Rephonic
Artwork for Unexpected Elements

Unexpected Elements

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes296Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Unexpected Elements

Latest Episodes

Record high gold prices have us looking at the science of inflation, why gold is leaking from volcanoes, and entomologist Katy Price explains why shiny gold can be a good color for camoflague.

Plus the dark science going on in a gold mine, whether ... more

Egyptian strongman Ashraf Mahrous recently pulled two ships totalling 1,150 tonnes with his teeth, setting his sights on the Guinness World Record. Inspired by this story, this week we’re tackling the science of all things strong.

First, we find ou... more

The launch of Taylor Swift’s much-anticipated 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, has inspired this week’s episode of Unexpected Elements.

First up, we hear how a Brazilian songbird courts its mate as part of a boyband. We then find out about... more

This week marks 200 years since the first steam train pulled passengers over 26 miles of north-east England’s countryside, and started a revolution. Jump on board for show filled with train tales.

We explore Mumbai’s lunch delivery system – train ba... 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.

Science In Action
Science In ActionBBC World Service
CrowdScience
CrowdScienceBBC World Service
Discovery
DiscoveryBBC World Service

Recent Guests

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
Christian Wollmer
Transport commentator and author
Episode: Two-hundred years of trains
Dr. Sean Kingsley
Marine archaeologist and editor of WreckWatch magazine
WreckWatch
Episode: Pirate science ahoy!
Loren Taylor
Ecologist with the Beaver Institute
Beaver Institute
Episode: Some dam awesome science
Dr. Edward Hurme
Researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour
Max Planck Institute
Episode: Where do beaches come from?
Dr. Ken Carter
Professor of Psychology at Emory University and author of the book Buzz! Inside the Minds of Thrillseekers, Daredevils and Adrenaline Junkies
Emory University
Episode: Mountains of overtourism
Professor James Cutler
Professor from the University of Michigan's Department of Aerospace Engineering
University of Michigan
Episode: Why do we follow trends?

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
    Australia2 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 Kingdom3 months ago
  • Perfect!!

    Not to quick!!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Tobr13
    Italy8 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 Kingdom9 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
#177
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#68
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#104
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#105
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#220
Germany/Science
Apple Podcasts
#244
France/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Two-hundred years of trains
Q: How do they make their trains so reliable and efficient, and could other countries learn from Japan and Switzerland?
The reliability comes from a purpose-built line for high-speed trains, along with a disciplined culture that prioritizes punctuality.
Science inspired by Taylor Swift
Q: Do fish have vocal chords?
No, fish do not have vocal chords but they use various mechanisms such as stridulation and sounds produced by their swim bladder to communicate.
Pirate science ahoy!
Q: Were there female pirate captains?
Yes, history records female pirate captains such as Cheng Xi.
Pirate science ahoy!
Q: Did pirates have parrots?
Yes, some pirates did keep parrots as they were found in tropical regions.

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?

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. Science In Action
2. CrowdScience
3. BBC Inside Science
4. Discovery
5. The Life Scientific

How many episodes of Unexpected Elements are there?

Unexpected Elements launched 13 years ago and published 296 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. Dr. Matt Caplan
2. Professor Troy Magney
3. Jessamyn Abel
4. Christian Wollmer
5. Dr. Sean Kingsley
6. Loren Taylor
7. Dr. Edward Hurme
8. Dr. Ken Carter

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