by BBC World Service
<p>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.</p>
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Publishing Since
5/26/2019
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April 18, 2025
<p>This week is the Christian celebration of Easter, which sent the Unexpected Elements team scrambling for egg-related stories. </p><p>First up, we find out about the rise of a vegan egg substitute. </p><p>Next, we discover how to cook the perfect boiled egg, according to science. </p><p>We then turn our attention to climate change, and find out how it is affecting the breeding patterns and nesting behaviour of sea turtles. </p><p>Plus, we are joined by Dr Luis Welbanks, who tells us about a nearby exoplanet that reeks of rotten eggs. </p><p>Finally, we delve into the science behind IVF. </p><p>All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements. Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Chhavi Sachdev and Sandy Ong Producer: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, with Debbie Kilbride, Robbie Wojciechowski and William Hornbrook</p>
April 11, 2025
<p>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! </p><p>We hear about how humans have been using the sky to navigate for millennia, and we learn about how relying on GPS may be impacting our memory ability. </p><p>And while humans use maps to get around, how do animals know where to go on their long migrations? To find the answer, we speak to Dr Kayla Goforth at Texas A&M University who studies exactly how sea turtles and monarch butterflies innately know how to navigate the world around them. </p><p>We also learn why polar bears keep themselves ice-free, and we hear old records of the first men to reach the North Pole. </p><p>All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements. </p><p>Presenter: Caroline Steel, with Andrada Fiscutean and Phillys Mwatee Producer: Imaan Moin, with Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, Noa Dowling and William Hornbrook</p>
April 4, 2025
<p>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. </p><p>We don’t play games when it comes to rats, but we know someone who does. Dr Michael Brecht from the Humboldt University of Berlin tells us how he played hide-and-seek with lab rats and what that tells us about the behaviour of play. </p><p>On the topic of ‘rat’ behaviour, we are joined by Dr Zach Berry from the University of Southern California to talk about the psychology behind ratting people out in the workplace, testing the loyalty and morals of the Unexpected Elements team. </p><p>And speaking of rats in the workplace… we hear a first-hand report on whether African giant pouched rats might just be better staff members than humans when it comes to detecting tuberculosis at APOPO labs. </p><p>All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements. </p><p>Presenter: Anand Jagatia, with Tristan Ahtone and Christine Yohannes Producer: Imaan Moin, with Debbie Kilbride, Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, Noa Dowling, Harrison Lewis and Sophie Ormiston. Studio Manager: Cath McGhee</p>
BBC World Service
BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 4
BBC World Service
BBC World Service
BBC Radio 4
The Guardian
Science Magazine
New Scientist
Springer Nature Limited
BBC Radio 4
BBC World Service
BBC World Service
Dr Chris Smith
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