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Unexplainable

Author: Vox

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Unexplainable takes listeners right up to the edge of what we know ... and then keeps right on going. This Vox podcast explores scientific mysteries, unanswered questions, and all the things we learn by diving into the unknown. New episodes every Wednesday.

143 Episodes
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The Yips

The Yips

2024-03-2731:051

Think about the thing you’ve practiced more than anything else in the world. Maybe it’s painting. Or writing. Or playing the piano. Now imagine you wake up one day and you just can’t do it. You’re not sick. You’re not injured. But that one thing is impossible. It’s called the yips, and even the most talented people in the world experience it. What could cause them to lose their superpowers? And is there anything they can do to get them back? For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show. Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Diagnosing diseases such as endometriosis can require difficult steps, like surgery. But researchers are hoping to use menstrual fluid to make detecting the condition much easier. For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show. Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The bleeding edge

The bleeding edge

2024-03-1320:211

Periods and menstrual fluid have long been overlooked by scientists. Now, researchers are starting to suspect they might be sources of medical treasure. For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show. Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aliens from Earth?

Aliens from Earth?

2024-03-0628:033

Was there a technologically advanced species living on Earth long before humans? And if one had existed, how would we know? (Updated from 2022) For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show. Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
They’re not looking for UFOs or decoding government secrets. They’re doing something much simpler. For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show. Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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/unexplainable It’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show. Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Why do we cry?

Why do we cry?

2024-02-1426:254

Humans seem to be the only animals that cry from emotion. This Valentine’s Day, we’re wondering: What makes our tears so special? (Updated from 2022) For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show. Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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? For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show. Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The case for cursing

The case for cursing

2024-01-3128:172

Can swearing make you stronger? For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show. Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today's internet is built on a series of locks and keys that protect your private information as it travels through cyberspace. But could all these locks be broken? (Updated from 2022) For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show. Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Garbage patch kids

Garbage patch kids

2024-01-1721:051

Scientists didn’t think it was possible for life to thrive in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Then, they found some anemones ... and some huge questions about entire new ecosystems built on plastic. If you want to hear more about plastic in the ocean, we have another episode about how 99% of ocean plastic is missing: http://bit.ly/3HnW9b2 For even more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show. Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Researchers planted microphones in a forest and walked away. Listening back could help heal rainforest ecosystems. For show transcripts, go to bit.ly/unx-transcripts For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show. Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What’s up with the weird golden egg at the bottom of the ocean? How do eggs actually choose sperm? Hit sports podcast host Pablo Torre tries to guess which of these mysteries has actually been solved on our latest episode of Unexplainable or Not. For show transcripts, go to bit.ly/unx-transcripts For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show. Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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-transcripts For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show. Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
An expedition to Antarctica. Strange seismic readings. Clues to uncover a hidden part of our planet. For show transcripts, go to bit.ly/unx-transcripts For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show. Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Our show celebrates uncertainty. But as environmental reporter Amy Westervelt explains, the concept also has a dark side. For show transcripts, go to bit.ly/unx-transcripts For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show. Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Can we live in space?

Can we live in space?

2023-11-2934:284

NASA is planning for humans to live on the moon by 2040. But how much space can the human body handle? (Updated from 2022) For show transcripts, go to bit.ly/unx-transcripts For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show. Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The ice cream effect

The ice cream effect

2023-11-1531:124

Decades of studies suggest that eating ice cream reduces diabetes risk. Could ice cream be ... good for you? And what does “good for you” mean? For show transcripts, go to bit.ly/unx-transcripts For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show. Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The data vigilantes

The data vigilantes

2023-11-0834:341

Data sleuths are working outside the system to keep science honest. But is there a better way to prevent scientific misconduct and fraud? For show transcripts, go to bit.ly/unx-transcripts For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show. Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Coral reefs are an essential ecosystem undeniably threatened by climate change. Can scientists breed a stronger coral for the future? For show transcripts, go to bit.ly/unx-transcripts For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show. Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Comments (44)

squogg

ugh Such a frustrating episode. I know it's unexplainable, but damn. Hopefully more funding will find this topic soon.

Mar 14th
Reply

Chak Olate

Is anyone else having trouble with the constant ding sounds? I was actually relieved when they went to commercial

Mar 7th
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N Rankin

would love to see one on the Bootes Void!

Jan 27th
Reply

squogg

Oof yeah that's quite the conundrum: Do we clean up the plastic that's become a habitat for different species?

Jan 18th
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squogg

🤯 This is wild! ... and freaky

Sep 15th
Reply

Christian Camacho Villalón

Terrible episode, completely biased. It's mostly the option of the reporters presented as "scientific discussion".

Jul 6th
Reply

Julie Luker

Great. A cold-adapted elephant in a warming world. How in the world did that NOT occur to you? Not to mention that elephants are highly intelligent and social creatures. How will they react to a significantly different, 'off' elephant? There is so much wrong here!

Apr 30th
Reply

squogg

Soooo... how long are we going to hear snipits of Byrd's acid trip with a can of Dr. Pepper before a full episode comes out? 😂

Apr 12th
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squogg

Bread hiccupper here! Mine is mostly with super soft bread and angel food cake. To stop them, I take a giant breath in, hold it, then slooooooooowly exhale. Usually works after the first round.

Apr 1st
Reply

squogg

Surprised they didn't mention this was a repeat episode (they typically do). Anywho, for a dramatized version of Henrietta's discovery, go check your local theater for Silent Sky. It's an excellent play about her life and work.

Apr 1st
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squogg

This episode is asking some wild questions 🤯🤯

Mar 13th
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squogg

As someone who wants to connect with my half siblings and to be found by my bio-family, I was disheartened to hear how strongly she felt about not wanting to meet any potential family members. I know my paternal family will never become a huge part of my life and I won't magically have someone to call "dad," but I'd still love to know who they are. I'm also fascinated by which traits are nurture vs. nature.

Mar 12th
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squogg

Wait. Your pupils can get smaller just by visualizing really bright light?! 🤯 Fascinating!

Mar 2nd
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squogg

This reminds me more of Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind than Black Mirror 🤨

Feb 27th
Reply

squogg

This episode is a trip! It blows my mind thinking of all the amazing ways in which science can tell us about the universe and how it all began.

Feb 21st
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squogg

I just have to say how much I absolutely love Noam Hassenfeld's music. It's such a delightful addition to these episodes 🥰

Feb 21st
Reply

niaakima

If I had a nickel for everytime this dude said Like I could buy a tesla

Feb 20th
Reply

squogg

That was the best forest rave music I've ever heard! 🤣

Feb 8th
Reply

squogg

I had never considered we don't know what clouds actually looked like before we started messing with the atmosphere. So wild! Can't wait to learn what information we obtain from Whaler journals.

Feb 2nd
Reply

squogg

"There's a sense of optimism in a question. It makes you feel like we could know the answer to them. We can fill in a little bit more of the hole of our ignorance." Absolutely love this way of thinking!

Jan 25th
Reply
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