The BEST episodes of Explained season 1
Every episode of Explained season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Explained season 1!
This enlightening series from Vox digs into a wide range of topics such as the rise of cryptocurrency, why diets fail, and the wild world of K-pop.
#1 - The World's Water Crisis
Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 9/12/2018
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?
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#2 - Designer DNA
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 5/23/2018
Scientific feat or terrifying social experiment? Specialists in the field discuss the high stakes and ethical controversies of gene editing.
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#3 - Why Women Are Paid Less
Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 9/5/2018
Hillary Clinton and Anne-Marie Slaughter discuss the cultural norms at the center of the worldwide gender pay gap, including the "motherhood penalty."
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#4 - The Racial Wealth Gap
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 5/23/2018
Cory Booker and others discuss how slavery, housing discrimination and centuries of inequality have compounded to create a racial wealth gap.
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#5 - Music
Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 9/19/2018
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.
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#6 - Can We Live Forever?
Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 8/15/2018
Can we uncover the secrets to extending the human lifespan? Experts discuss how developments in science -- even the French lilac -- hold some clues.
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#7 - Extraterrestrial Life
Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 7/4/2018
Despite decades of searching, we have yet to discover extraterrestrial life. Scientists discuss the reasons, including: Are aliens just too snobby?
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#8 - The Female Orgasm
Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 8/22/2018
The female orgasm is more elusive when a man is involved. Discover the reasons why and how women are embracing hands on solutions.
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#9 - Weed
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 7/25/2018
Marijuana experts discuss the rise of potent "sexually frustrated" cannabis plants, the quests for consistency in weed strains and the history of hemp.
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#10 - Why Diets Fail
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 6/13/2018
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.
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#11 - Monogamy
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/23/2018
What do biology, human history and the promiscuity of bonobos reveal about monogamy? Experts and everyday couples weigh in on shifting cultural norms.
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#12 - Political Correctness
Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 8/29/2018
Political correctness can sometimes feel like a tug-of-war between inclusivity and free speech. Experts discuss the concepts behind the fraught term.
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#13 - K-Pop
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/30/2018
Elaborate music videos, adoring fans, killer choreography. Learn about the global music phenomenon from South Korea that goes beyond "Gangnam Style."
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#14 - The Stock Market
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 6/20/2018
Does the stock market accurately reflect the status of the economy? Finance specialists discuss market history, valuations and CEO incentives.
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#15 - eSports
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/27/2018
Is fake violence a sport? Fans, shoutcasters, and eSports icons break down today's video games and the explosive popularity of competitive gaming.
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#16 - !
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 7/11/2018
Do we overuse exclamation points!? Linguists and copy editors look at how the punctuation has adapted across history, literature and internet-speak.
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#17 - Tattoo
Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 8/1/2018
They've been used to command respect, punish criminals and mark achievements. Tattooists speak about the origins of tattoo traditions and rituals.
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#18 - Cryptocurrency
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/6/2018
Cryptocurrency has made people billionaires, but is digital cash the next revolution? Learn about this anonymous currency and how it's coveted.
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#19 - Astrology
Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 8/8/2018
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.
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#20 - Cricket
Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 7/18/2018
Cricket experts look at how the confusing sport became so popular and discuss its evolution in becoming more accessible entertaining and profitable.
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