151 episodes

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.

Unexplainable Vox Media Podcast Network

    • Science
    • 4.6 • 1.8K Ratings

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.

    Did trees kill the world?

    Did trees kill the world?

    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/unxtranscripts
    For more, go to vox.com/unexplainable
    And please email us! unexplainable@vox.com
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    Support Unexplainable by becoming a Vox Member today: vox.com/members
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    • 26 min
    Can we stop aging?

    Can we stop aging?

    From blood transfusions to enzyme boosters, our friends at Science Vs dive into the latest research on the search for the fountain of youth.
    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 making a financial contribution to Vox: vox.com/givepodcasts
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    • 37 min
    Who's the daddy? There isn't one.

    Who's the daddy? There isn't one.

    A snake. A ray. A shark. They each 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?
    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 making a financial contribution to Vox: vox.com/givepodcasts
    Please take a second to help us learn more about you! vox.com/podcastsurvey
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 20 min
    Itch hunt

    Itch hunt

    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/unxtranscripts
    For more, go to vox.com/unexplainable
    And please email us! unexplainable@vox.com
    We read every email.
    Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox: vox.com/givepodcasts
    Please take a second to help us learn more about you! vox.com/podcastsurvey
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 18 min
    How did Earth get its water?

    How did Earth get its water?

    Life as we know it needs water, but scientists can’t figure out where Earth’s water came from. Answering that question is just one piece of an even bigger mystery: “Why are we here?” (Updated from 2023)
    For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscripts
    For more, go to vox.com/unexplainable
    Vox is also currently running a series called Home Planet, which is all about celebrating Earth in the face of climate change: vox.com/homeplanet
    And please email us! unexplainable@vox.com
    We read every email.
    Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox: vox.com/givepodcasts
    Please take a second to help us learn more about you! vox.com/podcastsurvey
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 25 min
    Is Earth alive?

    Is Earth alive?

    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 bit.ly/unx-transcripts
    For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable
    Vox is also currently running a series called Home Planet, which is all about celebrating Earth in the face of climate change: http://vox.com/homeplanet
    And please email us! unexplainable@vox.com
    We read every email.
    Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
    Please take a second to help us learn more about you! vox.com/podcastsurvey
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 28 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
1.8K Ratings

1.8K Ratings

frankie2266 ,

Love it but

Regarding the episode about aging: yes, great content, but no, not great voice

M.Cornforth ,

Terribly un-informative.

An episode of this podcast was forced upon me by Science Vs and it was so information-less, such a bad interview, I stopped listening part way through (only making it that far in the hopes it would build on the potential intrigue it began with). I guess that’s what you get when something is “unexplainable”. Not my jam.

Finnegan usa ,

Really appreciate info on JWST

Love the female scientists. But, it’s really hard to listen to the exaggerated valley girl speech pattern.

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