Explained

Available on Netflix Australia

Yes, Explained is now available on Australia Netflix. It arrived for online streaming on January 20, 2022

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Synopsis

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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Episodes

Explained: Season 1

The Racial Wealth Gap
Available in Australia

The Racial Wealth Gap

2018-05-23

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

Designer DNA
Available in Australia

Designer DNA

2018-05-23

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

Monogamy
Available in Australia

Monogamy

2018-05-23

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

K-Pop
Available in Australia

K-Pop

2018-05-30

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

Cryptocurrency
Available in Australia

Cryptocurrency

2018-06-06

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

Why Diets Fail
Available in Australia

Why Diets Fail

2018-06-13

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.

The Stock Market
Available in Australia

The Stock Market

2018-06-20

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

eSports
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eSports

2018-06-27

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

Extraterrestrial Life
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Extraterrestrial Life

2018-07-04

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

!
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!

2018-07-11

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

Cricket
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Cricket

2018-07-18

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

Weed
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Weed

2018-07-25

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

Tattoo
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Tattoo

2018-08-01

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

Astrology
Available in Australia

Astrology

2018-08-08

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.

Can We Live Forever ?
Available in Australia

Can We Live Forever ?

2018-08-15

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

The Female Orgasm
Available in Australia

The Female Orgasm

2018-08-22

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

Political Correctness
Available in Australia

Political Correctness

2018-08-29

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

Why Women Are Paid Less
Available in Australia

Why Women Are Paid Less

2018-09-05

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

The World's Water Crisis
Available in Australia

The World's Water Crisis

2018-09-12

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?

Music
Available in Australia

Music

2018-09-19

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.

Explained: Season 2

Cults
Available in Australia

Cults

2019-09-26

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.

Billionaires
Available in Australia

Billionaires

2019-10-03

There are more billionaires than ever. But how does this vast accumulation of wealth affect the world? Mark Cuban and Bernie Sanders offer insights.

Animal Intelligence
Available in Australia

Animal Intelligence

2019-10-10

What 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.

Athleisure
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Athleisure

2019-10-17

It began with bloomers. Then came spandex. Now we sport leggings and other activewear everywhere. How did comfy, casual clothing go mainstream?

Coding
Available in Australia

Coding

2019-10-24

Computer 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?

Pirates
Available in Australia

Pirates

2019-10-31

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.

The Next Pandemic
Available in Australia

The Next Pandemic

2019-11-07

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.

The Future of Meat
Available in Australia

The Future of Meat

2019-11-14

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

Beauty
Available in Australia

Beauty

2019-11-21

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?

Diamonds
Available in Australia

Diamonds

2019-11-28

A 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.

Explained: Season 3

Sugar
Available in Australia

Sugar

2021-07-16

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?

Royalty
Available in Australia

Royalty

2021-07-23

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.

Flags
Available in Australia

Flags

2021-07-30

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.

Dogs
Available in Australia

Dogs

2021-08-06

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.

The End of Oil
Available in Australia

The End of Oil

2021-08-13

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?

Chess
Available in Australia

Chess

2021-08-20

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?

Your Skin
Available in Australia

Your Skin

2021-08-27

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.

Apologies
Available in Australia

Apologies

2021-09-03

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?

Hurricanes
Available in Australia

Hurricanes

2021-09-10

As the planet warms, hurricanes could become even more dangerous and destructive.

Plastic Surgery
Available in Australia

Plastic Surgery

2021-09-17

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

Dance Crazes
Available in Australia

Dance Crazes

2021-09-24

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

Time
Available in Australia

Time

2021-10-01

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?

Country Music
Available in Australia

Country Music

2021-10-08

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?

Fairy Tales
Available in Australia

Fairy Tales

2021-10-15

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

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