Shows / 1440 Explores
1440 Explores
We encounter things every day that we think we understand. Memory. Alcohol. Credit cards. Artificial intelligence. But look a little closer, and there’s almost always more to the story. 1440 Explores goes beyond the surface of the world’s most fascinating topics, combining human stories, expert insight, history, and science to reveal how they work, how we got here, and why they matter. The show comes from the team behind 1440 and is produced in collaboration with Rhyme Media. 1440 is a…
Episodes
1440 ExploresWho Controls America's Elections?
Millions of Americans head to the polls on Election Day, but the rules can look dramatically different depending on where they live. The reason goes back…
1440 ExploresWhy Plastic Is Everywhere
Plastic is in our clothes, our homes, our food packaging, and even our bodies. But just over a century ago, most of it didn’t exist. Host Sony Kassam traces…
1440 ExploresHow Coffee Changed the World
Coffee was once put on trial. In 1511, the governor of Mecca brought it before the city's religious scholars to settle a single question: Is this drink…
1440 ExploresWhy We Lose Muscle–And How to Keep It
Strength training prevents frailty as we age. Wards off cognitive decline. Improves glucose control, and more. But what is actually happening inside our bodies…
1440 ExploresCan You Trust Your Memories?
One of host Sony Kassam's earliest memories is witnessing an armed robbery at her family's convenience store. For nearly 30 years, she believed she knew…
1440 ExploresWhat Happened to Congress?
Congress is the first branch of the US government. The Constitution gives it the power to write laws, control federal spending, and declare war. So how did it…
1440 ExploresThe Hidden Science of Flatulence
Flatulence is one of the body's most universal and least discussed functions. But behind every burst of gas lies a complex ecosystem of trillions of microbes…
1440 ExploresThe System That Runs World Soccer (And Why It Broke)
FIFA started as a handful of Europeans who wanted to play soccer across borders. It became one of the most powerful and corrupt organizations in sports…
1440 ExploresThe Evolution of the US Presidency
America's founders were so afraid of concentrated power that they spent three months designing Congress, but only three days on the presidency. They thought…
1440 ExploresThe Origins of Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley wasn’t supposed to happen. A stretch of California orchard land somehow became the place that built the modern world: chips, PCs, the internet…
1440 ExploresHow the US Income Tax Actually Works
It’s Tax Day in the US, and the system behind it isn’t as straightforward as it looks. You earn money. Taxes get taken out. Case closed … right? Not exactly…
1440 ExploresThe Hidden Life of Trash
Every day, we throw things away. But "away" isn't a place, it's a system. From curbside pickup to landfills, trash shapes cities, public health, and the…
1440 ExploresThe History of College Tuition
College tuition can hit $90,000 a year at private schools, but most students never pay that price. So why does college seem so expensive, and who actually…
1440 ExploresBehind the Supreme Court's Curtains
A court designed to be the least powerful branch became one of the most influential institutions in American life. 1440 Explores host Sony Kassam dives inside…
1440 ExploresHow Fire Turned From Friend to Foe
A planet that learned to burn. A century of fire suppression. A warming world primed to ignite. 1440 Explores host Sony Kassam sits down with fire historian…
1440 ExploresThe Wild Story Behind the First Cell Phone Call
A battle with a telecom giant. A stunt call on a New York sidewalk. A forgotten memo that rewired the world. Host Sony Kassam sits down with Marty Cooper, the…
1440 ExploresThe Science of Dreaming
We spend 6 years of our lives dreaming. But what if someone else is controlling what you dream about? With help from pioneering sleep scientist Dr. Bob…
1440 ExploresInside the ChatGPT Black Box
Ever asked ChatGPT a question and felt like it understood you? Or marveled at how AI can write, explain, or even argue convincingly? With help from legendary…
1440 ExploresGhosts: Why We See What Isn't There
Every culture has them—restless spirits, haunted houses, things that go bump in the night. But why do we believe in ghosts? Psychologist and skeptic Dr. Chris…
1440 ExploresAlcohol: Why We Drink and What It Does to Us
Alcohol is the world’s most popular drug—a molecule that can calm or excite and bond communities or tear them apart. We trace alcohol’s journey from ancient…
1440 ExploresCredit Cards: The Story Behind the Plastic
Credit cards feel like magic—tap, swipe, approved. But behind that split-second ding is one of the most complex financial systems ever built. We unpack how…
1440 ExploresIntroducing: 1440 Explores
1440 Explores dives into the most fascinating topics of our time—why we dream, how AI thinks, the magic (and consequences) of credit cards, and more—blending…