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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
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes270Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Artwork for Unexpected Elements

Latest Episodes

This week the Unexpected Elements team left our windowless BBC studio and paid a visit to the CGIAR conference in Nairobi, Kenya.

In this episode, we find out about the Kenyan invention that’s pulling clean, safe water from thin air, before discove... more

This week is the Christian celebration of Easter, which sent the Unexpected Elements team scrambling for egg-related stories.

First up, we find out about the rise of a vegan egg substitute.

Next, we discover how to cook the perfect boiled egg, ac... more

The Aurora Borealis – also known as the Northern Lights – won’t be at their peak activity much longer, and the Unexpected Elements team dreams of going north to see them. And that has got us looking at the science of navigating our way north!

We he... more

On World Rat Day, we’re getting ratty! We look at the biology behind the eternal struggle between rats and rat poison, and we hear about rat-on-rat warfare and other forms of pest control.

We don’t play games when it comes to rats, but we know some... more

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

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Recent Guests

Luis Welbanks
Astronomer from the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Episode: An eggciting episode
Bodil Holst
Professor of Nanophysics at the University of Bergen
University of Bergen
Episode: Navigating northward
Kayla Goforth
Researcher at Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Episode: Navigating northward
Zach Berry
Professor at the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
Episode: Oh, Rats!
Dr. Michael Brecht
Professor of Neurobiology at Humboldt University of Berlin
Humboldt University of Berlin
Episode: Oh, Rats!
Matija Strlic
Professor at University College London specializing in the chemistry of decay
University College London
Episode: What’s that smell?
Raja Goh
PhD student at the Perception and Mind Lab at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
Episode: Silent science
Eric Clarke
Emeritus Professor at the University of Oxford and musicologist
University of Oxford
Episode: Topsy turvy
Brendan Walker
Director of the Thrill Laboratory focused on creating thrilling experiences
Episode: Topsy turvy

Hosts

Marnie Chesterton
Host of Unexpected Elements, with a focus on exploring scientific narratives.
Caroline Steel
Host from the BBC World Service, engaging in lively explorations of scientific themes.
Phillys Mwatee
Science broadcaster with diverse perspectives on science communication.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1.3k ratings
  • Perfect!!

    Not to quick!!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Tobr13
    Italy2 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 Kingdom3 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
    Germany5 months ago
  • This is very much a feminine view on science and technology, which is okay up to a point.

    It has to do as there are not many technical or science podcasts that I can find on the BBC that are not one month behind.

    Podcast Addict
    3
    Brianpals
    7 months ago
  • EV tyre comment

    Love the show, so many excellent topics and really well presented but please fact check your comment and EV cars wearing tyres more quickly than Fossil cars. I have had and EV’s for 4 years and in my experience tyre wear in than same. This is a commonly quoted and not just not true. May be you could gather some data and do a show on the subject? Thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Simon The Keeper
    United Kingdom8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

A variety of topics are engaging and entertaining, with several listeners praising the quality of discussions and interesting narratives.
Multiple reviewers appreciate the humor and relatability of the hosts, while others voiced issues regarding audio quality in some episodes.
Some have raised concerns about the depth of coverage on certain issues, indicating a desire for more substantive explorations rather than surface-level treatments.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#83
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#213
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#39
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#25
Saudi Arabia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#37
Ukraine/Science
Apple Podcasts
#49
Singapore/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Navigating northward
Q: Is it possible that Cook could have been telling the truth?
It's considered more likely now that Henson actually was the first to reach the North Pole, overshadowing both Peary and Cook.
Navigating northward
Q: Does this mean that we should stop using GPS devices to navigate and go back to using the stars probably?
Not quite, but maybe try navigating without GPS every once in a while and pay attention to landmarks, or use an old map for fun.
An eggciting episode
Q: How are scientists identifying chemical species on exoplanets?
They use spectroscopy to identify how a planet appears when it passes in front of its star, which helps infer atmospheric composition.
An eggciting episode
Q: What determines the gender of sea turtles when they hatch?
The gender is determined by the incubation temperature of the eggs; cooler temperatures produce mostly males whereas warmer temperatures lead to predominantly female hatchlings.
An eggciting episode
Q: Why are egg prices rising?
Egg prices have soared due to increased demand for Easter and bird flu-related supply cuts.

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 variety of compelling scientific topics are explored, often linking unexpected narratives and personal stories that resonate deeply with listeners. The episodes reveal intricate connections between diverse fields, such as environmental challenges, psychological phenomena, and the cultural implications of science, all through a conversational and engaging format. Unique themes include discussions around dietary practices, social psychology, and the natural world, providing both insight and entertainment. Audiences can expect to learn about innovative research, cultural movements, and the deeper meanings behind everyday experiences, all while enjoying a blend of humor and intellect.

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 12 years ago and published 270 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?

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What guests have appeared on Unexpected Elements?

Recent guests on Unexpected Elements include:

1. Luis Welbanks
2. Bodil Holst
3. Kayla Goforth
4. Zach Berry
5. Dr. Michael Brecht
6. Matija Strlic
7. Raja Goh
8. Eric Clarke

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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