(L-R): DAILY PLANET Co-Hosts Dan Riskin and Ziya Tong look at the year that was and what’s to come with DAILY PLANET: YEAR IN SCI-TECH and January’s “Future Tech Week” on Discovery

TORONTO (December 14, 2015) – As 2015 comes to a close, Discovery’s flagship program DAILY PLANET celebrates a truly eventful year in science and technology with the new one-hour special 2015: YEAR IN SCI-TECH, premiering Friday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. ET. Then, DAILY PLANET ushers in 2016 by keeping pace with the technology trends to come with “Future Tech Week”, beginning Monday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. ET through Friday, Jan. 8. Anchored by Ziya Tong from the 2016 International CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas, and Dan Riskin in-studio from Toronto, the world’s only nightly science broadcast stays on top of the latest trends and products, the most innovative and inventive technologies, and the science behind it all.

**Media Note** Photography for DAILY PLANET available online at BellMediaPR.ca.

2015: YEAR IN SCI-TECH

Friday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. ET

Technology catapults to new heights in 2015, going faster and further than ever before. DAILY PLANET has canvassed the world in search of the best and most fascinating science and tech stories of the year for 2015: YEAR IN SCI-TECH. This action-packed hour of fun and intrigue revisits the world’s first glimpse of Pluto and images of water on Mars while exploring what this all could mean for intelligent life in the universe – all while earthlings inch closer to becoming actual space tourists.

Throughout the hour, Tong and Riskin revisit the year’s most amazing techological feats and scientific discoveries, including new and elusive animal species discovered deep under the ocean, as well as the hottest tech trends - from hover boards to driverless cars and trucks, and the newest advances in mind-blowing virtual reality.

(L-R): The year of Pluto; spacecraft intended to one day take tourists into galaxy; flying hoverboard

DAILY PLANET’s “Future Tech Week”

Monday, Jan. 4 – Friday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. ET

Highlights from the future-forward week include:

“Cartivator”

Flying cars are certainly going to be a thing of the future – many are already in development  around the world. But no one’s building one quite like the team at Cartivator, where they’re trying to make the world’s smallest flying car. DAILY PLANET meets with the team to test their newest prototype. If everything goes the team’s way, the car could be done in time to light the Olympic Torch in 2020.

“Robot Hotel”

The future is now at the world’s first robot hotel in Japan, where everything from the receptionists to alarm clocks to luggage carts are 100% robotic. DAILY PLANET checks out, or rather checks in for a truly futuristic experience.

“K-MAX”

Fighting fires takes a lot of manpower. But a new tech development is making it possible to battle blazes without a crew. Enter K-MAX, a full-sized, unpiloted helicopter. Using a programmed flight plan, infrared camera, and a built-in bambi-bucket, K-MAX can go where firefighters simply can’t.

“Moley Robotics”

Tired of cooking every day? Ever wish there was a robotic chef just like Rosie from THE JETSONS? This wish might be on the verge of being granted. DAILY PLANET meets with Mark Oleynik, the inventor of U.K.-based Moley Robotic Kitchen, as his robot prepares a delicious crab bisque. Thanks to arms with 20 motors, 24 joints, and 129 sensors, the future of dinner is officially served!