Unexplainable

This past July, a bombshell report in Science magazine suggested that a key Alzheimer’s study might have contained manipulated evidence. What does this mean for over a decade's worth of research? And where does the field go from here?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

One of the world’s most biodiverse aquifers is full of strange, blind creatures that have evolved in isolation for millions of years. But one is missing.This episode was reported by Benji Jones and Mandy Nguyen, who produced the episode. Editing from Meradith Hoddinott, Katherine Wells, Brian Resnick, and Noam Hassenfeld, who scored the episode. Mixing and sound design from Cristian Ayala. Fact-checking from Richard Sima.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

They probably didn’t roar like lions. Their real voices were likely much, much weirder. We asked scientists to help us recreate these strange, extinct sounds.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/givepodcastsLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's an old story scientists tell about human ovaries: that they are ticking clocks that only lose eggs, never gain them. Now that story might be changing, opening the door to new treatments for infertility and menopause.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/givepodcastsLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Where eels come from is a surprisingly difficult question to answer, in large part because scientists have never actually seen them reproduce in the wild. Gastropod explains why eels are somehow still so mysterious.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

Andrew Gallup, a psychology professor at SUNY Polytechnic Institute, dives deep into the fascinating world of yawning. He unpacks why athletes yawn before races and explores its biological roles across species. Discussion includes how yawning may help regulate brain temperature and even enhance alertness. Plus, the podcast investigates contagious yawning and its ties to empathy and social dynamics, revealing this seemingly mundane behavior as a crucial part of both human and animal communities.

Explore the groundbreaking discoveries of the James Webb Space Telescope, from stunning images of distant galaxies to the extreme lava planet K2-141b. Delve into the potential for extraterrestrial life and the cosmic history of the universe, observing ancient starlight as researchers contemplate our place in it. The podcast also highlights future innovations in space observation and reflects on humanity's connection to the cosmos, reminding us that we are all made of stardust.

Catherine Price, a science journalist and author of "Vitamania," sheds light on the murky world of dietary supplements. She explores shocking cases of harmful ingredients lurking in everyday products. With a historical lens, Catherine reveals how supplement regulation evolved — or the lack thereof — leaving consumers vulnerable. The conversation dives into the complexities of vitamins versus herbal products and discusses urgent calls for reform to ensure safety and efficacy for all.

In this engaging discussion, volcanologist Robin George Andrews and science editor Brian Resnick explore the dramatic transformation of Venus from a water-rich paradise to a hellish landscape. They examine the catastrophic climate changes that lead to this shift and the alarming parallels to Earth's potential future. The conversation delves into the role of plate tectonics and carbon emissions, as well as the intriguing possibility of life existing in Venus' acidic clouds, sparking curiosity about extraterrestrial life and planetary science.

Mandy Nguyen, a podcast producer and visitor to NASA's Mars Yard, delves into Mars' fascinating history and the excitement of the Perseverance rover mission. The discussion highlights Mars' once-thriving environment, the quest to find signs of past life, and the technology behind analyzing Martian geology. Nguyen explores the implications of any discoveries on our understanding of life's origins. The conversation culminates in the thrilling possibility of uncovering extraterrestrial life and how it connects to humanity's place in the universe.