Destroyed in Seconds

Some of these accidents -- captured on amateur video, surveillance cameras, and news footage -- are just that, completely random events that couldn't be prevented or predicted. Others are the result of human error, from minor mistakes to massive blunders in judgment. As these disasters unfold, Pitts explains what's happening and what caused them, as well as noting whether the people involved survived (given the scope of these catastrophes, it's surprising how often there are no fatalities). The show sometimes runs clips again in slow motion to highlight when someone managed to jump off a boat or bail out of a plane at the last minute.

For an audience raised on the high-octane faux explosions of Hollywood blockbusters, these real blasts will look a bit different. Some seem less impressive but still quite deadly, while others look a lot like the fictional version. But knowing that real people are in real danger makes all of these clips seem more harrowing than any fictional film or TV show.