Naked Science

How did decades of trade give way to bitter rivalry? From China’s memories of Western humiliation to the shuttered factories of America’s Rust Belt, this documentary explores the roots of a deepening divide. Through the events surrounding the 2020 US election, it examines how lost jobs, nationalism, Hong Kong and the pandemic fuelled mistrust between two superpowers.

From Japanese goggles that trick the brain into seeing larger portions to a controversial device that drains part of a meal directly from the stomach, this documentary investigates radical technologies designed to tackle obesity. The journey also heads inside McLaren, where Formula 1 sensor technology is being adapted to monitor the human body and encourage healthier choices.

Discover the technology that could transform the battlefield of the future, from drones capable of creating highly accurate 3D maps and autonomous combat aircraft to cyber warfare and advanced surveillance. The episode also investigates a lifesaving device that can return a wounded soldier’s own blood and a compact submarine designed for covert missions deep beneath the ocean.

From a retinal implant that allows a blind man to perceive his wife's face after 33 years to a jacket that recreates the sensation of a hug and devices that electrically stimulate the tongue to simulate taste, this documentary explores extraordinary inventions attempting to recreate some of our most fundamental human senses

Could technology turn us into superheroes? Justin Bratton tests bionic boots designed to give humans extraordinary speed, experiments with brain stimulation intended to improve mental performance, and investigates metamaterials that can make objects effectively invisible. From superhuman movement to enhanced intelligence, the episode explores how science is turning fantasy into reality

Explore the cutting-edge technology transforming the modern battlefield, from Britain’s lighter and more agile Vertus combat armour to heat-seeking surveillance drones and the £4.5 billion Ajax armoured vehicle programme. The episode also examines Sea Hunter, an autonomous vessel designed to spend months at sea searching for submarines without a crew.

After more than 20 years of development, BAE Systems tests its revolutionary Striker II helmet aboard a Typhoon fighter jet. With information projected directly onto its visor, integrated night vision and the ability to target enemy aircraft simply by looking at them, could this technology transform aerial combat?

Could replacement body parts soon be printed on demand? Justin Bratton explores the future of regenerative medicine, from mind-controlled prosthetic hands to laboratory-grown organs and a 3D-printed airway implant that saves a child’s life. These breakthroughs could make customized body parts cheaper, safer and more widely available.

Explore the cutting-edge safety technology built into modern cars to protect drivers and passengers. From automatic emergency braking and collision detection to airbags, crumple zones and driver-assistance systems, discover how today’s vehicles are engineered to prevent crashes and save lives.

How do you turn a Royal Navy warship into an underwater reef? The Sinking of Scylla follows years of planning by the National Marine Aquarium, culminating in the deliberate sinking of HMS Scylla off Cornwall in 2004

Journey across the universe in over two hours of fascinating space facts. From black holes and distant galaxies to the mysteries of dark matter, discover the science behind some of the cosmos’s biggest questions.