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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
Vaccines
Wildfires
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes329Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Artwork for Unexpected Elements

Latest Episodes

Long live the king – of mangoes! In India the famed ‘king of mangoes’, the Alphonso mango, is in drastically short supply after a particularly bad bout of adverse weather. Inspired by the mango’s plight, the Unexpected Elements team takes a look at w... more

How do you translate the latest science work across the 2000 different languages spoken around the African continent? And have you heard of sky mountain? Africa Day has the Unexpected Elements team taking a deep dive into a range of unexpected storie... more

Have you ever wondered what happen to salmon when too much cocaine seeps into their rivers? Inspired by the Enhanced Games, we lookat unexpected areas of performance enhancement. Peptides are making a splash in influencer circles, but what is the sci... more

An outbreak of hantavirus on the MV Hondius cruise ship has us looking at the unexpected science around the disease. First up, why is this outbreak such an unusual occurrence?

Then, what's in a name? We look at how diseases are named, and why the s... more

Key Facts

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

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Katie Silver
Science journalist
Mexico/Mexico City context given in show
Episode: Unexpected enhancements
David Putrino
Professor in Rehabilitation and Human Performance at Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai (Performance 360)
Episode: Unexpected enhancements
Erica Hartman
Molecular biologist at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Episode: Hantavirus outbreak and what’s in a name
Nadine Johnston
Marine ecologist
British Antarctic Survey
Episode: One hundred years of Sir David Attenborough
John Amory
Professor of Medicine at UW Medical Centre in Seattle, expert on male contraception
University of Washington
Episode: The soaring price of condoms
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

Hosts

Alex Lathbridge
Host of Unexpected Elements
Marnie Chesterton
Host of Unexpected Elements

Reviews

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

    Podcast Addict
    5
    bluestemowner
    4 months ago
  • Pls do this

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hananatet 29
    Australia9 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 Kingdom10 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.

Some listeners want deeper fact-checking and less surface-level banter.
The show blends accessible science with broad topics and great guests.
Listeners appreciate the diverse range of subjects and expert insights.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#128
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#42
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#133
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#44
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#22
New Zealand/Science
Apple Podcasts
#28
Singapore/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Hantavirus outbreak and what’s in a name
Q: Why do we name diseases after places or people, and what are the implications?
The guests explain that naming conventions have historically reflected prestige and curiosity but can stigmatize places or people; WHO guidelines favor neutral, descriptive terms to reduce harm while still enabling clear communication.
One hundred years of Sir David Attenborough
Q: Do you think there is a fixed speed of sight in humans or does it vary?
The speed of sight varies by individual and context, influenced by distance, scene complexity, lighting, fatigue, and even brain health; some animals have much faster processing, like peregrine falcons.
The soaring price of condoms
Q: Can you give us, John, a potted history of attempts to make the male contraceptive?
Attempts began in the 1950s, but early compounds had significant side effects; after the female pill launched, research paused and then restarted in the 1980s with WHO-led efforts using testosterone, which faced regulatory and practical challenges, including injections and non-responders; more recent work focuses on gels and non-hormonal methods with ongoing phase studies and regulatory considerations.
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.

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 science-focused interview show that covers a wide array of topics from infectious disease naming and environmental monitoring to space, robotics, and animal biology. Episodes mix expert commentary, quirky case studies, and listener questions, with hosts guiding conversations across disciplines to reveal connections between science, society, and technology. Noteworthy strengths include a diverse guest slate, a cadence that balances rigorous explainers with accessible storytelling, and an openness to explore both cutting-edge research and historical context. Potential listeners who enjoy curious, globally sourced science stories and fresh perspectives on how science intersects everyday life are likely to find it engaging.

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How many listeners does Unexpected Elements get?

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How many subscribers and views does Unexpected Elements have?

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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 Life Scientific
5. The Naked Scientists Podcast

How many episodes of Unexpected Elements are there?

Unexpected Elements launched 13 years ago and published 329 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. Katie Silver
2. David Putrino
3. Erica Hartman
4. Nadine Johnston
5. John Amory
6. Helen Anne Curry
7. Andrada Fiscutean
8. Emmanuel Samani

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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