- Rating: 8.00
- Year of issue: 2018
- Genres: Documentary
- Countries: United States
- Duration: 19 minutes
This documentary series, made in partnership with Vox, explain some of the world's current trends, from politics, to science to pop culture.
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1. The Racial Wealth Gap
DescriptionCory Booker and others discuss how slavery, housing discrimination and centuries of inequality have compounded to create a racial wealth gap. -
2. Designer DNA
DescriptionScientific feat or terrifying social experiment? Specialists in the field discuss the high stakes and ethical controversies of gene editing. -
3. Monogamy
DescriptionWhat do biology, human history and the promiscuity of bonobos reveal about monogamy? Experts and everyday couples weigh in on shifting cultural norms. -
4. K-Pop
DescriptionElaborate music videos, adoring fans, killer choreography. Learn about the global music phenomenon from South Korea that goes beyond “Gangnam Style.” -
5. Cryptocurrency
DescriptionCryptocurrency has made people billionaires, but is digital cash the next revolution? Learn about this anonymous currency and how it's coveted. -
6. Why Diets Fail
DescriptionAtkins. Paleo. Keto. Do any work in the long term? Experts look at marketing, food environments and genes to explain why diets are often unsuccessful. -
7. The Stock Market
DescriptionDoes the stock market accurately reflect the status of the economy? Finance specialists discuss market history, valuations and CEO incentives. -
8. eSports
DescriptionIs fake violence a sport? Fans, shoutcasters, and eSports icons break down today's video games and the explosive popularity of competitive gaming. -
9. Extraterrestrial Life
DescriptionDespite decades of searching, we have yet to discover extraterrestrial life. Scientists discuss the reasons, including: Are aliens just too snobby? -
10. !
DescriptionDo we overuse exclamation points!? Linguists and copy editors look at how the punctuation has adapted across history, literature and internet-speak. -
11. Cricket
DescriptionCricket experts look at how the confusing sport became so popular and discuss its evolution in becoming more accessible entertaining and profitable. -
12. Weed
DescriptionMarijuana experts discuss the rise of potent “sexually frustrated” cannabis plants, the quests for consistency in weed strains and the history of hemp. -
13. Tattoo
DescriptionThey've been used to command respect, punish criminals and mark achievements. Tattooists speak about the origins of tattoo traditions and rituals. -
14. Astrology
DescriptionDo 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. -
15. Can We Live Forever ?
DescriptionCan we uncover the secrets to extending the human lifespan? Experts discuss how developments in science – even the French lilac – hold some clues. -
16. The Female Orgasm
DescriptionThe female orgasm is more elusive when a man is involved. Discover the reasons why and how women are embracing hands on solutions. -
17. Political Correctness
DescriptionPolitical correctness can sometimes feel like a tug-of-war between inclusivity and free speech. Experts discuss the concepts behind the fraught term. -
18. Why Women Are Paid Less
DescriptionHillary Clinton and Anne-Marie Slaughter discuss the cultural norms at the center of the worldwide gender pay gap, including the “motherhood penalty.” -
19. The World's Water Crisis
DescriptionThe 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? -
20. Music
DescriptionWhen does sound become music? Why are humans so uniquely able to master musicality? Researchers talk rhythm, octaves and the magic of song and dance.
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1. Cults
DescriptionHow 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. -
2. Billionaires
DescriptionThere are more billionaires than ever. But how does this vast accumulation of wealth affect the world? Mark Cuban and Bernie Sanders offer insights. -
3. Animal Intelligence
DescriptionWhat goes on inside an animal's mind? Figuring out how they think and feel might just be the key to understanding our own place in the world. -
4. Athleisure
DescriptionIt began with bloomers. Then came spandex. Now we sport leggings and other activewear everywhere. How did comfy, casual clothing go mainstream? -
5. Coding
DescriptionComputer code now controls how we live. But how did these programming languages evolve? And how can they be used to build a new and better world? -
6. Pirates
DescriptionIn pop culture, pirates are often depicted as booty-looting rogues, but their history is far more complicated. See how they became enemies of humanity. -
7. The Next Pandemic
DescriptionIf 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. -
8. The Future of Meat
DescriptionThe planet's current rate of meat consumption is unprecedented – and becoming unsustainable. In the future, will meat alternatives be the answer? -
9. Beauty
DescriptionBeauty 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? -
10. Diamonds
DescriptionA diamond is forever. But why is that? Dig into how these mined pieces of carbon became both a status symbol and a sparkly sign of everlasting love.
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1. Episode 1
DescriptionOnce 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? -
2. Royalty
DescriptionHow 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. -
3. Flags
DescriptionA 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. -
4. Dogs
DescriptionWho'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. -
5. The End of Oil
DescriptionOil 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? -
6. Chess
DescriptionFor 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? -
7. Your Skin
DescriptionDon’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. -
8. Apologies
DescriptionApologizing 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? -
9. Hurricanes
DescriptionAs the planet warms, hurricanes could become even more dangerous and destructive. -
10. Plastic Surgery
DescriptionThe Instagram face. A shapely posterior. Cosmetic surgery can make the latest beauty trends a reality. Explore its origins and effects, inside and out. -
11. Dance Crazes
DescriptionFrom the waltz to voguing, dance crazes have connected people throughout history. But when a dance catches on, who gets the credit — and compensation? -
12. Time
DescriptionTime 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? -
13. Country Music
DescriptionDirt 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? -
14. Fairy Tales
DescriptionFairy tales have survived thousands of years for a reason. Explore their far-flung history and how the stories speak to fundamental human concerns.