logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2024
40m 40s

The alpha myth

Vox
About this episode

The researcher who popularized the idea of the alpha wolf has spent decades trying to take it back. Our friends over at Pablo Torre Finds Out try to uncover how science got it wrong.

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

Up next
Oct 8
Composing chaos
Terry Riley's "In C" is one of the most influential pieces of music of the last century...but you'll never hear it the same way twice. Guest: Evan Ziporyn, composer, clarinetist, and producer of "In C" For show transcripts, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vox.com/unxtranscripts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fo ... Show More
27m 56s
Oct 6
Does Tylenol cause autism?
Donald Trump and RFK Jr. seem convinced that it does. But our friends at Science Vs say the data is far more complicated. Guest: Meryl Horn, senior producer at Science Vs For show transcripts, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vox.com/unxtranscripts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For more, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ... Show More
26m 56s
Oct 1
Real-life zombies
Zombies might seem like the stuff of horror movies, but there are lots of examples of parasites taking over bugs’ bodies and bending them to their will. Guest: Mindy Weisberger, author of Rise of the Zombie Bugs: The Surprising Science of Parasitic Mind-Control For show transcrip ... Show More
26m 56s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2024
G: The World's Smartest Animal
This episode begins with a rant. This rant, in particular, comes from Dan Engber - a science writer who loves animals but despises animal intelligence research. Dan told us that so much of the way we study animals involves tests that we think show a human is smart ... not the ani ... Show More
50m 20s
Jul 2021
Lori Gottlieb and Guy Winch || Dear Therapists
Today it’s great to chat with Lori Gottlieb and Guy Winch on the podcast. Lori Gottlieb is a psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, which has sold over a million copies and is currently being adapted as a television series. In a ... Show More
57m 2s
Feb 2024
What Ozempic can't fix
Fat women make less money than thin women and get fewer raises and promotions. It’s going to take more than a wonder drug to fix fatphobia in America.This episode was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Anouck Dussaud and Laura Bullard, enginee ... Show More
25m 38s
Jan 2024
How to Keep Time: Time Tips From the Universe
Time can feel like a subjective experience—different at different points in our lives. It’s also a real, measurable thing. The universe may be too big to fully comprehend, but what we do know could help inform the ways we approach our understanding of ourselves, our purpose, and ... Show More
36m 24s
Jan 2024
Distant Stars // Shooting Star Testing // NASA’s Deep Space Network | S27E06
🌏 Get Our Exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ https://nordvpn.com/stuartgary or use the checkout code STUARTGARY. It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! ✌ The Space News Podcast. SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 6 *Distant stars spotted in the Magellanic Stream for the fir ... Show More
28m 51s
Jan 2024
The Mend is Nigh: Hannah Ritchie on How to Build a Sustainable Planet
Hannah Ritchie is the influential data scientist and researcher whose new book adds a rare glimpse of optimism to the conversation surrounding the future health of the climate. Not the End of the World: How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet asks us to l ... Show More
52m 3s
Feb 2024
Say More - Ira Glass on Is This It?
Ira Glass has created over 800 episodes of the genre-defining radio show and podcast This American Life. Each week on the show he weaves together stories around a central narrative theme and he never shies away from the big hard questions. But after almost 30 years of producing t ... Show More
49m 16s
Feb 2024
#390: Wormholes, Black Holes, and Blue Giants: Your Space Questions Answered
Are you ready to uncover the mind-bending secrets of our universe? Join us as we reveal the unexpected truth about the formation of habitable planets and the potential for multiple habitable worlds within a single solar system. You won't believe how many habitable planets could e ... Show More
53m 2s
Feb 2024
S3 Ep 12: Friday Bonus & More Film Pitches
First up, some news about Rom’s unsolvable internet problems, the many varieties of fibre, Tom’s blood test, late night eating, boring sandwiches and using abacuses. Then it’s onto the main event as we read out more of our listener’s Wolf & Owl film pitches. Thank so much for you ... Show More
34m 34s
Oct 2023
118. Overcoming Financial Anxiety with Farnoosh Torabi
Are financial fears holding you back? Have you ever felt anxious about money or career choices? In this episode of Financial Feminist, Tori engages in a candid money conversation with Farnoosh Torabi, a renowned financial expert, author, and host of the "So Money" podcast. Farnoo ... Show More
1h 2m