Before 2000

Take a nostalgic and informative look back at the fun technological innovations produced during the1980s and '90s. It was an era when consumers had more time and money to spend on entertaining themselves than ever before, leading to a cascade of out-there inventions. From human-powdered hydrofoils to ping-pong robots, finding out what worked and didn't was all part of the fun.

In the 1980s and 1990s, many believed that advances in computing and robotics would lead us to a work-free future. This episode takes a nostalgic look at the tech we thought would make our lives better. From personal commuter hovercrafts to intelligent toilets and from remote-control lawnmowers to pizza-making robots, the future somehow seemed much rosier than it turned out.

The dream of upgrading the human body spans centuries, and in the 80's and 90's it felt closer than ever. Technology promised to make us faster, stronger, more beautiful, and even immortal. From speed-boosting exoskeletons to fire-proof suits, and from male chest implants to artificial hearts, meet the innovations that helped usher in a superhuman age.

Before 2000, inventors were brimming with ideas to make everyday life smoother - sometimes downright strange. The internet and mobile phone were welcome changes, but then came the unexpected. Some innovations seemed to be ripped from a science fiction novel.Suitcase-sized cars to cold fighting underwear and bikes that rode on water, these inventions blurred the line between brilliant and bizarre.

Man's relationship with animals has evolved over thousands of years, but in the 80's & 90's, this bond took a giant leap. New technology let us study, protect & even clone creatures around us. From the iconic return of the Californian condor, to the comeback of leeches in modern medicine, to the world's most famous sheep 'Dolly' - this era led humans and beasts to feel more connected than ever.

During the innovation boom of the 80's & 90's, we witnessed inventions that revolutionised how we worked, travelled, and stayed healthy. This ep turns back the clock to survey the era's biggest game changers in their infancy. From laser eye surgery top vehicle airbags and from mushroom burgers to the Airbus A320 these creations touched every cornerstone of our lives and changed the world forever.