --> 00:44:06,843 HE SAW CARCASSES HUNG FROM MOVING HOOKS IN THE CEILING. 759 00:44:06,943 --> 00:44:11,843 EACH WORKER PERFORMED A VERY SPECIFIC AND SPECIALIZED JOB 760 00:44:11,943 --> 00:44:14,610 BEFORE PASSING THE CARCASS ON. 761 00:44:14,710 --> 00:44:18,176 IT WAS A DISASSEMBLY LINE. 762 00:44:18,276 --> 00:44:21,777 KLANN REALIZED THAT BY REVERSING THE PROCESS 763 00:44:21,877 --> 00:44:25,376 AND ADAPTING IT TO FACILITATE THE PRODUCTION OF CARS, 764 00:44:25,476 --> 00:44:29,443 THE MODEL T COULD BE MADE MUCH FASTER. 765 00:44:33,476 --> 00:44:37,777 FORD WAS CONVINCED AND CREATED AN ASSEMBLY LINE 766 00:44:37,877 --> 00:44:41,410 IN A NEW PURPOSE-BUILT FACTORY. 767 00:44:41,510 --> 00:44:45,676 IT CUT $250 OFF THE CAR'S PRICE... 768 00:44:46,910 --> 00:44:50,810 AND BY 1913, HE'D REFINED THE TIMINGS 769 00:44:50,910 --> 00:44:52,943 FOR EACH STAGE OF THE PROCESS ENOUGH 770 00:44:53,043 --> 00:44:56,543 THAT HE COULD INSTALL A MOVING CONVEYOR BELT, 771 00:44:56,643 --> 00:45:00,843 SLASHING A FURTHER $50 OFF THE PRICE. 772 00:45:00,943 --> 00:45:03,076 AT THE PEAK OF THE MODEL T's PRODUCTION, 773 00:45:03,176 --> 00:45:08,109 FORD WAS ASSEMBLING 150 CARS AN HOUR 774 00:45:08,209 --> 00:45:13,109 AND SELLING THEM FOR LESS THAN A THIRD OF THE ORIGINAL PRICE. 775 00:45:13,209 --> 00:45:15,443 THIS SOLD FOR $260 BRAND-NEW, 776 00:45:15,543 --> 00:45:18,376 WHEN A CADILLAC WAS $4,000. 777 00:45:18,476 --> 00:45:20,777 AND ONCE, OF COURSE, THE MODEL T CAME OUT, 778 00:45:20,877 --> 00:45:23,044 THEN ACCESSORY DEALERS: "IMPROVE YOUR MODEL T. 779 00:45:23,143 --> 00:45:25,276 GET MORE POWER, THE OVERHEAD VALVE"-- 780 00:45:25,376 --> 00:45:27,109 YOU KNOW, A WHOLE 'NOTHER BUSINESS 781 00:45:27,209 --> 00:45:28,877 GREW UP OUT OF THAT. 782 00:45:28,977 --> 00:45:33,076 NARRATOR: THE AUTOMOBILE WAS NO LONGER A RICH MAN'S PLAY-THING. 783 00:45:33,176 --> 00:45:38,076 HENRY FORD HAD MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ANYONE TO OWN A CAR. 784 00:45:38,176 --> 00:45:40,476 LENO: HENRY FORD MADE 16 MILLION OF THESE. 785 00:45:40,576 --> 00:45:44,443 AND IF YOU MADE ONE LITTLE PRODUCT THAT HE COULD USE OR BUY-- 786 00:45:44,543 --> 00:45:46,410 GERDES: THAT WAS HUGE, YEAH, AND AN INSTANT MARKET. 787 00:45:46,510 --> 00:45:48,410 HE SOLD 16 MILLION OF THEM, YOU KNOW, 788 00:45:48,510 --> 00:45:51,977 SO IT REALLY WAS A GAME-CHANGER. 789 00:45:52,076 --> 00:45:55,943 NARRATOR: AND REMEMBER THAT GREAT HORSE MANURE CRISIS? 790 00:45:56,043 --> 00:45:57,743 BY 1912, 791 00:45:57,843 --> 00:46:00,343 MANHATTAN'S FLY-INFESTED STREETS 792 00:46:00,443 --> 00:46:03,209 HAD VIRTUALLY EMPTIED OF HORSES 793 00:46:03,309 --> 00:46:05,877 AND FILLED UP WITH CARS. 794 00:46:07,276 --> 00:46:10,376 GERDES: AND SUDDENLY, THE ENTIRE WORLD AROUND US 795 00:46:10,476 --> 00:46:14,176 CHANGED IN A WAY THAT I THINK WOULD BE UNIMAGINABLE 796 00:46:14,276 --> 00:46:16,176 TO THE VERY FEW 797 00:46:16,276 --> 00:46:20,076 WHO COULD AFFORD A MOTOR VEHICLE IN 1900. 798 00:46:21,676 --> 00:46:24,176 HENRY FORD THINKS THIS COULD BE SOMETHING 799 00:46:24,276 --> 00:46:27,576 THAT EVERYBODY CAN OWN, AND WHEN EVERYBODY OWNS THIS, 800 00:46:27,676 --> 00:46:30,576 SUDDENLY OUR DEMANDS OF THE WORLD BECOME DIFFERENT. 801 00:46:30,676 --> 00:46:33,276 NOW, I WANT ROADS TO DRIVE ON. 802 00:46:33,376 --> 00:46:36,276 I NEED A GARAGE TO PARK MY CAR AT MY HOUSE. 803 00:46:36,376 --> 00:46:39,510 I NEED A PLACE TO PARK IT WHEN I GET TO WORK. 804 00:46:39,610 --> 00:46:42,676 THE WHOLE WAY CITIES WERE ENVISIONED 805 00:46:42,777 --> 00:46:45,410 CHANGED FUNDAMENTALLY. 806 00:46:45,510 --> 00:46:47,376 NARRATOR: THE CAR HAS REVOLUTIONIZED 807 00:46:47,476 --> 00:46:50,910 ALMOST EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES, 808 00:46:51,010 --> 00:46:54,610 AND IT'S EVEN RESHAPED OUR WORLD. 809 00:46:56,610 --> 00:46:59,710 THE COMBUSTION ENGINE HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL 810 00:46:59,810 --> 00:47:03,777 THAT IT'S CREATED A NEW ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS, 811 00:47:03,877 --> 00:47:06,143 ONE THAT WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF TACKLING, 812 00:47:06,243 --> 00:47:08,743 THANKS TO TWO THINGS YOU PROBABLY HAVE 813 00:47:08,843 --> 00:47:11,443 IN YOUR DESK DRAWER. 814 00:47:14,443 --> 00:47:18,743 TODAY, AUTOMOBILES EMIT 5.1 BILLION TONS 815 00:47:18,843 --> 00:47:22,010 OF CARBON DIOXIDE EVERY YEAR. 816 00:47:23,610 --> 00:47:25,710 IT'S PUSHED MANY TO LOOK ONCE AGAIN 817 00:47:25,810 --> 00:47:29,176 TO EDISON'S DREAM OF THE ELECTRIC CAR. 818 00:47:29,276 --> 00:47:32,576 WHILE BATTERY TECHNOLOGY HAS IMPROVED MASSIVELY 819 00:47:32,676 --> 00:47:37,943 SINCE EDISON'S DAY, IT STILL FACES SOME FAMILIAR ISSUES. 820 00:47:38,044 --> 00:47:40,243 RICHARD KANER: CURRENT ELECTRIC VEHICLES USE 821 00:47:40,343 --> 00:47:43,443 THE NEW LITHIUM ION BATTERIES, AND THESE BATTERIES 822 00:47:43,543 --> 00:47:46,276 HAVE A RANGE OF ABOUT 300 MILES. 823 00:47:46,376 --> 00:47:49,276 HOWEVER, THEY TAKE HOURS TO CHARGE, WHEREAS, 824 00:47:49,376 --> 00:47:52,676 IF YOU'RE FILLING IT WITH GAS, YOU SIMPLY GO INTO A GAS STATION 825 00:47:52,777 --> 00:47:55,076 AND WITHIN A COUPLE MINUTES, YOU'RE IN AND OUT. 826 00:47:56,676 --> 00:47:59,576 AND SO WHAT WE REALLY NEED IS A BATTERY THAT NOT ONLY GOES 827 00:47:59,676 --> 00:48:03,076 A LONG DISTANCE, BUT THAT CAN BE CHARGED VERY RAPIDLY. 828 00:48:03,176 --> 00:48:07,676 NARRATOR: THE ANSWER IS HIDDEN INSIDE A PENCIL. 829 00:48:07,777 --> 00:48:11,076 KANER: THE SO-CALLED LEAD IN PENCILS IS ESSENTIALLY 830 00:48:11,176 --> 00:48:14,076 A FORM OF CARBON CALLED GRAPHITE. 831 00:48:14,176 --> 00:48:17,109 IT HAS A HONEYCOMB STRUCTURE, AND IT'S LAYERED 832 00:48:17,209 --> 00:48:20,309 SO EACH LAYER IS STACKED ON TOP OF ANOTHER LAYER. 833 00:48:20,410 --> 00:48:24,309 NARRATOR: INSIDE EVERY PENCIL, BETWEEN EACH CARBON LAYER, 834 00:48:24,410 --> 00:48:26,910 THERE IS A CLOUD OF ELECTRONS. 835 00:48:27,010 --> 00:48:29,910 THIS GENERATES STATIC ELECTRIC CHARGE, 836 00:48:30,010 --> 00:48:33,109 AND THAT'S WHAT CAUSES THE GRAPHITE TO STICK 837 00:48:33,209 --> 00:48:35,309 TO THE PAPER WHEN YOU WRITE. 838 00:48:35,410 --> 00:48:38,510 GRAPHITE ALSO HAS AN EXCEPTIONAL CAPACITY 839 00:48:38,610 --> 00:48:42,476 TO CONDUCT ELECTRICITY, BUT ONLY IF YOU CAN GET IT DOWN 840 00:48:42,576 --> 00:48:47,076 TO A SINGLE LAYER OF CARBON CALLED GRAPHENE. 841 00:48:47,176 --> 00:48:49,676 KANER: GRAPHENE HAS BEEN CALLED "THE WONDER MATERIAL." 842 00:48:49,777 --> 00:48:52,076 IT'S 200 TIMES STRONGER THAN STEEL, 843 00:48:52,176 --> 00:48:55,676 IT HAS A REMARKABLE ABILITY TO CONDUCT ELECTRICITY, 844 00:48:55,777 --> 00:48:58,410 AND IT HAS EXTREMELY HIGH SURFACE AREA. 845 00:48:58,510 --> 00:49:01,443 THIS GIVES IT SOME INTERESTING APPLICATIONS, 846 00:49:01,543 --> 00:49:03,910 AND ONE IS ENERGY STORAGE. 847 00:49:04,010 --> 00:49:08,076 NARRATOR: BUT TO ACCESS GRAPHENE'S AMAZING PROPERTIES 848 00:49:08,176 --> 00:49:11,076 WOULD TAKE A ROLL OF STICKY TAPE. 849 00:49:11,176 --> 00:49:14,977 KANER: IN 2004, TWO PHYSICISTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER 850 00:49:15,076 --> 00:49:18,910 HAD THE IDEA OF TAKING PYROLYTIC GRAPHITE AND SCOTCH TAPE, 851 00:49:19,010 --> 00:49:21,910 AND THEY CONTINUED TO PEEL BACK AND FORTH. 852 00:49:22,010 --> 00:49:24,877 THE FIRST SAMPLES TOOK OVER A MONTH TO PRODUCE, 853 00:49:24,977 --> 00:49:27,676 BUT THEY EVENTUALLY PEELED GRAPHITE DOWN TO A SINGLE LAYER, 854 00:49:27,777 --> 00:49:30,743 SOMETHING THAT NO ONE THOUGHT COULD BE DONE. 855 00:49:30,843 --> 00:49:34,143 NARRATOR: THIS WAS AN AMAZING BREAKTHROUGH, 856 00:49:34,243 --> 00:49:37,143 BUT TO APPLY IT TO CARS 857 00:49:37,243 --> 00:49:40,143 MEANT OVERCOMING A BASIC PROBLEM. 858 00:49:40,243 --> 00:49:42,543 KANER: IF WE'RE GOING TO USE THIS FOR APPLICATIONS, 859 00:49:42,643 --> 00:49:44,543 WE'RE GOING TO NEED A LOT OF GRAPHENE, 860 00:49:44,643 --> 00:49:47,843 AND PEELING GRAPHITE WITH STICKY TAPE ISN'T GOING TO GET THERE, 861 00:49:47,943 --> 00:49:49,743 SO THAT'S WHERE CHEMISTRY COMES IN. 862 00:49:49,843 --> 00:49:53,910 NARRATOR: RICHARD, ALONG WITH Ph.D. STUDENT MAHER EL-KADY, 863 00:49:54,010 --> 00:49:56,643 DISCOVERED THEY COULD USE A SIMPLE LASER, 864 00:49:56,743 --> 00:49:59,443 LIKE THE ONE IN ANY DVD PLAYER, 865 00:49:59,543 --> 00:50:03,510 TO TURN A THIN LAYER OF GRAPHITE INTO GRAPHENE. 866 00:50:03,610 --> 00:50:06,710 THEY THEN CREATED DISTINCT PATTERNS IN IT 867 00:50:06,810 --> 00:50:10,109 THAT THEY HOPED WOULD STORE ELECTRICAL CHARGE. 868 00:50:10,209 --> 00:50:13,376 EL-KADY: I CHARGED IT UP FOR ONLY A COUPLE OF SECONDS... 869 00:50:16,376 --> 00:50:20,510 AND IT WAS ABLE TO LIGHT UP AN L.E.D. FOR OVER 5 MINUTES. 870 00:50:22,309 --> 00:50:25,010 AT THAT POINT, I CALLED RICK TO THE LAB AND I'M LIKE, 871 00:50:25,109 --> 00:50:27,376 "COME TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AMAZING EXPERIMENT." 872 00:50:29,044 --> 00:50:32,710 KANER: IT'S THE BEST MOMENT I THINK A SCIENTIST CAN HAVE, 873 00:50:32,810 --> 00:50:35,343 BECAUSE YOU REALIZE YOU'VE DONE SOMETHING IMPORTANT. 874 00:50:37,376 --> 00:50:40,543 NARRATOR: GRAPHENE IS STRONG, SO IT CAN BE BUILT 875 00:50:40,643 --> 00:50:44,743 INTO THE CAR'S BODYWORK, EFFECTIVELY TURNING 876 00:50:44,843 --> 00:50:48,143 THE WHOLE VEHICLE INTO A BATTERY. 877 00:50:48,243 --> 00:50:50,143 KANER: GRAPHENE IS A GAME-CHANGER. 878 00:50:50,243 --> 00:50:52,543 YOU'LL BE ABLE TO CHARGE YOUR CAR AS FAST AS YOU CAN 879 00:50:52,643 --> 00:50:54,643 FILL UP WITH GASOLINE. 880 00:50:56,243 --> 00:50:58,743 YOU'LL BE ABLE TO RUN YOUR VEHICLE TENS OF THOUSANDS 881 00:50:58,843 --> 00:51:01,610 OF TIMES, AND IN THE END, GRAPHENE IS 882 00:51:01,710 --> 00:51:05,176 A COMPOSTABLE MATERIAL, SO IT'S ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY. 883 00:51:07,910 --> 00:51:11,410 NARRATOR: IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE GRAPHENE IS USED 884 00:51:11,510 --> 00:51:13,977 TO POWER OUR AUTOMOBILES. 885 00:51:14,076 --> 00:51:16,309 WHEN COMBINED WITH THE LATEST BREAKTHROUGHS 886 00:51:16,410 --> 00:51:20,910 IN AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGY, WE WILL SOON HAVE ELECTRIC CARS 887 00:51:21,010 --> 00:51:24,510 THAT DRIVE THEMSELVES BETTER THAN THE BEST HUMANS 888 00:51:24,610 --> 00:51:27,510 OVER FAR GREATER DISTANCES, 889 00:51:27,610 --> 00:51:30,510 REVOLUTIONIZING THE CAR ONCE AGAIN. 890 00:51:30,610 --> 00:51:32,476 GERDES: IF I'M NOT STEERING, IF I'M NOT DRIVING, 891 00:51:32,576 --> 00:51:34,676 I WANT SOMETHING WHICH IS GOING TO BE COMFORTABLE. 892 00:51:34,777 --> 00:51:36,676 I WANT SOMETHING WHICH IS GOING TO BE QUIET. 893 00:51:36,777 --> 00:51:40,076 I WANT SOMETHING WHICH MAY ALLOW ME TO BE EITHER PRODUCTIVE 894 00:51:40,176 --> 00:51:42,476 OR COMPLETELY RELAXED, DEPENDING UPON MY MOOD 895 00:51:42,576 --> 00:51:44,176 AS I TAKE THIS TRIP. 896 00:51:45,643 --> 00:51:48,743 WHEN THE CAR IS ACTUALLY BEING DRIVEN BY A COMPUTER, 897 00:51:48,843 --> 00:51:50,743 THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS THAT WE DON'T NEED. 898 00:51:50,843 --> 00:51:53,109 WE DON'T NEED A STEERING WHEEL. WE DON'T NEED PEDALS. 899 00:51:53,209 --> 00:51:57,109 WE DON'T NEED THIS SORT OF HUMAN INTERFACE THAT WE HAVE TODAY AND 900 00:51:57,209 --> 00:52:02,176 THEN WE CAN THINK OF THE ENTIRE SHAPE OF THE CAR CHANGING. 901 00:52:02,276 --> 00:52:05,176 PEOPLE COULD SIT IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, THEY COULD FACE EACH 902 00:52:05,276 --> 00:52:08,309 OTHER, WE COULD HAVE INDIVIDUAL PODS ASSEMBLED TOGETHER 903 00:52:08,410 --> 00:52:11,109 THAT PEOPLE HAVE THEIR OWN PERSONAL SPACE. 904 00:52:11,209 --> 00:52:13,510 WE COULD HAVE DELIVERY VEHICLES THAT HAVE NO ROOM 905 00:52:13,610 --> 00:52:16,044 FOR HUMANS WHATSOEVER. 906 00:52:17,643 --> 00:52:21,510 ALL OF THESE THINGS CAN CHANGE ONCE THE VEHICLE IS AUTOMATED. 907 00:52:21,610 --> 00:52:24,510 [TIRES SQUEAL] 908 00:52:24,610 --> 00:52:27,476 NARRATOR: THE CAR IS THE CULMINATION OF 909 00:52:27,576 --> 00:52:30,777 A REMARKABLE JOURNEY, STRETCHING BACK 910 00:52:30,877 --> 00:52:33,443 THOUSANDS OF YEARS. 911 00:52:33,543 --> 00:52:36,743 FROM THE LATEST BREAKTHROUGH IN ELECTRICAL STORAGE 912 00:52:36,843 --> 00:52:41,076 THAT STARTED WITH A LEAD PENCIL AND SCOTCH TAPE; 913 00:52:41,176 --> 00:52:44,676 HENRY FORD'S OBSESSION WITH WATCHES; 914 00:52:44,777 --> 00:52:47,676 AND AN ENCOUNTER IN A CHICAGO SLAUGHTERHOUSE 915 00:52:47,777 --> 00:52:51,109 THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ANYONE TO OWN A CAR. 916 00:52:52,610 --> 00:52:55,476 THE DARING LONG-DISTANCE TEST DRIVE 917 00:52:55,576 --> 00:52:58,243 AND SUBVERSIVE MARKETING OF BERTHA BENZ 918 00:52:58,343 --> 00:53:01,309 THAT MADE THE CAR A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE 919 00:53:01,410 --> 00:53:03,309 TO THE HORSE AND CART, 920 00:53:03,410 --> 00:53:06,676 THE GLOBAL MANURE CRISIS THAT ULTIMATELY BROUGHT ABOUT 921 00:53:06,777 --> 00:53:10,076 THE END OF THE DOMINANCE OF THE HORSE, 922 00:53:10,176 --> 00:53:13,309 RIGHT BACK THROUGH BACKFIRING CANNONS, 923 00:53:13,410 --> 00:53:16,810 FLOODED 17th-CENTURY MINES, 924 00:53:16,910 --> 00:53:21,209 THE BRONZE AGE CHISEL, AND THE INVENTION OF THE AXLE 925 00:53:21,309 --> 00:53:24,510 THAT MADE WHEEL TRANSPORTATION POSSIBLE, 926 00:53:24,610 --> 00:53:27,710 ALL THE WAY BACK 9,000 YEARS 927 00:53:27,810 --> 00:53:30,109 TO THOSE EARLY ARCTIC SETTLERS, 928 00:53:30,209 --> 00:53:32,109 WHO, IN THEIR STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL, 929 00:53:32,209 --> 00:53:35,977 DOMESTICATED WOLVES TO PULL THEIR SLEDS 930 00:53:36,076 --> 00:53:39,610 AND GAVE RISE TO THE FIRST OVERLAND TRANSPORT. 931 00:53:41,209 --> 00:53:44,043 WITHOUT THEM AND ALL THEIR STORIES, 932 00:53:44,143 --> 00:53:46,777 YOU'D NEVER HAVE THE CAR. 933 00:53:51,109 --> 00:53:52,243 NARRATOR: NEXT TIME ON "BREAKTHROUGH," 934 00:53:52,343 --> 00:53:54,743 THE STORY OF HOW WE LEFT EARTH 935 00:53:54,843 --> 00:53:56,977 IS NOT WHAT YOU MIGHT EXPECT. 936 00:53:57,076 --> 00:53:59,743 IT WOULD TAKE AN EXPLOSIVE EXORCISM 937 00:53:59,843 --> 00:54:01,877 IN THE ANCIENT WORLD, 938 00:54:01,977 --> 00:54:05,576 A LEAP IN TECHNOLOGIES FOR FIGHTING FIRE, 939 00:54:05,676 --> 00:54:08,877 MECHANIZATION OF DAIRY FARMS, 940 00:54:08,977 --> 00:54:12,176 A PLOT TO KILL THE KING OF ENGLAND, 941 00:54:12,276 --> 00:54:14,943 TO CREATE A MACHINE WITH THE POWER 942 00:54:15,043 --> 00:54:17,410 TO BREAK FREE FROM EARTH'S GRAVITY-- 943 00:54:17,510 --> 00:54:18,710 THE ROCKET.