or


[02/06/20 - 11:04 AM]
Smithsonian Channel(TM) Examines the Evolution of Weaponry in "World of Weapons"
The 10-episode series launches Sunday, March 15 at 9:00/8:00c.

[via press release from Smithsonian Channel]

SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL(TM) EXAMINES THE EVOLUTION OF WEAPONRY IN

"WORLD OF WEAPONS"

NEW DOCUSERIES HIGHLIGHTING WEAPONS' HISTORICAL, SCIENTIFIC AND SOCIETAL IMPACT PREMIERES SUNDAY, MARCH 15 AT 9 PM ET/PT

NEW YORK - February 6, 2020 - Smithsonian Channel will explore the evolution of weapons throughout history and how they changed the course of mankind in the new documentary series WORLD OF WEAPONS. Weapons comprise an ever-evolving arsenal that has transformed combat - helping build empires, destroy them and deter aggression. This ten-part series highlights some of the world's most important and innovative weapons and how and why they work, what problems they solve on the battlefield and give fresh insight into their role in history. Along the way, renowned international experts look at weapons and war as a way to explain human progress and how they may determine our fate. WORLD OF WEAPONS premieres Sunday, March 15 at 9 PM ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel.

In the premiere episode, RANGED WEAPONS, experts demonstrate the most important long-range weapons in history. The pilum, a most ingeniously made spear, was the high-tech weapon of the ancient world used in the Roman Empire to disable the enemy in battle. In the medieval times, England becomes the most feared superpower with the longbow, which caused massive damage to opposing forces and especially Europe's aristocratic knights. During the nineteenth century, battlefields become even bloodier with the emergence of the minié ball, creating more accurate precision for firing at a distance.

Subsequent episodes of WORLD OF WEAPONS are:

ATTACK FROM ABOVE

Premieres Sunday, March 22 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Warfare enters a new dimension with the attack from above, transporting war up in the air. Early on, archers besieged with devastating incendiary arrows, and long before airplanes were invented, smart medieval army commanders designed rockets. Bomb attacks have become a significant part of vicious war tactics since WWI, and as A.I. becomes increasingly independent, war drones could soon autonomously decide when to strike.

CLOSE COMBAT

Premieres Sunday, March 29 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Melee is likely the most original type of close combat, but over time, armies have developed more effective close combat weapons. In this episode, experts test the physical and psychological impact of the three most important melee developments of our time. The Roman short sword and the medieval war hammer cause severe damage, while bayonets rely on the deterrent effect - but an exoskeleton gives superpowers to the soldiers of the future.

WEAPONS FOR ALL

Premieres Sunday, April 5 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Weapons designed for everyone are an advantage at war, but they can also be extremely devastating. Experts test the three most important weapons that can be learned quickly. The crossbow transforms peasants into warriors that suddenly become a threat to the knight; learning to use a pike is easy but requires bravery. The Kalashnikov is considered the world's deadliest weapon due to its rare simplicity, but if 3D printed guns go into mass production, world peace will never be the same.

FASTER THAN THE ENEMY

Premieres Sunday, April 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Speed has become a decisive factor in warfare, and in this episode, a team of international experts use experiments to show the most significant weapons where speed made a difference. The chariot brings mobility to the battles of the ancient world, small handguns like Samuel Colt's revolver launch a new era of war and the weapon considered as the one symbol for asymmetric warfare is the sling. Will the future laser cannon change warfare with the speed of light?

THE POWER OF DESTRUCTION

Premieres Sunday, April 19 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

International experts test the catastrophic effects of the most destructive weapons that shaped the wars of the 20th century. Machine guns kill entire units within seconds, while the hand grenade has enormous power and can easily be carried in a backpack - but the most powerful war machine ever invented is the tank. Military scientists seek ever more demolition with least effort - does the Russian 'father of all bombs' finally reach all limits of conventional destruction?

WAR AT SEA

Premieres Sunday, April 26 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

War at sea: a new form of warfare with exceptional challenges. In this episode, weapons expert Stephen Bull tests three significant weapons of the sea. The Byzantines guarded the Greek fire as the secret super weapon that kept Constantinople safe for over 800 years. Experts build an original replica for an experiment that will demonstrate the thunderous force of a ship cannon. One of the most devastating missiles ever invented is the torpedo, and a subsonic torpedo might be ruling sea battles in the future.

THE AMBUSH

Premieres Sunday, May 3 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Attacking the enemy in an ambush is a devastating advantage at war. The Ambush explores weapons that stayed undetected until their very strike revolutionized warfare. The caltrop brought down the cavalry when it made entire battlefields impassible. Being able to load and fire a rifle from a lying position made a huge difference during warfare. The insidious landmine weakens every leftover moral of the enemy's army. What if future soldiers' cover becomes invisibility?

DEADLY INVENTIONS

Premieres Sunday, May 10 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Wars become even bloodier as new technologies keep evolving. An international team of experts tests the deadliest weapons upgrades in the history of warfare. Designed to penetrate solid armor, the Scorpio makes use of the power of torsion. With the long sword, European knights slaughter their opponents on the medieval battlefield and Henry's rifle changed future wars with a revolutionary design: the lever action. Looking forward, a futuristic image of a combat robot army can be the next generation of infantry.

CIVILIANS ON THE BATTLEFIELD

Premieres Sunday, May 10 at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Often times civilians suffer from waging a war - in this episode, experts track down three weapons that were used to recklessly attack civilian populations. With no regard for civilian casualties, the trebuchet hurls heavy stones against solid castle walls. Deploying biological weapons is a chance to conquer a fortress without destroying it. Designed to put an end to World War II, the atomic bomb embodies fear and terror to this day. Now, a cyber war could be most devastating, affecting everyone's reality.

WORLD OF WEAPONS is produced by Story House Productions for ZDF and ZDF Enterprises. Producers for Story House Producers are Jens Afflerbach, Carsten Obl�nder and Arnd Piechottka. Joy Galane and David Royle serve as executive producers for Smithsonian Channel.

Smithsonian Channel(TM), a ViacomCBS Inc. network, is where curiosity lives, inspiration strikes and wonders never cease. This is the place for awe-inspiring stories, powerful documentaries and amazing factual entertainment, available in HD and 4K Ultra HD across multiple platforms. Smithsonian Channel, winner of Emmy(R) and Peabody awards for its programming, is the home of popular genres such as air and space, travel, history, science, nature and pop culture. Among the network's offerings are hit series including Aerial America, America in Color, America's Hidden Stories, Apollo's Moon Shot, The Pacific War in Color and Air Disasters, as well as critically-acclaimed specials that include The Green Book: Guide to Freedom, Black Hole Hunters and Princess Diana's Wicked Stepmother. Smithsonian Networks also operates Smithsonian Channel Plus(TM), a subscription video streaming service delivering over a thousand hours of the Channel's stunning and diverse library of documentaries and series in HD and 4K Ultra HD. Smithsonian Channel is also available internationally in Canada, Singapore, Latin America, the UK and Ireland. To learn more, go to smithsonianchannel.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.





  [february 2020]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· WORLD OF WEAPONS (SMITH)





[03/28/24 - 11:07 AM]
HBO Original Documentary "Brandy Hellville & The Cult of Fast Fashion" Debuts April 9
The film uncovers the toxic culture of the teen brand Brandy Melville and the global ramifications of mass-produced clothing known as fast fashion.

[03/28/24 - 11:02 AM]
FX's "Welcome to Wrexham" Shifts Season Three Premiere Date
The May 2 premiere will include the first two episodes of the eight-episode season, with a new episode available each following Thursday.

[03/28/24 - 10:36 AM]
Claire Danes Will Reunite with "Homeland" Showrunner & Executive Producer Howard Gordon on the Netflix Limited Series "The Beast in Me"
A grieving author finds a new subject in a real estate mogul who was once the prime suspect in his wife's disappearance. Her investigation spirals into a game of cat and mouse that might turn deadly.

[03/28/24 - 10:32 AM]
Roku Originals Reunites "The Real Bros of Simi Valley" for New Movie; Directed by Jimmy Tatro
"The Real Bros of Simi Valley: High School Reunion" is a continuation of the beloved original series, co-created by Jimmy Tatro and Christian Pierce, which became a social media phenomenon generating over a billion views across video platforms.

[03/28/24 - 10:04 AM]
Bravo Reveals Returning Cast for "The Real Housewives of New York City" Season 15
After a successful first bite out of the Big Apple, all six ladies of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New York City" will return for season 15, including Sai De Silva, Ubah Hassan, Erin Lichy, Jenna Lyons, Jessel Taank and Brynn Whitfield.

[03/28/24 - 10:03 AM]
Matt Barnes and Anansa Sims Give a Close-Up Look at Navigating Love, Co-Parenting, Fame and More in New Series, "The Barnes Bunch," Premiering Friday, April 19 at 10PM ET on WE tv
This endearing new series follows NBA champion and successful Podcaster, Matt Barnes, alongside his fiancée, model and reality personality, Anansa Sims, as they navigate love, forgiveness, and personal growth while reconciling their past.

[03/28/24 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Dan Da Dan" - Official Trailer - Netflix Anime
This is the story of Momo, a high school girl from a family of spirit mediums, and her classmate Okarun, an occult freak.

[03/28/24 - 10:01 AM]
"Karamo" Renewed for Third Season in National Syndication
"Karamo" is hosted by reality television personality, author, actor, producer and activist Karamo.

[03/28/24 - 09:31 AM]
Video: "Neal Brennan: Crazy Good" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Comedian Neal Brennan riffs in this stand-up special on crypto, social media flexes, sex compliments and the link between greatness and mental health.

[03/28/24 - 09:03 AM]
ESPN+ Unveils Major League Baseball Game Schedule for March and April
ESPN+ will stream a game every day in April, featuring all thirty Major League Baseball Clubs.

[03/28/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Jurassic World: Chaos Theory" - Teaser Trailer - Netflix After School
Set six years after the events at Camp Cretaceous, members of "The Nublar Six" are struggling to find their footing off the islands, navigating a world now filled with dinosaurs and people who want to hurt them.

[03/28/24 - 09:01 AM]
WWE on A&E Continues with Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias Joining "WWE Rivals" & More "WWE's Most Wanted Treasures" & "Biography: WWE Legends"
Kicking off on Sunday, April 14, "WWE's Most Wanted Treasures" will feature WWE Hall of Famers Booker T, Mick Foley, and Lita as they hunt for iconic memorabilia and share the history behind some of the most famous items in WWE history.

[03/28/24 - 09:00 AM]
"The Omen" Complete Franchise, Streaming Now on Hulu
To celebrate the new theatrical release, catch up on the supernatural saga with all five films available to stream on Hulu!

[03/28/24 - 08:29 AM]
Video: Prime Video Releases the Official Trailer for Horror Anthology Series "THEM: THE SCARE" Starring Deborah Ayorinde, Luke James, Pam Grier, and More!
This second installment will consist of eight episodes and premieres on Thursday, April 25, in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

[03/28/24 - 08:16 AM]
Netflix Lights Up the Sky with 1,000 Drones to Reveal May 1 Launch Date for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Epic Saga, "Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar"
In the series, arch nemeses Mallikajaan and Fareedan are locked in a battle for succession of Heeramandi, where courtesans reign as queens.