Unexpected Elements

51:37

Science bears fruit

Unexpected Elements ·

2026/06/05

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

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49:30

Celebrating science on Africa Day

Unexpected Elements ·

2026/05/29

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

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49:30

Unexpected Enhancements

Unexpected Elements ·

2026/05/22

Have you ever wondered what happen to salmon when too much cocaine seeps into their rivers? This week the Enhanced Games have the team looking at unexpected areas of performance enhancement. Peptides are making a splash in influencer circles, but what is the science?Plus, we hear from Professor 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,

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49:30

Hantavirus outbreak and what’s in a name

Unexpected Elements ·

2026/05/15

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

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49:30

One hundred years of Sir David Attenborough

Unexpected Elements ·

2026/05/08

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

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49:32

The soaring price of condoms

Unexpected Elements ·

2026/05/01

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,

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49:30

Chernobyl: 40 years later

Unexpected Elements ·

2026/04/24

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

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49:31

The ribbiting science of frogs

Unexpected Elements ·

2026/04/17

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,

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49:30

Is everyone accounted for?

Unexpected Elements ·

2026/04/10

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

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49:31

Putting science on the map

Unexpected Elements ·

2026/04/03

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

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49:29

A bumper edition

Unexpected Elements ·

2026/03/27

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

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56:12

In the name of science

Unexpected Elements ·

2026/03/20

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

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49:30

Out for blood

Unexpected Elements ·

2026/03/13

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

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49:30

The colour of science

Unexpected Elements ·

2026/03/06

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

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50:48

A sweet treat

Unexpected Elements ·

2026/02/27

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

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49:32

Seeing double

Unexpected Elements ·

2026/02/20

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

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49:30

Are you lucky?

Unexpected Elements ·

2026/02/13

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’re then joined by Professor of Marketing Marco Bertini, who

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51:19

Let the games begin

Unexpected Elements ·

2026/02/06

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

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49:29

Are you still with us?

Unexpected Elements ·

2026/01/30

Are You Dead?That’s the name of an app that’s gone massively viral in China. Every two days, you click a green button to confirm you’re alive and well – but if you miss it, an emergency contact is alerted.The app is aimed towards those who live alone, so it’s got us contemplating the science of connection and loneliness. First, we take a look at the most isolated trees on Earth and how they act as important recorders of history. We also discuss NASA’s space probe Voyager 1, and how we can connect

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49:30

Banging the science drum

Unexpected Elements ·

2026/01/23

After the leaders of Japan and South Korea ended their summit with the two participating in a drumming duet, we’re marching to the beat of our own drum and exploring some rhythmic science.First, we look at nature’s drummer, the woodpecker, and why their pecking doesn’t give them a concussion. We also discuss how the rhythm of your brain waves impacts your sense of ownership over your own body.Then, we’re joined by Daniel Levitin, author of Music as Medicine, who tells us all about using rhythm in

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