logo
episode-header-image
May 2024
26m 56s

Did trees kill the world?

Vox
About this episode
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 We read every email. Support Unex ... Show More
Up next
Feb 25
The Codfather
How many fish are in the sea? It's a question that has had enormous consequences for the fishing community in New Bedford, Massachusetts. But one man managed to find a way around it. That man? The Codfather. Guest: Ian Coss, host and producer of WBGH's Catching the Codfather For ... Show More
39m 21s
Feb 23
Stress ages us on a cellular level
It's no secret that stress isn't good for you… But just how bad is it? NPR's Short Wave podcast gets some answers. Host: Regina G. Barber, host of NPR’s Short Wave podcast Guest: Diana Kwon, science journalist Follow NPR's Short Wave podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for more ... Show More
14m 58s
Feb 11
The Amazing Extremophiles
In the dark depths of the Gowanus Canal, strange lifeforms lurk... Guests: Brad Vogel, volunteer at the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club; Elizabeth Hénaff, computational biologist and artist at New York University For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great place to sign ... Show More
26m 26s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2024
Why do plants die in freezing weather?
<p><strong>#085 Rebroadcast<br /> </strong></p> <p>Well here in Texas, we just suffered through an intense freeze. And many a plant became a casualty of the cold, but why? What's going on at the molecular level that causes freezing temperatures to be bad for many plants? And is t ... Show More
27m 25s
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, engine ... 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
Sep 2023
Immer mehr Starkregen: Saufen deutsche Städte bald ab?
Hochwasser gab es diesen Sommer in vielen Ländern: Griechenland, Libyen, China. Aber wie wahrscheinlich macht der Klimawandel Starkregen bei uns? Und wie hilft der Umbau zur Schwammstadt bei der Klimaanpassung? 
27m 8s
Jan 2024
Distant Stars // Shooting Star Testing // NASA’s Deep Space Network | S27E06
tail spinning
28m 51s
Feb 2024
BONUS - Double Yolker Galaxies
Do we see black hole mergers as a result of galaxy mergers? What did the night sky look like to the dinosaurs? Is a gas giant just a rocky planet with a huge and dense atmosphere? Do all orbits eventually end up in resonance? The Supermassive Team is back with the first bonus epi ... Show More
13m 19s
Feb 2024
The new(ish) world order
America solidified its dominant posture in the international order following World War II and largely held that position for the following half-century. But as problems have accumulated at home and abroad, Americans are reconsidering their country’s role in the world, and so are ... Show More
42m 18s
Feb 2024
G: The World's Smartest Animal
<p>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 ... Show More
50m 20s