Unexpected Elements
BBC World ServiceThe 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.
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 346 | Founded | 13 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Category | Science | |||
Listen to this Podcast
Latest Episodes
This week’s news of an AI agent managing to hack into an Australian government website has the Unexpected Elements team exploring the sneaky science of infiltration.
Marnie Chesterton is joined by science journalists Paul Adepoju and Andrada Fiscute... more
When a NATO fighter jet was sent to investigate what appeared to be a suspicious drone near Vilnius airport, the culprit turned out to be something rather less threatening: a flock of birds. Inspired by this case of mistaken identity, the Unexpected ... more
With the United Nations encouraging wider use of the Equal Earth map, a projection designed to better represent the true size of Earth's landmasses, the Unexpected Elements team have been thinking about distortion and the surprising new ways we can s... more
Roald Dahl Day is celebrated each year on 13 September. Dahl gave us much-loved children’s books like Matilda, The BFG and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which have captivated kids for generations.
Dahl is also a controversial figure, and made a... more
Key Facts
Similar Podcasts
People also subscribe to these shows.
Recent Guests
Host
Reviews
- In Marnie We Trust
Fun, informative, good pace, no unnecessary chatter. What more could you ask for!
Apple Podcasts5HerbertHoover420
United States3 months ago Love! Great tangents.
Podcast Addict58 months agobluestemowner- Pls do this
Can you pls do a K-pop demon hunters episode ty
Apple Podcasts5Hananatet 29
Australiaa year 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 Podcasts2Tubbytum
United Kingdoma year ago - Perfect!!
Not to quick!!
Apple Podcasts4Tobr13
Italy2 years ago
Listeners Say
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #149 | United States/Science |
Apple Podcasts | #58 | United Kingdom/Science |
Apple Podcasts | #76 |  Canada/Science |
Apple Podcasts | #46 | Australia/Science |
Apple Podcasts | #134 |  France/Science |
Apple Podcasts | #250 |  Germany/Science |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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 fast-moving, globally scoped science talk show that blends news-led biology, ecology, and space stories with lively guest banter. Episodes frequently connect everyday phenomena to broader scientific themes, from animal behavior and biodiversity to climate science and technology-enabled research. A standout is the multidisciplinary mix of researchers, journalists, and regional correspondents who bring fresh perspectives from around the world, often tying local insights to universal scientific questions. Listeners can expect approachable explanations of cutting-edge topics, narrative threads that tie disparate fields together, and a playful yet rigorous tone that makes complex science accessible. The show's openness to crowd input and diver... more
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 four 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. Science Weekly
How many episodes of Unexpected Elements are there?
Unexpected Elements launched 13 years ago and published 346 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. Alex Donovan
2. Miguel Zumalacárregui
3. Renata Schmidt
4. James Smoliga
5. Adam Becker
6. Carolyn Freiwald
7. Phillys Mwatee
8. Dan Parsons
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.