
Historians reveal and discuss evidence of centuries-old theories and prototypes for many contemporary procedures and technologies, like brain surgery and computers.

Building a replica of a 2000-year-old jet engine; a weapon that can shoot around corners; a gun that is made from fruit; beating the ancient world's land-speed record.

The mummified crocodiles of Kom Ombo; using an X-ray on an ancient mummy; China's terra-cotta army; scientists solve a year-old murder using 15th-century forensics; virtual-reality techniques afford investigation of crucifixion.

Explorers use a sacred ancient Mayan temple code to search for an occult underworld engineered in Mexico; investigators in Britain discover the secret technology behind a life-size statue of Jesus Christ that came to life.

Ancient secret agents; fire beacons, horses and pigeons are used to transmit messages over thousands of miles; ancient spies use invisible ink made from human sperm and write messages inside raw eggs; Japanese ninjas use explosives.