The Secret Genius Of Modern Life | Series 3 Preview (BBC Two)

Why did a WWII pilot’s cold sandwich give us the Air Fryer revolution of today? How did a thirsty student in the 1980s create a smart doorbell revolution ? And who is the Formula 1 hero who made our motorways safer? To blow your mind with the answers to all this and more – Professor Hannah Fry is back with a brand new series of The Secret Genius of Modern Life.

Hidden in plain sight all around us are amazing innovations. Technology that’s been perfectly engineered to make our lives better, but which we barely even stop to consider.

With behind-the-scenes access to tech innovators like Ring, Bosch and Philips, not to mention a ride on the UK’s newest (and fastest) roller coaster, Hannah takes a deep dive into everything from the physics of fear that explains how roller coaster loops thrill us, to the 17th century chicken incubator that led to the fridge thermostat of today.

In this series she tears apart our modern world to find the extraordinary stories behind the everyday objects we take for granted.

In the first episode, Hannah takes a look at the air fryer – a device that’s rapidly taking over people's kitchens, cooking up everything from bread rolls to baked Alaska and almost making ovens obsolete.

Hannah dives into its surprising history, going behind the scenes with air fryer originators Philips. She discovers how the accidental creation of a wonder wire in the 1900s, a WWII pilot’s cold dinner and one man tinkering in his garage created this modern marvel that's redefining cooking.

The Secret Genius Of Modern Life returns Wednesday 2nd April at 8pm on BBC Two.