Sharks are changing. Or at least, that’s the theory.
Biologist Phil Torres and “Expedition X” host Heather Amaro are heading back into the waters of the Marshall Islands for Expedition X: Atomic Sharks. It’s a “Shark Week” 2026 special, sure. But the focus isn’t just fins. It’s fallout.
They’re investigating reports of highly aggressive behavior in these apex predators. Is nuclear contamination the trigger? To find out, they’re hitting spots like Troy’s Coral Head. It’s dangerous. It’s radioactive. And it’s home to sharks that might have gone mad from the atoms.
It’s not just a nature doc. It’s a thriller.
The History You Can’t Ignore
The waters they’re exploring aren’t exactly pristine. The U.S. military treated the Marshall Islands as a giant shooting range. From 1946 to 1967—though the prompt says 12 years, specifically noting 1946-1958—they detonated 67 nuclear bombs. Sixty-seven.
Half at Bikini Atoll. Half at Enewetak Atoll.
The result? Irreversible damage. Catastrophic. Cancer rates among the local population skyrocketed. Local crops? Unfit for consumption. The land and sea became toxic.
Ironically, half a century later, this radioactive graveyard became the site of the world’s largest shark sanctuary.
Now, Torres and Amaro are asking why the sharks are acting weird.
How to Watch ‘Expedition X: Atomic Sharks’ in the U.S.
You need to catch this when it airs. The episode drops on Discovery.
When: Wednesday, July 29, at 8 p.m. ET and PT.
Where: The Discovery channel.
If your cable package is trash (and who doesn’t want to cancel it?), you have options. Streaming is where it’s at. Several services carry Discovery, and most offer free trials for new subscribers.
Here’s the breakdown for the main contenders:
- YouTube TV: Usually $82.99 a month. But new users get a free trial plus $15 off each of their first five months.
- DirecTV MyTV Entertainment Pack: Costs $42.99/month. You get a 5-day free trial before the billing kicks in.
- Hulu + Live TV: A pricier option at $89.99/month, but includes a 3-day free trial.
- Max (formerly HBO Max): Starts at $10.99/month. Note that while it’s cheaper, check if Discovery content is fully included in your specific tier.
Don’t overthink it. If you’ve never tried YouTube TV or Hulu Live, the trials make them risk-free for one night’s viewing.
Can You Watch It in the U.K.?
It’s a bit of a wait if you’re across the pond.
“Shark Week” programming usually lands on Discovery+ in the U.K., but often at a later date than the U.S. broadcast. At the time of writing, details for the 2026 “Expedition X: Atomic Sharks” special are under wraps. Nobody knows the exact air time yet.
But if you’re a Brit currently vacationing in the U.S. or traveling for work, you aren’t left out. You can still access your usual U.K. streaming services by masking your location.
You need a VPN.
How to Use a VPN to Bypass Geo-Restrictions
Traveling abroad? A Virtual Private Network (VPN) lets you spoof your digital location. It’s internet security software that tricks streaming platforms into thinking you’re still back home. This unlocks geo-blocked content.
We’re talking about services like Surfshark here.
TechRadar experts rank Surfshark among the best for this exact purpose. It’s not just about unblocking Discovery. It’s about security, privacy, and price. They usually have discounts running.
If you want to watch Expedition X: Atomic Sharks regardless of where you are in the world, a VPN is your ticket.
The sharks in the Marshall Islands are waiting. Will they be calm? Or will they be dangerous?
The episode tries to answer that. You just have to know how to hit play.
