Engineering by Catastrophe

Across the globe, engineers are creating extraordinary modern masterpieces, structures that push beyond the limits of what came before. Each year, innovations grow more impressive as bridges, tunnels, skyscrapers and even spacecraft become bigger, bolder and more ambitious. Yet, every breakthrough brings new risks. 

To ensure the safest outcomes, engineers must study worst-case scenarios in which major structures are pushed to their limits and fatal flaws are exposed. Fires, explosions, floods and catastrophic collisions are difficult to confront but essential to understand. 

In this series, we learn from the past to build a safer future.

Show Info

Network: United Kingdom National Geographic (2026 - now)
Schedule: Sundays at 20:00 (60 min)
Status: In Development; premiering May 2026
Show Type: Documentary
Episodes ordered: 6 episodes

Official site: www.natgeotv.com

Next Episode

Above and Beyond

Episode 1x01; May 17, 2026

Sending humans into space is perilous. Astronauts endure powerful launches, brutal reentry forces and an environment where small errors cause catastrophe. To prepare Orion for deep space, NASA studies past disasters to shape safer suits, escape syste

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