It’s fascinating that some people get their kicks from jumping out of planes, driving motorcycles over the Grand Canyon or handcuffing themselves in tanks of water with seconds to get out safely. Or how about just being shot out of a cannon? Who in his or her right mind would do this, and what’s in it for these thrill seekers?

There’s a new A&E series I can’t wait to see: it’s tentatively called "The Impossible Live" and features folks, possibly with death wishes, doing  dangerous stunts like jumping onto a train out of a plane without the benefit of a parachute. A&E execs have Ok’d five 2 hour episodes. One show will feature the highest altitude wire walk ever attempted, jumping from one hot air balloon to another.

Perhaps the riskiest stunt will be ‘Volcano Walk Live' (working title) with what A&E execs say is the “longest, most complicated and dangerous stunt ever attempted," a world record high-wire walk over an active volcano. This will take place in East Africa, the location nailed down after a two year search around the globe conducted by volcanologists and engineers. Think of the risk involved - no turning back! If you fell, you'd fall into hot lava. Augh!

Why do some people get off on that adrenaline surge? There's speculation that risk taking is an addiction.

Adrenaline addiction, the kind you get from jumping out of a plane, is not a recognized diagnosis. However, when you engage in highly challenging activities, it is a scientific fact that the hormone norepinephrine and the neurotransmitter dopamine are both released in the body. These create 'feel good' responses.

Those who yearn for adventure have a strong need for stimulation. This fuels their desire to take chances that we mortal folks would cringe at. 

I've never been sky diving but admire people who get up there and do it. However, researchers report in the Journal of Neuroscience that daredevils' brains are actually more saturated with dopamine, and this predisposes them to looking danger in the face. The risk can be in the form of spending too much money, overeating, drinking too much - or sky diving.

There are some great photos of adrenaline junkies I found on the UK's DailyMail.com. I get enough of a high just watching this stuff.

I'll be tuned into "The Impossible Live" when Bello Nock, a seventh-generation performer and all-American daredevil, along with his daredevil daughter, Annaliese, attempt the hot air balloon wire walk. The Essential Media Group supervises pre-production that kicks off in the fall.