How dust affects the world

Unexpected Elements

BBC

Science

4.4 • 565 Ratings

🗓️ 18 July 2025

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week, a new report into the dangers that sand and dust storms pose to the world's health and economy has inspired us to delve in the science of dust.

First, we look at the report by the World Meteorological Organisation and hear about what can be done to mitigate the dangers of dust.

We also find out the surprising way in which the Sahara is keeping the Amazon rainforest well-fed, and Derek Fabel from the University of Glasgow tells us how dust can help us to determine the age of glaciers.

Plus, the dusty maths that took 15 years to solve, and the musician who swapped jazz for space dust.

All that, and many more Unexpected Elements.

Presenter: Caroline Steel Producers: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins with Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, Minnie Harrop, Lucy Davies, and Robbie Wojciechowski

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Oh, hello. You have chosen a BBC podcast, but before you listen to it, we thought you might
0:04.7	like our podcast too. You might. You might. It is called Sightracked with me, Nick Grimshaw.
0:09.2	And me, Annie Mack. And we talk about the week in music. All the news, all the cultural
0:14.0	happenings in the UK and beyond. And great guests. And it's on BBC Sounds. Yes, where you can
0:19.7	also enjoy lots of playlists, music mixes and
0:22.6	live radio. Everything from my six music breakfast show to Radio 3 Unwind. But obviously start with
0:29.3	our podcast, sidetrack. Obviously. Obviously. So if you like music, listen on BBC Sounds.
0:37.3	Last week, my friend and fellow presenter, Marnie and I went for a swim in the River Thames
0:42.6	in London, specifically in Greenland Dock, which is named after the whaling ships that once
0:48.1	visited there for repairs and blubber processing. These days, there's less whale carcass
0:53.7	boiling and more sailing,
0:55.4	paddleboarding and open water swimming. It was a warm evening and the water looked incredibly
1:01.2	inviting. Marnie eased herself in elegantly via some steps. I, perhaps too enthusiastically,
1:07.9	launched myself in headfirst and landed with a mouth full of river water.
1:13.9	Despite its officially excellent quality, I spent the rest of the swim with my mouth firmly shut.
1:20.7	Let's just say it doesn't taste quite as good as it tests.
1:24.3	I'm Caroline Steele from the BBC World Service. This is unexpected elements.
1:42.6	As always, I'm joined by a panel of international journalists.
1:47.1	In Mumbai, India, we have Chavi Satchev. Welcome Chavi.
1:50.4	Hello, Gemiti, Chalichi.
1:53.2	And in Johannesburg, South Africa, we have Candice Bailey. Hi, Candice.
1:57.3	Hey, Caroline. Hi, Juhumura.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.