The disaster problem

Should we really kill all the lanternflies?

Jun 17, 202632 minSummary

In this episode of Unexplainable, the host explores the complex moral dilemma surrounding the spotted lanternfly, an invasive species in the United States that has prompted public officials to encourage citizens to kill them on sight. While the initial goal was to protect agricultural interests, the directive led to a strange cultural phenomenon where people began squashing the insects with a sense of excitement and community spirit. The episode examines the scientific reality of the invasion, noting that while the bugs pose a genuine threat to specific crops like grapevines, the effectiveness of individual citizens stomping them is minimal compared to professional mitigation strategies. By consulting with an environmental ethics expert, the discussion moves beyond the surface-level question of whether to kill the bugs and into the philosophy of conservation. The host explores frameworks like consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics to navigate the discomfort of taking a life. Ultimately, the episode emphasizes the concept of moral residue—the idea that even when making a necessary ethical choice, one may still feel a sense of unease that should be acknowledged rather than ignored.

Sean tries raw milk

Jun 15, 202631 minSummary

In this episode of Unexplainable, the host investigates the growing cultural phenomenon of raw milk consumption in the United States. Driven by personal curiosity, the host visits a local farm to experience firsthand why, despite widespread scientific warnings regarding foodborne illnesses like E. coli, salmonella, and listeria, a growing number of people are turning away from pasteurization. The episode explores the intersection of food freedom, distrust of government institutions, and the rise of the do-it-yourself health movement. While proponents argue that raw milk is a more natural, nutrient-dense alternative, public health experts emphasize that pasteurization remains one of the most significant medical breakthroughs in reducing infant mortality and preventing outbreaks of tuberculosis and typhoid. Through interviews with industry observers and experts, the podcast examines how the debate over raw milk has become highly polarized, often mirroring broader political trends and anti-establishment sentiments. The discussion provides a balanced look at the tension between individual lifestyle choices and the established public health guardrails designed to keep food supplies safe in an era where misinformation and anecdotal evidence increasingly influence personal health decisions.

A new species in New York

Jun 10, 202626 minSummary

In this episode of Unexplainable, correspondent Benji Jones takes listeners into the heart of Brooklyn’s Prospect Park to explore a surprising scientific frontier: the search for species new to science hidden in plain sight within a dense urban environment. Joined by a forest ecologist, Jones explains his mission to collect parasitoid wasps and scuttle flies using specialized insect traps. The discussion centers on the concept of dark taxa, which are groups of animals where the vast majority of species remain undescribed. While large, charismatic animals are well-documented, Jones highlights that insects perform essential ecological tasks—such as pollination and waste decomposition—that keep our world functioning, yet their diversity remains largely unknown. By utilizing modern genetic sequencing and DNA barcoding, Jones illustrates how researchers can now identify new species more efficiently than ever before. He argues that even in a bustling city like New York, the potential for discovery is immense. Ultimately, the episode encourages listeners to shift their gaze to the smaller creatures around them, fostering a greater appreciation for the complexity of local ecosystems and the vast, mysterious world of biodiversity that exists right in our own backyards.

The lost Lyme vaccine

Jun 3, 202638 minSummary

In this episode of Unexplainable, the hosts explore the rise and fall of LYMErix, the first Lyme disease vaccine. The story is told through the perspective of Dr. VJ, a family physician in Lyme, Connecticut, who found himself at the epicenter of the disease’s discovery. As a primary care doctor, he witnessed the local devastation caused by Lyme and eventually became a lead researcher for the vaccine’s phase-three clinical trial. The episode details the rigorous scientific process and the unique, community-driven nature of the study, which engaged neighbors, local businesses, and families. Despite clinical success and FDA approval in 1998, the vaccine faced a "perfect storm" of public skepticism, fueled by emerging anti-vaccine sentiment and unfounded fears of autoimmune side effects. The podcast examines how these pressures, combined with mounting litigation and shifting marketing priorities, led the manufacturer to pull the vaccine from the market in 2002. Ultimately, the discussion reflects on how the loss of LYMErix serves as a cautionary tale regarding science communication and the long-term impacts of losing public trust in preventative medicine.

The cells we share

Jun 1, 202636 minSummary

In this episode of Unexplainable, host Bird Pinkerton explores the fascinating and mysterious biological phenomenon of microchimerism—a process where cells from one individual, often a fetus, migrate into the body of another, such as a parent, and can remain there for decades. Through a candid and engaging conversation with her mother, Pinkerton investigates how these cells, genetically distinct from the host, integrate into various organs like the heart, lungs, and brain. The episode examines the theoretical roles these cells play in the human body. Researchers discuss evidence from animal studies suggesting that fetal cells may act as a healing mechanism, potentially aiding in tissue repair after injuries or during the physical strain of pregnancy. Conversely, the discussion delves into the more complex, less-understood possibilities, including potential links to autoimmune diseases and the ambiguous role these cells may play in cancer progression. Ultimately, the episode highlights the technical and ethical challenges of studying this phenomenon in humans, emphasizing that while science has uncovered this intergenerational cellular connection, much of its purpose and impact remains a profound, ongoing mystery.

The man who bet against humanity — and lost

May 20, 202616 minSummary

This episode of Unexplainable explores the life and legacy of Paul Ehrlich, the Stanford professor whose 1968 book, The Population Bomb, became a cultural phenomenon by predicting mass global starvation. Ehrlich’s alarmist views gained significant traction, influencing everything from mainstream television to international population control policies. However, the episode highlights how Ehrlich’s catastrophic predictions were consistently proven wrong by historical developments, such as the Green Revolution and global shifts in fertility rates. The discussion contrasts Ehrlich’s pessimistic, zero-sum worldview with the optimism of economist Julian Simon, who argued that human ingenuity is the world’s most valuable resource. This ideological clash culminated in a famous 1980 wager, which Simon won when the prices of raw materials fell rather than surged. The hosts examine why doom-saying remains so seductive and dangerous, noting that Ehrlich’s failure to account for human agency led to harmful policy outcomes, including support for coercive sterilization. Ultimately, the episode serves as a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of "hedgehog" thinking, where a single, rigid lens blinds experts to complexity, and emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance between acknowledging environmental risks and trusting in human capacity for innovation.

The aftermath

May 18, 202641 minSummary

In this episode of Unexplainable, titled The Aftermath, host Bird Pinkerton features a guest segment from the podcast Are We Doomed? to explore the grim realities of surviving a nuclear war. Moving away from the cinematic, adrenaline-fueled tropes of post-apocalyptic movies like Mad Max, the episode examines the scientifically grounded, often mundane, and deeply unpleasant challenges that would define life after a nuclear exchange. Guest Ben Bradford, joined by nuclear weapons historian Alex Wellerstein, explains that while an initial nuclear blast would be devastating, survival is statistically possible for many, provided they can effectively shield themselves from heat, blast force, and radioactive fallout. The discussion highlights the failure of historical government fallout shelter programs, the squalor of makeshift emergency bunkers, and the grim logistical reality of managing human waste in confined, subterranean spaces. Beyond the immediate survival of the blast, climate scientist Lili Xia details the catastrophic onset of nuclear winter. By examining the atmospheric impact of massive city-wide fires, the episode reveals how the resulting soot would plunge the planet into a multi-year freeze, ultimately leading to global food shortages and famine that would claim far more lives than the initial explosions.

The Codfather

Stress ages us on a cellular level

The Amazing Extremophiles