Explained (2018)
This documentary series, made in partnership with Vox, explain some of the world's current trends, from politics, to science to pop culture.
Last episode
Seasons
May 23, 2018 |
1. The Racial Wealth GapCory Booker and others discuss how slavery, housing discrimination and centuries of inequality have compounded to create a racial wealth gap. |
May 23, 2018 |
2. Designer DNAScientific feat or terrifying social experiment? Specialists in the field discuss the high stakes and ethical controversies of gene editing. |
May 23, 2018 |
3. MonogamyWhat do biology, human history and the promiscuity of bonobos reveal about monogamy? Experts and everyday couples weigh in on shifting cultural norms. |
May 30, 2018 |
4. K-PopElaborate music videos, adoring fans, killer choreography. Learn about the global music phenomenon from South Korea that goes beyond "Gangnam Style." |
Jun 06, 2018 |
5. CryptocurrencyCryptocurrency has made people billionaires, but is digital cash the next revolution? Learn about this anonymous currency and how it's coveted. |
Jun 13, 2018 |
6. Why Diets FailAtkins. Paleo. Keto. Do any work in the long term? Experts look at marketing, food environments and genes to explain why diets are often unsuccessful. |
Jun 20, 2018 |
7. The Stock MarketDoes the stock market accurately reflect the status of the economy? Finance specialists discuss market history, valuations and CEO incentives. |
Jun 27, 2018 |
8. eSportsIs fake violence a sport? Fans, shoutcasters, and eSports icons break down today's video games and the explosive popularity of competitive gaming. |
Jul 04, 2018 |
9. Extraterrestrial LifeDespite decades of searching, we have yet to discover extraterrestrial life. Scientists discuss the reasons, including: Are aliens just too snobby? |
Jul 11, 2018 |
10. !Do we overuse exclamation points!? Linguists and copy editors look at how the punctuation has adapted across history, literature and internet-speak. |
Jul 18, 2018 |
11. CricketCricket experts look at how the confusing sport became so popular and discuss its evolution in becoming more accessible entertaining and profitable. |
Jul 25, 2018 |
12. WeedMarijuana experts discuss the rise of potent "sexually frustrated" cannabis plants, the quests for consistency in weed strains and the history of hemp. |
Aug 01, 2018 |
13. TattooThey've been used to command respect, punish criminals and mark achievements. Tattooists speak about the origins of tattoo traditions and rituals. |
Aug 08, 2018 |
14. AstrologyDo zodiac signs prescribe your fate? Or do horoscopes' accuracy lie in the placebo effect? Take a look at the science, history and lure of astrology. |
Aug 15, 2018 |
15. Can We Live Forever ?Can we uncover the secrets to extending the human lifespan? Experts discuss how developments in science -- even the French lilac -- hold some clues. |
Aug 22, 2018 |
16. The Female OrgasmThe female orgasm is more elusive when a man is involved. Discover the reasons why and how women are embracing hands on solutions. |
Aug 29, 2018 |
17. Political CorrectnessPolitical correctness can sometimes feel like a tug-of-war between inclusivity and free speech. Experts discuss the concepts behind the fraught term. |
Sep 05, 2018 |
18. Why Women Are Paid LessHillary Clinton and Anne-Marie Slaughter discuss the cultural norms at the center of the worldwide gender pay gap, including the "motherhood penalty." |
Sep 12, 2018 |
19. The World's Water CrisisThe global water crisis is at an inflection point. How do we price our most valuable resource, while also ensuring access to it as a human right? |
Sep 19, 2018 |
20. MusicWhen does sound become music? Why are humans so uniquely able to master musicality? Researchers talk rhythm, octaves and the magic of song and dance. |