Narrator: ON THE SURFACE,
OUR WORLD LOOKS FAMILIAR, BUT STRANGENESS
IS ALL AROUND US. YOU JUST NEED TO KNOW
WHERE TO LOOK. AND BENEATH THIS STRANGENESS LIES SOME TRULY ASTONISHING
SCIENCE. COME WITH US
AS WE TRAVEL THE WORLD TO BRING YOU THE ODD,
THE BIZARRE, AND THE DOWNRIGHT PECULIAR. THIS TIME, IT'S
THE WORLD'S STRANGEST PLACES, WHERE A LAKE
CAN SWALLOW TREES AND BOATS... Man:
LOOK AT THIS OVER HERE! LOOK! IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE WHAT WAS
UNFOLDING RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES. Narrator:
...WHERE CARS CAN ROLL<i> UP</i> HILLS. McIntosh:
IN SOME PLACE, THE LAWS OF NATURE HAVE BEEN
MIRACULOUSLY SUSPENDED. Narrator:
...BANANAS CAN GROW IN ICE... IF I TOUCH IT, MY HAND
WILL PROBABLY STICK TO IT, AND THE SKIN WILL PEEL OFF. Narrator:
AND AN ISLAND CAN TURN INTO THE WORLD'S LARGEST HAIR DRYER. WHOO! --<font color="#FFFF00"> Captions by VITAC --</font><font color="#00FFFF">
www.vitac.com</font> CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS Narrator:
THIS IS LAKE PEIGNEUR. ON THE SURFACE,
IT LOOKS PERFECTLY ORDINARY, BUT JUST OVER 30 YEARS AGO,
THIS LAKE DID THE IMPOSSIBLE. IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE WHAT WAS
UNFOLDING RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES. Narrator: SUDDENLY, THIS LAKE,
WHICH WAS JUST 10 FEET DEEP, BEGAN TO SWALLOW BOATS, LAND,
AND HOUSES. THE SWIRL
WAS UNDERNEATH THE BOAT. WE WERE ABOUT READY
TO BE SWALLOWED. Narrator: SO, JUST HOW DID
THIS HAVEN OF TRANQUILITY TURN INTO AMERICA'S
MOST DESTRUCTIVE LAKE? MIKE RICHARD HAS LIVED
BY THE LAKE FOR OVER 40 YEARS. ON NOVEMBER 20, 1980,
AT 5:45 IN THE MORNING, MY SISTER VICKI WAS AWAKENED
BY TREMBLING IN THE GROUND. THE VIBRATIONS WERE SHAKING
THE WALLS OF THE BUILDING AND CAUSING WATER
IN THE FOUNTAINS TO SLOSH BACK AND FORTH. Narrator: BUT WHAT HE SAW NEXT
WAS ASTONISHING. A MASSIVE WHIRLPOOL HAD SUDDENLY
APPEARED IN THE LAKE. Richard: THE VORTEX WHIRLPOOL
THAT DEVELOPED WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF US HERE, MAYBE 300 OR 400 FEET
AHEAD OF US. Narrator:
WITHIN AN HOUR, THE WHIRLPOOL DOUBLED IN SIZE
FROM 700 TO 1,400 FEET. MIKE GRABBED HIS SUPER 8 CAMERA AND BEGAN FILMING
AS BARGES WORKING ON THE LAKE STARTED DISAPPEARING. Richard: THE ROTATION OF
THE WATER BECAME MORE VIOLENT. THE BARGES WOULD BE BUMPING
INTO EACH OTHER, AND THE TUGBOAT HAD BEEN ALMOST
SUCKED INTO THE VORTEX. Narrator: BOAT CAPTAIN HORACE
MENARD WAS ON ONE OF THE BARGES AND FOUND HIMSELF BEING PULLED
INTO THE WHIRLPOOL. THAT WHIRLPOOL
WAS JUST GETTING BIGGER. THE SWIRL
WAS UNDERNEATH THE BOAT. THE FRONT OF IT WAS KIND OF UP AND THE BACK END OF IT WAS
LIKE MAYBE FIVE FOOT DIFFERENT. WE WERE ABOUT READY
TO BE SWALLOWED. Narrator: AS HORACE FRANTICALLY
TRIED TO ESCAPE DEATH, HE WAS BLOCKED
BY AN UNMANNED BARGE THAT HAD BROKEN ITS MOORINGS. Menard:
I HAD THE ENGINE WIDE OPEN. MY SON WAS HOLLERING,
"GET US OUT OF HERE." HE WANTED TO JUMP OVERBOARD,
AND I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. Narrator:
SUDDENLY, THE OTHER BARGE WAS SUCKED INTO THE WHIRLPOOL, GIVING HORACE
A CHANCE TO ESCAPE. Menard: AFTER WE GOT OUT,
AS I TURNED AROUND, I SAW THE BARGE WAS UPRIGHT,
GOING INTO THE HOLE. Narrator:
OVER THE NEXT THREE HOURS, THE WHIRLPOOL SWALLOWED
ELEVEN 200-FOOT BARGES. BUT HOW COULD SUCH A DESTRUCTIVE
VORTEX FORM IN THE LAKE, WHICH WAS JUST 11 FEET DEEP? A CLUE LAY 1,300 FEET
BELOW THE LAKE... WHERE THERE WAS
A MASSIVE WORKING MINE. MIKE ARCENEAUX
USED TO WORK THERE. HE'D JUST STARTED HIS SHIFT WHEN
SUDDENLY WATER BEGAN POURING IN. Arceneaux:
I TURN AROUND, AND I SEE STUFF
LIKE THIS FLOATING, COMING TOWARDS US. SO, I GET ON THE PHONE. I CALL THE SUPERVISOR
AND TELL HIM, "WE GOT WATER
COMING IN THE MINE, SUPE." AND HE'S LIKE, "ARE YOU SURE?" I'M LIKE, "YEAH,
I'M LOOKING AT IT RIGHT NOW." YOU'RE THINKING, "BOY,
THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO GO." Narrator: AS THE LAKE ABOVE
GUSHED IN FASTER AND FASTER, THE MINERS FACED A TERRIFYING RACE AGAINST TIME
TO REACH THE ELEVATOR. WHEN THEY FINALLY SENT IT DOWN, THERE'S ABOUT 16 OF US
WAITING TO GET ON. WE PACK OURSELVES IN THERE, WE CLOSE THE DOOR,
HIT THE BUZZER. THE WATER
STARTS FALLING UNDERNEATH. IN MY MIND,
IT WAS JUST A MATTER, "WILL THIS THING
TAKE US ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP?" AS I'M SAYING THAT,
THE THING STOPS. I WAS THINKING, "I'M NOT
GONNA MAKE IT OUT OF HERE." [ SIREN WAILS ] Narrator: THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HAD BEEN OVERWHELMED BY WATER, BUT LUCKILY, THE ELEVATOR
COULD BE CRANKED BY HAND. Arceneaux:
I WAS JUST THINKING, "IF THIS THING
COULD JUST CONTINUE TO GO UP, EVERYTHING WOULD BE ALL RIGHT." AND ONCE IT REACHED THE TOP,
MAN, THAT WAS LIKE AN ELEPHANT
OFF MY SHOULDER. ONE GUY, WHEN HE GOT OFF THERE,
HE KISSED THE GROUND. WE'RE SAFE,
BUT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT, "THERE ARE PEOPLE
STILL DOWN THERE," AND WHETHER OR NOT
THEY CAN MAKE IT OUT. Narrator: MIRACULOUSLY,
THE REMAINING 39 MINERS ESCAPED JUST BEFORE THE MINE
WAS COMPLETELY FLOODED. ALTHOUGH THE MINERS
DIDN'T REALIZE IT AT THE TIME, THE WHIRLPOOL AND THE MINE
DISASTER WERE CONNECTED. A WHIRLPOOL IS FORMED
WHEN A HOLE OPENS BENEATH A BODY OF WATER. AS THE WATER
IS PULLED DOWN THROUGH THE HOLE, IT STARTS TO SPIN,
CREATING A FUNNEL, JUST LIKE WHEN YOU PULL THE PLUG
OUT OF A BATH. SO, THE HOLE IN THE MINE HAD
FORMED THE WHIRLPOOL ABOVE IT. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE HOLE WAS
MADE BY AN OIL RIG ON THE LAKE THAT HAD ACCIDENTALLY DRILLED
THROUGH THE MINE'S ROOF, EFFECTIVELY PULLING A PLUG
ON LAKE PEIGNEUR. THE WELL WAS LOCATED
APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET CLOSER TO THE MINE
THAN IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE. Narrator:
BUT THE DRILLING ERROR DIDN'T FULLY EXPLAIN
WHAT WAS HAPPENING... ...BECAUSE THE THING IS, YOU NEED A BIG HOLE
TO MAKE A POWERFUL WHIRLPOOL. AND THE HOLE ACCIDENTALLY
DRILLED INTO THE MINE WAS ONLY 14 INCHES WIDE. THE WHIRLPOOL
SHOULD'VE BEEN TINY, BUT THIS ONE WAS SO POWERFUL THAT EVEN WHEN MOST OF THE WATER
HAD DRAINED INTO THE MINE, IT CARRIED ON SUCKING. AS WE WATCHED, THE CRATER JUST GOT
BIGGER AND BIGGER AND BIGGER. Man:
LOOK AT THE LAND GOING DOWN. Richard: SOIL WAS PEELING OFF
AND FALLING IN GREAT CHUNKS. TREES WERE BEING
SUCKED INTO THE CRATER. Man:
LOOK AT THIS OVER HERE! LOOK! WOW! LOOK! Narrator: BY NOW
3.5 BILLION GALLONS OF WATER WAS RUSHING INTO THE MINE,
FASTER THAN AIR COULD ESCAPE. THE PRESSURE CAUSED
SEVERAL 400-FOOT GEYSERS TO SHOOT UP OUT OF THE MINE. THEY COULD BE HEARD
20 MILES AWAY, AND THIS BIZARRE FREAKSHOW
OF NATURE STILL WASN'T FINISHED, BECAUSE SUDDENLY, THE CANAL
THAT USED TO FLOW FROM THE LAKE INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO
STARTED FLOWING BACKWARDS. INCREDIBLY, SEAWATER RUSHED
ALONG ITS 12-MILE LENGTH AND INTO THE LAKE, CREATING
A 50-FOOT-TALL WATERFALL AS IT FELL INTO THE CRATER. Richard:
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CHIMNEY, THAT WAS PART OF THE HOUSE
THAT WE WERE STANDING ON, AND THE WHIRLPOOL WAS
ABOUT 600 FEET BEYOND THE HOUSE. Narrator: THE HOLE ACCIDENTALLY
DRILLED INTO THE MINE BY THE OIL RIG
WAS JUST 14 INCHES WIDE. NORMALLY,
THAT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE SUCH A POWERFUL VORTEX, BUT IN THIS CASE, ONE DETAIL
WOULD MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. THIS WASN'T ANY OLD MINE. THIS WAS A SALT MINE. ONE OF THE DANGERS YOU DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO SEE
IN A SALT MINE IS WATER. WATER GETTING INTO A SALT MINE WOULD BE LIKE A HOT KNIFE
GOING THROUGH BUTTER. Narrator:
SALT DISSOLVES IN WATER, WHICH MEANS THE 14-INCH HOLE RAPIDLY EXPANDED INTO
A TERRIFYING 50-FOOT CAVERN. AND SINCE THE BIGGER THE HOLE,
THE BIGGER THE WHIRLPOOL, THIS ONE BECAME POWERFUL ENOUGH
TO EAT UP LAND, DESTROY BOATS AND HOMES, AND EVEN SWALLOW
THE 150-FOOT OIL RIG. IN JUST 48 HOURS, THE LAKE
BECAME 70 ACRES BIGGER AND OVER 1,000 FEET DEEPER. THE FRESH WATER
DRAINED AWAY DOWN THE MINE, AND SEAWATER FROM THE GULF
OF MEXICO FLOODED BACK IN, CHANGING ITS ECOLOGY FOREVER. MIKE LOST SOME OF HIS LAND
TO THE WHIRLPOOL, BUT HE SAYS IT'S NOT ALL BAD. Richard:
FROM 1980 TILL TODAY, THINGS HAVE CHANGED
DRAMATICALLY. THE WATER IS MUCH SALTIER. THE FISHERMEN TELL ME
THE FISHING IS MUCH BETTER. IT'S USED A LOT MORE
FOR ACTIVE SPORTS THAN IT WAS... ...AND OUR VIEW
HAS IMPROVED DRAMATICALLY. Narrator:
AN ISLAND WHERE TOURISTS AND EPIC WINDS RESULT IN THIS. THERE'S PARTICLES
FLYING ALL AROUND, AND THERE WAS PIECES OF ROCK
THAT WERE EMBEDDED IN MY LEG, BUT THEN AGAIN, I'M PROBABLY
GONNA DO IT AGAIN TODAY. Narrator: OUR NEXT DESTINATION
IS ALL ABOUT RELAXATION, OR IS IT? [ SCREAMING ] Man:
OH, MY GOD! Narrator: WELCOME TO THE
CARIBBEAN ISLAND OF ST. MAARTEN. EVERY YEAR,
THOUSANDS OF STRESSED PEOPLE COME HERE TO CHILL OUT. THIS SIDE OF THE ISLAND
WHERE WE'RE STAYING, THE BEACHES ARE WONDERFUL. WE'RE HERE ON OUR HONEYMOON,
WANTED TO FIND A NICE PLACE. WE LOVE THE SUN.
WE LOVE THE TROPICS. THE WATER
HERE IS JUST BEAUTIFUL. Narrator: IT LOOKS LOVELY,
BUT THERE'S A CATCH. EVERY FEW MINUTES, PLANES AS LARGE
AS 450-TON JUMBOS LAND AND TAKE OFF ON THE RUNWAY
RIGHT BESIDE THE BEACH. Sorrentina: THERE'S NOTHING
LIKE SEEING THE PLANES LAND. THE BIGGER, THE BETTER. WHEN IT'S ABOUT 300 YARDS AWAY, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GONNA SMASH
RIGHT INTO YOU. IT'S UNBELIEVABLE. YOU CAN JUST ABOUT REACH OUT
AND TOUCH 'EM. Narrator: IT'S SUCH A HOT SPOT
FOR PLANE SPOTTERS THAT THERE'S EVEN
AN ARRIVALS BOARD AT THE BAR. BUT IF PLANES
FLYING JUST ABOVE YOUR HEAD ISN'T STRANGE ENOUGH... ...LOOK AT THIS. THIS IS THE BIZARRE HOBBY
OF JET SURFING. THESE ADRENALINE JUNKIES ARE RIDING THE WAVES
OF HOT, TURBULENT AIR STREAMING OUT OF THE BACK
OF THE PLANE AT SPEEDS
OF UP TO 249 MILES AN HOUR. WITH IT BEING A SHORT RUNWAY,
THEY HAVE TO REV THEIR ENGINES SO THEY CAN TAKE OFF
RATHER QUICKLY. WE'RE BEING CRAZY
IS WHAT WE'RE DOING. BY GRABBING ON THE FENCE, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY
YOU CAN WITHSTAND IT. Man: LOT OF PRESSURE
COMING AT YOU. YOU SMELL THE FUMES. YOU FEEL THE HEAT, AND YOU JUST WONDER
IF YOU CAN REALLY HOLD ON. Man:
OH, MY GOD. OH, MY GOD! WHOO! Narrator:
THE AIR BLASTS OUT OF THE JET IN POWERFUL ROLLING CURRENTS,
PRODUCING A THRUST THAT'S 800 TIMES MORE
THAN THE AVERAGE CAR. Sorrentina: WE ACTUALLY CAN SEE
THE PILOTS UP IN THE COCKPIT, AND THEY'RE WAVING AT US
AND GIVING US THUMBS-UP. THE PEOPLE
THAT STAY ON THE BEACH, THEY'RE GETTING BLOWN BACK
INTO THE WATER. [ CHEERING ] Narrator:
FOR THESE LOONIES STANDING LESS
THAN 100 FEET AWAY, IT'S A MASSIVE ADRENALINE RUSH,
BUT IT'S ALSO HIGHLY DANGEROUS. THERE'S PARTICLES
FLYING ALL AROUND, AND THERE WAS PIECES OF ROCK
THAT WERE EMBEDDED IN MY LEG. I THOUGHT IT'D BE FUN, BUT THE WHOLE TIME
IT WAS HAPPENING, I WAS SCARED TO DEATH. LAST MONTH,
WE HAD AN ACCIDENT OF A TOURIST. SHE TRIED TO HOLD ON,
AND SHE LET GO SLIGHTLY, AND SHE KIND OF HIT HER HEAD. SHE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL. I THINK SHE WAS OUT
FOR A FEW HOURS, SO... ACTUALLY, ONCE,
WHEN I WAS A KID, I SAW A GUY
IN A SMALL CAR PASSING BY, AND HE DIDN'T SEE
THE PLANE TAKING OFF. THE CAR WAS ACTUALLY BLOWN
INTO THE WATER. Narrator:
DESPITE THE OBVIOUS DANGERS, THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF PEOPLE
WILLING TO GIVE IT A TRY. SOMETHING
TO TELL OUR KIDS... THAT'S RIGHT. <i> ...NOT</i> TO DO. THEY SAID THAT THE ROAD
WAS CURSED ALONG THIS BIT, AND IT'S AN UNKNOWN FORCE THAT WAS PULLING YOU
THE OTHER WAY. Narrator: A ROAD WHERE GRAVITY
SEEMS TO HAVE STOPPED WORKING. Man:
SO, HERE'S THE CAR, AND IT'S CLEARLY
ROLLING UP THE HILL. Narrator:
IT MIGHT AT FIRST LOOK NORMAL, BUT SOMETHING VERY ODD IS
HAPPENING ON THIS SCOTTISH ROAD. THESE CYCLISTS ARE HAVING TO
PEDAL HARD TO GO<i> DOWN</i> A HILL... ...AND THIS CYCLIST
IS COASTING<i> UP</i> THE HILL, AND LOOK AT THIS CAR. THE DRIVER STOPS,
PUTS THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, AND IT STARTS
TO ROLL UP THE HILL. Man:
THERE'S CONSPIRACY THEORIES WHERE THERE'S MAGNETS HIDDEN
BEHIND THE BUSHES AND STUFF, BUT NO ONE REALLY KNOWS, NO. THEY SAID THAT THE ROAD
WAS CURSED ALONG THIS BIT. MY POPPY USED TO TELL ME
THAT IT WAS AN OLD WITCH TALE THAT AN UNKNOWN FORCE THAT
WAS PULLING YOU THE OTHER WAY. POSSIBLY,
GRAVITY OPERATES DIFFERENT IN THIS PART OF THE EARTH. Narrator: THIS ROAD
CONFUSES EVERYONE WHO USES IT. WE'VE ASKED ROAD SURVEYOR
CHRIS ENGLISH TO INVESTIGATE. HE'S BROUGHT
ALONG A MYSTERY-BUSTING PIECE OF EQUIPMENT
KNOWN AS A THEODOLITE, AND HE'S GONNA DO
SOME MEASUREMENTS. OKAY,
THAT'S 89.4. <i> OBSERVATION STORED.</i> OKAY, ON TO THE NEXT ONE,
PLEASE. THE RESULTS
ARE COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED. <i> OBSERVATION STORED.</i> THIS LOOKS LIKE THE TOP
OF THE HILL, RIGHT, AND THIS LOOKS LIKE THE BOTTOM. WRONG. IT'S THE OTHER WAY AROUND,
ACTUALLY. CHRIS' MEASUREMENTS SHOW THAT THIS POINT IS 292 FEET
ABOVE SEA LEVEL, AND THIS ONE IS 303 FEET. THE GROUND LEVEL ACTUALLY
GETS HIGHER ON MY RECORDS. IT MAY NOT SHOW THAT, BUT THAT'S ACTUALLY
WHAT TAKES PLACE. Narrator: SO, DOES CHRIS
KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON? ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA. Narrator: THANKFULLY, PSYCHOLOGIST DR. ROB McINTOSH
THINKS HE HAS ANSWER. RELATIVELY SPEAKING, THIS GOES DOWNHILL WITH RESPECT
TO THE SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE THAT WE'RE STANDING IN. BUT IF WE COULD GET A WIDE
ENOUGH PERSPECTIVE ON THIS, WE'D SEE THAT WE'RE STANDING
WITHIN A TILTED LAND MASS. THE WHOLE LANDSCAPE
TILTS THIS WAY, AND THE ROAD
TILTS IN THE SAME DIRECTION BUT BY A SMALLER AMOUNT, SO THE RELATIVE SLOPE
APPEARS TO GO THIS WAY. Narrator:
SO, WE'RE NOT GOING INSANE. IT'S JUST ONE GIANT
OPTICAL ILLUSION. THE LANDSCAPE
IS PLAYING TRICKS ON US. McIntosh:
SO, HERE'S THE CAR, AND IT'S CLEARLY
ROLLING UP THE HILL WITH RESPECT
TO THE SURROUNDING FRAME, BUT NOT WITH RESPECT
TO TRUE GRAVITY. Narrator:
THESE OPTICAL ILLUSIONS FOOL US BECAUSE WE RELY TOO MUCH
ON OUR EYES AND DON'T LISTEN
TO OUR OTHER SENSES. WITHIN OUR INNER EAR,
WE'VE GOT BALANCE ORGANS, THE VESTIBULAR SYSTEM, THAT ALLOW US TO MAINTAIN
POSTURE AND BALANCE, AND THEY TELL US
ABOUT THE TRUE DIRECTION OF GRAVITY ALL THE TIME, BUT WE'RE
SO VISUALLY DOMINATED THAT THAT CORRECT INFORMATION
IS BEING OVERRULED BY THE MISLEADING
VISUAL IMPRESSION OF A SLOPE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. Narrator:
NOT CONVINCED? LET'S STEP INSIDE. THIS IS A ROOM CREATED BY THE AMERICAN SCIENTIST
ADELBERT AMES IN 1934, AND IT PROVES THAT YOUR EYES
CAN TRICK YOUR BRAIN. IF I'M STANDING TOWARDS THE
RIGHT-HAND CORNER OF THE ROOM, I APPEAR TO BE VERY LARGE, BUT WHEN I MOVE TO THE OPPOSITE
CORNER OF THE ROOM, I APPEAR TO SHRINK
TO ABOUT HALF THAT SIZE. OF COURSE, I'M NOT REALLY
SHRINKING AND GROWING. WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING IS THAT WHEN I'M STANDING
IN THIS CORNER, I'M APPROXIMATELY TWICE AS FAR
AWAY FROM YOUR EYE AS I AM IN THAT CORNER, BUT BECAUSE YOUR BRAIN BELIEVES
I'M AT THE SAME DISTANCE, THE ONLY
REASONABLE INTERPRETATION IS THAT I MUST'VE GOT SMALLER. Narrator:
OUR BRAINS HAVE BEEN FOOLED INTO THINKING
THIS ROOM IS SQUARE, BUT IN REALITY, IT'S NOT. McIntosh: SO, THESE APPARENTLY
SQUARE CHECKERBOARD TILES ARE, IN FACT, ALL KIND
OF DIAMOND-SHAPED LOZENGES. THEY GET PROGRESSIVELY LARGER AS WE GO TOWARDS
THE BOTTOM CORNER OF THE ROOM, AND AS WE MOVE
TOWARDS THE OPPOSITE CORNER, THEY GET SMALLER. THE BRAIN IS DESIGNED TO DELIVER
QUICK, EFFICIENT ANSWERS THAT ARE USUALLY CORRECT
IN MOST NATURAL SITUATIONS, AND IT DOES THAT
BY MAKING ASSUMPTIONS, ASSUMING THE MOST LIKELY
INTERPRETATION IN ANY GIVEN SITUATION. BUT WHEN THE MOST
LIKELY THING IS NOT TRUE, THAT'S WHEN WE GET MISTAKES. AS WITH THE ELECTRIC BRAE, WHERE THE WHOLE LANDSCAPE
WAS UNEXPECTEDLY TILTED, OR IN THIS ROOM THAT HAS BEEN
VERY CLEVERLY DESIGNED TO MESS
WITH OUR SENSE OF PERSPECTIVE. Narrator:
IN THE STILLNESS OF THE NIGHT, IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING
OUT OF A 1950s SCI-FI MOVIE. IN FACT, THIS PLACE IS HOME TO ONE OF
THE STRANGEST ENGINEERING FEATS YOU ARE EVER LIKELY TO SEE. Narrator:
SOME PLACES ARE PRETTY ORDINARY UNTIL SOMETHING NEW
ALTERS THEM FOREVER, LIKE THIS CANAL IN SCOTLAND,
WHICH LEADS TO THIS. IT ISN'T A GIANT CLOCK,
BUT IT DOES SAVE TIME. THIS IS THE FALKIRK WHEEL. IT STANDS AT THE MEETING POINT
OF TWO CANALS SEPARATED BY OVER 100 FEET
IN HEIGHT, AND IT'S A BIZARRE
AND REVOLUTIONARY SOLUTION TO AN AGE-OLD PROBLEM -- HOW TO GET A BOAT
UP OR DOWN A HILL. BEFORE IT WAS BUILT, THERE WAS A SERIES
OF TEDIOUS LOCKS. TONY KETTLE WAS THE WHEEL'S
LEAD ARCHITECT. SO, 10 LOCKS, IN EACH LOCK IS
BASICALLY A CONTAINER OF WATER WITH A GATE AT EACH END, AND YOU WOULD FILL THE LOCK WITH
WATER, THE BOAT WOULD COME IN, AND YOU'D RELEASE THE WATER
TO THE NEXT LOCK DOWN. AND THAT WOULD BE
A WHOLE DAY'S ACTIVITY. Narrator: BUT SOME CLEVER PEOPLE
CAME UP WITH THIS, A $27 MILLION WHEEL THAT CAN CARRY BOATS
BETWEEN THE TWO CANALS IN JUST FIVE MINUTES. BOATS FLOAT ONTO THE WHEEL
AT THE TOP OR BOTTOM, AND THEN THE WHEEL TURNS,
AND OFF THEY GO AGAIN. YOU WOULD EXPECT THAT MOVING
600 TONS OF BOAT AND WATER WOULD CONSUME A LOT OF POWER, BUT WHAT'S SO AMAZING
IS THAT IT DOES IT ALL WITH THE ELECTRICITY NEEDED
TO BOIL JUST EIGHT KETTLES. IT ACHIEVES THIS
BECAUSE EACH SIDE OF THE WHEEL ALWAYS WEIGHS 300 TONS,
WHATEVER IT'S CARRYING. Kettle: BECAUSE IT'S
IN BEAUTIFUL BALANCE, IT'S VERY LITTLE POWER THAT
YOU NEED JUST TO TURN THE WHEEL. Narrator:
THIS BRILLIANT BALANCING ACT EXPLOITS A PRINCIPLE
FIRST DISCOVERED YEARS AGO BY A GREEK GUY IN A BATH. ARCHIMEDES'
PRINCIPLE OF DISPLACEMENT MEANS THAT THE MASS OF THE BOAT
WILL DISPLACE THE EXACT SAME WEIGHT OF WATER SO THAT THE FINAL COMBINATION
OF BOAT PLUS WATER ALWAYS WEIGHS THE SAME, HOWEVER BIG OR SMALL
THE BOATS ARE. AND WHAT'S EVEN MORE INCREDIBLE IS THAT THIS WHEEL
MANAGES TO MOVE A BOAT AND ALL THE WATER
THROUGH 180 DEGREES WITHOUT SPILLING A DROP,
THANKS TO SOME CLEVER COGS. Kettle: WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE LOADS DON'T TURN AS THE WHEEL TURNS. IF THAT HAPPENED,
THE WATER WOULD SLOSH ABOUT, AND EVERYBODY WOULD FALL OUT
INTO THE BASIN BELOW. BUT WHAT WE DO IS
WE USE FIVE COGS ON THE BEAM, AND THE CENTRAL COG AND
THE OUTSIDE COGS REMAIN STATIC, BUT THEN AS IT TURNS,
THE TWO OTHER COGS ROTATE, AND YOU SEE THE CAISSONS
REMAIN HORIZONTAL. Narrator: INCREDIBLY, TONY CAME UP WITH THE SOLUTION
WHILE PLAYING WITH HIS DAUGHTER. A VERY SIMPLE IDEA,
BUT SOMETHING THAT HAD A LOT OF ENGINEERS
SCRATCHING THEIR HEADS AS TO HOW TO FIND A SOLUTION. Narrator: THE FALKIRK WHEEL
HAS NOT ONLY MADE THIS ONE OF SCOTLAND'S
STRANGEST PLACES -- IT'S MADE IT ONE OF THE BUSIEST. NOW THOUSANDS OF BOATS
USE THESE CANALS EVERY YEAR, AND TRAVELING DOWNHILL IS NO
LONGER A SLOW, PAINFUL PROCESS BUT A HIGHLIGHT OF THE TRIP. OUR NEXT DESTINATION IS ICELAND,
A LAND OF THE NORTHERN LIGHTS, SNOW, ICE, GLACIERS,
AND BANANAS. WE ALL LOVE BANANAS, BUT HERE IN ICELAND,
THEY ARE BANANAS ABOUT BANANAS. ICELANDERS ARE SOME OF THE
WORLD'S TOP EATERS OF THE FRUIT, WITH EVERY ONE OF THEM
MUNCHING THEIR WAY THROUGH 30 POUNDS A YEAR. BUT WHAT'S EVEN WEIRDER THAN
HOW MANY BANANAS ICELANDERS EAT IS WHERE THEY GET THEM FROM. LOCAL HORTICULTURALIST
GURRY HELGADOTTIR. WE'VE BEEN GROWING BANANAS
IN THIS GREENHOUSE FOR SOMETHING
LIKE 50 TO 60 YEARS. Narrator: ICELAND IS AN UNLIKELY
PLACE TO GROW TROPICAL FRUIT. GREENHOUSES ARE USUALLY HEATED
BY THE SUN, BUT HERE,
NEAR THE ARCTIC CIRCLE, THERE'S NOT MUCH OF THAT. IN THE SUMMER, THE TEMPERATURE RARELY HITS
50 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, AND IN WINTER, THERE ARE
JUST FIVE HOURS OF DAYLIGHT, SO ICELAND'S GREENHOUSES
HAVE TO GET THEIR HEAT FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE... ...VOLCANOES. WE ARE JUST ON THE OUTSKIRTS
OF A VERY BIG VOLCANO AND VOLCANIC AREA, AND THIS VOLCANIC AREA
IS ACTUALLY A HIGH-HEAT AREA. Narrator: INCREDIBLY,
ICELAND HAS 22 ACTIVE VOLCANOES. IT'S ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST
VOLCANICALLY ACTIVE REGIONS, SPEWING A THIRD
OF THE EARTH'S TOTAL LAVA FLOW OVER THE PAST 500 YEARS. THAT'S BECAUSE THE COUNTRY
SITS ON THE MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE, WHERE THE NORTH AMERICAN
AND EURASIAN PLATES COLLIDE. MAGMA, CONTINUALLY FLOATING UP FROM THE EARTH'S CORE
BETWEEN THESE PLATES, IS SO HOT, IT CAN TURN
THE GROUND WATER INTO STEAM. WE ARE HARNESSING THE WATER
OR THE STEAM THAT IS FLOWING
THROUGH THESE WARM ROCKS. THIS IS BASICALLY
WHAT WE ARE THEN USING TO HEAT UP OUR GREENHOUSES. Narrator: INCREDIBLY, THERE'S
SO MUCH HEAT DEEP UNDERGROUND THAT EVEN IN THE SUBZERO
ICELANDIC WINTER, THIS GREENHOUSE
IS LIKE THE CARIBBEAN. THE ENVIRONMENT
IN HERE IS TROPICAL ACTUALLY, SO WHEN YOU COME IN HERE,
IT JUST HITS YOU. IT'S REALLY HUMID, AND THE TEMPERATURE
IS SOMEWHERE LIKE 30 DEGREES, AND THE PLANTS IN HERE --
THEY ACTUALLY LOVE THIS. Narrator: BUT YOU DO HAVE TO
WAIT FOR YOUR ICELANDIC BANANAS. WITH SO LITTLE SUN, IT TAKES TWO YEARS
FOR THEM TO GROW INSTEAD OF ONE, AND IT'S NOT ONLY BANANAS
THEY GROW IN ICELAND. AMAZINGLY, THEY ALSO GROW OVER 1,600 TONS
OF TOMATOES EVERY YEAR -- SO MANY THAT ONE DAY SOON, YOU MAY FIND THEM
IN A SUPERMARKET NEAR YOU. WE ARE JUST SO LUCKY TO HAVE
ALL THIS GEOTHERMALINITY BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT,
WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THIS. Narrator: BUT THAT'S NOT THE END
OF THE ICELANDIC WEIRDNESS. EVEN FISHING HERE IS STRANGE. THE WATER POOLS ARE HOT ENOUGH
TO BOIL EGGS, BAKE BREAD... [ SPEAKING ICELANDIC ] ...OR EVEN COOK THAT DELICIOUS
LOCAL DELICACY, SHEEP'S HEAD. THERE'S SO MUCH
UNDERGROUND HOT WATER IN ICELAND THAT THEY USE IT
TO WARM ALMOST ALL THEIR HOMES AND GENERATE 25%
OF THEIR ELECTRICITY. BEFORE WE LEAVE ICELAND, THERE'S ONE MORE PLACE
WE WANT TO SHOW YOU. THIS IS THE BLUE LAGOON, AND IT'S THE WORLD'S
STRANGEST HEALTH SPA BECAUSE WHAT THESE PEOPLE
ARE SWIMMING IN IS THE WASTE OF A GEOTHERMAL POWER STATION. IT IS ACTUALLY
OUR DISCHARGED WATER. IT HAS A LOT
OF MINERALS AND SALT CRYSTALS, SO WE HAVE A HEALTH CLINIC WHERE YOU CAN GET TREATED FOR
SKIN DISORDERS LIKE PSORIASIS. Narrator:
THERE IS ONE SMALL PROBLEM. BECAUSE VOLCANIC WATER
IS FULL OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE, THIS BLUE ICELANDIC
TROPICAL PARADISE SMELLS QUITE A LOT
LIKE BAD EGGS. TO ME,
THIS IS THE SMELL OF SUCCESS. Narrator: A TOWER IN SPAIN
THAT CAN BURN YOU ALIVE. Narrator: WE'RE NOT
PLAYING TRICKS WITH THE CAMERA. THAT REALLY<i> IS</i>
A HUGE OFFICE BLOCK BUILT TO RESEMBLE A BASKET. IT COVERS 25 ACRES. THE BASKET HANDLES ALONE
WEIGH ALMOST 150 TONS AND CAN BE HEATED DURING COLD
WEATHER TO PREVENT ICE DAMAGE. IT'S THE HEADQUARTERS OF
THE LONGABERGER BASKET COMPANY AND IS A REPLICA OF ONE
OF THEIR MOST POPULAR PRODUCTS. IT WAS COMPANY FOUNDER DAVE
LONGABERGER'S IDEA TO BUILD IT. WHAT A BASKET CASE. ON THE PLAINS NEAR SEVILLE
IN SPAIN ARE THOUSANDS OF GLOWING PANELS. THEY TWIST AND TURN AND
SEEM TO BE TRACKING SOMETHING. AND THIS BIZARRE TOWER,
40 STORIES HIGH, APPEARS TO HAVE DEATH RAYS
SHOOTING OUT OF IT. ENGINEER HANNAH CASSARD
OVERSEES THIS PLACE. HOLD ON TO YOUR HAT. SO, THE FIELD HERE IS COMPOSED
OF 1,250 MIRRORS. Narrator:
THESE MIRRORS FOLLOW THE SUN AND REDIRECT ITS RAYS
ONTO THE TOP OF THIS TOWER. Cassard: EACH MIRROR
MEASURES 120 METERS SQUARED, SO THAT'S A TOTAL
OF OVER 150,000 SQUARE METERS OF REFLECTIVE AREA, WHICH YOU'RE THEN ABLE
TO CONCENTRATE ONTO A VERY SMALL AREA
OF YOUR RECEIVER AND GENERATE
REALLY HIGH TEMPERATURES. Narrator: BY MAGNIFYING THE SUN
IN A SIMILAR WAY TO WHAT KIDS DO WITH MIRRORS
AND PAPER, THEY CAN GENERATE TEMPERATURES HERE OF OVER
480 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT... ...MEANING IF HANNAH
AND THE CAMERAMEN WERE TO GET ANY CLOSER TO THE RECEIVER
BELOW THEM, THEY WOULD BE BURNT ALIVE. ALL THIS HEAT IS BEING USED
TO MAKE ELECTRICITY. THIS IS A SOLAR POWER STATION. Cassard: SO, THERE'S REALLY
TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF WAYS YOU CAN GET ENERGY OUT
FROM SOLAR POWER. ONE IS VIA A PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL,
LIKE THIS ONE I HAVE HERE. WITH A PHOTOVOLTAIC PANEL, WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS GENERATING
ELECTRICAL CURRENT DIRECTLY, WHICH IS GREAT FOR SMALL SYSTEMS LIKE YOU MIGHT HAVE
IN YOUR HOUSE. THE WAY THAT OUR THERMAL
SOLAR PLANT WORKS IS THAT WE CREATE HEAT, WHICH IS THEN USED
TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY. Narrator: THE SUN IS FOCUSED
ON A SERIES OF WATER PIPES AT THE TOP OF THE TOWER, HEATING THEM UP
TO PRODUCE STEAM. THE STEAM IS THEN USED
TO POWER A TURBINE, GENERATING ELECTRICITY. THANKFULLY, THE RAIN IN SPAIN DOESN'T FALL
MAINLY ON THIS PLAIN, AND THIS PLACE GETS OVER
300 DAYS OF SUNSHINE A YEAR, MEANING THIS TOWER OF POWER CAN GENERATE ENOUGH ELECTRICITY
TO RUN 11,000 SPANISH HOMES. THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT
SOLAR ENERGY IS THAT IT'S FREE. YOU HAVE THE CAPITAL COST
OF THE PLANT, BUT THEN AFTER THAT, YOU DON'T
HAVE TO PAY AT ALL FOR THE FUEL. Narrator: BUT THERE ARE
A FEW DRAWBACKS TO THIS PLACE. IT NEEDS A LOT OF SUN,
SO IT DOESN'T WORK AT NIGHT, AND CLOUDY DAYS
CAN REDUCE EFFICIENCY, AS CAN DUST ON THE MIRRORS. SO, THAT'S A LOT
OF MIRRORS TO CLEAN, AND A LOT OF BAD LUCK
IF THEY SMASH ANY. VIGANELLA IS A SMALL,
PICTURESQUE VILLAGE IN THE ITALIAN ALPS. "HOW LOVELY," YOU MIGHT THINK,
BUT NO. VIGANELLA IS
ONE OF THE GLOOMIEST PLACES IN THE WORLD. IT'S AT THE BOTTOM
OF A DEEP VALLEY, SURROUNDED BY HIGH MOUNTAINS
ON ALL SIDES, MEANING IN WINTER,
IT GETS NO DIRECT SUN. SO FOR THREE MONTHS, LOCALS
LIVE ENTIRELY IN THE SHADE. RATHER THAN MOAN ABOUT IT, THEY'VE BUILT A GIANT MIRROR
THAT REFLECTS THE SUN DOWN INTO THE VILLAGE, BOUNCING A BIG RAY OF SUNSHINE
INTO EVERYONE'S LIVES. WELCOME TO THE WORLD'S
LARGEST INDOOR SWIMMING POOL. IT'S 202 FEET LONG,
102 FEET WIDE, 40 FEET DEEP, AND FILLED WITH OVER 6 MILLION
GALLONS OF SUPER PURIFIED WATER. THAT'S BIGGER THAN NINE
OLYMPIC-SIZED SWIMMING POOLS. BUT SIZE ISN'T WHAT MAKES
THIS POOL UNIQUE. IT'S THE PEOPLE WHO USE IT. THIS IS THE LAST PLACE
YOU'D EXPECT TO SEE A SPACE MAN. THIS POOL
IS THE CLOSEST PLACE ON EARTH TO EXPERIENCING OUTER SPACE. BRITISH ASTRONAUT MICHAEL FOALE HAS SPENT MANY HOURS
SPLASHING AROUND IN HERE. Foale: THE POOL IS THE KEY
TO CARRYING OUT SPACE WALKS. IT ALLOWS YOU TO FLOAT
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WATER AS IF YOU WERE WEIGHTLESS. Narrator: SWIMMING IN HERE IS
VERY DIFFERENT FROM OTHER POOLS. EVERY TIME AN ASTRONAUT GOES
IN THE WATER IN THIS FACILITY, WE HAVE FOUR DIVERS
WITH THAT ASTRONAUT. WE HAVE ONE CAMERA DIVER THAT WILL FOLLOW THE ASTRONAUT
EVERYWHERE HE GOES IN THE POOL. WE HAVE A UTILITY DIVER THAT PRIMARILY WILL GET THINGS
SET UP IN FRONT OF THE ASTRONAUT OR MAYBE PICK UP
BEHIND THE ASTRONAUT, AND THEN WE
HAVE TWO SAFETY DIVERS, AND THOSE TWO SAFETY DIVERS
ARE VITAL. WE DON'T ALLOW THE ASTRONAUTS
TO SWIM HERE WHILE THEY'RE IN THE SUITS. THERE'S NO SWIMMING IN SPACE, SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE
THE SAFETY DIVERS ACTUALLY FLY THEM FROM MOCKUP TO MOCKUP. Narrator:
THE ASTRONAUTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SWIM IN THIS SWIMMING POOL
BECAUSE, UNLIKE IN SPACE, THEY STILL EXPERIENCE GRAVITY. EVEN THOUGH I'M FLOATING
AND THINGS DON'T DROP, I STILL DON'T REALLY
WANT TO BE HEADS DOWN BECAUSE IT MAKES ME HEADS DOWN
IN A SUIT, AND ALL THE BLOOD GOES THIS WAY. HOWEVER, IN SPACE, THERE'S
ONE HARDER THING THAN HERE, AND THAT IS THE VISCOSITY
OF THE WATER, OF COURSE,
IS NOT THERE IN SPACE, AND SO THINGS MOVE
MUCH MORE EASILY AND FLOAT AWAY FROM YOU
MORE QUICKLY. WHEN YOU'RE UNDER THE WATER, THE STRANGEST THING
IS LOOKING THROUGH THE HELMET, AND IT MAKES
KIND OF A FISHBOWL EFFECT, AND IT MAKES THE WORLD
KIND OF CLOSE IN, BUT YOU GET USED TO THAT
AFTER ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. Narrator: AND THIS POOL
HOLDS ONE MORE SURPRISE. THERE'S SOMETHING AMAZING
LURKING AT THE BOTTOM. Narrator:
THIS EXTRAORDINARY SWIMMING POOL IS THE CLOSEST PLACE
TO SPACE ON EARTH. THE POOL ALLOWS ASTRONAUTS TO PRACTICE
WEARING THEIR SPACE SUITS IN CONDITIONS
THAT MIMIC WEIGHTLESSNESS. Man: SAFETY DIVERS, RELEASE
SHOULDER STRAPS AND BACKPACK FROM DONNING STAND. LET ME KNOW
WHEN YOU'RE ON THE BOTTOM. Narrator:
EACH SUIT COSTS $12 MILLION. IT'S THE MOST ADVANCED
PIECE OF CLOTHING EVER MADE. IT'S GOT SIX HOURS OF OXYGEN,
AIR CONDITIONING, A DRINK DISPENSER,
A CAMERA, A RADIO, A LIGHT, FANCY SUNGLASSES,
AND IT REMOVES ALL WASTE. THE SUIT HAS TO COPE
WITH TEMPERATURES IN SPACE THAT CAN REACH OVER 250 DEGREES
FAHRENHEIT IN THE SUN TO MINUS 230 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT
IN THE SHADE. BECAUSE SPACE
IS AN ALMOST COMPLETE VACUUM, THE SUIT IS PRESSURIZED
TO PREVENT AN ASTRONAUT'S FLUIDS BOILING AND TURNING TO VAPOR. THIS ALL ADDS UP
TO A BULKY BIT OF KIT. YOU GOT TO WORK WITH THE SUIT. YOU DON'T WANT
TO FIGHT THE SUIT, AND THAT'S ONE
OF THE MAIN REASONS WE HAVE THE ASTRONAUTS
COME HERE TO THIS FACILITY AND ACTUALLY GET IN THE SUIT
AND GO IN THE WATER. THEY LEARN REAL QUICK
THAT IF YOU FIGHT THE SUIT, YOU'RE GONNA LOSE. Narrator: AT THE BOTTOM
OF THIS AMAZING POOL IS A LIFE-SIZE REPLICA OF PART OF
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. 200 MILES UP IN SPACE, THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
IS A GIANT LABORATORY AND HOME TO SIX ASTRONAUTS
FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. IT'S BEEN ORBITING THE EARTH
FOR MORE THAN A DECADE. Knight: THE SPACE STATION
IS REALLY LIKE A HOUSE, AND WITH ANY HOUSE, THERE'S MAINTENANCE
THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, BUT WE CAN'T ASSEMBLE THE ENTIRE
STATION HERE IN THE POOL BECAUSE THE FACILITY'S
JUST NOT BIG ENOUGH, SO WE HAVE IT BROKEN UP
INTO DIFFERENT SECTIONS, AND THEN WE PUT TOGETHER
ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE TASKS AND ALL OF THE ASSEMBLY TASKS, AND MAKE SURE THAT THE STATION
STAYS UP AND RUNNING. Narrator:
REPAIRS ARE MADE ON SPACE WALKS. THE SPACE STATION IS MOVING
AT FIVE MILES A SECOND. WORKING OUTSIDE ON IT IS
ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS JOBS IN THE UNIVERSE. ASTRONAUT MICHAEL FOALE IS PREPARING FOR A MISSION
TO THE STATION. YOU CAN BASICALLY PRACTICE
MOVING ALONG SIDEWAYS, UP AND DOWN, HANDRAILS. IT'S LIKE MOUNTAINEERING
MAYBE A BIT, TETHERING SO THAT
YOU DON'T FALL OFF. YOU DON'T WANT
TO FALL OFF THE SPACE STATION BECAUSE YOU'LL DISAPPEAR
FOREVER. Narrator: MICHAEL ISN'T
JUST PRACTICING HOW TO HOLD ON. THIS POOL ALSO ALLOWS HIM TO
HONE HIS SPACE HANDYMAN SKILLS. THESE ARE TASKS WHERE
WE'RE REPLACING A MAJOR PART OF THE STATION'S SYSTEMS, FOR EXAMPLE THE HEAT EXCHANGER
THAT COOLS THE LAB. THAT'S WHAT WE WERE DOING TODAY. THOSE TASKS -- WE DON'T KNOW
IF THEY'RE GONNA HAPPEN, BUT THEY'RE HEDGING THEIR BETS
THAT THEY MIGHT. THERE'S SPARE EQUIPMENT
ON THE SPACE STATION, MOSTLY OUTSIDE THE SPACE STATION
ON PALLETS, AND WE TRAIN TO MAINTAIN
OUR PROFICIENCY ON THOSE TASKS. Narrator: AND THIS ISN'T
JUST A QUICK DIP IN A POOL. EACH DIVE LASTS SIX HOURS
AND NEEDS 350 ENGINEERS, MEDICS, TAILORS, AND OTHER TECHIE PEOPLE
ALL COORDINATED BY A TEST CONDUCTOR. CAN WE GET A PGT WITH
A 2-INCH SOCKET TO EV2, PLEASE? THERE IS A LOT
THAT GOES INTO A SPACE WALK. FOR EXAMPLE,
IF YOU'RE WORKING ON YOUR CAR AND YOU FORGET A TOOL, IT'S REAL EASY TO JUST WALK BACK
TO THE TOOL BENCH OR RUN OUT TO THE STORE
AND PICK UP A NEW TOOL AND THEN CARRY ON
WITH YOUR BUSINESS. BUT IN SPACE, IF YOU'VE
FORGOTTEN A TOOL THAT YOU NEED, YOU'RE OUT OF LUCK. SO, IT'S IMPORTANT TO PRACTICE. IT'S LIKE A DANCE PERFORMANCE. EVERYTHING'S GOT TO BE PERFECTLY
CHOREOGRAPHED AND REHEARSED. Knight: LET'S SAY A CREWMAN
WAS OUT THE DOOR DOING A SPACE WALK
FOR EIGHT HOURS. EVERY ONE HOUR
OF THAT EIGHT HOURS IS PROBABLY ABOUT EIGHT
TO TEN HOURS SPENT IN THE POOL. Narrator:
FOR ASTRONAUT MICHAEL, IT'S WORTH EVERY MINUTE
TO SPEND TIME IN THE STRANGEST PLACE
OF ALL -- SPACE. Foale: IN SPACE, THE BEAUTY IS,
OF COURSE, LOOKING AT THE EARTH, AND THE BEAUTY IS BEING
IN YOUR OWN SMALL SPACESHIP, THE SPACE SUIT. IF YOU WANT TO ENJOY THE VIEW LOOKING DOWN AT AFRICA GOING BY
BELOW YOU OR AUSTRALIA, THEN YOU HAVE TO GO
THROUGH HUNDREDS OF HOURS IN A SPACE SUIT IN THIS POOL.
