Explained — Season 1
01 The Racial Wealth Gap
May 23, 201819m★ 7.3
Cory Booker and others discuss how slavery, housing discrimination and centuries of inequality have compounded to create a racial wealth gap.
02 Designer DNA
May 23, 201818m★ 7.8
Scientific feat or terrifying social experiment? Specialists in the field discuss the high stakes and ethical controversies of gene editing.
03 Monogamy
May 23, 201818m★ 7.3
What do biology, human history and the promiscuity of bonobos reveal about monogamy? Experts and everyday couples weigh in on shifting cultural norms.
04 K-Pop
May 30, 201818m★ 7.8
Elaborate music videos, adoring fans, killer choreography. Learn about the global music phenomenon from South Korea that goes beyond "Gangnam Style."
05 Cryptocurrency
Jun 6, 201818m★ 7.5
Cryptocurrency has made people billionaires, but is digital cash the next revolution? Learn about this anonymous currency and how it's coveted.
06 Why Diets Fail
Jun 13, 201818m★ 7.4
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.
07 The Stock Market
Jun 20, 201818m★ 6.8
Does the stock market accurately reflect the status of the economy? Finance specialists discuss market history, valuations and CEO incentives.
08 eSports
Jun 27, 201818m★ 6.8
Is fake violence a sport? Fans, shoutcasters, and eSports icons break down today's video games and the explosive popularity of competitive gaming.
09 Extraterrestrial Life
Jul 4, 201820m★ 7.0
Despite decades of searching, we have yet to discover extraterrestrial life. Scientists discuss the reasons, including: Are aliens just too snobby?
10 !
Jul 11, 201816m★ 6.0
Do we overuse exclamation points!? Linguists and copy editors look at how the punctuation has adapted across history, literature and internet-speak.
11 Cricket
Jul 18, 201815m★ 7.0
Cricket experts look at how the confusing sport became so popular and discuss its evolution in becoming more accessible entertaining and profitable.
12 Weed
Jul 25, 201818m★ 7.5
Marijuana experts discuss the rise of potent "sexually frustrated" cannabis plants, the quests for consistency in weed strains and the history of hemp.
13 Tattoo
Aug 1, 201817m★ 7.2
They've been used to command respect, punish criminals and mark achievements. Tattooists speak about the origins of tattoo traditions and rituals.
14 Astrology
Aug 8, 201817m★ 7.0
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.
15 Can We Live Forever ?
Aug 15, 201814m★ 7.5
Can we uncover the secrets to extending the human lifespan? Experts discuss how developments in science -- even the French lilac -- hold some clues.
16 The Female Orgasm
Aug 22, 201814m★ 7.0
The female orgasm is more elusive when a man is involved. Discover the reasons why and how women are embracing hands on solutions.
17 Political Correctness
Aug 29, 201820m★ 7.5
Political correctness can sometimes feel like a tug-of-war between inclusivity and free speech. Experts discuss the concepts behind the fraught term.
18 Why Women Are Paid Less
Sep 5, 201818m★ 6.7
Hillary Clinton and Anne-Marie Slaughter discuss the cultural norms at the center of the worldwide gender pay gap, including the "motherhood penalty."
19 The World's Water Crisis
Sep 12, 201817m★ 8.5
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?
20 Music
Sep 19, 201816m★ 7.2
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.