Shock and Awe: The Story of Electricity
TV Show · Documentary · History

Until recently, electricity was seen as a magical power. It could slay the living, revive the dead, and bend the laws of nature. It is now the lifeblood of the modern world, fueling our lives and underpinning every aspect of technological advancement. Without it, we would be lost. Professor Jim Al-Khalili tells the electrifying story of our quest to master nature's most mysterious force.

2011 · 58m
Starring Jim Al-Khalili

Season 1

  • EPISODE 1
    Spark
    The first scientists who started to unlock the mysteries of electricity studied its curious link to life, built instruments to create it, and even tamed lightning itself.
    58m
  • EPISODE 2
    The Age of Invention
    Scientists’ discovery that electricity is connected to magnetism transformed the world, allowing us to generate a seemingly limitless amount of electric power.
    58m
  • EPISODE 3
    Revolutions and Revelations
    After centuries of experiments, a new age of understanding dawned with the discovery of electric fields and electromagnetic waves. Today, new breakthroughs await.
    50m

Related

Cast & Crew

  • Jim Al-Khalili
    Host

About

Shock and Awe: The Story of Electricity

Documentary

Until recently, electricity was seen as a magical power. It could slay the living, revive the dead, and bend the laws of nature. It is now the lifeblood of the modern world, fueling our lives and underpinning every aspect of technological advancement. Without it, we would be lost. Professor Jim Al-Khalili tells the electrifying story of our quest to master nature's most mysterious force.

Information

Studio
BBC Four
Released
2011
Rated
TV-G
Region of Origin
United Kingdom

Languages

Original Audio
English, English (United Kingdom)
Subtitles

English (United States) (CC)

Accessibility

Closed captions (CC) refer to subtitles in the available language with the addition of relevant non-dialogue information.
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Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cape Verde
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Cambodia
  • Fiji
  • 香港 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 澳門 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • 대한민국
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Turkmenistan
  • Vietnam

Europe

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  • Belarus
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  • Bulgaria
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  • Estonia
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  • Venezuela (Español)

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  • Estados Unidos (Español México)