In all our searching of the universe, we’ve never seen another moon like ours. It's big, it's weird, and it has played a huge role in shaping our planet. But how did we get it? Every possible story points to cataclysm.
This episode originally ran on June 15, 2022. It is part of our Lost Worlds series exploring scientific mysteries buried in the deep past.
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Why do we have a moon?

Unexplainable takes listeners right up to the edge of what we know ... and then keeps right on going. This Vox podcast explores scientific mysteries, unanswered questions, and all the things we learn by diving into the unknown. New episodes every Wednesday.

Natural Sciences

Science & Medicine

Science

Life Sciences

A snake. A ray. A shark. They each got pregnant with no male involved. In fact, scientists are finding more and more species that can reproduce on their own. What’s going on?
For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscripts
For more, go to vox.com/unexplainable
And please email us! unexplainable@vox.com
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Who's the daddy? There isn't one.

Itch used to be understood as a mild form of pain, but scientists are learning this sense is more than just skin deep. How deep does it go?
For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscripts
For more, go to vox.com/unexplainable
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Itch hunt

Life as we know it needs water, but scientists can’t figure out where Earth’s water came from. Answering that question is just one piece of an even bigger mystery: “Why are we here?” (Updated from 2023)
For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscripts
For more, go to vox.com/unexplainable
Vox is also currently running a series called Home Planet, which is all about celebrating Earth in the face of climate change: vox.com/homeplanet
And please email us! unexplainable@vox.com
We read every email.
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How did Earth get its water?

A cell is alive. So is a leaf and so is a tree. But what about the forest they’re a part of? Is that forest alive? And what about the planet that forest grows on? Is Earth alive? Science writer Ferris Jabr says: Yes.
For show transcripts, go to bit.ly/unx-transcripts
For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable
Vox is also currently running a series called Home Planet, which is all about celebrating Earth in the face of climate change: http://vox.com/homeplanet
And please email us! unexplainable@vox.com
We read every email.
Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Please take a second to help us learn more about you! vox.com/podcastsurvey
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Is Earth alive?

The researcher who popularized the idea of the alpha wolf has spent decades trying to take it back. Our friends over at Pablo Torre Finds Out try to uncover how science got it wrong.
For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable
It’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show.
Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.com
We read every email.
Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Please take a second to help us learn more about you! vox.com/podcastsurvey
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Why do we have a moon?

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