Listeners told us that eating baby carrots or telling lies can bring on the hiccups. Burping or kissing can make... more

We have an exciting announcement! Vox Members now get access to ad-free podcasts. If you sign up, you’ll get unlimited... more

Deep inside the mud at the bottom of the ocean, scientists have found life that is so unusual they’ve had... more

Scientists have been searching for aliens for decades. But if we ever do get a signal someday, how will we... more

What can we actually do as our world gets populated with more and more robots? How can we take control?... more

A simple parable about a drowning child sparks a moral revolution. Is building AI the way to do the most... more

When a robot does bad things, who is responsible? A group of technologists sounds the alarm about the ways AI... more

Before AI became a mainstream obsession, one thinker sounded the alarm about its catastrophic potential. So why are so many... more

This week on Unexplainable or Not, the newest member of our team, Julia Longoria, tries to figure out which of... more

Dylan got malaria on purpose. And he thinks you should, too. Guest: Dylan Matthews, senior correspondent at Vox’s Future Perfect This episode was made... more

A neuroscientist argues that the focus on dreams has held back the scientific understanding of sleep. So he took dreams... more

Funding cuts and research censorship have shaken the foundations of America’s health and science agencies, leaving researchers shocked, confused, and... more

For thousands of years, there have been four basic tastes recognized across cultures. But thanks to Kumiko Ninomiya (a.k.a. the... more

Some of the largest lakes in the world have been buried under miles of ice for millions of years. Is... more

Genetic libraries are treasure troves of information about life from around the world. They’re helping researchers develop everything from vaccines... more

Some scientists think an explosion of AI awareness and feeling might be just around the corner. Others think it’s impossible... more

It’s that time of year again. If you’re changing things up, there’s a lot of diets out there that claim... more

The wildest stories that never made it into our episodes. Until now. Guests: Amy Boddy, anthropological scientist at the University of... more

Dogs were the first domesticated animal in history, emerging from wolves some 20,000 years ago. But how did wolves become... more

We know Neanderthals and early modern humans coupled up. But when did they meet, exactly? And where? Some fossilized smoke... more

It’s not great to be a lab rat. And it turns out, lab rats might not be that great for... more

This week on Unexplainable or Not, we’ve got three scientific mysteries all about left and right. Jonquilyn Hill, host of... more

For decades, scientists thought that placebos only worked if patients didn’t know they were taking them. Not anymore: You can... more

It makes sense that we run away from scary things. That’s a good way to stay alive. But why do... more

Drugs like ecstasy and mushrooms have shown promise as mental health treatments, but they’re also exposing some major cracks in... more

How we feel emotionally may be influenced by unseen troves of microbial life that live inside us. Is it possible... more

As the world gets warmer and storms get worse, insurance companies are jacking up rates — or refusing to cover... more

Doctors have started transplanting animal organs into people, hoping this experimental procedure could one day solve an organ shortage crisis... more

Scientists have lots of ways to try to answer that question, and lots of different predictions. So how do they... more

Probably not. But Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz decided to try anyway, putting his body — and specifically his... more

Scientists just discovered oxygen being produced without sunlight — without photosynthesis — at the bottom of the ocean. This “dark... more

For decades, search and rescue teams followed an accepted playbook. Now, scientists are helping them reimagine how to find lost... more

With antibiotic resistance on the rise, some scientists are turning to viruses as a medical tool. But we barely know... more

Our bodies are teeming with viruses. But some of them, called phages, might play a really important role in keeping... more

The FDA is about to announce whether it’s going to approve MDMA as a treatment for PTSD. Our friends at... more

They probably didn’t roar like lions. Their real voices were likely much, much weirder. We asked scientists to help us... more

It’s possible that the entire observable universe is inside a black hole. All we need to do to find out... more

Send this episode to the person who constantly hounds you not to slouch. Guest: Beth Linker, author of “Slouch: Posture Panic... more

People yawn when they’re bored, right? So then why do athletes yawn before races? And why do so many animals... more

Can a physicist predict our messy economy by building an enormous simulation of the entire world? For show transcripts, go to... more

Inflation is one of the most significant issues shaping the 2024 election. But how much can we actually do to... more

It’s hard to figure out the economic value of a wild bat or any other part of the natural world,... more

Seventy-five percent of the seafloor remains unmapped and unexplored, but the first few glimpses scientists have gotten of the ocean’s... more

If you just stood up and shouted, “It’s Mount Everest, duh!” then take a seat. Not only is Everest’s official... more

Way back when forests first evolved on Earth … they might have triggered one of the biggest mass extinctions in... more

From blood transfusions to enzyme boosters, our friends at Science Vs dive into the latest research on the search for... more

A snake. A shark. They got pregnant with no male involved. In fact, scientists are finding more and more species... more

Itch used to be understood as a mild form of pain, but scientists are learning this sense is more than... more

Life as we know it needs water, but scientists can’t figure out where Earth’s water came from. Answering that question... more

A cell is alive. So is a leaf and so is a tree. But what about the forest they’re a... more

The researcher who popularized the idea of the alpha wolf has spent decades trying to take it back. Our friends... more

Solar storms can wreak havoc on power grids, satellites, even astronauts — but scientists still struggle to predict them. One... more

Think about the thing you’ve practiced more than anything else in the world. Maybe it’s painting. Or writing. Or playing... more

Diagnosing diseases such as endometriosis can require difficult steps, like surgery. But researchers are hoping to use menstrual fluid to... more

Was there a technologically advanced species living on Earth long before humans? And if one had existed, how would we... more

They’re not looking for UFOs or decoding government secrets. They’re doing something much simpler. For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great... more

Airborne diseases kill millions of people a year, despite available antibiotics and vaccines. But scientists think there might be another... more

Humans seem to be the only animals that cry from emotion. This Valentine’s Day, we’re wondering: What makes our tears... more

Safety questions have haunted aspartame — the no-calorie sweetener used in many diet soft drinks and other low-calorie products —... more