The Secret Genius of Modern Life

S02E06 Lift

Hannah ventures into the depths of a 246-meter lift shaft to explore the technology that powers the elevator, putting both the brakes and her fear of heights to the test. As she dives into the history, she learns how the precarious lifts of 19th-century coal mines led to improved safety standards, examines a piece of medieval siege equipment that remains relevant in modern lifts, and uncovers how a publicity stunt from the 1850s transformed the skyline we know today.