Standing on the shoulders of giants
Unexpected Elements
BBC
4.4 • 566 Ratings
🗓️ 21 February 2025
⏱️ 50 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Monty the giant schnauzer won best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. And rather than thinking of all things canine, this week the Unexpected Elements team turn their attention to all things giant.
First, we find out how a giant virus could help keep our planet cool.
Next up, we discover the origins of enormous Greek characters, such as the Titans and the Cyclops. We then find out how giant clams put solar panels to shame.
Plus, we’re joined by Professor Shinobu Ishigaki, director of the Museum of Dinosaur Research at the Okayama University of Science. He tells us about the ginormous footprints he found in the Gobi Desert, and what they could teach us about herbivorous dinosaurs.
That, plus many more Unexpected Elements.
Presenters: Caroline Steel, with Chhavi Sachdev and Camilla Mota. Producers: William Hornbrook, with Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, Debbie Kilbride, Imaan Moin and Noa Dowling.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | In 2019, we began investigating the disappearance of Dr. Ruzha Ignatva. |
| 0:08.0 | I believe we are a very special network. |
| 0:10.0 | A scammer who stole billions from investors around the world. |
| 0:15.0 | She's on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list. |
| 0:18.0 | And now, we have some unmissable updates. She has money and when you have |
| 0:23.0 | money you have power. Join me, Jamie Bartlett, as the hunt for the missing crypto queen continues. |
| 0:29.5 | Listen first on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:34.4 | Last week, I returned from Svalbard, a remote group of islands about halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. |
| 0:42.2 | It's one of the few places in the world where anyone can live. |
| 0:46.2 | You don't need a visa. If you've got a job and a roof over your head, you're in. |
| 0:50.8 | And I have never met such welcoming and trusting people. Residents leave the doors to their homes |
| 0:56.9 | unlocked all the time, and they even leave their car keys in the ignition. Heartwarming, but also |
| 1:04.3 | essential, because it means people can easily escape the giant furry predators they share their |
| 1:09.8 | home with. The polar bears. I'm Caroline |
| 1:13.1 | Steele from the BBC World Service. This is Unexpected Elements. |
| 1:35.5 | And speaking of welcoming people, as always, I'm joined by a panel of international journalists. |
| 1:38.0 | In Mumbai, India, we've got Chavi Satchev. |
| 1:38.6 | Hi, Chavi. |
| 1:40.3 | Hello, of Yongba. |
| 1:43.5 | And in Sao Paulo, Brazil, we have Camilla Mota. |
| 1:44.2 | Hello, Camilla. Oi, Caroline, hello. Camilla Mota. Hello, Camilla. |
| 1:45.7 | Oi, Caroline, hello. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
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.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.