Scientists are constantly searching for asteroids that could crash into Earth. But if they find one, will they be able to do anything about it? NASA has launched a spaceship that will slam into an asteroid to find out.For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainableIt’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show.Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.comWe read every email.Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When scientists examined the DNA of ancient bones found near a Himalayan lake, they were forced to confront a seemingly impossible conclusion. This episode originally ran on March 24, 2021.For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainableIt’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show.Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.comWe read every email.Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 2017, researchers published an explosive finding: Sperm counts may be declining in some countries around the world. Media outlets began worrying about a potential Spermageddon, but other researchers have pumped the brakes. Because scientists know surprisingly little about sperm.Also, Noam created a list on the Hark podcast app where he talked about some of his favorite bitesize moments of the show so far. And it’s easy to share with friends! https://bit.ly/3tib6pdFor more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainableIt’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show.Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.comWe read every email.Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scientists are closer than ever to harnessing fusion power — the same process that powers the sun — by essentially making a small star here on Earth. Fusion could give humanity its best shot at solving the climate crisis, but the technology has yet to be perfected and would require billions more in investments. Is it worth the bet?For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainableIt’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show.Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.comWe read every email.Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Noam wrote an end-of-year song with Today, Explained host Sean Rameswaram, so we thought to drop it here as a little end-of-year surprise.Lyrics:2021, it was gonna be funGet a couple shots and then you’re doneThen the second the year’d begunWe had an insurrection2021, it was gonna be funGet a couple shots and then you’re doneThen the second the year’d begunWe had an insurrectionYeah it wasn’t just what we hoped to seeWe might have started too optimisticallySo if we keep our expectations lowMaybe the world won’t seem so terribleYeah it wasn’t just what we hoped to seeWe might have started too optimisticallySo if we keep our expectations lowMaybe the world won’t seem so terribleDial back to when the year had begunWe were looking forward to the end of hibernation But it didn’t even last a weekNo it didn’t even last a week, mm-hmmOn the sixth day of 2021Vanilla Isis tried to flip the electionBut looking back we can’t agree On the facts, no, we can’t agree, mm-mmPretty soon we were signing up for shots (shots!)Talking about shots (shots!)Shots shots shots (shots!)Everyone was a pharma fanWith the Pfizer fam, the Moderna clan (J&J)But we should have known Delta would happen Most of humanity not getting vaxxed andFourth wave — fifth wave, in rhythmThat’s one more wave than feminism!2021, it was gonna be funGet a couple shots and then you’re doneBut according to Joe Ro-gunYou should take IvermectinYeah it wasn’t just what we hoped to seeWe might have started too optimisticallyBut if we keep our expectations lowMaybe the world won’t seem so terribleA booster, I’m not sure I need it. Dune on the IMAX, I seen it.Back to the good life, I dreamed it. (Arrakis)Wake up, reality, don’t fit.Hope you don’t need a house or a condo (a condo)Hope you don’t need a trip to Toronto (Toronto)Hope you don’t need some gas for your Durango (Durango) Hope you don’t need a can of dried mangos (dried mangos)Everyone is feeling frustrationQuitting jobs — the Great ResignationBlaming Biden for rising inflationWhile billionaires shoot off to space, racingDid we fix the grid in Texas? (yes)Figure out how wide the Suez is? (yes)Don’t ask meAll I see on TV It's just fights on Critical Race Theory2021, it was gonna be funGet a couple shots and then you’re doneMoving onto issue number one:Whether to allow abortions!Yeah it wasn’t just what we hoped to seeWe might have started too optimisticallyBut if we keep our expectations lowMaybe the world won’t seem so terribleI just want to be freeOf thinking about Covid-19I just want to seeSomething done about global warmingAnd I still don’t get NFT’sCan’t understand crypto currency andAnd we can’t agree on anythingBut at least we got together to free Britney(Oh baby baby)2021, it was gonna be funGet a couple shots and then you’re doneThen the second as the year’d begunWe had an insurrectionAnd people lied about the last electionAnd made it harder to vote in electionsAt least we don’t have another electionWait, I think there’s another election...2021, it was gonna be funGet a couple shots and then you’re doneThen the second we thought we’d wonWe’re learning how to say "Omicron"Guess you never know what’s gonna come throughMaking plans for things you’ll never do But take it from a brown guy (and a Jew)There’s always 2022.This song was written and performed by Sean Rameswaram and Noam Hassenfeld, produced by Noam, engineered by Efim Shapiro, and features additional vocals from Christina Animashaun.For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainableIt’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show.Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.comWe read every email.Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox!bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Most of the matter in the universe is dark matter, an invisible, untouchable, mysterious substance. Scientists don’t know what exactly dark matter is, despite decades of searching. But recently, they got a new clue in the form of an extremely tiny dancer.This episode is a remix of two prior episodes of Unexplainable, which has been airing on broadcast radio through a partnership with American Public Media.For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainableIt’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show.Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.comWe read every email.Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox!bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How can we solve the problem of ocean plastic if we don’t know where most of the plastic is?For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainableIt’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show.Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.comWe read every email.Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Until 1993, many researchers excluded women from clinical drug trials, leaving doctors in the dark about how new treatments work in more than half the population. This is the story of why that happened, the women who fought to change it, and what we still don’t know about how sex and gender affect health.For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainableIt’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show.Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.comWe read every email.Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Venus is the hottest, scariest planet in the solar system, but billions of years ago it may have been a lot like Earth, complete with an ocean of water. So, what killed Venus? And could Earth be next?For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainableIt’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show.Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.comWe read every email.Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Will scientists ever fully understand the human brain? In their quest for knowledge, they’ve tried knives, magnets, computers, blood, and even a good metaphor.For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainableIt’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show.Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.comWe read every email.Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices