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

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