Banging the science drum

Unexpected Elements

BBC

Science

4.4 • 565 Ratings

🗓️ 23 January 2026

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

After the leaders of Japan and South Korea ended their summit with the two participating in a drumming duet, we’re marching to the beat of our own drum and exploring some rhythmic science.

First, we look at nature’s drummer, the woodpecker, and why their pecking doesn’t give them a concussion. We also discuss how the rhythm of your brain waves impacts your sense of ownership over your own body.

Then, we’re joined by Daniel Levitin, author of Music as Medicine, who tells us all about using rhythm in the treatment of neurological conditions.

Next, we hear about a new claim to the title of the world’s oldest computer, and how flying affects your body’s natural rhythms.

All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.

Presenter: Anand Jagatia, with Sandy Ong and Edd Gent Producers: Sophie Ormiston, with Ella Hubber, Lucy Davies and Imy Harper

Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.
0:06.1	Can I just say?
0:07.6	You're about to listen to a BBC podcast.
0:10.1	It's such a wonderful listen.
0:11.7	So nice.
0:12.5	There are loads more like it on BBC Sounds.
0:14.8	Different paces, different heights, the roof is buckling.
0:17.9	Where you can also listen to live sports commentary.
0:20.2	It's right foot goes for goal.
0:21.6	And then enjoy even more podcasts full of analysis and reaction to the big stories.
0:27.7	The stat that is astonishing is they ended with the lowest amount of possession.
0:31.2	And she's had to live with that.
0:32.8	So if you love sport, a passion, it's almost like a religion.
0:35.8	Listen on BBC Sounds.
0:37.8	Sort of expecting that every week now.
0:43.5	This week I spent one of the coldest, wettest and gloomiest days of the year so far,
0:49.3	sitting on a fallen tree in the middle of a woodland.
0:52.3	And it was glorious.
0:56.2	Although I should say that the tree trunk had been carved into a bench and the bench was inside a wood-fired sauna cabin, which kept us
1:02.0	very, very toasty. Armed with a wheelbarrow full of logs, we stoked the roaring fire while
1:07.6	taking in views of the forest outside, and for the next few hours, we fell into an almost addictive rhythm,
1:14.3	cooking ourselves for as long as we could, before jumping into an icy stream to cool off.
	...

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