Manhole covers exploding spontaneously into the air like loose cannons? Humans attempting to mimic Spiderman and run up walls? Sound waves shredding phone books? Discovery Channel explores the scientific explanations and theories behind some of the most unbelievable, scary, funny and jaw-dropping footage of mayhem, destruction, action and stunts ever caught on camera in WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?. The fast-paced, clip-based series takes you behind the science that explains the outcomes of some of the most mind-baffling situations ever documented. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? premieres Thursday, June 6 at 9:00 p.m. Encores every Friday at 2:00 p.m., Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and Sunday at 9:00 p.m.
The interactive 10-part series features several clips which get paused right before their big, dramatic moments to allow viewers the chance to take a stab at guessing WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Drawing inspiration from popular game shows, the questions are presented in a host of formats such as 50/50 choices and “gone in 30 seconds” quick-fire rounds. Viewers are then given a number of incredible – but scientifically viable – options to choose from based on the montage they have just seen. After the question has been posed, the clip is resumed to reveal its unbelievable finale, exposing a breakdown of the precise science behind each event.
In WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?, witness the effects of helicopter engine malfunctions, the impact of building demolitions gone wrong, the damage potential of giant hailstones. Find out what happens after a bird flies directly into a jet engine, explore the science behind fire walking, understand the physics of Tarzan’s swing and grasp the aerodynamic forces behind a plane stalling and what it takes for a pilot to recover from such a dangerous situation. With astounding footage, amazing science, ambitious stunts and clever questions, WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? delivers a non-stop succession of facts, each more brilliant – and staggering – than the last.
Episode 1
It is not possible to walk on water, but can you drive on water? Watch a quad bike and a jeep attempt to harness the science of ‘aquaplaning’ to achieve this seemingly impossible feat. Discover how high manhole covers can leap when they spontaneously explode into the air. Explore the very precise science behind ramp jumping and what happens when you come face-to-face with a jack-knifing lorry. Witness what happens when helicopter pilots land too quickly and deal with a firefighter’s worst nightmare: the Burning Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion (BLEVE). How long can people survive when they are buried under an avalanche? How does the colour of frozen ice provide clues on whether it can support your weight?
Episode 2
For the ultimate surfing thrill, forget the beach; there are rivers where waves (called tidal bores) are more impressive than practically anything you will find at sea. Dissect highly dramatic police car chases and the Precision Immobilisation Technique (PIT) manoeuvre that law enforcement officers use to get their criminals. What mayhem can transpire when motorbikes go sans riders and what is it about their clever design that suggests a rider may be redundant? Can bullet proof glass stop a determined bank robber armed with an axe and is there a limit to what the martial arts expert’s hand can chop? In Catalonia, Spain, a place known for its spectacular architecture, structures are not confined to bricks and mortar; they build human skyscrapers! Watch what happens when storm drain designs do not account for the scientific impossibility of water compression.
Episode 3
Can man fly? Base jumpers try to find out by using wing suits. Discover the real cutting power of helicopter rotor blade as the machines clash with copper and steel cables. Witness nature’s awesome power as demonstrated by the unpredictable and destructive energy unleashed by icebergs and waterspouts as they head inland and turn into full-blown, destructive tornadoes. How can skilled surfers avoid death and serious injury in their attempt to ride the biggest of waves? How does a motocross rider use the physics of angular momentum to control his bike in the air when he should be eating sand? Discover how to fell a tree properly before they crush cars or houses, as well as what happens when drivers fall asleep at the wheel.
Episode 4
How could a kayaker possibly survive plummeting down a 58-metre waterfall? Can a capuchin monkey survive an accidental encounter with a high voltage line? Look at the science behind why racing boats ‘blow-over’ or somersault and crash. We explain why wildfires are almost impossible to stop, and test if it is possible to outrun one. Explore the science of demolition and the extraordinary ability of some buildings to survive as we pit three dramatically different demolition techniques against each other to find the ultimate method of destruction. What causes potholes to form on roads, and what does it take to knock someone unconscious?
Episode 5
How can knowledge of science help a parkour enthusiast run up a wall? Can you outrun an avalanche on a snowmobile? Can the right frequency of sound waves shred phone books or shatter windows? Witness dramatic explosions when a fire turns into a backdraft and learn how to tackle them. What scientific tricks make the difference between life and death when a belayer is called to save the life of a climber 50 percent heavier than she is? And when a paraglider finds himself on a collision course with two vultures high above the Himalayas, what happens?
Episode 6
Water might not always be the best way to put out a factory fire. Discover the repercussions of squirting the wrong substance at a fire. Test the avoidance abilities of people by watching pedestrians leap out of the way of oncoming vehicles to demonstrate the speed of human reaction. Watch the science of how seatbelts work, learn about Newton’s Third Law and witness some amazing escapes. One power-kiter attempts to jump from the chilly English Channel right over the famous Brighton pier while a parachutist wrestles with a dodge-or-die situation when a sudden gust of wind blows him directly into the path of a large metal trailer. How is slacklining offering new hope for stroke victims learning to walk?
Episode 7
Is there a limit to the number of objects a human can juggle? How deep and for how long can a free-diver go without an air tank undersea. Then, three onboard cameras provide viewers with the opportunity to experience every moment of a doomed flight as a light aircraft crashes shortly after take-off. Witness amazing examples of the phenomenon of the sonic boom, a sound made by an object such as an aircraft or Space Shuttle when it’s travelling faster than sound. What are the counter-intuitive physics that govern the Tarzan rope swing? Why are hailstorms so destructive? Why does fire walking not cause burns? Is it science or spirituality?