Rephonic
Artwork for Unexpected Elements

Unexpected Elements

BBC World Service
Climate Change
Artificial Intelligence
Traffic
Covid-19
Antarctica
Ants
Dog Aging Project
COP28
Hurricane Melissa
Neighbours
Malaria
Black Worms
Loneliness
Space Shuttle
Weather Forecasting
Plankton
Grief
Wildfires
Vaccines
Cricket World Cup

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes323Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Unexpected Elements

Latest Episodes

On 26th April 1986, Reactor 4 at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine exploded, releasing vast amounts of radiation. Now, 40 years later, it remains the worst nuclear accident in history.

Using the Chernobyl anniversary as a starting point,... more

In 2025, Russian-born scientist Kseniia Petrova picked up some spliced frog embryos from a laboratory in France and brought them back to the USA to aid her research into ageing and cancer. She was detained by the United States Immigration and Customs... more

This month, India began the immense undertaking of surveying its population of 1.4 billion people in the world’s largest ever census. Inspired by this huge task, the Unexpected Elements team explores some population science.

First, counting – or mi... more

China’s ambitious underwater mapping operation takes us on a voyage into the depths of ocean and map science.

We look at what a network of underwater microphones can tell us about underwater geography, noisy ships, and whale conversations, and how i... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

CrowdScience
CrowdScienceBBC World Service
Discovery
DiscoveryBBC World Service
The Naked Scientists Podcast
The Naked Scientists PodcastThe Naked Scientists

Recent Guests

Helen Anne Curry
Professor of the History of Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Tech
Episode: Chernobyl: 40 years later
Andrada Fiscutean
Tech journalist
Romania
Episode: Chernobyl: 40 years later
Emmanuel Samani
Health and Science Journalist
Biomedic
Episode: Chernobyl: 40 years later
Lee Berger
Associate Professor at Melbourne Veterinary School
University of Melbourne
Episode: The ribbiting science of frogs
Ambroise Wonkam
Geneticist, Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
Episode: Is everyone accounted for?
Karen Lloyd
Microbial biogeochemist, author of Intraterrestrials
University of Southern California
Episode: Putting science on the map
Robin George Andrews
Science journalist and author of How to Kill an Asteroid
Book author, science journalist
Episode: A bumper edition
Alex Sinclair
Professor at University of Birmingham, Headache Services
University of Birmingham
Episode: A bumper edition
Nicole Ackersman
Researcher studying neurodegeneration in goats
Dr. Nicole Ackersman, neurodegeneration researcher
Episode: A bumper edition

Hosts

Marnie Chesterton
Host of Unexpected Elements, engaging with a variety of scientific and cultural topics.
Caroline Steel
Co-host and contributor to various discussions and insights on scientific topics.

Reviews

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

    Podcast Addict
    5
    bluestemowner
    3 months ago
  • Pls do this

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hananatet 29
    Australia8 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 Kingdom9 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.

Listeners appreciate the variety of topics and engaging presentation style, often highlighting the informative nature of the discussions.
Some feedback points towards the audio quality being inconsistent, which can detract from the listening experience.
There's a noted enjoyment of unique perspectives and connections drawn between science and everyday life, making it a recommended listen for those interested in educational content.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#95
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#34
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#51
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#43
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#187
France/Science
Apple Podcasts
#189
Germany/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Chernobyl: 40 years later
Q: Is glass a liquid?
The guest explains that glass is technically a liquid in terms of atomic structure, but in practice behaves as a solid because it does not flow under normal conditions; cooling from a molten state to a rigid form without crystallization is how it becomes solid.
The science of ageing
Q: What are blue zones, and how reliable is the data behind longevity claims?
The guest and hosts discuss the controversial data around blue zones, including cross-checking aging claims with birth records and demographic data, and the importance of robust methods.
The science of ageing
Q: Camilla, where would you like to go from our headline on aging?
She pivots to discussing brain aging and later introduces the blue zones, highlighting the complexity of longevity beyond simple diet and lifestyle claims.
A bumper edition
Q: Could the DART mission realistically defend us against a city-killer asteroid, and what are the time requirements?
Deflection works best with several years to plan; the smaller-scale test showed deflection through momentum transfer and rubble ejection, but for a real threat, long lead time is essential.
A bumper edition
Q: What caused the aura in migraines, and why do people experience it differently?
Aura arises from a spreading wave of electrical activity in different brain regions, producing various visual and sensory phenomena that depend on which brain area is affected.

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?

A unique exploration of science in everyday life, this podcast dives into a variety of captivating topics that challenge conventional narratives. Listeners can expect engaging discussions on diverse subjects, from the complexities of animal lifespans to the intersection of culture and science seen in Afronauts. Noteworthy episodes tackle themes such as the psychology behind arguments and the scientific implications of societal issues. This approach not only informs but also invites listeners to view the world through a scientific lens, making it a thought-provoking experience.

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?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Unexpected Elements, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Unexpected Elements?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Unexpected Elements, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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 323 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.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Unexpected Elements?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Unexpected Elements. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Unexpected Elements?

Recent guests on Unexpected Elements include:

1. Helen Anne Curry
2. Andrada Fiscutean
3. Emmanuel Samani
4. Lee Berger
5. Ambroise Wonkam
6. Karen Lloyd
7. Robin George Andrews
8. Alex Sinclair

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days