A DYING MAN OFFERS TO BECOME A MUMMY TO HELP SOLVE ONE OF EGYPT'S MOST INTRIGUING SECRETS

CURIOSITY: I Was Mummified, premieres Sunday, Oct. 21 at 9 PM E/P

(Los Angeles, Calif.) - A team of scientists are on a quest to solve one of the greatest mysteries of ancient Egypt - the art of mummification. How do you perfectly stop time at the moment of death? What types of materials do you use? And can it be done without modern-day chemicals?

In "I Was Mummified," the latest episode of the ground-breaking series CURIOSITY, airing Sunday, Oct. 21 at 9 PM E/P on Discovery Channel, a team of researchers think they're close to finding answers to these questions. All they need is a body. Enter Allan Billis, a 61-year-old cab driver with terminal lung cancer, who decides to donate his body to science after reading an advertisement in the newspaper looking for a volunteer to be mummified.

After 36 years of marriage, Alan's wife Jan has become accustomed to surprises though was still thrown off at first. "You've what?" Jan said, after hearing about his decision. "And I thought, 'Oh, here he goes again.' That's just the sort of thing you would expect him to do."

Over the next three months, a carefully assembled team of experts will attempt to preserve Alan's body by using techniques last practiced by the ancient Egyptians more than 3,000 years ago. Will they be able crack the secret in stopping the body's natural decay after death? CURIOSITY will take viewers behind the scenes to see whether this unassuming man will become the world's first modern-day pharaoh.

CURIOSITY, now in its second season on Discovery Channel, brings the 'I wonder?' moment to television with a unique array of provocative subjects. The next episode, "Brainwashed," airing Sunday, Oct. 28, explores whether we truly are in command of our own minds and follows a hypnotherapist and a group of scientists as they embark on an audacious experiment -- to see if ordinary people can be brainwashed and turned into assassins.

"I Was Mummified" is produced by Blink Films for Discovery Channel. CURIOSITY is overseen by Vice President, Development and Production Howard Swartz and Senior Vice President, Development and Production Simon Andreae. To learn more, go to www.discovery.com, on Facebook at Facebook.com/discovery and on Twitter @Discovery. Intel is a presenting sponsor of "I Was Mummified."

About Discovery Channel

Discovery Channel is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-fiction content that informs and entertains its consumers about the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. The network, which is distributed to 100.8 million U.S. homes, can be seen in 210 countries and territories, offering a signature mix of compelling, high-end production values and vivid cinematography across genres including, science and technology, exploration, adventure, history and in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the people, places and organizations that shape and share our world. For more information, please visit www.discovery.com.

About Discovery Communications

Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.8 billion cumulative subscribers in 209 countries and territories. Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity through 149 worldwide television networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science and Investigation Discovery, as well as U.S. joint venture networks OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, The Hub and 3net, the first 24-hour 3D network. Discovery also is a leading provider of educational products and services to schools and owns and operates a diversified portfolio of digital media services, including Revision3. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.