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The spiralling cost and short supply of microchips – something the tech journalists have dubbed ‘RAMageddon’ – has the Unexpected Elements team investigating all things chip-related.
We start things off by finding out about a mini cervix-on-a-chip and how this could help us better understand premature birth.
We then feel a little salty when we discover that chips (also known as fries) may create cancer-causing acrylamides when cooked. Should we be worried?
Next up, Professor Paul Graham from the University of Sussex reveals why gulls love to steal your chips, and (crucially) tells us how to defend our dinner.
Plus, the world’s largest whale graveyard, the health benefits of the humble spud and why some people are better at napping than others.
All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Katie Silver and Kai KupferschmidtProducers: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, with Sophie Ormiston and Robbie Wojciechowski
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As the Fifa Men’s World Cup kicks off this week in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, football fever is everywhere – and this has the Unexpected Elements team exploring all things football.
First, we discover how it took eight years and 170 experiments for scientists to create the perfect grass pitch. Then, why a football is not really a ball… it’s a truncated icosahedron. We discuss how this shape revolutionised not only the beautiful game, but nanotechnology too.
Then, what secrets can your sweat reveal? We are joined by Prof John Rogers who explains how sweat is an underappreciated and understudied biomarker of our health.
And whether in life or in football, what is a better strategy – survival of the fittest or co-operation and teamwork? Author Rowan Hooper joins us to battle it out.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Chhavi Sachdev and Ogechi EkeanyanwuProducer: Ella Hubber, with Sophie Ormiston, Lucy Davies and Robbie Wojciechowski
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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Long live the king – of mangoes! In India the famed ‘king of mangoes’, the Alphonso mango, is in drastically short supply after a particularly bad bout of adverse weather. Inspired by the mango’s plight, the Unexpected Elements team takes a look at what fruit science can bear.
First, from the ‘king of mangoes’ to the ‘king of fruits’, we hear how the infamously stinky durian could be used to charge your phone. Then, an evil lemon planet. We discuss the planet so bizarre it sounds like it belongs in a sci-fi movie.
Plus, have you ever wondered what the key to immortality is? Well, if you guessed sea cucumbers you might be right. We’re joined by Dr Annie Mercier who tells us all about these eternal weirdos of the sea and their surprisingly vital role in the ocean’s ecosystem.
Also, a crayfish invasion, plant cause of death, and what exactly is El Niño?
All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Sandy Ong and Michael KalokiProducers: Sophie Ormiston, with Lucy Davies, Alice Lipscombe-Southwell and Robbie
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How do you translate the latest science work across the 2000 different languages spoken around the African continent? And have you heard of sky mountain? Africa Day has the Unexpected Elements team taking a deep dive into a range of unexpected stories from across the continent.
The day is celebrated every year to mark the establishment of the African Union in 1963. In the Turkana region of northern Kenya, we learn about a team of geologists who have been studying continental break-up. Researchers think it could be one of the weakest areas of the Earth’s crust. We explore the difficult process of translating scientific papers into the many languages spoken across the continent.
Plus, entomologist Dr Gimo Daniel tells us about the unexpected joys of dung beetles. And we learn how AI and large language models are finding new ways to track conservation and mass animal migrations.
And finally, we explore why bats harbour so many diseases yet seem to be tolerant to things that humans get ill from.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Tristan Ahtone in Finland and Phillys Mwatee in Kenya Producer: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins, Alice Lipscombe-Southwell and Robbie Wojciechowski
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Have you ever wondered what happen to salmon when too much cocaine seeps into their rivers? Inspired by the Enhanced Games, we lookat unexpected areas of performance enhancement. Peptides are making a splash in influencer circles, but what is the science?
Plus, we hear from Prof David Putrino, who is making sure the athletes at the Enhanced Games are staying safe. He shares what we can learn from the Games – and how the data could help develop future medicines.
Also on the show, whether radio waves can enhance your sense of smell, and is an hour at a gallery as beneficial as an hour at the gym?
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Katie Silver and Andrada FiscuteanProducer: Sophie Ormiston, with Margaret Sessa-Hawkins, Robbie Wojciechowski and Scarlett Victoria
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An outbreak of hantavirus on the MV Hondius cruise ship has us looking at the unexpected science around the disease. First up, why is this outbreak such an unusual occurrence?
Then, what's in a name? We look at how diseases are named, and why the system has sometimes been problematic.
Also, the mysterious case of medicine disappearing from the quarantine tanks at an aquarium. We speak to the expert who solved the puzzle.
All that, plus more fun and strange science, on this week's Unexpected Elements.
Presenters: Alex Lathbridge, with Camilla Mota and Kai KupferschmidtProducers: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins, with Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, Robbie Wojciechowski and Scarlett Victoria
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Sir David Attenborough is arguably the world’s favourite broadcaster, and this week he’s blowing out the candles on his 100th birthday cake. Inspired by his significant birthday, we decided to uncover the biology behind centenarians. What are Sir David’s secrets?
Speaking of ageing, we then find out about a little jellyfish that never gets old. Could it help us unlock immortality?
Next up, climb aboard as we chat with Dr Nadine Johnston, a marine ecologist who works on the iconic Sir David Attenborough research vessel, as she tells us about the tiny Antarctic animals that could lock up more carbon than the Amazon rainforest.
We then find out about improved landslide prediction in Nepal and how the world has changed in Sir David’s life.
All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Chhavi Sachdev and Tristan Ahtone Producers: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, with Ella Hubber and Robbie Wojciechowski
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The blockade on the strait of Hormuz has led to an unexpected consequence – condom prices are set to increase by up to 30 percent! This has us delving into all things contraception, starting with koala hormone implants, the lengthy process of providing birth control to elephants, and a microplastics mystery.
Then, we investigate the elusive male contraceptive – why is it taking so long to develop, and why has it been so hard to approve? Professor John Amory Md, from UW Medical Centre in Seattle, joins us to explain the past, present and future of this medical research.
Plus, how have Chinese researchers cracked the code on eel breeding, and does the moon’s gravity make us lighter at night?
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Leonie Joubert and Sandy OngProducer: Ella Hubber, with Alice Lipscombe Southwell, Robbie Wojciechowski and Georgia Christie
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On 26th April 1986, Reactor 4 at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine exploded, releasing vast amounts of radiation. Now, 40 years later, it remains the worst nuclear accident in history.
Using the Chernobyl anniversary as a starting point, this week the Unexpected Elements team find out about the weird life thriving at the site of the nuclear reactor. Next up, we discover how radioactive isotopes can help doctors diagnose cancer.
We then turn our attention to ‘gamma gardens’, which were developed by scientists in the 1950s and 1960s to investigate the impacts of radiation on plants. Professor Helen Anne Curry, from the Georgia Institute of Technology, joins us to reveal more.
All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Andrada Fiscutean and Dr Emmanuel SamaniProducers: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, with Margaret Sessa Hawkins and Georgia Christie
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In 2025, Russian-born scientist Kseniia Petrova picked up some spliced frog embryos from a laboratory in France and brought them back to the USA to aid her research into ageing and cancer. She was detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), charged with smuggling and had her visa revoked.
Now though, a judge has ruled that the scientist’s visa was wrongly cancelled.
Inspired by this story, the Unexpected Elements team find out how embryos and sperm behave in space.
Next, we discover that embryos can regenerate limbs, and new research could help us unlock those skills as adults.
We also reveal the unexpected link between frogs and pregnancy tests, and find out about a devastating fungus that’s wreaking havoc on amphibians.
And don't miss probiotics for coral reefs, dessert stomachs and the weird physics of time.
All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Katie Silver and Camilla MotaProducers: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, with Ella Hubber and Georgia Christie
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This month, India began the immense undertaking of surveying its population of 1.4 billion people in the world’s largest ever census. Inspired by this huge task, the Unexpected Elements team explores some population science.
First, counting – or miscounting – populations. The global human population may be much larger than previously thought as research shows counts may have missed those living in more remote areas. And we learn about the species stuck in a neverending “species limbo”, where they’ve gone unseen for decades but still can’t officially be declared extinct.
Next, we’re joined by geneticist Dr Ambroise Wonkam, one of the researchers behind the Three Million African Genomes project, who tells us why sequencing more African genomes is the key to unlocking a wealth of vital genetics knowledge.
Also, Mumbai’s out of tune musical road, how we know volcanoes are extinct, and the weight of the internet.
All that, plus many more unexpected elements.
Presenter: Caroline Steel, with Chhavi Sachdev and Candice Bailey. Producers: Lucy Davies, with Ella Hubber, Imy Harper and Georgia Christie.
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China’s ambitious underwater mapping operation takes us on a voyage into the depths of ocean and map science.
We look at what a network of underwater microphones can tell us about underwater geography, noisy ships, and whale conversations, and how it took nearly 300 researchers working together to map 140 000 neurons in a fruit fly’s brain.
Then, we are joined by biogeochemist and author Karen Lloyd, who tells us about the long-lived microbes living deep in the crust below the sea floor, how they survive for 100 000 years, and what their mysterious existence tells us about life and evolution.
And forget sunken treasures – we will talk about the valuable, potato-sized mineral nodules that grow on the sea floor, and the pros, cons and current legality of mining them. Plus – how dolphins can help us track down abandoned undersea explosives.
All that and even more unexpected elements.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Katie Silver and Tristan Ahtone Producers: Ella Hubber, with Lucy Davies and Georgia Christie
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Japanese pedestrians have been forcefully colliding with each other in a spate of butsukari otoko – or ‘bumping man’ – incidents and the Unexpected Elements team has been inspired to investigate some bumpy science.
First, what does your heart desire? Well, at a cellular level, the perfect match! We hear how your heart is built by cells going speed dating. Then, we discuss how birds avoid in-flock collisions, and we learn all about mesmerising murmurations.
Next, we’re joined by science journalist and author Robin George Andrews, who tells us about NASA’s mission to avoid a city-killing disaster by bumping into an asteroid before it can bump into us.
Also, a colourful question about migraines, a surprising new treatment for them, and the scientists who took antimatter for a test drive.
All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Sandy Ong and Phillys MwateeProducers: Sophie Ormiston, with Ella Hubber, Katie Tomsett, Imy Harper and Lucy Davies
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After the end of a near 17-year legal battle between popstar Katy Perry and fashion designer Katie Perry, the Unexpected Elements team has been inspired to explore the question at the heart of the case – what's in a name?
First, we hear how marmosets use their calls as a way of naming which friend they’re talking to. Then, we discover why a phenomenon known as auditory pareidolia means you can’t necessarily believe your ears.
We're then joined by David Kaiser, professor of physics and history of science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who explains just how hard it is to put physics into words.
Also, the disappearance of indigenous languages, the law for naming laws, and where did all our hair go?
All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton with Andrada Fiscutean and Michael Kaloki Producers: Imy Harper, with Lucy Davies and Sophie Ormiston
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With this year’s Oscars on the horizon, and vampire film Sinners nominated for a record-breaking 16 awards, the Unexpected Elements team sinks their teeth into some blood-sucking science.
First, we discover that Vlad the Impaler, the Romanian prince who inspired Dracula, may have not only had blood on his hands, but also in his tears. We also hear about a woman in Guadeloupe with the world’s newest and rarest blood type.
We’re then joined by Dr Naomi Ewald from the UK’s Freshwater Habitats Trust who tells us all about nature’s little bloodsuckers – leeches – and why their use in medicine is not just a practice consigned to the history books.
Also, the gravity-defying gecko of the Gambia, how close are we to producing artificial blood, and the Patagonian dinosaur that looks like a judgemental chicken.
All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Marnie ChestertonProducers: Ella Hubber, with Sophie Ormiston, Lucy Davies and Imy Harper
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The Hindu festival of Holi has the Unexpected Elements team delving into the science of colour. First up, forget chicken and egg, we bring you a whole new controversy of which came first: colour or colour vision? Then, we learn how a new development in infrared contact lenses could extend our range of vision and help people with colour blindness.
We’re then joined by marine biologist Roger Hanlon who explains how octopuses are great at changing tones, even though they can’t appreciate the colours that they make. Plus, what’s orange, cream, 5,000 years old and worryingly resistant to most of our common antibiotics? And why does reading on dark mode leave one listener seeing things? All on this week’s Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Andrada Fiscutean and Chhavi SachdevProducers: Imy Harper, with Ella Hubber and Lucy Davies
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A dip in global cocoa prices got the Unexpected Elements team wondering about chocolate science.
First, we look at how the microbial communities in cocoa beans fine tune the taste of chocolate. Also, could table sugar help us detect the missing bits of the universe? We look at how three elements in sugar were used in the hunt for dark matter.
We’re then joined by Professor of Experimental Psychology Charles Spence, who explains the myriad ways that taste can be influenced – including the shape and name of chocolate, and even the music we listen to as we eat it. Plus, we hear about the rediscovery of a moth in South Africa that was lost to science for 150 years.
And finally, why we cry when we chop onions and the insects that pollinate the cocoa tree. That’s all on this week’s Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Candice Bailey and Sandy OngProducers: Sophie Ormiston, with Lucy Davies, Tim Dodd, Imy Harper and Margaret Sessa-Hawkins
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Identical twins on trial for murder in France have left forensic experts unable to answer the question of which one pulled the gun’s trigger. With both having the same DNA, it got the Unexpected Elements team thinking, when do identical twins cease to be identical?
First, we look at how scientists have been confronting the possibility that they might soon be able to create an evil twin to life itself - mirror life. Also, we hear why the ‘Tatooine planets’ which orbit twin stars are so rare in our galaxy.
We’re then joined by professor of developmental psychology Nancy Segal, who explains why prosecutors should be able to distinguish between the French twins on trial. Plus, we hear how African farmers are struggling with a lack of data on pre-harvest crop loss.
And finally, why gorse flowers smell like pina coladas, and how the use of DNA evidence in court can still come down to interpretation. That’s all on this week’s Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Kai Kupferschmidt and Michael KalokiProducers: Ella Hubber, with Lucy Davies, Sophie Ormiston, Imy Harper and Tim Dodd
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K-pop fans in Taiwan have been turning to the God of love in the hope it will boost their luck in getting concert tickets. It got the Unexpected Elements team thinking, are some people just lucky?
First, we look at how music resonates in the brain and why listening to it live can feel more emotional. Also, can we measure how lucky we are? We look at a possible formula, and how you can increase your chances of striking on a lucky event.
We are then joined by professor of marketing Marco Bertini, who explains the wild west of dynamic pricing and gives us some tips and tricks along the way. Plus we hear about Kenya’s ambitious plans to integrate traditional medicine into its health system.
And finally, why we dance when we pee and the Great British art of queuing. That’s all on this week’s Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Phillys Mwatee and Imaan MoinProducer: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins, with Ella Hubber, Lucy Davies, Imy Harper and Tim Dodd
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The Winter Olympics has the Unexpected Elements team looking into some of the incredible science behind the sports. First up, the tale of India’s lone luge pilot: how did using old train tracks as sled runners give him a competitive edge? Then, we look at the physics behind a cheating scandal that has rocked the ski jumping world. Scientific studies tell us exactly how much difference changing a single stitch in a costume can make.
Did you know there are different types of ice? Professor Christoph Salzmann has discovered three of them, and tells us what makes them unique. Plus dinosaurs, disease, and whether we laugh with an accent. All on this week’s Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Chhavi Sachdev and Tristan Ahtone Producers: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins, with Lucy Davies, Imy Harper and Tim Dodd
- Visa fler
