How We Got to Now

How We Got To Now with Steven Johnson is a six part documentary series that reveals the story behind the remarkable ideas that made modern life possible; the unsung heroes that brought them into the world – and the unexpected and bizarre consequences each of these innovations has triggered.

Trailer

Storyline

First Aired

2014-10-08
Last Aired

2014-11-12
Creator

Steven Johnson
Genre

Documentary
Seasons

1
Episodes

6
Status

Ended
Language

English
Network

PBS

Keywords:

innovation

Stream and watch How We Got to Now

Season 1

1. Clean

Dirty water is transformed with a series of innovations - Chicago builds America's first sewer system,...More

Dirty water is transformed with a series of innovations - Chicago builds America's first sewer system, and Jersey City makes water safe for drinking (and bikinis). Manufacturing is transformed with the elimination of dust.Less

60mins 2014-10-08

2. Time

With no natural light, submarines re-invent the workday. Frustrated with hundreds of local time zones,...More

With no natural light, submarines re-invent the workday. Frustrated with hundreds of local time zones, a railroad clerk fights to standardize time. Navigation, travel, and technology advances result from unrecognized contributions to time.Less

60mins 2014-10-15

3. Glass

The invention of the mirror gives rise to the Renaissamce; glass lenses reveal worlds within worlds wo...More

The invention of the mirror gives rise to the Renaissamce; glass lenses reveal worlds within worlds worlds; glass is essential; for communication in the deep ocean; glass lens allows millions to watch a man walk on the moon.Less

60mins 2014-10-22

4. Light

The pioneers of light; Edison's light bulb; a French scientist accidentally discovers a neon light.

The pioneers of light; Edison's light bulb; a French scientist accidentally discovers a neon light.Less

60mins 2014-10-29

5. Cold

Ice delivery becomes big business, the father of frozen foods, Clarence Birdseye, and his vision for t...More

Ice delivery becomes big business, the father of frozen foods, Clarence Birdseye, and his vision for the future, and penguins who live in the desert.Less

60mins 2014-11-05

6. Sound

30,000 year old traces of a desire to record sound are located in caves, how radio influenced the civi...More

30,000 year old traces of a desire to record sound are located in caves, how radio influenced the civil rights movement, the weapon that laid the ground work for today's mobile phones, and the role of the ultrasound in modern medicine.Less