All language subtitles for The UnXplained S04E09 Superhuman Feats 1080p HULU WEB-DL AAC2 0 H 264-playWEB_track3_[eng]

WILLIAM SHATNER:
The ability to survive
freezing temperatures

WILLIAM SHATNER:
The ability to survive
freezing temperatures
through sheer force of will.

through sheer force of will.

Ancient traditions

that protect the body from pain.

And extraordinary adventurers

who risk their lives
to defy the limits.

How are certain individuals
able to perform

incredible physical feats
of strength, speed, or stamina

that most of us
could never dream of doing?

Is it simply a combination of
natural talent and training?

Or do some people tap
into mysterious forces

when they achieve things
that seem almost

superhuman?

Well, that is what
we'll try and find out.

♪ ♪

SHATNER:
Central Iceland.

Here, not far from
a massive glacier

where temperatures average
just above freezing,

a man has decided to sit
outside in the cold

for over an hour,

for over an hour,
wearing only a pair of shorts.

wearing only a pair of shorts.

His name is Wim Hof.

And although
most people would die

if they attempted such a feat,
he finds it quite relaxing.

Wim has made a great
impression on the world

because of his
extraordinary ability

to withstand
freezing temperatures.

His exploits have earned him
the nickname "The Iceman."

WIM HOF:
The most challenging

WIM HOF:
The most challenging
aspect of going into the cold

aspect of going into the cold

is your fear.

Control your fear

and let the body do
what the body is capable of.

All the doctors said,
"You are the Iceman.

All the doctors said,
"You are the Iceman.
"You are a freak of nature.

"You are a freak of nature.

"You are a freak of nature.
"You are an abnormality.

"You are an abnormality.

You are a superhuman."

You are a superhuman."
But I'm as human as any person,

But I'm as human as any person,

only I am challenging
my body and mind

in nature.

SHATNER:
Wim has performed a number of
feats that, on the surface,

seem impossible,

such as climbing Mount Everest

wearing nothing
but shorts and shoes,

and spending nearly two hours
fully immersed in an ice bath.

But what motivated Wim
to learn how to brave the cold,

in the first place?

HOF:
As a young kid,

I was very interested in
anything that was strange...

...and stories
and deeds of people

going into
the unknown, so-called.

And when I was 17, I began
to go in freezing temperatures.

And there I found
a deep connection

with my body,
with my god, with a depth.

with my body,
with my god, with a depth.
And that is now 45 years ago.

And that is now 45 years ago.

And since then,

I have never skipped a day
going into the cold.

THOMAS COYNE:
In these ungodly,
below-freezing temperatures,

your average person
can freeze to death

your average person
can freeze to death
in less than 30 minutes.

in less than 30 minutes.

It's not an environment
that's suitable for humans.

So with Wim Hof,
his ability to withstand cold

is really extraordinary.

It just makes
absolutely no sense.

SHATNER:
For an ordinary person,

attempting these feats would
result in almost certain death.

And yet Wim Hof
doesn't just survive

in frigid temperatures,
he seems to thrive in them.

But how?

Well, according to Wim Hof,

this ability doesn't come
from his body

but rather from his mind.

If we follow the breath...

If we follow the breath...
(inhaling, exhaling)

(inhaling, exhaling)

...then the mind
begins to cease.

I learned how to tap
into my brain,

to have a much greater control

than doctors thought
was possible.

than doctors thought
was possible.
When I go in a brain scan
or in a fMRI,

When I go in a brain scan
or in a fMRI,

and they put cold water
upon my skin

with a skin temperature

measurement device,

I'm able to raise...

...my skin temperature
so much that the cold water

is making my skin temperature
not going down.

That means that through
the psychology,

I caused something
physiologically.

MITCH HOROWITZ:
Wim Hof's work is being

widely studied right now
in academic settings...

...and what's being
found is that

he can get into a kind of
transpersonal mental state

where the body is freed
from perceived limitations,

where the body is freed
from perceived limitations,
making him more resilient

making him more resilient

and capable of acts
of greater stamina.

We're coming to
a whole new realization

of the powers of
the mind over the body.

SHATNER:
Could Wim Hof's mind
be able to regulate

his body's ability to withstand
freezing temperatures?

Many experts believe
it's possible.

And as evidence, they point to

an ancient Tibetan breathing
technique known as "tummo,"

an ancient Tibetan breathing
technique known as "tummo,"
which, if done properly,

which, if done properly,

can raise a person's
body temperature.

STEVE MAGNESS:
Tummo was first

described in the 11th century

and what it translates to
is "inner fire."

(chanting in foreign language)

And the practice is
meditation guided breathing

where they literally imagine

that their spine is on fire
and they can feel this flame

going from their deep inside

all the way to the top
of their head.

all the way to the top
of their head.
And it's believed

And it's believed

that they can raise
their core body temperature

and feel that heat

by practicing this meditation
and breathing strategy.

by practicing this meditation
and breathing strategy.
Tummo gave them control

Tummo gave them control

to be able to withstand elements
and inner control

amidst this external chaos.

AMIR HUSSAIN:
Through this
meditative practice,

you're literally able
to heat up your body

so you can withstand
cold temperatures.

Harvard scientists were able
to document Tibetan monks

doing their tummo meditation.

So here they are,
stripped naked to the waist,

with sheets over them

with sheets over them
in a very, very cold room

in a very, very cold room

and the body heat that
they're able to generate

literally makes steam
come off the sheets.

It's as if they're covered
in a hot, wet blanket,

It's as if they're covered
in a hot, wet blanket,
but they're doing it internally.

but they're doing it internally.

It's a technique developed
about a thousand years ago

among Tibetan monks
in the Himalayas,

but it's a technique
that anyone can use.

but it's a technique
that anyone can use.
Anyone can be taught
how to do this.

Anyone can be taught
how to do this.

(chanting in foreign language)

SHATNER:
If tummo can unlock
the mind's capacity

to control body temperature,

then it naturally
begs the question,

what other incredible abilities
do our minds possess?

Well, in the case of Wim Hof,

it appears that he has
taken his mental powers

to the next level in order
to actually heal his body.

JUSTIN ROSALES:
15 years ago, Wim ran a half
marathon barefoot in the snow.

After the half marathon,

one of the medics, um,
examined his foot and said,

"Hey, this is,
this is pretty bad."

And said, "He has
irreparable damage:

third-degree frostbite."

third-degree frostbite."
And Wim just was so mad.

And Wim just was so mad.

He just felt like he could do
something to heal it.

So Wim was able to start
healing his frostbitten foot

by doing his normal
breathing exercises

that he had been doing for years

and focusing and visualizing
his foot being healed.

And over a month and a half...

...it did get better.

The skin healed completely.

The skin healed completely.
The "irreparable damage,"

The "irreparable damage,"

that he was not supposed
to come back from, was gone.

(exclaiming)

SHATNER:
Is it really possible

that Wim Hof is simply
using his mind

to perform these
superhuman feats?

While that idea
may sound far-fetched,

Wim is just the latest
in a long line of people

possessing such
remarkable abilities.

The concepts
that Wim Hof is using

go back to ancient yogic

practices within Vedic
or Hindu tradition...

...that are sometimes
called siddhis.

For example,
in yogic literature,

you will find records of

different yogis or meditators

who are able to lift
enormous weights...

...or go for extraordinary
periods of time

without food, without water,

without food, without water,
without breathing.

without breathing.

without breathing.
There are some yogic traditions

There are some yogic traditions

in which people are able
to pierce the body

in which people are able
to pierce the body
or lay on beds of nails

or lay on beds of nails

or walk across coals
without experiencing pain

or without being
disabled by injury.

Could the ability
to suppress pain

or even to heal our bodies

be connected to our thoughts?

be connected to our thoughts?
It's an exciting notion.

It's an exciting notion.

It's an exciting notion.
And it also makes you wonder

And it also makes you wonder

is it possible for anyone
to unlock such powers?

I don't think
everything Wim does

can be explained by science...

yet.

But he is superhuman,

in a way that
he challenges us to

find that part in us, too.

HOF: We have a much more
possible control

over our mind and body

over our mind and body
than meets the eye.

than meets the eye.

We can learn to raise
our capacity to endure

pain and to tackle
biological stress.

And that is there for anybody.

Through your mind,
you are able to go

further than you have ever
been before.

So, if we all just figured out

how to unlock
the power of our minds,

would there be no limit
to what our bodies could do?

Well, what if I told you
there are people out there

who can push themselves
to run hundreds of miles

without stopping?

SHATNER:
In this small town,
in the heart of Marin County,

lives world-renowned
ultramarathoner Dean Karnazes.

lives world-renowned
ultramarathoner Dean Karnazes.
And by all accounts,

And by all accounts,

he was born to run.

My earliest
childhood recollections

are running home from school
when I was in kindergarten.

Uh, literally, I remember
sitting in the classroom

just waiting
for the bell to ring.

And as soon as
that jingle went off,

And as soon as
that jingle went off,
I was out of there.

I was out of there.

I felt like, when I was running,

I felt most alive,
like, most complete.

It's hard to describe,
but I just remember the way

the air used to feel on my skin

the air used to feel on my skin
and the leaves changing color.

and the leaves changing color.

I just started relating
to the world through running.

LUKE:
Dean's somewhat of an icon
in the running community

in the sense that he can do
things other people can't.

Dean's definitely a superman

in terms of being able
to run long distances

in terms of being able
to run long distances
repetitive days, back-to-back.

repetitive days, back-to-back.

SHATNER:
Among Dean's many

record-breaking
running achievements

are completing 50 marathons
in 50 consecutive days,

running 135 miles
across Death Valley--

one of the hottest
regions on Earth--

and accomplishing
a 75-day, 3,000-mile run

and accomplishing
a 75-day, 3,000-mile run
across
the entire United States.

across
the entire United States.

But perhaps his most
incredible achievement

occurred on
October 12, 2005...

...when Dean ran 350 miles
without stopping.

I think I decided to run 350
miles nonstop out of curiosity.

I think I decided to run 350
miles nonstop out of curiosity.
I want wanted to see

I want wanted to see

how far I could push
my body and my mind.

And I completed it.

It took me 80 hours and 44
minutes of continuous running.

Three days straight without
stopping to eat or sleep.

SHATNER:
Dean's feats are astounding,

and he's arguably the greatest
athlete in the history

of what is called ultrarunning.

MAGNESS:
Ultrarunning is
any distance running

that goes further
than the marathon.

So it could be
anything from 30 miles

all the way up to races

that are hundreds or even
thousands of miles.

The six-day race
was the precursor

The six-day race
was the precursor
to modern ultramarathon running.

to modern ultramarathon running.

to modern ultramarathon running.
It originated in
the 1700s in England.

It originated in
the 1700s in England.

These athletes tried to cover

as much distance as they
possibly could in six days.

So they would sleep
as little as possible,

often only getting an hour
or two of sleep during each day,

to try and cover as much
distance as possible.

Early on, these athletes
would run 400 and 500 miles.

But in 1888 George Littlewood
set a new record

for the six-day challenge,
covering 623 miles.

So that's over 100 miles
a day of running or walking.

That was so good

that that record
almost stood 100 years,

until Yiannis Kouros,

a Greek runner
who was one of the best

ultrarunners in history,
finally broke it.

So that gives you an indication
of how good these athletes are.

SHATNER:
But it's not just athletes

who choose to run
such mind-boggling distances.

who choose to run
such mind-boggling distances.
In fact, there's
an entire community

In fact, there's
an entire community

that runs just as far
as ultramarathoners do...

...and they've been doing it
for thousands of years.

Here in this harsh region
of 10,000 foot plateaus,

far from modern civilization,

live a group of people
known as the Rarámuri.

Descended from
a prehistoric society

of foragers and hunters,

the Rarámuri still live in
relatively primitive conditions.

But incredibly, they possess
a unique ability to run

for hundreds of miles
in a single day.

TOK THOMPSON:
The name Rarámuri
seems to be derived from

meaning "those who run fast."

So, not surprisingly,
the Rarámuri are known

as exceptional
long-distance runners,

far in excess of
what most people think

people should be able to do.

They have running competitions
and running rituals

that would put a lot of other
long-distance runners to shame.

They don't have
the modern accoutrements

or modern sneakers.

They tend to run
in either sandals

or barefoot.

And they do this as a big
part of their culture.

SHATNER:
Since the dawn of mankind,

SHATNER:
Since the dawn of mankind,
our ability to run
for a long period of time

our ability to run
for a long period of time

has given humans
a great advantage...

...especially when it came to
hunting and searching for food.

THOMPSON:
Humans are one of the best
long-distance runners

THOMPSON:
Humans are one of the best
long-distance runners
in the entire animal kingdom.

in the entire animal kingdom.

We could actually run down
things like deer and antelope.

We're not as fast
in the short run,

but in terms of
long-distance running,

a human being could,
theoretically,

run down just about
any animal on Earth.

SHATNER:
In ancient times,

running was not only used
as a means of stalking prey.

It was also a method
of long-range communication.

MAGNESS:
Running served a vital purpose
for the Ancient Greeks.

They served as couriers
or messengers.

They were essentially
the ancient mail system

for the Greeks,

and it was vital for military
strategy in particular.

RIC RADER:
In antiquity, the best way
to convey messages,

especially matters of war,

matters of religion,
and so forth,

was to send a "hemerodromos."

So that's the Greek word
for a day runner.

It was a special class

of people specifically trained
for this and specifically

of people specifically trained
for this and specifically
equipped physiologically

equipped physiologically

not only to deliver a message
in a timely fashion,

but to do it

over very rugged terrain,

over very rugged terrain,
over several hundred miles.

over several hundred miles.

So, in that regard,

the extent to which
the hemerodromos can perform

these amazing feats
would suggest

that it requires a kind of
superhuman ability.

SHATNER:
In the case of Dean Karnazes,

his superhuman running ability

may be due to the fact that he
is actually of Greek descent.

KARNAZES:
I think my ability
to run long distances

is influenced, definitely,
by my Greek heritage.

I'm 100% Greek

and Greece is the birthplace
of long-distance running,

and I've known that
for a long time.

I think I have
the natural ability

to run long distances
from my heritage.

But having the will
to do it is another thing.

And I think I just have
the will to do it.

Is the ability to run for days
on end actually hereditary?

Well, even if that's true,

it doesn't explain
another superhuman ability:

the ability to swim
hundreds of feet underwater

without taking a single breath.

SHATNER: Lying within
the coastal mountains

of this frigid landscape

is Lake Qorlortoq.

Covered beneath
a million tons of ice,

its crystal blue waters hover
at a hypothermia-inducing

33 degrees Fahrenheit.

One degree above freezing.

Wearing only
a pair of swim trunks,

four-time world champion
free diver Stig Severinsen

four-time world champion
free diver Stig Severinsen
plunges into the icy water

plunges into the icy water

plunges into the icy water
in an attempt
to set a new record

in an attempt
to set a new record

for the longest swim under ice.

Without an oxygen tank
and unable to surface,

he risks unconsciousness
and death

as he swims 250 feet underwater,

or nearly the length
of a football field.

or nearly the length
of a football field.
SEVERINSEN:
When most people

SEVERINSEN:
When most people

jump in ice-cold water...

(snorting) ...they start
gasping and they panic.

Within minutes,

you become icy cold to the core,

and your body can
simply shut down.

I understand that people
think it's crazy or wild

or stupid, even.

You know? Unbelievable.

But I love to challenge science.

I love to challenge
the human physiology.

Human potential.

-That is great.
-Wow.

SHATNER:
Stig's swim beneath the ice

wasn't the first time
he went to extremes.

In May of 2012,
he also held his breath

for an astonishing 22 minutes.

But what would compel someone
to push themselves to the limit,

risking death
just to pull off a stunt?

HOROWITZ:
Some of us

seem to be hardwired
to push the limits.

seem to be hardwired
to push the limits.
Some of us seem to crave

Some of us seem to crave

excitement, intensity, euphoria.

There seem to be
a certain fraction of people

in need of physical activities

or other kinds of activities
that push the limits of

safety or human possibility
or perseverance.

Now, it's a question
as to whether

Now, it's a question
as to whether
these people are
seeking euphoria

these people are
seeking euphoria

or whether they're seeking
some greater,

more visceral connection
with themselves.

Humans have this drive
and this need to seek novelty,

to see what's on
the other side of the unknown.

And it's something that is
incredibly dangerous,

but also makes us able to do
insanely difficult things.

SHATNER: In the late 18th
and early 19th centuries,

a new breed of thrill
seekers popularized

the public display of pushing
the limits of human ability,

risking life and limb to
perform death-defying feats

in pursuit of fame and fortune.

And the first
of these daredevils

And the first
of these daredevils
was a man named Sam Patch.

was a man named Sam Patch.

DARRIN McMAHON:
Sam Patch was the Evil Knievel

of the early 19th century.

They called him
"the Jersey Jumper,"

They called him
"the Jersey Jumper,"
"the Yankee Leaper."

"the Yankee Leaper."

"the Yankee Leaper."
He liked to jump off things.

He liked to jump off things.

Famously, they had a platform
erected in Niagara Falls

so that he could jump
into the water,

but from a really high level:
75 or 100 feet.

Unfortunately,
it's risky business,

Unfortunately,
it's risky business,
and in 1829, on Friday the 13th,

and in 1829, on Friday the 13th,

he either slipped
or fell awkwardly

and didn't go in feet first
as he normally did.

The audience of several
thousand heard a splat,

and he was never
seen from again.

SHATNER:
But Sam Patch's tragic demise

did not deter other
would-be daredevils.

Over the next century,
countless more

followed in his footsteps,

increasing the danger
with every attempt.

Including one who went
to the next level

by taking to the skies.

SCOTT EDEN:
Clem Sohn was an aerialist,

one of the first, maybe
the first to build for himself

one of the first, maybe
the first to build for himself
a kind of gliding suit.

a kind of gliding suit.

He would jump out of airplanes

with the wings attached
and a kind of tail structure.

McMAHON:
One of his nicknames
was "the Birdman."

He would glide
for thousands of feet

and then eventually
pull the ripcord

and parachute to safety,

and he did this
on both sides of the Atlantic.

Unfortunately,
outside of Paris in 1937,

in front of a crowd of
as many as 100,000 people...

...he glided through the air,

and then his first chute
failed to open...

...and then the second one,
and he plunged to his death.

SHATNER:
The practice of performing

thrill-seeking feats
is alive and well today,

even if not all daredevils
survive their attempts

to push the limits.

But why do so many human beings

feel the need to pursue
incredible feats,

even if it means
risking our lives?

MAGNESS:
Pushing boundaries
and pushing limits

MAGNESS:
Pushing boundaries
and pushing limits
is part of our human nature.

is part of our human nature.

You would think that
would be counterintuitive.

Seeking pain seems like
not the brightest thing to do

because we're going
against our survival.

If you look at any animal
in the animal kingdom,

none of them really do
things that go against

none of them really do
things that go against
survival instincts.

survival instincts.

They just want to survive.

Human beings,
on the other hand...

...we will seek out
things that put us

at immense risk
and not for any external reward,

but really for the internal
reward of doing it.

Seeking something difficult,
something hard,

Seeking something difficult,
something hard,
often makes people feel alive.

often makes people feel alive.

Is it possible that
by risking death,

people can unlock the ability
to perform superhuman feats?

Well, there's a famous story
from American folklore

which suggests
that might be true.

It's the tale of someone
who defied the odds

in a competition that pitted man

against machine.

SHATNER:
For centuries, mankind

SHATNER:
For centuries, mankind
has told stories about people

has told stories about people

who have the ability
to perform feats

that require extraordinary
physical strength.

But why are
we so fascinated

by these superhuman characters?

LYNNE McNEILL:
We love stories

about humans that push the
boundaries of exceptionalism.

And history is full of
this kind of folk hero...

...who is stronger
than any other human.

We have characters like
Hercules who are half god.

That's the source
of his strength.

There's someone like
Samson, from the Bible,

whose hair gives him strength

beyond what a normal human
might have.

And nowadays,
we have superheroes:

Batman, Spiderman, characters
who similarly are human,

but a little bit better
than other humans.

All these stories

let us talk about
the possibilities

of human endurance
and human capability.

of human endurance
and human capability.
How far can we push ourselves?

How far can we push ourselves?

How much faster
and stronger can we be?

SHATNER:
Here, at the foot of
the Allegheny Mountains,

lies a decommissioned
railroad tunnel

known as the Great Bend Tunnel.

According to folklore,

this was the site
of a famous legend

from the 1870s

about a superhuman
railroad worker

named John Henry.

TEMPLE:
The legend is that John Henry
was six-six, 280 pounds,

muscular, solid, glistening.

muscular, solid, glistening.
You could see him
half a mile away.

You could see him
half a mile away.

The legend has it that
he was born in enslavement,

and he had all these goals
for his family

and he had all these goals
for his family
coming out of enslavement.

coming out of enslavement.

And he says, "I want a good job.

And he says, "I want a good job.
I want to provide
for my family."

I want to provide
for my family."

And he saw the
C&O railroad laying track

and John Henry shows up
and says, "I'm your guy."

The fable has it that any man
who signed up to work

would get 50 acres of land
if they completed the railroad.

And sometimes this railroad

had to be completed
through a mountain.

And so John Henry not simply
laid rail, the railroad track,

but he had to drive
a stake into the rock,

which creates enough space
to then load dynamite.

John Henry was
the best steel driver,

and then here comes a man
with a steam drill.

The legend speaks of
this race taking place

between John Henry
and the machine.

(train whistle blows)

SHATNER:
As the story goes,

there was a competition
between John Henry

and the machine
to see which of them

could drill farthest into
the side of the mountain

in a single day.

During the contest,

the strength of John Henry
was reportedly so powerful,

that the blows from
his twin sledgehammers

shook the mountain itself.

The story is that

the steam drill
only went nine feet.

the steam drill
only went nine feet.
John Henry went 14.

John Henry went 14.

And so John Henry is superhuman

and more supreme
than the machine.

NAMA: John Henry

beats the machine
in this competition.

But he passes away:

he dies of a heart attack.

He dies from overexertion.

He dies from overexertion.
And what we have here

And what we have here

is John Henry
begins to symbolize

this overpowering physique
of a muscleman

and the ability to achieve

in the face of extreme odds.

TEMPLE:
The legend of John Henry
represents this Black man,

this hero who did
superhuman feats,

from the 19th century.

It overshadows the harshness
of the Reconstruction period,

but it also shows us how

but it also shows us how
Black men who were able-bodied,

Black men who were able-bodied,

who had that spirit of

willing to do anything
they needed to do

to provide for their families.

McNEILL:
Most of us know about
John Henry from a literary work.

Like so many folk heroes

from the same time period
in American history,

Paul Bunyan,
Joe Magarac, Pecos Bill,

they are all compatriots
of John Henry in this

they are all compatriots
of John Henry in this
larger-than-life,
super capable

larger-than-life,
super capable

American folk hero model.

And what they capture
is the spirit of industry

that our nation
so badly wanted to embody

that our nation
so badly wanted to embody
and project
to the rest of the world

and project
to the rest of the world

at this point in history.

at this point in history.
(playing "John Henry")

(playing "John Henry")

SHATNER:
The legend of John Henry's
battle against the steam drill

was first immortalized in an
African American folk ballad,

and since then,
the inspirational story

has also been celebrated
numerous times

in magazines, plays, and books.

Another superhuman feat
of John Henry

is that he was able
to inspire so many.

And so whether it's inspiring

in terms of actually
working on the railroad

or other industries,
John Henry was a beacon of that.

Also, in terms of him
losing his life,

that's a sacrifice

that those who came
after him could appreciate,

as they strive to be
as good as John Henry.

NAMA:
There also is an overlap,

certainly, with John Henry
and superheroes.

In the early 1990s,
Superman passed away,

and that set up a situation

for the comic book version
of John Henry

to come in and save the day...

...as the character of Steel

in order to save
the citizens of Metropolis.

He builds a suit,
encased in steel,

and carries, of all things--
would you believe it?--

a sledgehammer.

And that speaks
to kind of, like,

the reinterpretation
of John Henry

within the framework of
the superhero afro-futuristic

sci-fi version.

TEMPLE:
The idea that John Henry
is a superhero,

standing firmly in that space
of post-enslavement

and Reconstruction,
is really phenomenal.

The legend of John Henry
proves that human strength

is inherent in all of us.

Was John Henry's victory over
the steam drill just a myth,

or did it actually happen?

Either way, the story suggests
that people can perform

incredible feats when placed
in dire circumstances.

Like in the case
of two teenage girls

who saved their father
from certain death

with a sudden burst
of superhuman strength.

SHATNER:
While clearing the grounds
of his property,

Jeff Smith loops a chain
around a tree stump...

...and attaches
the other end to his tractor.

But when he throws

the 3,000-pound vehicle
into reverse, disaster strikes.

My boots were fairly muddy,

and my foot slipped off
the clutch.

And the whole tractor just
tipped flat back over on me.

Ah!

The steering wheel ended up
burying into my chest

The steering wheel ended up
burying into my chest
right about where my heart is,

right about where my heart is,

and pinned me in between
the tractor and the ground.

SHATNER:
Pinned beneath
3,000 pounds of steel,

Jeff screams out in agony.

(screams)

His anguished cries
draw the attention

of his teenage daughters,
Hannah and Haylee.

But with the nearest town
20 minutes away, there's no time

But with the nearest town
20 minutes away, there's no time
to wait for help to arrive.

to wait for help to arrive.

(groaning)

While my dad was under
the tractor, he was...

He couldn't breathe,

his oxygen was really low.

He kept going in and out
of consciousness.

He was pale,
his lips were kind of blue.

Me and my sister
knew at that point

that we were the only ones

and the only chance
that my dad had.

HAYLEE SMITH:
I was just like

HAYLEE SMITH:
I was just like
so frozen and just so shocked.

so frozen and just so shocked.

(groaning)

And I go and I look at my dad.

He's just like, could not talk,

and his blood vessels
in his eyes,

you could see them
popping one by one.

And it was just horrible.
I had no idea what to do.

So my sister says...

So my sister says...
(sniffles)
"Come help me lift it."

(sniffles)
"Come help me lift it."

(groaning)

SHATNER:
As their father
gasps for breath,

the two sisters
frantically grab the front

of the massive tractor,

set their heels into the ground,

and lift.

(grunting)

HAYLEE:
When we tried to lift it,

it did not move.

I was just done,
and Hannah was just screaming,

"We have to do it again,
we have to do it again."

And I just remember
putting my hands up,

and I was just like,

"How?"

And she just said, "Count."
And so we counted.

And I just remember thinking,
like, "God, help me.

And I just remember thinking,
like, "God, help me.
Give me the strength
to do this."

Give me the strength
to do this."

And she said, "One, two, three"
and we lifted it.

(grunting)

SHATNER:
Together, the two teenage girls

managed to hoist the tractor
one foot off the ground...

(grunting)

...allowing their father enough
room to wiggle out and escape.

My girls lifted
a 3,000-pound tractor off me

and saved my life.

So, I mean,
if my girls had not have

shown that kind of
mysterious strength

of being able to lift that
off my chest...

...I don't think I would have
lasted another five minutes.

...I don't think I would have
lasted another five minutes.
What boggles my mind
to this day,

What boggles my mind
to this day,

which is almost
ten years later, is that...

which is almost
ten years later, is that...
they were able to do it.

they were able to do it.

It's just, to be able to lift
that much weight and...

and save my life is...

...incredible.

It's insane to think that
that was even a possibility.

SHATNER:
How did two teenagers--

each weighing no more
than 125 pounds--

find the strength to lift
a massive tractor?

Scientists believe
the source of their

superhuman strength
may have actually been

superhuman strength
may have actually been
a surge of adrenaline.

a surge of adrenaline.

There's many stories
that you hear about

of people doing superhuman
feats of strength...

...and this usually is
driven by adrenaline.

Adrenaline is that hormone

that can tap into resources
of strength that you might have

when you need it
in that split second

when you need it
in that split second
to drive your whole body

to drive your whole body

to push to the limits

and do whatever is necessary.

You see it in battle.

You see it in battle.
You hear about it
in an emergency.

You hear about it
in an emergency.

Adrenaline can make
the body do amazing things.

SHATNER:
Scientists have been studying

the remarkable
effects of adrenaline

since it was
first discovered in 1901.

McMAHON:
Jokichi Takamine
was a Japanese chemist

who spent most of his career
in the United States,

and he's the first
person to identify,

purify, and eventually
trademark adrenaline.

And he was able to isolate
the naturally occurring hormone

And he was able to isolate
the naturally occurring hormone
adrenaline in sheep and oxen

adrenaline in sheep and oxen

and to withdraw it
and to purify it.

EDEN:
Jokichi Takamine described

the whole idea
of the adrenaline rush

as a harnessing of reservoirs

of power and a violent sort of

explosion of energy
that occurs in people

who are in crisis situations.

SHATNER:
Did a rush of adrenaline allow
Hannah and Haylee Smith

SHATNER:
Did a rush of adrenaline allow
Hannah and Haylee Smith
to lift a 3,000-pound tractor?

to lift a 3,000-pound tractor?

It's a fascinating possibility,

and suggests that we all
have untapped strength

that can be unlocked
at a moment's notice.

JEFF:
I feel like that their love

granted them enough power to be
able to do what they had to do.

But when it comes down to it,

I think everybody's got
a little bit of

that kind of superhuman
ability in them.

It's just a matter
of tapping into it

and finding the right situation
where it drives them to do it.

The idea that
a shot of adrenaline

can give an ordinary person
the ability to perform

remarkable feats is fascinating.

Believe it or not, there are
scientists who are currently

trying to harness
other kinds of natural powers

to turn us all into

superhumans.

♪ ♪

SHATNER: At the University
of Connecticut's

Department of Genetics
and Genome Sciences,

there is a lab that is home to

dozens of genetically
altered mice.

While these rodents might
appear quite ordinary,

their DNA has actually
been modified

to make them 30% stronger
than normal mice.

Researchers have found ways
to increase muscle mass,

muscle tissue

in ordinary mice to demonstrate

in ordinary mice to demonstrate
extraordinary endurance.

extraordinary endurance.

It's a kind of
Mighty Mouse effect.

And so the question becomes
whether this can be translated

to the human form.

The possibility
that DNA manipulation

might enable people to enjoy
heightened strength and stamina

is intriguing.

And in fact, humans
have been searching for ways

to enhance our natural abilities

for thousands of years.

EDEN:
If you go back
to the ancient Greeks,

the original Olympics,

there are historical
records of them

working with wine potions

and various herbs

to give themselves
performance enhancement.

And then, in terms of

modern use of
performance-enhancing drugs,

it's the Cold War.

it's the Cold War.
The Soviet Union had

The Soviet Union had

a massive drug doping program

as part of its sports programs

in efforts to defeat
the West in every level,

militarily as well as in sport.

So the urge to do that,
to outcompete

everyone else
on the playing field

has been with us for,
uh, forever.

HOROWITZ:
Since the early 1980s, the
military has been interested

in researching the creation
of super soldiers...

...using exoskeletons

or robotic assists to limbs,

or using magnetic waves

to help people
overcome the problems

of fatigue associated
with sleep deprivation,

or increasing strength,
increasing sight,

increasing the ability
to see around corners,

see in the dark, see behind you,

to allow them to perform

incredible feats that are
otherwise impossible.

McMAHON:
Our desire always
to improve ourselves

is at the source of
so much of what we do.

At a very elementary level,

human beings want
to distinguish themselves.

We want to do what
others haven't done.

We're always restless,
questing for something else,

We're always restless,
questing for something else,
pursuing something else,

pursuing something else,

and it's somewhat of
a perverse need.

SHATNER:
Will technology
push human performance

beyond its natural limits?

Many scientists believe
it's possible.

But the truth is that
human beings already possess

extraordinary capabilities

that we are only beginning
to understand.

LUKE:
I think,

in some cases,

people don't know that they have

these talents and capacities...

...until they're put
in the right situation

where they have to call on them.

And as we start understanding
more about the science of genes,

we'll realize that
there may be talents

and potentials
that we can unlock

that we didn't
otherwise know about.

Just when we think we know
the limits of our mental

and physical capabilities,

another extraordinary person

comes along and performs

a superhuman feat
that breaks the boundaries

of what is possible.

So, perhaps in the future,

mankind will unlock even more
incredible abilities

mankind will unlock even more
incredible abilities
that, for now, remain...

that, for now, remain...

...unexplained.

CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY
A+E NETWORKS