The towering hotel was an engineering challenge. Built on a specially designed island it had to be protected from waves. Extreme heat necessitated a solution for steel expansion and the fountains rely on ideas about laminar flow and a fire hose.

Richard Hammond reveals the surprising engineering connections behind the Formula 1 car; inspiration for the car is drawn from a revolutionary 19th-century cannon, ancient sailing boats, jet engine fan blades, and body armour.

Richard Hammond reveals the ingenious engineering required to transport one of the most potentially hazardous cargoes in the world; the huge ships, bigger than the Titanic, carry enough fuel to heat a city the size of London for a week.

The engineering responsible for NASA's re-usable vehicle is explored. Travelling to and from space required solutions found in an organ pump, tram tracks and a camera isis. The Kennedy Space Centre is visited.

Richard Hammond reveals the surprising engineering connections in Japan's Bullet Train, the world's first high-speed train; it could not exist if it weren't for the crowbar, medieval clock, electric telegraph, and a 19th century luxury racing car.