The story of energy begins with water. Today water and energy are interconnected — for better or worse. Running out of water in one place can cause an energy shortage in another, but the reverse is also true. Saving water saves energy and vice versa. How can we make energy “less thirsty” and water less energy-intensive? WATER traces a centuries-long journey across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and the United States to show the history of energy and water.

Before modern energy, wealth was tied to land ownership. Today, wealth is tied to energy and who controls it. Energy changes the way wealth is concentrated, creating a cascade of social and economic effects. WEALTH traces a centuries-long journey across the world to show us the energy that gives us wealth.

Entertainment both shapes and reflects our attitudes about energy. Modern energy enabled mass entertainment like popular music, movies, TV shows, and video games, which impacted our society. Energy changed sports with climate control and modern lighting, and amusement parks help familiarize customers with energy breakthroughs.

Learn how energy enabled rapid globalization, both as both a widely traded product and as a facilitator for moving goods globally. In the ancient world, globalization was always a goal, but modern forms of energy provided the missing link.

Culture and modern energy go hand in hand. Our fashion, music, and art all have been impacted by modern energy. Wealthy industrialists with fortunes made from energy funded much of modern culture, using energy systems to spread culture across the globe.

Modern energy transformed work over time. From farm to factory to office and the “work from home” revolution, energy is embedded in our systems of employment. What is the future of energy and work?

Modern energy takes us on a journey to the final frontier. This episode traces the history of space travel, with a focus on the energy innovations making it possible. Energy is required at every step in space exploration, and new forms of energy must be developed to reach other star systems.  Space exploration lets us examine earth-bound energy challenges like climate change.

From oil spills and coal mine explosions to dam failures and nuclear meltdowns, we can learn much from disasters related to energy. At the same time, energy is the key to solving natural disasters and the looming disaster of climate change. In what ways does energy make our lives safer or more dangerous?