Explained: Season 1 (2018)

Episodes

1. 

   Episode 1 · May 23, 2018 · 19m

   The Racial Wealth Gap

   Cory Booker and others discuss how slavery, housing discrimination and centuries of inequality have compounded to create a racial wealth gap.

   7.6
2. 

   Episode 2 · May 23, 2018 · 18m

   Designer DNA

   Scientific feat or terrifying social experiment? Specialists in the field discuss the high stakes and ethical controversies of gene editing.

   7.8
3. 

   Episode 3 · May 23, 2018 · 18m

   Monogamy

   What do biology, human history and the promiscuity of bonobos reveal about monogamy? Experts and everyday couples weigh in on shifting cultural norms.

   6.2
4. 

   Episode 4 · May 30, 2018 · 18m

   K-Pop

   Elaborate music videos, adoring fans, killer choreography. Learn about the global music phenomenon from South Korea that goes beyond "Gangnam Style."

   7.8
5. 

   Episode 5 · June 6, 2018 · 18m

   Cryptocurrency

   Cryptocurrency has made people billionaires, but is digital cash the next revolution? Learn about this anonymous currency and how it's coveted.

   7.5
6. 

   Episode 6 · June 13, 2018 · 18m

   Why Diets Fail

   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.

   7.4
7. 

   Episode 7 · June 20, 2018 · 18m

   The Stock Market

   Does the stock market accurately reflect the status of the economy? Finance specialists discuss market history, valuations and CEO incentives.

   6.8
8. 

   Episode 8 · June 27, 2018 · 18m

   eSports

   Is fake violence a sport? Fans, shoutcasters, and eSports icons break down today's video games and the explosive popularity of competitive gaming.

   6.8
9. 

   Episode 9 · July 4, 2018 · 20m

   Extraterrestrial Life

   Despite decades of searching, we have yet to discover extraterrestrial life. Scientists discuss the reasons, including: Are aliens just too snobby?

   7.0
10. 

    Episode 10 · July 11, 2018 · 16m

    !

    Do we overuse exclamation points!? Linguists and copy editors look at how the punctuation has adapted across history, literature and internet-speak.

    6.0
11. 

    Episode 11 · July 18, 2018 · 15m

    Cricket

    Cricket experts look at how the confusing sport became so popular and discuss its evolution in becoming more accessible entertaining and profitable.

    7.0
12. 

    Episode 12 · July 25, 2018 · 18m

    Weed

    Marijuana experts discuss the rise of potent "sexually frustrated" cannabis plants, the quests for consistency in weed strains and the history of hemp.

    7.5
13. 

    Episode 13 · August 1, 2018 · 17m

    Tattoo

    They've been used to command respect, punish criminals and mark achievements. Tattooists speak about the origins of tattoo traditions and rituals.

    7.2
14. 

    Episode 14 · August 8, 2018 · 17m

    Astrology

    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.

    7.4
15. 

    Episode 15 · August 15, 2018 · 14m

    Can We Live Forever ?

    Can we uncover the secrets to extending the human lifespan? Experts discuss how developments in science -- even the French lilac -- hold some clues.

    7.5
16. 

    Episode 16 · August 22, 2018 · 14m

    The Female Orgasm

    The female orgasm is more elusive when a man is involved. Discover the reasons why and how women are embracing hands on solutions.

    7.0
17. 

    Episode 17 · August 29, 2018 · 20m

    Political Correctness

    Political correctness can sometimes feel like a tug-of-war between inclusivity and free speech. Experts discuss the concepts behind the fraught term.

    7.6
18. 

    Episode 18 · September 5, 2018 · 18m

    Why Women Are Paid Less

    Hillary Clinton and Anne-Marie Slaughter discuss the cultural norms at the center of the worldwide gender pay gap, including the "motherhood penalty."

    6.7
19. 

    Episode 19 · September 12, 2018 · 17m

    The World's Water Crisis

    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?

    8.5
20. 

    Episode 20 · September 19, 2018 · 16m

    Music

    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.

    7.2