Science to make you smile
Unexpected Elements
BBC
4.4 • 566 Ratings
🗓️ 4 October 2024
⏱️ 50 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Did you know the iconic yellow smiley face was first designed in 1963? However, its creator, Harvey Ball, soon worried that the symbol had become over-commercialised. To counter this, he introduced World Smile Day in 1999, celebrated on the first Friday of October, as a way to encourage acts of kindness and spread smiles.
In the spirit of making you smile, the Unexpected Elements team has gathered science stories that bring them joy—each with a twist, of course.
Children across cultures have invented secret languages to confuse their parents—and there's science behind it. The human face can produce 19 different types of smiles. And let’s not forget the Brazilian scientist who not only pioneered species classification but also became a key figure in the country's suffragette movement.
Meanwhile, Marnie Chesterton introduces us to the ever-cheerful Professor Andrea Sella from University College London, whose humour never fails to brighten her day. Together, they explore the role of humour in science and its importance in engaging both audiences and students.
Plus, we’ll dive into the science of vocal fingerprints, meet a man who physically couldn’t smile, and hear about a global update to cyber security regulations that just might make you grin.
Happy Friday!
Presenters: Marnie Chesterton with Andrada Fiscutean and Camilla Mota Producers: Harrison Lewis with Jonathan Blackwell, Elizabeth Barsotti, and Anna Charalambou.
Transcript
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| 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. |
| 0:39.7 | This week, I did a bit of zipping around Europe, which involved crossing a national border |
| 0:45.8 | by sleeper train in the middle of the night. I'd assumed within two European countries |
| 0:51.8 | this wouldn't involve border checks. I assumed wrong. |
| 0:56.4 | I was woken by a loud knock at 4 a.m. Passports, please. A tough-looking man was now in my cabin, |
| 1:03.9 | asking questions like, what are you doing in our country? Why are you coming to Hungary? |
| 1:09.6 | Bleary-eyed, I tried to remember. What was I doing? |
| 1:13.5 | What would I be doing as soon as the train pulled into Budapest? Oh yes, eating a delicious breakfast, |
| 1:20.0 | I responded. His face broke into a broad smile. He recommended the brioche and Palinka Brandy |
| 1:27.1 | and the famous Hungarian wine. |
| 1:29.6 | Drink the tocky and you'll fall in love, he suggested. |
| 1:34.1 | Passport officials aren't known for their welcoming demeanour, but this was one of the best, |
| 1:39.6 | all eased by a 4 a.m. smile. I'm Marnie Chesterton from the BBC World Service. This is |
| 1:46.9 | unexpected elements. And here to put a smile on my face are my global panel of science journalists in Romania. |
| 2:08.4 | Tech journalist Andrade Fisketan, hello. |
| 2:11.2 | Born amarni, nice to talk to you again. |
... |
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