The UnBelievable with Dan Aykroyd

We've heard the tales of great wars fought with groundbreaking weaponry, but what about everything else in between? From missiles manned by pigeons, or a helmet outfitted with firearms, to an incendiary device made to look like one of America's favorite pastimes. These are the stories of unconventional weapons; each more unbelievable than the next.

This episode explores the strangest and most ghastly gigs ever. From night soil men cleaning excrement off the streets of Victorian London, professional mourners hired to weep at funerals, to the intrepid deer urine collectors. These are the most unbelievable jobs in history.

Some of the world's most valiant figures overcome the most treacherous, impossible and downright bizarre circumstances. Like a man who survives the apocalypse, or a woman involved in not one, but three maritime disasters. And a cat that proves to be unsinkable in battle. These are the stories of survival, success and reunion... against all odds.

Would you believe that the beginnings of modern endoscopy were really all thanks to one professional sword-swallower? Or that lack of sleep could have some strange upsides? What about drinking vomit in the name of science? These are the stories of the most bizarre, unthinkable and outrageous experiments in history.

History is full of miracle cures, far-fetched products, and astonishing feats, but not all of them are legitimate. A miracle snake oil that cures all? A piece of the Brooklyn Bridge for sale? A marathon-winner who crosses the finish line without hardly breaking a sweat? These are the stories of some of history's most spectacular cons, each deception more unbelievable than the last.

From the kitchen to the battlefield, some machines are just too strange to believe. Like an appliance that runs on pup power. Or a mouse trap so deadly, you need a permit to own one.

When we think of disasters, we picture hurricanes, earthquakes, or floods. But some catastrophes defy even our wildest expectations.