Science of the future
Unexpected Elements
BBC
4.4 • 565 Ratings
🗓️ 9 January 2026
⏱️ 50 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
We take a look at some exciting science of the near future. First, the latest developments in animal-to-human organ transplants and the ambitious goals of eliminating cervical cancer around the world.
We are then joined by plasma physicist Dr Fatima Ebrahimi from the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, who breaks down the mysteries behind nuclear fusion energy and how ambitious scientists are trying to channel the power of the Sun on Earth, in the hope of creating a massive source of clean energy.
Next, we investigate what blue-light-blocking glasses can do and consider what future scientists will think of the fossils of our civilisation!
Presenter: Caroline Steel, with Phillys Mwatee and Edd Gent Producer: Imaan Moin
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts. |
| 0:07.0 | In 2019, we began investigating the disappearance of Dr. Ruzha Ignatva. |
| 0:14.0 | I believe we are a very special network. |
| 0:16.0 | A scammer who stole billions from investors around the world. |
| 0:21.4 | She's on the FBI's 10 most wanted list. |
| 0:24.5 | And now we have some unmissable updates. |
| 0:27.8 | She has money and when you have money, you have power. |
| 0:30.6 | Join me, Jamie Bartlett, as the hunt for the missing crypto queen continues. |
| 0:35.5 | Listen first on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:42.2 | Thank you. This in Crypto Queen continues. Listen first on BBC Sounds. So recently, I submerged my guitar in a tank of water. Seriously, I was trying to answer a question from a seven-year-old world service listener called Cornelius. |
| 0:54.6 | He wants to know, can you play a guitar underwater? |
| 0:58.8 | So to stop him from dunking his dad's guitar in the bath, |
| 1:02.4 | I dutifully bought a cheap second-hand one, headed to Orhus in Denmark, |
| 1:06.9 | a meta-band called Aquasonic. |
| 1:09.3 | They perform entirely underwater in a big tank which they kindly let me borrow. |
| 1:15.4 | I climbed in, guitar in hand, ready to find out what music sounds like beneath the surface. |
| 1:22.0 | I plucked a string. And nothing. No note, just a quiet tapping sound. Playing a chord sounded a bit like running my fingers along a radiator. So no, you can't really play a guitar underwater. I'm Caroline Steele from the BBC World Service, this is unexpected elements. |
| 2:04.7 | I've swapped the tank for a warm and dry studio where I'm joined by a lovely team of science journalists. In Nairobi, Kenya, we have Phyllis Mwati. Welcome, Phyllis. |
| 2:09.9 | As Santa Caroline Jambu. And joining us from Bengaluru, India, we've got Ed Gent. Thanks for joining us, Ed. |
| 2:18.5 | Namasara. |
| 2:23.0 | Ed, quick question. Are you surprised that you can't really play a guitar underwater? |
| 2:29.4 | No, not particularly. I'm more surprised that anyone would ask the question. |
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