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Artwork for Unexpected Elements

Unexpected Elements

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

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes302Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Artwork for Unexpected Elements

Latest Episodes

The Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer by Gustav Klimt has recently sold for $236m, making it the second-most expensive artwork ever sold at auction.

Inspired by this headline, the Unexpected Elements team delve into the story of how microbiology may ha... more

The Miss Universe pageant final has us considering the science of beauty. How much of our perception of beauty is genetic, and how much is down to personal experiences? We also look at the science behind competitions and the audience effect. Why do w... more

A 150-year-old bottle of Arctic Ale is being uncapped, which got the team talking about all things related to yeast, beer, and opening things.

First, we hear about a rare condition where the body brews its own alcohol. Next up, we find out that sma... more

As rescue and relief efforts in the Caribbean are ongoing after Hurricane Melissa, Unexpected Elements looks at the science of storms.

We explore how AI might help us better predict the weather patterns, and whether it could act as an early warning... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Dr Siyakha Mguni
An archaeologist and senior lecturer at the Michaelis School of Fine Art at the University of Cape Town, specializing in the study and preservation of rock art.
University of Cape Town
Episode: The unexpected science behind Klimt's artwork
Fig O'Reilly
Miss Universe Ireland 2019, data analyst, and science communicator
Not specified
Episode: Some Beautiful Science
Giles Harrison
Professor of Atmospheric Physics at Reading University
Reading University
Episode: A storm of science
Patricia Wiltshire
Forensic ecologist and palynologist
Episode: A science heist
Professor Adrian Shrader
Behavioural ecologist
University of Pretoria
Episode: How does biometric data work?
Professor Mark Nixon
Biometrics researcher
Episode: How does biometric data work?
Dr. Matt Caplan
Theoretical astrophysicist from Illinois State University
Illinois State University
Episode: The strongest stuff in the Universe
Professor Troy Magney
A forest ecophysiologist at the University of Montana
University of Montana
Episode: Science inspired by Taylor Swift
Jessamyn Abel
Professor of Asian Studies and History at Penn State University
Penn State University
Episode: Two-hundred years of trains

Hosts

Marnie Chesterton
Host of Unexpected Elements, a science communicator with a background in journalism and broadcasting.
Caroline Steel
Host of Unexpected Elements and experienced in science communication, exploring connections between everyday life and scientific narratives.
Camilla Mota
Journalist with a focus on cultural and scientific topics, providing insights into the connections between society and science.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1.3k ratings
  • Pls do this

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hananatet 29
    Australia3 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 Kingdom4 months ago
  • Perfect!!

    Not to quick!!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Tobr13
    Italy10 months 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 Kingdom10 months ago
  • way too "funny"

    Too "entertaining", light banter, too chatty by far, the depth of a coffetable. Examples don't explain anything, they only illustrate what you still fail to explain in the first place.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    ndjuxhhehaijdbehbbxk
    Germanya year ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience feedback indicates a desire for even deeper dives into specific topics, suggesting that some find certain episodes too superficial.
The podcast is known for creating connections between science and everyday life, making it relatable and educational.
Some criticisms include concerns about the audio quality in certain episodes, indicating a desire for improved production values.
Listeners appreciate the engaging storytelling and the exploration of a wide range of scientific topics.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#185
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#80
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#230
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#80
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#230
France/Science
Apple Podcasts
#249
Italy/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A keg of beer-based science
Q: Can the ancient beer still taste good after 150 years?
Yes, since it's high in alcohol and sugar, both natural preservatives, it likely maintains its quality.
A keg of beer-based science
Q: What are the microbes responsible for auto-brewery syndrome?
Researchers have identified yeasts like Saccharomyces cerevisiae that can overgrow and produce ethanol in people with the syndrome.
A keg of beer-based science
Q: Can auto-brewery syndrome be treated? Can people recover?
Doctors usually help patients rebalance their gut microbe and recommend they follow a low carb, low sugar diet.
A science heist
Q: Can you explain how a forensic ecologist gets called on to solving any particular crime?
A crime scene manager may call a forensic ecologist when there's a lack of DNA or fingerprints, asking them to analyze items for microscopic evidence.
The strongest stuff in the Universe
Q: What do you think the world's strongest material is?
The discussion reveals that nuclear pasta is considered to be significantly stronger than even graphene.

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?

Featuring an exploration of overlooked scientific narratives and engaging stories from around the globe, the content often intertwines various disciplines to deliver compelling insights. Topics cover everything from environmental issues, such as climate change and conservation, to psychological studies, the intricacies of human behavior, and even the science behind common trends and pop culture phenomena. The podcast is characterized by its willingness to challenge conventional narratives and inspire listeners to reconnect with the scientific aspects of the world and their everyday lives.

Where can I find podcast stats for Unexpected Elements?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Unexpected Elements. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Unexpected Elements and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

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. Science In Action
2. CrowdScience
3. BBC Inside Science
4. Discovery
5. The Naked Scientists Podcast

How many episodes of Unexpected Elements are there?

Unexpected Elements launched 13 years ago and published 302 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. Dr Siyakha Mguni
2. Fig O'Reilly
3. Giles Harrison
4. Patricia Wiltshire
5. Professor Adrian Shrader
6. Professor Mark Nixon
7. Dr. Matt Caplan
8. Professor Troy Magney

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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