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 transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscriptsFor more, go to ... Show More
Nov 19
Lost on the road to enlightenment
So many of us have been told that meditation can make us less stressed, more productive, and happier. But for a small group of people, it has a dark side. What’s going on?
Guests: Willoughby Britton, associate professor at Brown University; Richard Davidson, professor at the Uni ... Show More
35m 17s
Oct 2020
#40: Halloween special: real-life vampires, the science of ghosts, deep-sea zombies, monster black holes
What price would you pay for eternal youth? Some real-life vampires in California took part in a trial where they infused themselves with the blood plasma of young people, in an attempt to rejuvenate their brains and extend their lives.
For this Halloween special we gathered jour ... Show More
28m 52s
Dec 2024
Weirdhouse Cinema Rewind: Let Sleeping Corpses Lie
In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the 1974 zombie movie “Let Sleeping Corpses Lie,” also known as “The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue.” It’s a sci-fi spin on the zombie genre, set in rural England and brought to life in a Spanish/Italian co-production. I ... Show More
1h 32m
Oct 2024
Exploring the Science of Spookiness at the Recreational Fear Lab
Why do so many of us love a good scare? Whether it’s horror movies, haunted houses or creepy podcasts, there’s something thrilling about feeling spooked—especially around Halloween. In this episode, host Rachel Feltman dives into our fascination with fear and morbid curiosity wit ... Show More
17m 32s
Jun 2025
125. Zombie Illnesses: Rabies, Parasites and Prions
What kind of illness turns deer into stumbling, soulless shells of themselves—bodies wasting away, but never truly dying? Or drives healthy young men into violent frenzies that leave them strapped to hospital beds, terrified of water? This week, we’re diving into the terrifying w ... Show More
37m 37s
Oct 6
Enceladus’s Alien Ocean, Ancient Fungi and the Flavor of Influenza
Saturn’s moon Enceladus reveals complex organic molecules that could hint at extraterrestrial life. Researchers also uncover fungi’s ancient reign over Earth and warn that second COVID infections may pose greater risks to young people. Plus, ants ferment yogurt, and flu detection ... Show More
9m 47s
Sep 14
Why horror kills at the box office
Hollywood has always made money from vampires and brain-eating zombies. But this year's a record-breaker thanks to sequels, hilariously unlikely creators, and pure thrills. This episode was produced by Denise Guerra and Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Me ... Show More
30m 1s
Mar 2025
Encounters x272 - Aliens Among Us
Stolen Organs, Lost Time & UFO Messages in Cabbage?! That's right, this week,
we are covering ALIENS!
Strap in, fantoms—this week, we’re trading haunted houses for something out of
this world. We’re diving into real-life encounters with extraterrestrials, and let’s
just say... t ... Show More
54m 8s