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Unexpected Elements

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes308Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Artwork for Unexpected Elements

Latest Episodes

We take a look at some exciting science of the near future. First, the latest developments in animal-to-human organ transplants and the ambitious goals of eliminating cervical cancer around the world.

We are then joined by plasma physicist Dr Fatima... more

We revisit our listeners’ favourite topics and dig deeper in this special programme.

First, we hear from some of our insomniac listeners and explore how we fall asleep with neuroscientist Dr Ada Eban-Rothschild from the University of Michigan.

Next... more

This Boxing Day and holiday season, our present to you is the science of gifts.

First, we investigate the health benefits of donating blood, and find out about the predator sharing a feast of food in the Arctic.

We’re then joined in the studio by p... more

The end of Australian soap opera Neighbours has us wondering why a television series ending makes us sad. Also, what does science say about how to engage with screens while still protecting your vision?

Also on the show, visual ecologist Daniel Hanl... more

Key Facts

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Contact Information
Podcast Host
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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The Naked Scientists PodcastThe Naked Scientists

Recent Guests

Ada Eban-Rothschild
Expert from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
Episode: An episode inspired by our listeners
Alyssa Nolden
Assistant professor in the food science department
University of Massachusetts in Amherst
Episode: An episode inspired by our listeners
Uri Maos
Expert from Chapman University
Chapman University
Episode: An episode inspired by our listeners
Alyn Euritt
Podcast researcher, wrote a book on podcast connections
Episode: An episode inspired by our listeners
Daniel Hanley
A biologist from George Mason University studying visual perception in animals, particularly birds.
George Mason University
Episode: Why are we sad when television series end?
Dr. Jingmai O'Connor
Associate Curator of Fossil Reptiles at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago
Field Museum of Natural History
Episode: Chicken, with a side order of science
Justin Gregg
Adjunct professor on animal behaviour and cognition
St. Francis Xavier University
Episode: Some bear-y interesting space science
Dr Siyakha Mguni
An archaeologist and senior lecturer at the Michaelis School of Fine Art at the University of Cape Town, specializing in the study and preservation of rock art.
University of Cape Town
Episode: The unexpected science behind Klimt's artwork
Fig O'Reilly
Miss Universe Ireland 2019, data analyst, and science communicator
Not specified
Episode: Some Beautiful Science

Host

Marnie Chesterton
Host from the BBC World Service

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
    Australia4 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 Kingdom6 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
  • 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.

Feedback includes concerns about sound quality in episodes, indicating that production value is an area for improvement.
Listeners appreciate the blend of humor and depth in the content, making science accessible and engaging for a wide audience.
Some listeners feel the narratives can be overly focused on cultural issues, potentially alienating parts of the audience who are looking for pure scientific discussions.
Reviews indicate a good mix between entertaining discussions and educational content, which keeps audiences coming back for more.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#123
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#37
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#63
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#67
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#99
Italy/Science
Apple Podcasts
#23
Singapore/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The gift of science
Q: Do we inherit our sneezes?
It's possible to inherit how you sneeze, partially because of your anatomy and also because it's a habit learned from those around you.
The gift of science
Q: So why do all of our sneezes sound so different?
A lot of it has to do with our anatomy. Everybody's nasal passages are very different which affects the sound of the sneeze.
Chicken, with a side order of science
Q: How have chickens been domesticated, and what role does rice play in this process?
Chickens were likely attracted to rice fields, leading to their domestication, as studies have shown that the earliest chickens appeared in regions where rice was cultivated.
Chicken, with a side order of science
Q: What are your thoughts on fried chicken for Christmas?
Fried chicken is increasingly popular in Japan as a Christmas tradition, and many find it delicious and a noteworthy alternative to traditional holiday meals.
A keg of beer-based science
Q: Can the ancient beer still taste good after 150 years?
Yes, since it's high in alcohol and sugar, both natural preservatives, it likely maintains its quality.

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?

Focused on the rich intersections between science and our everyday experiences, the content explores a variety of unexpected topics that educate and entertain. Episodes engage with unique themes, such as the microbiological influences on art, the intricacies of beauty in social contexts, and the environmental consequences of popular trends. Noteworthy discussions on climate change and advanced technologies highlight the show's aim to bridge understanding and curiosity, offering listeners a comprehensive view of scientific narratives that are often overlooked. Overall, it is likely to appeal to those who appreciate a fresh perspective on scientific discoveries and their implications for society.

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. 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 308 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. Ada Eban-Rothschild
2. Alyssa Nolden
3. Uri Maos
4. Alyn Euritt
5. Daniel Hanley
6. Dr. Jingmai O'Connor
7. Justin Gregg
8. Dr Siyakha Mguni

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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