Storyline

This documentary series, made in partnership with Vox, explain some of the world's current trends, from politics, to science to pop culture.

First Aired

2018-05-23
Last Aired

2021-10-15
Creator

Ezra Klein
Genre

Documentary
Seasons

3
Episodes

44
Status

Ended
Language

English
Network

Netflix

Keywords:

experiment nature news investigate zeitgeist eua science

Stream and watch Explained

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

1. The Racial Wealth Gap

Cory Booker and others discuss how slavery, housing discrimination and centuries of inequality have co...More

Cory Booker and others discuss how slavery, housing discrimination and centuries of inequality have compounded to create a racial wealth gap.Less

16mins 2018-05-23

2. Designer DNA

Scientific feat or terrifying social experiment? Specialists in the field discuss the high stakes and ...More

Scientific feat or terrifying social experiment? Specialists in the field discuss the high stakes and ethical controversies of gene editing.Less

17mins 2018-05-23

3. Monogamy

What do biology, human history and the promiscuity of bonobos reveal about monogamy? Experts and every...More

What do biology, human history and the promiscuity of bonobos reveal about monogamy? Experts and everyday couples weigh in on shifting cultural norms.Less

18mins 2018-05-23

4. K-Pop

Elaborate music videos, adoring fans, killer choreography. Learn about the global music phenomenon fro...More

Elaborate music videos, adoring fans, killer choreography. Learn about the global music phenomenon from South Korea that goes beyond "Gangnam Style."Less

20mins 2018-05-30

5. Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency has made people billionaires, but is digital cash the next revolution? Learn about this...More

Cryptocurrency has made people billionaires, but is digital cash the next revolution? Learn about this anonymous currency and how it's coveted.Less

14mins 2018-06-06

6. Why Diets Fail

Atkins. Paleo. Keto. Do any work in the long term? Experts look at marketing, food environments and ge...More

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.Less

14mins 2018-06-13

7. The Stock Market

Does the stock market accurately reflect the status of the economy? Finance specialists discuss market...More

Does the stock market accurately reflect the status of the economy? Finance specialists discuss market history, valuations and CEO incentives.Less

17mins 2018-06-20

8. eSports

Is fake violence a sport? Fans, shoutcasters, and eSports icons break down today's video games and the...More

Is fake violence a sport? Fans, shoutcasters, and eSports icons break down today's video games and the explosive popularity of competitive gaming.Less

17mins 2018-06-27

9. Extraterrestrial Life

Despite decades of searching, we have yet to discover extraterrestrial life. Scientists discuss the re...More

Despite decades of searching, we have yet to discover extraterrestrial life. Scientists discuss the reasons, including: Are aliens just too snobby?Less

18mins 2018-07-04

10. !

Do we overuse exclamation points!? Linguists and copy editors look at how the punctuation has adapted ...More

Do we overuse exclamation points!? Linguists and copy editors look at how the punctuation has adapted across history, literature and internet-speak.Less

15mins 2018-07-11

11. Cricket

Cricket experts look at how the confusing sport became so popular and discuss its evolution in becomin...More

Cricket experts look at how the confusing sport became so popular and discuss its evolution in becoming more accessible entertaining and profitable.Less

16mins 2018-07-18

12. Weed

Marijuana experts discuss the rise of potent "sexually frustrated" cannabis plants, the quests for con...More

Marijuana experts discuss the rise of potent "sexually frustrated" cannabis plants, the quests for consistency in weed strains and the history of hemp.Less

20mins 2018-07-25

13. Tattoo

They've been used to command respect, punish criminals and mark achievements. Tattooists speak about t...More

They've been used to command respect, punish criminals and mark achievements. Tattooists speak about the origins of tattoo traditions and rituals.Less

18mins 2018-08-01

14. Astrology

Do zodiac signs prescribe your fate? Or do horoscopes' accuracy lie in the placebo effect? Take a look...More

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.Less

18mins 2018-08-08

15. Can We Live Forever ?

Can we uncover the secrets to extending the human lifespan? Experts discuss how developments in scienc...More

Can we uncover the secrets to extending the human lifespan? Experts discuss how developments in science -- even the French lilac -- hold some clues.Less

18mins 2018-08-15

16. The Female Orgasm

The female orgasm is more elusive when a man is involved. Discover the reasons why and how women are e...More

The female orgasm is more elusive when a man is involved. Discover the reasons why and how women are embracing hands on solutions.Less

18mins 2018-08-22

17. Political Correctness

Political correctness can sometimes feel like a tug-of-war between inclusivity and free speech. Expert...More

Political correctness can sometimes feel like a tug-of-war between inclusivity and free speech. Experts discuss the concepts behind the fraught term.Less

18mins 2018-08-29

18. Why Women Are Paid Less

Hillary Clinton and Anne-Marie Slaughter discuss the cultural norms at the center of the worldwide gen...More

Hillary Clinton and Anne-Marie Slaughter discuss the cultural norms at the center of the worldwide gender pay gap, including the "motherhood penalty."Less

18mins 2018-09-05

19. The World's Water Crisis

The global water crisis is at an inflection point. How do we price our most valuable resource, while a...More

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?Less

18mins 2018-09-12

20. Music

When does sound become music? Why are humans so uniquely able to master musicality? Researchers talk r...More

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.Less