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Unexpected Elements

BBC World Service
Climate Change
COP28
Black Worms
Cricket World Cup
Indigenous Rights
Ecosystem Dynamics
Nature
Virtual Meetings
Tunneling
Red Sea
Neuralink
Random Acts Of Kindness Day
Australia
India
Quantum Tunneling
Coral Conservation
Science Diplomacy
Microbiome
Biodiversity
Fruit Fly Brain Mapping

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes314Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Artwork for Unexpected Elements

Latest Episodes

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 t... more

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 ... more

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 lo... more

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 a... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Nancy Segal
Professor of Developmental Psychology and Director of the Twin Studies Center at California State University
California State University
Episode: Seeing double
Marco Bertini
Professor of Marketing
Asada Business School, Barcelona
Episode: Are you lucky?
Christoph Salzmann
Professor of Physical and Materials Chemistry
University College London
Episode: Let the games begin
Liz Morris
Glaciologist with extensive experience studying glaciers in Antarctica.
British Antarctic Survey
Episode: Are you still with us?
Daniel Levitin
Neuroscientist and musician, author of Music as Medicine
Episode: Banging the science drum
Andy Flies
Researcher focused on developing a vaccine for Tasmanian devils
University of Tasmania
Episode: Science down under
Susan Sawyer
Chair of Adolescent Health at the University of Melbourne
Murdoch Children's Research Institute
Episode: Science down under
Fatima Ebrahimi
Plasma physicist from Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
Episode: Science of the future
Ada Eban-Rothschild
Expert from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
Episode: An episode inspired by our listeners

Host

Marnie Chesterton
Host from the BBC World Service

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1.3k ratings
  • Love! Great tangents.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    bluestemowner
    11 days ago
  • Pls do this

    Can you pls do a K-pop demon hunters episode ty

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hananatet 29
    Australia5 months ago
  • Woman hour

    This should be a good program but with.altered narrative, very female view. I think woman’s hour around science with hint of anti men.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Tubbytum
    United Kingdom7 months ago
  • Perfect!!

    Not to quick!!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Tobr13
    Italya year ago
  • Woman hour

    This should be a good program but as expected with. Most BBC let’s alter narrative, very female view. I think woman’s hour around science with hint of anti men

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Tubbytum
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Feedback includes concerns about sound quality in episodes, indicating that production value is an area for improvement.
Listeners appreciate the blend of humor and depth in the content, making science accessible and engaging for a wide audience.
Some listeners feel the narratives can be overly focused on cultural issues, potentially alienating parts of the audience who are looking for pure scientific discussions.
Reviews indicate a good mix between entertaining discussions and educational content, which keeps audiences coming back for more.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#85
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#22
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#95
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#35
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#107
Italy/Science
Apple Podcasts
#135
France/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Seeing double
Q: How identical are identical twins?
Identical twins are not strictly identical due to prenatal mutations and environmental influences that can create differences.
Are you lucky?
Q: What is dynamic pricing and why do companies use it?
Dynamic pricing means prices vary over time based on consumer demand, allowing companies to maximize sales and consumer engagement.
Are you lucky?
Q: How does the brain respond to live music compared to recorded performances?
Live music triggers stronger activity in the brain's emotional center due to real-time interactions and variations compared to static recordings.
Let the games begin
Q: Are laughs identifiable by accent?
Yes, laughter can vary by language, individual traits, and context, indicating possible accents.
Science of the future
Q: How realistic is nuclear fusion as an energy source for the future?
It is realistic because fusion energy has been achieved in laboratories, but perfecting it to produce net positive energy remains a challenge.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Unexpected Elements

What is Unexpected Elements about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on the rich intersections between science and our everyday experiences, the content explores a variety of unexpected topics that educate and entertain. Episodes engage with unique themes, such as the microbiological influences on art, the intricacies of beauty in social contexts, and the environmental consequences of popular trends. Noteworthy discussions on climate change and advanced technologies highlight the show's aim to bridge understanding and curiosity, offering listeners a comprehensive view of scientific narratives that are often overlooked. Overall, it is likely to appeal to those who appreciate a fresh perspective on scientific discoveries and their implications for society.

Where can I find podcast stats for Unexpected Elements?

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How many listeners does Unexpected Elements get?

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What are the audience demographics for Unexpected Elements?

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How many subscribers and views does Unexpected Elements have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Unexpected Elements has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Unexpected Elements?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Unexpected Elements:

1. CrowdScience
2. BBC Inside Science
3. Discovery
4. The Naked Scientists Podcast
5. The Life Scientific

How many episodes of Unexpected Elements are there?

Unexpected Elements launched 13 years ago and published 314 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Unexpected Elements?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Unexpected Elements?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Unexpected Elements from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Unexpected Elements?

Recent guests on Unexpected Elements include:

1. Nancy Segal
2. Marco Bertini
3. Christoph Salzmann
4. Liz Morris
5. Daniel Levitin
6. Andy Flies
7. Susan Sawyer
8. Fatima Ebrahimi

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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