Unexplainable

4.6 (2K)
LIFE SCIENCES
UPDATED WEEKLY

Unexplainable takes listeners right up to the edge of what we know…and then keeps on going. The Unexplainable team — Noam Hassenfeld, Julia Longoria, Byrd Pinkerton, and Meradith Hoddinott — tackles scientific mysteries, unanswered questions, and everything we learn diving into the unknown. New episodes every Wednesday.

4D AGO

Intraterrestrials

Deep inside the mud at the bottom of the ocean, scientists have found life that is so unusual they’ve had to create new branches on the tree of life to put it on. These life forms are not extraterrestrials: They’re “aliens” from Earth. Guest: Karen Lloyd, microbiologist and author of Intraterrestrials: Discovering the Strangest Life on Earth For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscripts For more, go to vox.com/unexplainable And please email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by becoming a Vox Member today: vox.com/members Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

26 min
MAR 26

How to talk to aliens

Scientists have been searching for aliens for decades. But if we ever do get a signal someday, how will we communicate back? And will anyone out there be able to understand us? Guests: Doug Vakoch, president of METI, and Sheri Wells-Jensen, linguist at Bowling Green State University For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscripts For more, go to vox.com/unexplainable And please email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by becoming a Vox Member today: vox.com/members Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

27 min
MAR 22

Good Robot #4: Who, me?

What can we actually do as our world gets populated with more and more robots? How can we take control? Can we take control? This is the final episode of our four-part series about the stories shaping the future of AI. Good Robot was made in partnership with Vox’s Future Perfect team. For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscripts For more, go to vox.com/unexplainable And please email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by becoming a Vox Member today: vox.com/members Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

54 min
MAR 19

Good Robot #3: Let’s fix everything

A simple parable about a drowning child sparks a moral revolution. Is building AI the way to do the most good in the world? This is the third episode of our new four-part series about the stories shaping the future of AI. Good Robot was made in partnership with Vox’s Future Perfect team. Episodes will be released on Wednesdays and Saturdays. For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscripts For more, go to vox.com/unexplainable And please email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by becoming a Vox Member today: vox.com/members Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

50 min
MAR 15

Good Robot #2: Everything is not awesome

When a robot does bad things, who is responsible? A group of technologists sounds the alarm about the ways AI is already harming us today. Are their concerns being taken seriously? This is the second episode of our new four-part series about the stories shaping the future of AI. Good Robot was made in partnership with Vox’s Future Perfect team. Episodes will be released on Wednesdays and Saturdays over the next two weeks. For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscripts For more, go to vox.com/unexplainable And please email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by becoming a Vox Member today: vox.com/members Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

58 min
MAR 12

Good Robot #1: The magic intelligence in the sky

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 the stories shaping the future of AI. Good Robot was made in partnership with Vox’s Future Perfect team. Episodes will be released on Wednesdays and Saturdays over the next two weeks. For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscripts For more, go to vox.com/unexplainable And please email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by becoming a Vox Member today: vox.com/members Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

54 min
MAR 5

A strange signal from space

This week on Unexplainable or Not, the newest member of our team, Julia Longoria, tries to figure out which of three scientific mysteries about the sea, the land, and the sky has actually been solved. Guest: Admir Masic, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at MIT. For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscripts For more, go to vox.com/unexplainable And please email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by becoming a Vox Member today: vox.com/members Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

37 min
FEB 26

Dylan got malaria on purpose

Dylan got malaria on purpose. And he thinks you should, too. Guest: Dylan Matthews, senior correspondent at Vox’s Future Perfect This episode was made in partnership with Vox’s Future Perfect team. For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscripts For more, go to vox.com/unexplainable And please email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by becoming a Vox Member today: vox.com/members Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

28 min

See All (193)

TRAILER

Introducing Unexplainable

Scientists don’t know what 95% of the universe is made of. They don’t know how a bike stays up. They don’t even really know how the nose works. Join us every Wednesday on Unexplainable for deep dives into the unknown, because what we don’t know is awesome. New episodes March 10th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

02/19/2021

•

3 min

4.6

out of 5

1,980 Ratings

One of my faves

Mar 30

mkm rhythms

The podcast has interesting topics and is reported with excellence! It’s one of my favorites!
Great work!

Mar 25

Dashthelizardhunter

Love the intriguing topics! Good interview questions and guests. Also really like how each show varies in length, I can just keep listening.
Julia is great!

Mar 20

Tim the Accountant

Loved Julia’s work on The Experiment and More Perfect…can’t wait to hear more of her work here!
I love Unexplainable

Mar 19

Bashtord

Unexplainable brings irreverent, accurate, sincere, and pertinent coverage of subjects that stoke curiosity. Plus, it features the whimsical musical genius of Noam in songs like The Wombat Song. In the pantheon of podcasts, The Unexplainable stands on top as the current reigning champion!
Always fascinating

Mar 13

Jusnhooknows

Long live Julia Longoria
Social justice warriors.

Mar 16

DubExpress

Why is science being destroyed? Everything in here has to do with politics and social justice. It doesn’t matter if you’re on the episode talking about food, robots, or ice, you will get preached to.
Awesome show

Mar 12

Your Mom's my Dad

Feeling triggered by more perfect’s overindulgence of the phrase ‘after the break’. Crinnge
Such A Great Show With A Great Sountrack

Mar 11

FrannyMV

Love this show! Really inspiring topics that make you see the world with fresh eyes.
Please stop using music all the time

Mar 12

Ginfcontact

Fascinating topics but ruined by incessant use of terrible music!
Concrete

Mar 6

SunflowerJones5

The concrete song is my new jam… for reels!!! #thenuggets

Unexplainable takes listeners right up to the edge of what we know…and then keeps on going. The Unexplainable team — Noam Hassenfeld, Julia Longoria, Byrd Pinkerton, and Meradith Hoddinott — tackles scientific mysteries, unanswered questions, and everything we learn diving into the unknown. New episodes every Wednesday.