Stream now with KPBS Passport on KPBS+ / Watch Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026 at 10 p.m. on KPBS TV
Uncover the groundbreaking science being used by computer scientist Brent Seales as he attempts to be the first person in nearly 2,000 years to read inside hundreds of carbonized ancient scrolls found at the archaeological site of Herculaneum in Italy.
Brent's work combines cutting-edge scanning techniques with his own artificial intelligence software, to attempt to teach a computer to read inside the scrolls without ever having to open them.
Watch On Your Schedule: "The Herculaneum Scrolls" is available to stream with KPBS Passport on KPBS+, a new free streaming video app designed for ease and enjoyment everywhere you watch including Roku, smart TVs and mobile devices. It’s locally curated for San Diego by the KPBS programming team. With a clean and intuitive design, discovering and enjoying KPBS and PBS content on-demand has never been easier.
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Credits: A production of Impossible Factual and The WNET Group, in association with ZDF Studios, Channel 5, SBS Australia, and France Télévisions. Narrated by Jay O. Sanders. Produced and Directed by Adam Luria. Edit Director is Ed Baranski. Executive Producers for Impossible Factual are Jonathan Drake and Steve Maher. For SECRETS OF THE DEAD: Benjamin Phelps is supervising producer; Stephanie Carter is executive producer; Stephen Segaller is executive in charge.
