“Expedition X: Atomic Sharks” – a “Shark Week” 2026 special – sees biologist Phil Torres and “Expedition X” host Heather Amaro explore the islands’ waters, including Troy’s Coral Head, to establish if nuclear fallout could be behind reports of sharks displaying unusual and highly aggressive behaviors.
The U.S. military detonated 67 nuclear bombs at Bikini Atoll and Enewetak Atoll over 12 years from 1946 to 1958, which inflicted catastrophic and irreversible harm on the local populace and environment. Cancer rates among residents increased significantly, and local produce was rendered unfit for consumption.
Half a century later, however, the Marshall Islands became the site of the world’s largest shark sanctuary.
How to watch “Expedition X: Atomic Sharks” in the U.S.
“Expedition X: Atomic Sharks” airs on Discovery at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Wednesday, July 29.
If you don’t have the Discovery channel on cable, it’s available on a streaming basis from several cable alternatives. Best of all, many of the services offer a free trial to new customers.
YouTube TV usually costs $82.99 per month but comes with a free trial and $15 off each of your first five months.
The DirecTV MyEntertainment genre pack costs $42.99 per month after a 5-day free trial, and Hulu + Live TV costs $89.99 per month after a 3-day free trial.
Alternatively, the HBO Max streaming service starts at $10.99 per month.
Can you watch “Expedition X: Atomic Sharks” in the U.K.?
“Shark Week” programming typically airs on Discovery+ in the U.K. at a later date.
At the time of publication, plans for “Expedition X: Atomic Sharks” and the other 2026 specials are still firmly under wraps.
If you’re currently in the U.K. for work or on vacation from the U.S., you can still catch “Expedition X: Atomic Sharks” by using a VPN, such as Surfshark.
Watch “Expedition X: Atomic Sharks” from anywhere
If you’re traveling abroad you can access your usual streaming services from anywhere with a good VPN.
A VPN, or virtual private network, is a piece of internet security software that can alter your device’s digital location, unlocking the geo-restrictions on most streaming platforms.
Our expert colleagues at TechRadar rate Surfshark as one of the best VPNs. Not only is it great for unblocking streaming services, it has top-level security features, a reasonable price tag and, right now, a big discount.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
