Unexplainable
Unexplainable
Episodes
Unexplainable
Best Episodes of Unexplainable
Mark All
Believe it or not, scientists still don't know how the sense of smell works. But they're looking at how powerful it is - dogs can actually sniff out cancer and many other diseases - and they're trying to figure out how to reverse engineer it. I
Two scientists explain how AI might help us translate animal communication, and what we might learn from their squawks, chirps, songs, and chatter. This episode was recorded live at the Aspen Ideas Festival.For more, go to http://vox.com/unexp
When scientists examined the DNA of ancient bones found near a Himalayan lake, they were forced to confront a seemingly impossible conclusion.*This episode has been updated. In the original version, we mixed up carbon isotopes with carbon isot
Sixty years ago, geologists tried to drill down through the Earth’s crust to pull up a piece of the Earth’s mantle. Their mission didn’t go exactly as planned. But it sowed the seeds for a new field of science that’s helped us rewrite not only
Drugs like ecstasy and mushrooms have shown promise as mental health treatments, but they’re also exposing some major cracks in how scientists study the brain.Guests: Jonathan Lambert, science journalist; Boris Heifets, professor at Stanford U
The Indus Valley civilization was one of the largest, most advanced civilizations in the ancient world. But we barely know anything about them, in large part because we haven’t been able to decipher the cryptic symbols they left behind.For mor
In the past few decades, the rate of food allergies in both children and adults has dramatically increased. What’s causing this rise, and what can we do about it?For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainableIt’s a great place to view show tran
Scientists don’t understand why so many people suffer from Covid-19 symptoms for months, well after they stop testing positive. But that’s just the start of the mystery. There are other diseases that cast these long shadows, and they point to a
Before AI became a mainstream obsession, one thinker sounded the alarm about its catastrophic potential. So why are so many billionaires and tech leaders worried about… paper clips?This is the first episode of our new four-part series about th
A neuroscientist argues that the focus on dreams has held back the scientific understanding of sleep. So he took dreams out of the picture and uncovered a new potential connection between the mind and body.Guest: Mark Blumberg, behavioral neur
Funding cuts and research censorship have shaken the foundations of America’s health and science agencies, leaving researchers shocked, confused, and afraid. What does this mean for the future of science?For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unx
Some of the largest lakes in the world have been buried under miles of ice for millions of years. Is there life hiding down there? And if so, could life be found in even more extreme places … beyond our planet?Guest: John Priscu, microbiologi
Some scientists think an explosion of AI awareness and feeling might be just around the corner. Others think it’s impossible for an AI to ever become conscious. How will we know?This episode was made in partnership with Vox's Future Perfect t
How we feel emotionally may be influenced by unseen troves of microbial life that live inside us. Is it possible to harness this gut power? (First published in 2022)Guests: Michael Gershon, professor of pathology at Columbia University; and Ka
As the world gets warmer and storms get worse, insurance companies are jacking up rates — or refusing to cover homeowners altogether. Is the future uninsurable?Guests: Umair Irfan, correspondent at Vox; Karen Clark, co-founder and CEO of Karen
Probably not. But Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz decided to try anyway, putting his body — and specifically his butt — on the line to answer a seemingly straightforward question: Is it possible to build up a tolerance to poison oak b
Our bodies are teeming with viruses. But some of them, called phages, might play a really important role in keeping us healthy.Guest: Tom Ireland, author of The Good VirusFor show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscriptsFor more, go to vox.
Way back when forests first evolved on Earth … they might have triggered one of the biggest mass extinctions in the history of the planet. What can we learn from this ancient climate apocalypse?For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscript
A snake. A shark. They got pregnant with no male involved. In fact, scientists are finding more and more species that can reproduce on their own. What’s going on?Note: We mention that a stingray named Charlotte might be pregnant via parthenoge
Itch used to be understood as a mild form of pain, but scientists are learning this sense is more than just skin deep. How deep does it go?For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscriptsFor more, go to vox.com/unexplainableAnd please emai
A cell is alive. So is a leaf and so is a tree. But what about the forest they’re a part of? Is that forest alive? And what about the planet that forest grows on? Is Earth alive? Science writer Ferris Jabr says: Yes.For show transcripts, go to
Airborne diseases kill millions of people a year, despite available antibiotics and vaccines. But scientists think there might be another solution to fighting these diseases, one that harnesses the power of light.For more, go to http://vox.com
Safety questions have haunted aspartame — the no-calorie sweetener used in many diet soft drinks and other low-calorie products — since its invention. Some answers exist, but should we trust them if they were influenced by the beverage industry
The James Webb Space Telescope launched two years ago, giving scientists a new view into the early universe. Now, it's revealed a big new cosmic mystery.For show transcripts, go to bit.ly/unx-transcriptsFor more, go to http://vox.com/unexplai
An expedition to Antarctica. Strange seismic readings. Clues to uncover a hidden part of our planet.For show transcripts, go to bit.ly/unx-transcriptsFor more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainableIt’s a great place to view show transcripts and
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