This Prototype for a Robotic Flipper Was Inspired by Sea Lions

In 1923, Tokyo lay in ruins after the devastation of the Great Kanto Earthquake. Just seven years later, it was a city reborn: from the iconic Ginza shopping center to the world famous Kabuki-za Theater.

Tokyo's Modernization Was Fueled by This Disastrous Earthquake (2:08)

With heavy fog and windy conditions, sailing into San Francisco Bay has long been a hazardous affair. Then, in 1870, things got a lot safer with the construction of the Point Reyes Lighthouse.

This Lighthouse Made Sailing Into San Francisco Bay Safer (1:34)

Landing on an aircraft carrier's 300-feet runway seems like an impossible task. To slow down the landing plane, a series of arresting wires catch the jet's wheels and help bring it to a stop.

The Intricate Skill That Goes Into Landing a Fighter Jet (3:25)

The Sea Wiz is the affectionate nickname given to a 20mm Vulcan Cannon on board the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier. It fires 4,500 rounds a minute, can hit a target five miles away and has bullets that are twice the normal size.

This Aircraft Carrier Cannon Fires 4,500 Rounds a Minute (1:47)

While it's hard to imagine Seattle's Space Needle looking any other way, few people know that the iconic 'flying saucer' design wasn't the original choice.

Space Needle Was Designed to Look Very Different (2:16)

Chicago, home to some of the tallest skyscrapers in the world, throws some pretty unusual challenges at its daring window cleaners. From heavy winds and rough weather, to falcons nesting in the tower's facade.

Window Cleaning One of Chicago's Tallest Buildings (2:32)

One of the most important byproducts of the Hoover Dam is an artificial body of water known as Lake Mead. Its presence has helped the population of Clark County grow sevenfold since 1970.

Why Las Vegas's Landscape Is So Lush and Green (2:43)

Billionaire Richard Branson has set up Virgin Galactic as part of his dream to conquer the final frontier. But it's also a bet that could land him at the forefront of a new business: space tourism.

Richard Branson Speaks on Plan for Space Tourism (2:45)

The John Cooper Works edition is the fastest machine MINI has ever built. With a 228 two-liter twin turbo motor, it can hit 0 to 60 in six seconds flat with a top speed of 152 mph.

This Is How MINI JCW Turbo Engines Are Built (2:17)