Unexpected Elements podcast

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.

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.

 

#293

Two-hundred years of trains

This week marks 200 years since the first steam train pulled passengers over 26 miles of n... more

26 Sep 2025

49 MINS

49:29

26 Sep 2025


#292

Pirate science ahoy!

For International Talk Like a Pirate Day on 19th September, we dig up a treasure chest ful... more

19 Sep 2025

49 MINS

49:29

19 Sep 2025


#291

Some dam awesome science

The inauguration of Africa’s largest hydroelectric dam has us looking at how we decide whe... more

12 Sep 2025

49 MINS

49:29

12 Sep 2025


#290

Punk rock science

A dinosaur with metre-long spikes has been discovered. The species, Spicomellus afer, is f... more

05 Sep 2025

49 MINS

49:29

05 Sep 2025


#289

Where do beaches come from?

It’s August, and in the northern hemisphere, many people are hitting the beach to escape t... more

29 Aug 2025

49 MINS

49:29

29 Aug 2025


#288

Mountains of overtourism

As Nepal makes 97 peaks free to climb, we look at the science of overtourism – especially ... more

22 Aug 2025

49 MINS

49:29

22 Aug 2025


#287

Why do we follow trends?

What's got rabbit-like ears, huge eyes, nine teeth and a demonic grin? It’s Labubu! These ... more

18 Aug 2025

49 MINS

49:29

18 Aug 2025


#286

Floods, mangroves and rampaging tractors

This week, floods have hit the global headlines. First up, we delve into the various reaso... more

08 Aug 2025

49 MINS

49:30

08 Aug 2025


#285

Traffic science

This week, a viral video of a robo-traffic-cop in Shanghai has the team contemplating the ... more

01 Aug 2025

49 MINS

49:29

01 Aug 2025


#284

Trailer: 13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle

The epic space story of a sci-fi dream that changed spaceflight forever. Told by the Nasa ... more

28 Jul 2025

03 MINS

03:29

28 Jul 2025


#283

The science of ageing

This week, Cameroon’s Paul Biya announced his plan to run for an 8th term as president at ... more

25 Jul 2025

49 MINS

49:28

25 Jul 2025


#282

How dust affects the world

This week, a new report into the dangers that sand and dust storms pose to the world's hea... more

18 Jul 2025

49 MINS

49:34

18 Jul 2025


#281

Sharks, albatrosses, the Jaws theme and fishing

Shark Awareness Day on 14th July sends us on a deep dive into marine biology. First, we le... more

11 Jul 2025

50 MINS

50:24

11 Jul 2025