Explained

A documentary series that looks to explore the big questions of today.

Cast:Estelle Caswell , Samira Wiley , Maria Bello , Rachel McAdams , Kristen Bell , Christian Slater , Kyle MacLachlan , Yara Shahidi , Kevin Smith , Rachel Bloom , Nick Kroll , LeVar Burton , Aasif Mandvi , Carly Rae Jepsen , Jerry Springer , Joss Fong , Coleman Lowndes , Natasha Lyonne

1Season 1

S1.E1 ∙ The Racial Wealth Gap

Wed, May 23, 2018

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

2Season 1

S1.E2 ∙ Designer DNA

Wed, May 23, 2018

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

3Season 1

S1.E3 ∙ Monogamy

Wed, May 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.

4Season 1

S1.E4 ∙ K-Pop

Wed, May 30, 2018

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

5Season 1

S1.E5 ∙ Cryptocurrency

Wed, Jun 6, 2018

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

6Season 1

S1.E6 ∙ Why Diets Fail

Wed, Jun 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.

7Season 1

S1.E7 ∙ The Stock Market

Wed, Jun 20, 2018

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

8Season 1

S1.E8 ∙ eSports

Wed, Jun 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.

9Season 1

S1.E9 ∙ Extraterrestrial Life

Wed, Jul 4, 2018

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

10Season 1

S1.E10 ∙ Exclamation Mark (!)

Wed, Jul 11, 2018

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

11Season 1

S1.E11 ∙ Cricket

Wed, Jul 18, 2018

Explained looks at the popular English sport of cricket. First developed in the mid-1800s, cricket has grown into one of the most popular sports in the world. It looks at the complicated and confusing rules behind the game and examines how the British Empire exported the game to its colonies including the West Indies and India. It also looks at different forms of the game including test cricket and Twenty20 cricket.

12Season 1

S1.E12 ∙ Weed

Wed, Jul 25, 2018

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

13Season 1

S1.E13 ∙ Tattoo

Wed, Aug 1, 2018

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

14Season 1

S1.E14 ∙ Astrology

Wed, Aug 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.

15Season 1

S1.E15 ∙ Can We Live Forever?

Wed, Aug 15, 2018

An examination of aging, what causes us to live longer and what limits us from living even longer. In addition, the history of human longevity is examined, including the breakthroughs and developments that caused longevity to increase.

16Season 1

S1.E16 ∙ The Female Orgasm

Wed, Aug 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.

17Season 1

S1.E17 ∙ Political Correctness

Wed, Aug 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.

18Season 1

S1.E18 ∙ Why Women Are Paid Less

Wed, Sep 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."

19Season 1

S1.E19 ∙ The World's Water Crisis

Wed, Sep 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?

20Season 1

S1.E20 ∙ Music

Wed, Sep 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.

1Season 2

S2.E1 ∙ Cults

Thu, Sep 26, 2019

How do cults lure people in and exert control? Learn a cult's telltale signs, and how loneliness and life online makes indoctrination easier than ever.

2Season 2

S2.E2 ∙ Billionaires

Thu, Oct 3, 2019

Explained looks at the recent growth in the number of billionaires in the world. With much of the world's wealth in the hands of so few people, what impact does that have on society? It looks at the first billionaires who were the products of the gilded age and discusses how most billionaires make their money.

3Season 2

S2.E3 ∙ Animal Intelligence

Thu, Oct 10, 2019

Explained looks at animal intelligence and examines what goes on in the animal mind and what that says about human intelligence. It looks at early efforts to teach animals sign language and later theories that focused on behaviorism. It, then, discusses animal neurology and the hallmarks of intelligence: social intelligence, tool-use, future planning, culture, and self-awareness.

4Season 2

S2.E4 ∙ Athleisure

Thu, Oct 17, 2019

Explained looks at the growth of athleisure fashion. It examines how casual dressing became the norm throughout the world. It began with the development of leisure time which encourage allowed people to spend time at the gymnasium. Beginning with bloomers, we now have sportsware, leggings, streetwear, and activewear. It also examines the growth of synthetic fiber in the fashion industry.

5Season 2

S2.E5 ∙ Coding

Thu, Oct 24, 2019

Explained looks at how computer code now controls how we live. It looks at how computer code is pervasive in how it effects our lives. It looks at the development of machine code first in the textile industry and later binary code in early mechanical computers. It also discusses computer logic, algorithms, computer languages, personal computing, and machine learning.

6Season 2

S2.E6 ∙ Pirates

Thu, Oct 31, 2019

In pop culture, pirates are often depicted as booty-looting rogues, but their history is far more complicated. See how they became enemies of humanity.

7Season 2

S2.E7 ∙ The Next Pandemic

Thu, Nov 7, 2019

If you're not worried about a looming global pandemic, you probably should be. Are we prepared for an outbreak? Bill Gates and other experts weigh in.

8Season 2

S2.E8 ∙ The Future of Meat

Thu, Nov 14, 2019

The planet's current rate of meat consumption is unprecedented -- and becoming unsustainable. In the future, will meat alternatives be the answer?

9Season 2

S2.E9 ∙ Beauty

Thu, Nov 21, 2019

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but what exactly makes things such as art and architecture aesthetically pleasing, and why do we like looking?

10Season 2

S2.E10 ∙ Diamonds

Thu, Nov 28, 2019

Explained looks at diamonds and how they have come to mean everything from a status symbol to a sparkling sign of everlasting love. Why do diamonds have the meaning that they do? Why are they considered more valuable than other precious stones? It examines how diamonds are created naturally and discusses how they were used throughout history. It also looks at the company De Beers which created the demand for diamonds that we see today and examines the problem of blood diamonds.

1Season 3

S3.E1 ∙ Sugar

Fri, Jul 16, 2021

Once crucial for survival, sugar now poses a health risk. Is there a way to satisfy our primeval craving for sweetness in a healthy, balanced way?

2Season 3

S3.E2 ∙ Royalty

Fri, Jul 23, 2021

How do monarchies survive when they no longer wield power? By presenting a royal fairy tale that may not reflect the reality of the past - or present.

3Season 3

S3.E3 ∙ Flags

Fri, Jul 30, 2021

A flag can unite, divide and terrorize. Explore how a piece of cloth transformed into a powerful symbol of both love and hate, freedom and oppression.

4Season 3

S3.E4 ∙ Dogs

Fri, Aug 6, 2021

Who's a good dog? They all are. From puppy-dog eyes to feats of heroism, see how canines evolved into humankind's best friends and sources of pure love.

5Season 3

S3.E5 ∙ The End of Oil

Fri, Aug 13, 2021

Oil led to huge advancements - and vast inequities. As the planet warms, why is it so hard to turn away from fossil fuels, and can it be done in time?

6Season 3

S3.E6 ∙ Chess

Fri, Aug 20, 2021

For centuries, chess has captured hearts and minds - and pawns - and it's more popular than ever. What makes this ever-changing board game so special?

7Season 3

S3.E7 ∙ Your Skin

Fri, Aug 27, 2021

Don't panic, but our skin plays host to trillions of bacteria, fungi, mites and other microscopic guests. Go beyond skin-deep with our largest organ.

8Season 3

S3.E8 ∙ Apologies

Fri, Sep 3, 2021

Apologizing is tough, and in this era of public mea culpas, forgiveness isn't guaranteed. What makes for a good apology, and why does it hold such power?

9Season 3

S3.E9 ∙ Hurricanes

Fri, Sep 10, 2021

As the planet warms, hurricanes could become even more dangerous and destructive. What can be done to survive and minimize the threat of these storms?

10Season 3

S3.E10 ∙ Plastic Surgery

Fri, Sep 17, 2021

The Instagram face. A shapely posterior. Cosmetic surgery can make the latest beauty trends a reality. Explore its origins and effects, inside and out.

11Season 3

S3.E11 ∙ Dance Crazes

Fri, Sep 24, 2021

From the waltz to voguing, dance crazes have connected people throughout history. But when a dance catches on, who gets the credit - and compensation?

12Season 3

S3.E12 ∙ Time

Fri, Oct 1, 2021

Time flies - sometimes. Its passage can seem to speed up and slow down. Why do we experience time the way we do, and how do we take back some control?

13Season 3

S3.E13 ∙ Country Music

Fri, Oct 8, 2021

Dirt roads. Pickup trucks. Hip-hop? As the borders around country music shift, who decides what defines the popular genre, and who gets to be a star?

14Season 3

S3.E14 ∙ Fairy Tales

Fri, Oct 15, 2021

Fairy tales have survived thousands of years for a reason. Explore their far-flung history and how the stories speak to fundamental human concerns.