Unexpected Elements

The news you know, the science you don’t.

World Service,339 episodes

Episodes

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A scientific odyssey
A new film adaptation of the Greek epic poem sends us on our own unexpected journey
17 Jul 2026,50 mins
Everyone needs a hero
A Mexican vigilante nicknamed Batman has us exploring superhero science.
10 Jul 2026,49 mins
Stuck in a cycle
The removal of sales tax on period products in Pakistan has us talking biological cycles.
03 Jul 2026,49 mins
Dividing lines
A shifting border line in South Korea has us investigating all things boundaries.
26 Jun 2026,49 mins
Anyone for chips?
The rising cost of microchips has the team investigating chips of all descriptions.
19 Jun 2026,49 mins
The beautiful game
The Fifa Men’s World Cup has the Unexpected Elements team exploring all things football
12 Jun 2026,49 mins
Science bears fruit
A shortage of India’s prized ‘king of mangoes’ has us exploring some fruity science.
05 Jun 2026,51 mins
Celebrating science on Africa Day
From continental shifts to sky mountain, we explore the science across Africa
29 May 2026,49 mins
Unexpected enhancements
From cocaine salmon to peptides we look at performance enhancement
22 May 2026,49 mins
Hantavirus outbreak and what’s in a name
An outbreak of hantavirus has us looking at the unexpected science around the disease.
15 May 2026,49 mins
One hundred years of Sir David Attenborough
Sir David turns 100, but what’s the science behind achieving this significant birthday?
08 May 2026,49 mins
The soaring price of condoms
The strait of Hormuz blockade raises condom costs, and we explore the science of safe sex
01 May 2026,49 mins
Chernobyl: 40 years later
Forty years after the Chernobyl disaster, we look at radiation science.
24 Apr 2026,49 mins
The ribbiting science of frogs
A visa being revoked over frog embryos has us diving into all things amphibian
17 Apr 2026,49 mins
Is everyone accounted for?
India undertaking the world’s largest ever census has us exploring population science.
10 Apr 2026,49 mins
Putting science on the map
China’s undersea mapping project has us scanning the deep for map-tastic science.
03 Apr 2026,49 mins
A bumper edition
Colliding Japanese pedestrians has us exploring some bumpy science.
27 Mar 2026,49 mins
In the name of science
Katy Perry vs Katie Perry, a trademark war has us exploring the science of names
20 Mar 2026,56 mins
Out for blood
Oscar favourite Sinners has us sinking our teeth into some vampire-inspired science
13 Mar 2026,49 mins
The colour of science
When did the world really burst into colour?
06 Mar 2026,49 mins
A sweet treat
A dip in global cocoa prices has us wondering about chocolate science.
27 Feb 2026,50 mins
Seeing double
A pair of twins on trial for murder has us wondering about all things identical.
20 Feb 2026,49 mins
Are you lucky?
The formula behind how lucky you are – spoiler, it isn’t just down to chance
13 Feb 2026,49 mins
Let the games begin
How did one extra stitch cause a ski jumping scandal? -- Physics.
06 Feb 2026,51 mins
Are you still with us?
China’s viral app has us contemplating the science of connection.
30 Jan 2026,49 mins
Banging the science drum
The world's most unlikely drumming duo has us banging the drum for some rhythmic science.
23 Jan 2026,49 mins
Science down under
The Unexpected Elements team takes a trip down under to discover some Australian science.
16 Jan 2026,49 mins
Science of the future
Exciting developments in science, in cervical cancer, xenotransplantation, fusion energy
09 Jan 2026,49 mins
An episode inspired by our listeners
In this special programme, we revisit our listeners’ favourite topics and then dig deeper
02 Jan 2026,49 mins
The gift of science
This Boxing Day and holiday season, our present to you is the science of gifts.
26 Dec 2025,49 mins