How does biometric data work?
Unexpected Elements
BBC
4.4 • 565 Ratings
🗓️ 24 October 2025
⏱️ 50 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Europe has a new entry/exit system based on biometric data. But what exactly is the science behind biometric data, how can we ensure it’s used responsibly, and can it be cracked?
We also look at how some animals use dung as biometric data with Dr. Adrian Shrader, how your walk can be used to ID you from Professor Mark Nixon, and why gold has its own special measurement. All that plus many more Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton Producers: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins with Lucy Davies and Robbie Wojciechowski
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, Radio Podcasts. |
| 0:05.6 | Oh, hello. You have chosen a BBC podcast, but before you listen to it, we thought you might like our podcast too. |
| 0:12.1 | You might. You might. It is called Sightraught with me Nick Grimshaw. |
| 0:15.2 | And me, Annie Mack. And we talk about the week in music. |
| 0:18.2 | All the news, all the cultural happenings in the UK and beyond. |
| 0:22.2 | And great guests. |
| 0:23.3 | And it's on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:24.7 | Yes, where you can also enjoy lots of playlists, music mixes and live radio. |
| 0:29.9 | Everything from my six music breakfast show to Radio 3 Unwind. |
| 0:34.5 | But obviously start with our podcast, sidetrack. |
| 0:36.3 | Obviously. |
| 0:36.7 | Obviously. |
| 0:38.2 | So if you like music, listen on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:44.3 | So this week, my little finger started aching. |
| 0:48.4 | And it's a small symptom of a bigger problem. |
| 0:52.1 | A quick check with the internet reveals I may be suffering with smartphone users pinky, |
| 0:58.2 | which depending on which website you check, |
| 1:00.8 | is either the ache from using your little finger to support your mobile phone while scrolling, |
| 1:06.1 | or one of those internet myths, which is actually nothing at all. |
| 1:10.2 | It's definitely there, though, |
| 1:12.4 | this small, nagging discomfort in the hand that holds my phone, |
| 1:16.4 | a constant reminder that my life is probably more online than is good for me. |
... |
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