Episode notes
Warming waters are an existential threat to coral reefs, and for people who want to restore them. But in the Republic of Palau, researchers are testing out an approach to help restored reefs survive hotter temperatures — before it's too late. To watch this episode on video, find us on Netflix! Guests: Benji Jones, senior environmental correspondent at Vox For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscriptsFor more, go to vox.com/unexplainableAnd please email us! [email protected]We read every email.Support Unexplainable (and get…
Podcast
Unexplainable
Vox · Tech & Science · English
Unexplainable takes listeners right up to the edge of what we know…and then keeps on going. The Unexplainable team — Noam Hassenfeld, Julia Longoria, Byrd Pinkerton, and Meradith Hoddinott — tackles scientific mysteries, unanswered questions, and everything we learn diving into the unknown. New episodes Mondays and Wednesdays. From Vox and the Vox Media Podcast Network.
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31 Aug 2026 · 34 min
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Synthetic biologist Kate Adamala has been making major headlines as her lab creates cells that feed, divide, and grow — all from nonliving parts. It may sound like sci-fi, but Kate believes that these “not quite alive” cells are key to a renewable future. This is the second episode of our new three-part series, Life from Scratch. To watch this episode on video, find us on Netflix! Guests: Kate Adamala, associate professor at the University of Minnesota For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscripts For more, go to…
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24 Aug 2026 · 44 min
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19 Aug 2026 · 27 min
Why can’t I remember being a baby?
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10 Aug 2026 · 27 min
Why Hank Green takes pseudoscience seriously
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5 Aug 2026 · 40 min
A trip to the twilight reefs
Down beneath the waves, where the light starts to fade, there's an ecosystem scientists don't fully understand. About a decade ago, some researchers left structures in this mysterious world and let them grow encrusted with life. Now they're pulling them back up again and unwrapping them like scientific presents.Guests: Luiz Rocha, ichthyology curator at the California Academy of Sciences, along with Johanna Loacker, Lynn Bonomo, Chris Meyer, Sarah Tweedt, Tito Monteiro da Cruz Lotufo, Emily Rutkowski, Yara Tibirica, Daniel Eisenhauer, Terry Gosliner, and Chrissy PiotrowskiFor show…
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27 Jul 2026 · 31 min
An argument for the sun
It can be hard to know how to interact with the sun. Some people have swung to opposite ends of the spectrum — either over-tanning or avoiding the sun entirely. But what would a middle ground look like? To watch this episode on video, find us on Netflix! Guest: Rowan Jacobsen, author of In Defense of Sunlight For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscriptsFor more, go to vox.com/unexplainableAnd please email us! [email protected]We read every email.Support Unexplainable (and get ad-free episodes) by becoming a Vox Member today:…
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