Podcast Episodes

Science inspired by Taylor Swift

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 …

Published on 6 hours ago

Two-hundred years of trains

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 …

Published on 1 week ago

Pirate science ahoy!

For International Talk Like a Pirate Day on 19th September, we dig up a treasure chest full of pirate-inspired science.

First up, we peer down our microscopes at a bacterium that takes its inspiration…

Published on 2 weeks ago

Some dam awesome science

The inauguration of Africa’s largest hydroelectric dam has us looking at how we decide when, where, and even whether to build dams.

But humans aren’t the only ones building dams – Loren Taylor of the …

Published on 3 weeks ago

Punk rock science

A dinosaur with metre-long spikes has been discovered. The species, Spicomellus afer, is from the Jurassic Period and is the oldest example of a group of animals called ankylosaurs.

The scientists be…

Published on 4 weeks ago

Where do beaches come from?

It’s August, and in the northern hemisphere, many people are hitting the beach to escape the summer heat. And that inspired us to investigate bucketloads of beach-based science.

First up, we find out…

Published on 1 month ago

Mountains of overtourism

As Nepal makes 97 peaks free to climb, we look at the science of overtourism – especially on mountains. How do so many visitors affect these environments, and what can be done? Plus, are mountains ca…

Published on 1 month, 1 week ago

Why do we follow trends?

What's got rabbit-like ears, huge eyes, nine teeth and a demonic grin? It’s Labubu! These ugly-cute toys have gone viral online, largely thanks to social media’s trending machine. Their fame was prev…

Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Floods, mangroves and rampaging tractors

This week, floods have hit the global headlines. First up, we delve into the various reasons why floods form.

After learning about the causes of floods, we discover a nature-based solution in the for…

Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Traffic science

This week, a viral video of a robo-traffic-cop in Shanghai has the team contemplating the science of traffic. How do traffic jams with no discernible cause actually form? Does the weather experience …

Published on 2 months ago