Explained
7.5
Documentary
This documentary series, made in partnership with Vox, explain some of the world's current trends, from politics, to science to pop culture.
WatchEpisodes
1Episode 1The Racial Wealth Gap
19 min
Cory Booker and others discuss how slavery, housing discrimination and centuries of inequality have compounded to create a racial wealth gap.
2Episode 2Designer DNA
18 min
Scientific feat or terrifying social experiment? Specialists in the field discuss the high stakes and ethical controversies of gene editing.
3Episode 3Monogamy
18 min
What do biology, human history and the promiscuity of bonobos reveal about monogamy? Experts and everyday couples weigh in on shifting cultural norms.
4Episode 4K-Pop
18 min
Elaborate music videos, adoring fans, killer choreography. Learn about the global music phenomenon from South Korea that goes beyond "Gangnam Style."
5Episode 5Cryptocurrency
18 min
Cryptocurrency has made people billionaires, but is digital cash the next revolution? Learn about this anonymous currency and how it's coveted.
6Episode 6Why Diets Fail
18 min
Atkins. Paleo. Keto. Do any work in the long term? Experts look at marketing, food environments and genes to explain why diets are often unsuccessful.
7Episode 7The Stock Market
18 min
Does the stock market accurately reflect the status of the economy? Finance specialists discuss market history, valuations and CEO incentives.
8Episode 8eSports
18 min
Is fake violence a sport? Fans, shoutcasters, and eSports icons break down today's video games and the explosive popularity of competitive gaming.
9Episode 9Extraterrestrial Life
20 min
Despite decades of searching, we have yet to discover extraterrestrial life. Scientists discuss the reasons, including: Are aliens just too snobby?
10Episode 10!
16 min
Do we overuse exclamation points!? Linguists and copy editors look at how the punctuation has adapted across history, literature and internet-speak.
11Episode 11Cricket
15 min
Cricket experts look at how the confusing sport became so popular and discuss its evolution in becoming more accessible entertaining and profitable.
12Episode 12Weed
18 min
Marijuana experts discuss the rise of potent "sexually frustrated" cannabis plants, the quests for consistency in weed strains and the history of hemp.
13Episode 13Tattoo
17 min
They've been used to command respect, punish criminals and mark achievements. Tattooists speak about the origins of tattoo traditions and rituals.
14Episode 14Astrology
17 min
Do 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.
15Episode 15Can We Live Forever ?
14 min
Can we uncover the secrets to extending the human lifespan? Experts discuss how developments in science -- even the French lilac -- hold some clues.
16Episode 16The Female Orgasm
14 min
The female orgasm is more elusive when a man is involved. Discover the reasons why and how women are embracing hands on solutions.
17Episode 17Political Correctness
20 min
Political correctness can sometimes feel like a tug-of-war between inclusivity and free speech. Experts discuss the concepts behind the fraught term.
18Episode 18Why Women Are Paid Less
18 min
Hillary Clinton and Anne-Marie Slaughter discuss the cultural norms at the center of the worldwide gender pay gap, including the "motherhood penalty."
19Episode 19The World's Water Crisis
17 min
The 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?
20Episode 20Music
16 min
When does sound become music? Why are humans so uniquely able to master musicality? Researchers talk rhythm, octaves and the magic of song and dance.
