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Unexpected Elements

Seeing double

Unexpected Elements

BBC

Science

4.4565 Ratings

🗓️ 20 February 2026

⏱️ 50 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Identical twins on trial for murder in France have left forensic experts unable to answer the question of which one pulled the gun’s trigger. With both having the same DNA, it got the Unexpected Elements team thinking, when do identical twins cease to be identical?

First, we look at how scientists have been confronting the possibility that they might soon be able to create an evil twin to life itself - mirror life. Also, we hear why the ‘Tatooine planets’ which orbit twin stars are so rare in our galaxy.

We’re then joined by professor of developmental psychology Nancy Segal, who explains why prosecutors should be able to distinguish between the French twins on trial. Plus, we hear how African farmers are struggling with a lack of data on pre-harvest crop loss.

And finally, why gorse flowers smell like pina coladas, and how the use of DNA evidence in court can still come down to interpretation. That’s all on this week’s Unexpected Elements.

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Kai Kupferschmidt and Michael Kaloki Producers: Ella Hubber, with Lucy Davies, Sophie Ormiston, Imy Harper and Tim Dodd

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.

0:44.0

Back in the 1980s, the chance of giving birth to twins was one in 53.

0:50.2

By the 2020s, it was up a third, one in 42 births.

0:55.9

This incredible rise was, in part, thanks to fertility treatments,

1:00.3

but also because women were having children later.

1:04.4

When my mother decided to have just one more,

1:07.8

she was not pleased that being pregnant at the grand old age of 38 qualified her as a so-called

1:14.0

geriatric mother. Sure, it came with a few extra risks, but it also came with a few bonuses. Yep,

...

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