Unexpected Elements
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Unexpected Elements
The news you know, the science you don’t. Unexpected Elements looks beyond everyday narratives to discover a goldmine of scientific stories and connections from around the globe. From Afronauts, to why we argue, to a deep dive on animal lifespans: see the world in a new way.
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301 bölüm
Science of the future
We take a look at some exciting science of the near future. First, the latest developments in animal-to-human organ transplants and the ambitious goal...
An episode inspired by our listeners
We revisit our listeners’ favourite topics and dig deeper in this special programme.
First, we hear from some of our insomniac listeners and exp...
The gift of science
This Boxing Day and holiday season, our present to you is the science of gifts.
First, we investigate the health benefits of donating blood, and...
Why are we sad when television series end?
The end of Australian soap opera Neighbours has us wondering why a television series ending makes us sad. Also, what does science say about how to eng...
The unexpected science behind Klimt's artwork
The Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer by Gustav Klimt has recently sold for $236m, making it the second-most expensive artwork ever sold at auction.
A storm of science
As rescue and relief efforts in the Caribbean are ongoing after Hurricane Melissa, Unexpected Elements looks at the science of storms.
We explo...
The strongest stuff in the Universe
Egyptian strongman Ashraf Mahrous recently pulled two ships totalling 1,150 tonnes with his teeth, setting his sights on the Guinness World Record. In...
Science inspired by Taylor Swift
The launch of Taylor Swift’s much-anticipated 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, has inspired this week’s episode of Unexpected Elements.
Two-hundred years of trains
This week marks 200 years since the first steam train pulled passengers over 26 miles of north-east England’s countryside, and started a revolution. J...
Pirate science ahoy!
For International Talk Like a Pirate Day on 19th September, we dig up a treasure chest full of pirate-inspired science.
First up, we peer down o...
Some dam awesome science
The inauguration of Africa’s largest hydroelectric dam has us looking at how we decide when, where, and even whether to build dams.
But humans a...
Punk rock science
A dinosaur with metre-long spikes has been discovered. The species, Spicomellus afer, is from the Jurassic Period and is the oldest example of a group...
Where do beaches come from?
It’s August, and in the northern hemisphere, many people are hitting the beach to escape the summer heat. And that inspired us to investigate bucketlo...
Mountains of overtourism
As Nepal makes 97 peaks free to climb, we look at the science of overtourism – especially on mountains. How do so many visitors affect these environme...
Why do we follow trends?
What's got rabbit-like ears, huge eyes, nine teeth and a demonic grin? It’s Labubu! These ugly-cute toys have gone viral online, largely thanks to soc...
Floods, mangroves and rampaging tractors
This week, floods have hit the global headlines. First up, we delve into the various reasons why floods form.
After learning about the causes o...
Traffic science
This week, a viral video of a robo-traffic-cop in Shanghai has the team contemplating the science of traffic. How do traffic jams with no discernible...
Trailer: 13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle
The epic space story of a sci-fi dream that changed spaceflight forever. Told by the Nasa astronauts and team who made it happen. Our multi-award-win...
The science of ageing
This week, Cameroon’s Paul Biya announced his plan to run for an 8th term as president at the grand old age of 92. So, we have elected to investigate...
How dust affects the world
This week, a new report into the dangers that sand and dust storms pose to the world's health and economy has inspired us to delve in the science of d...
Sharks, albatrosses, the Jaws theme and fishing
Shark Awareness Day on 14th July sends us on a deep dive into marine biology.
First, we learn how shark-inspired materials could help make aerop...
Cargo ships, chemical spills and caribou
The X-Press Pearl shipping disaster takes us on a voyage through shipping-related science.
First, we learn about how pollution from the X-Press...
A roarsome episode
This week, Enigmacursor mollyborthwickae has been unveiled at London's Natural History Museum. This newly described herbivorous dinosaur has inspired...
Some really cool science
This week, the Florida Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers at ice hockey’s Stanley Cup championship, which sent us skating into ice-related science.
Defuse and diffuse
World War II bombs were defused in Cologne, Germany, which has inspired us to explore the science of diffusion and defusing!
First, we hear how...
Gaming-inspired science
This week, get ready for a whole loot box of gaming-related stories!
First up, we find out about a video game that could give people the power t...
Mission unexpectedly possible
With the new Mission Impossible film playing in cinemas, the Unexpected Elements team is channelling Tom Cruise’s energy to see if scientists can push...
Story time
Much ado was made about a cancelled auction of an ultra-rare set of Shakespeare’s folios, which could have fetched millions of dollars.
This he...
Enduring it all
This month will see thousands of people take to streets around the world to test their feats of endurance. It’s marathon season. And this week, we’re...
Ant antics
This week, a court in Kenya sentenced four men to either a year in prison or a fine of £5,800 for trying to smuggle 5,000 ants out of the country. The...
In memoriam
On 21st April 2025, Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, died.
His funeral took place on 26th April, with thousands of mourners crow...
Kenya believe it?
This week the Unexpected Elements team left our windowless BBC studio and paid a visit to the CGIAR conference in Nairobi, Kenya.
In this episo...
An eggciting episode
This week is the Christian celebration of Easter, which sent the Unexpected Elements team scrambling for egg-related stories.
First up, we find...
Navigating northward
The Aurora Borealis – also known as the Northern Lights – won’t be at their peak activity much longer, and the Unexpected Elements team dreams of goin...
Oh, Rats!
On World Rat Day, we’re getting ratty! We look at the biology behind the eternal struggle between rats and rat poison, and we hear about rat-on-rat wa...
Don’t be a fool!
April 1st is notorious across the globe. Renowned for being a day of practical jokes. And it’s no different here on the BBC World Service.
Misc...
What’s that smell?
Five years ago, people around the world were enduring COVID lockdowns as we attempted to prevent the spread of the virus. Today, many of those who cau...
The fast and the curious
It’s the month of Ramadan, when Muslims across the world fast between dawn and sunset in the belief that it will bring them closer to Allah. And this...
Silent science
Sparked by a silent album released by 1,000 musicians in protest of the UK government’s planned changes to copyright law, Unexpected Elements hits the...
Topsy turvy
Unexpected Elements has a shake up looking into the topsy turvy world of science, all thanks to an upturned campervan in Western France.
Explore...