logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2024
24m 10s

Why do we cry?

Vox
About this episode
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 Unexplaina ... Show More
Up next
Today
Talking with the dead
“If only I could talk with them again.” It’s a common refrain for anyone who is grieving someone they love. Now, we can access technology like deadbots, or AI replicas of a lost loved one, to simulate those conversations, but at what cost? Maybe we’ve always had the capacity — wi ... Show More
38m 59s
Oct 12
What’s cooler than being cool?
The future of quantum computing depends on getting way colder than ice cold — down to some of the coldest temperatures in the universe. The quest to build these super refrigerators takes us to nuclear bomb stockpiles, the moon, and … Party City? Guest: Zack Savitsky, science jour ... Show More
28m 34s
Oct 7
How does music move us? (feat. Sylvan Esso's Amelia Meath)
Music can give us goosebumps. It can make us cry. It can make us move. How? Guests: Amelia Meath, songwriter and singer in Sylvan Esso; Elizabeth Margulis, director of the Music Cognition Lab at Princeton University and author of On Repeat: How Music Plays the Mind For show trans ... Show More
32m 9s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2021
Crying: why do your eyes leak?
<p>We are the only animals that cry emotionally. Scientists don't know exactly why we do it, but all of our theories lead us to believe it is a healthy practice, and maybe we should seek it out. Today we are going to explain all the up to date research about BALLING YOUR EYES OUT ... Show More
57m 50s
Dec 2022
I'm Crying Cuz... I'm Human
From misty eyeballs to full-on waterworks, what are tears? Why do we shed them? And what makes humans' ability to cry emotional tears unique? Hosts Emily Kwong and Aaron Scott get into their feelings in this science-fueled exploration of why we cry. (encore) To see more of Rose-L ... Show More
14m 31s
Jun 2021
Curious About Crying
<p>In episode 143, we get curious about crying for Alexandia of Queen Creek, Arizona and Michael and Christopher of Denver, Colorado.  We learn what tears are made of, about the different types of tears, and whether animals cry.  Grab a tissue and join us to learn more about cryi ... Show More
12m 8s
Oct 2023
Big girls cry, so do boys
Spilling a tear or two is necessary. Crying is a human expression of emotions, and allowing ourselves to feel what we need to feel is crucial. How did crying become a taboo? And do crying clubs really exist? Tune in for a new chat talk about one of the most controversial topics : ... Show More
7m 19s
Apr 2025
Why do we cry? With Lauren Bylsma, PhD
Pain, sadness, joy, awe – under the right circumstances, any of these emotions can bring on tears. Lauren Bylsma, PhD, talks about why crying evolved, the psychological and social purposes of tears, why some people cry more easily than others, and whether having a good cry can ma ... Show More
26m 14s
Apr 2022
Is crying chemistry? (the fascinating science of tears)
tail spinning
38m 46s
Mar 2024
179. Why can't I cry?
<p>Sometimes all we want to do is a have a big, old fashioned sob and when we can't it leads us feeling emotionally pent up, defective and frustrated. There's an explanation for why we go through periods where we are unable to cry. In today's episode we discuss: </p> <ul> <li>The ... Show More
38m 27s
Jul 2017
Ep 103. Why We Cry
<p>You know that feeling. Your lip starts quivering and despite your best effort you're unable to stop the waterworks. Crying is an automated response to intense emotion and it's a part of our humanness. It's nothing we need to apologize for. Our natural response is to begin worr ... Show More
22m 6s
Oct 2025
#525 - The Hardest I Have Ever Cried
Let's get those tears flowing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 
1h 23m