Unexpected Elements podcast

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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.

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.

 

#351

Maxxed out

The Unexpected Elements team are science-maxxing, following the headline that “maxxing” ha... more

06 Nov 2026

49 MINS

49:30

06 Nov 2026


#350

Defrauded, defamed, delivered

This week, the Unexpected Elements team have been glued to a story about a $126 million fr... more

30 Oct 2026

49 MINS

49:30

30 Oct 2026


#349

Building bridges

A new bridge has just been opened between China and North Korea after a 12-year delay. And... more

23 Oct 2026

49 MINS

49:31

23 Oct 2026


#348

Taking a shortcut

After a Chinese fitness influencer was caught hitching a lift on a bicycle during the Berl... more

16 Oct 2026

49 MINS

49:30

16 Oct 2026


#347

Walk the line

Estonian athlete Jaan Roose recently completed a jaw-dropping slackline display, performin... more

09 Oct 2026

49 MINS

49:30

09 Oct 2026


#346

Rogue Agents

This week’s news of an AI agent managing to hack into an Australian government website has... more

02 Oct 2026

49 MINS

49:30

02 Oct 2026


#345

An identity crisis

When a NATO fighter jet was sent to investigate what appeared to be a suspicious drone nea... more

25 Sep 2026

49 MINS

49:31

25 Sep 2026


#344

A distorted view

With the United Nations encouraging wider use of the Equal Earth map, a projection designe... more

18 Sep 2026

49 MINS

49:31

18 Sep 2026


#343

The phizz-whizzing science of Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl Day is celebrated each year on 13 September. Dahl gave us much-loved children’s... more

11 Sep 2026

49 MINS

49:31

11 Sep 2026


#342

The show must go on

The 80th birthday celebrations of the late, great Queen frontman Freddie Mercury have us m... more

04 Sep 2026

49 MINS

49:31

04 Sep 2026


#341

A very dry episode

Vast swathes of Europe and Asia are experiencing drought conditions, thanks to relentless ... more

28 Aug 2026

49 MINS

49:30

28 Aug 2026