Engineering breakthroughs that pushed humanity across oceans, continents, skies, and space.

Discover how humanity's drive to move faster reshaped civilization through boats, railroads, cars, aircraft, and rockets. Across the series, pioneering engineers and bold machines reveal the breakthroughs that shrank the world and opened new frontiers. Sign up to see the innovations, risks, and turning points behind our relentless pursuit of speed.

Episode guide

4 episodes

1Across Oceans

Throughout history, human society has run on trade, and trade moved on the oceans. The innovations that allowed faster and more accurate oceanic travel revolutionized the world. New inventions now help people and goods move on the water faster for recreation and commerce.

49 min

2Across Continents

Never in the history of humanity have so many of us been mobile, never has our demand for fast, efficient and safe transportation been so high, and never have we relied so heavily on technology to deliver. New innovations propel us into the world of self-driving cars and high-speed trains.

53 min

3Into the Skies

Growth in air transportation is set to soar, carrying over 10 billion passengers every year by 2050. To cope requires us to radically rethink aircraft design. Join us as we look into the world's most innovative research and development labs, to see first-hand the breakthroughs in aviation.

54 min

4Into Space

The most innovative area of human motion lies not on Earth, but with the exploration of space. Meet the private space entrepreneurs jostling to offer the tantalizing prospect of cheap, frequent travel beyond the atmosphere into Earth orbit.

53 min

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Thousands of the world's best documentaries and factual programming — nature, history, science, technology, and biography — including exclusive Curiosity Originals like Speed. Stream it all ad-free, anytime.

Plans are billed annually — every plan streams in 4K. The Smart Bundle adds four partner services. There are no contracts — cancel anytime.

Watch on the web, iOS and Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Android TV, and most smart TVs. Start on one device and pick up right where you left off on another.

Yes. The library is full of family-friendly nature and science programming, and the Smart Bundle includes Kidstream — carefully chosen, ad-free shows kids will love and parents can trust.

Absolutely. There are no contracts and no cancellation fees — manage or cancel your plan anytime from your account settings.

Curiosity Stream is our streaming service — thousands of documentaries and originals. The Smart Bundle is Curiosity Stream plus four other independent streaming services (Tastemade, Kidstream, Curiosity University, and SOMM TV) on a single subscription.

Yes. Start on any plan and move up to the Smart Bundle whenever you like — the change takes effect right away, and your billing is simply prorated from your account settings.

Got your answer? Pick a plan and start streaming.Start streaming

Available now

Start watching Speed today

Stream thousands of award-winning documentaries. Cancel anytime.

Start streaming