The Best of Unexpected Elements
Unexpected Elements
BBC
4.4 • 567 Ratings
🗓️ 28 December 2023
⏱️ 50 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Usually Unexpected Elements looks at the science behind the news, but this week Marnie Chesterton and Caroline Steel are looking back at some of the best bits from our first few months.
We’ve got the best from our team of panellists across the globe, including what’s going on in your brain when you speak more than one language, the horrific mating ritual of the bedbug and the science behind our panellist Camilla’s terrible haircut decision.
We look back at some of the brilliant scientists we’ve spoken to, with subjects as diverse as whale song, how the entire universe was once the size of a marble, why an archaeologist hasn’t run off with all the gold he’s found and how the jewel wasp turn a cockroach into a zombie.
We have ‘Under the Radar’ stories about power outages in South Africa, human ancestors from China, bringing Rhinos back to life in Kenya and how to keep everyone safe from Polar Bears in a place where there’s no phone signal.
We reflect on our attempts to find the Coolest Science in the World, and whether it’s possible to pit a hurricane machine against an alternative to antibiotics.
And it wouldn’t be a ‘best of’ show without a digest of all the fruit chat from throughout the year.
All that plus eating glue for science, our best (or worst?) puns and some singing cows.
Presented by Marnie Chesterton & Caroline Steel Produced by Ben Motley, with Tom Bonnett
Transcript
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| 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. |
| 0:21.7 | She has money and when you have money, you have power. |
| 0:24.6 | Join me, Jamie Bartlett, as the hunt for the missing crypto queen continues. |
| 0:29.5 | Listen first on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:32.7 | Bring the world closer with podcasts from the BBC World Service. |
| 0:37.7 | Unmissible stories from around the globe. |
| 0:40.1 | Wow. |
| 0:41.1 | Search for the documentary, Lives Less Ordinary, and Amazing Sports Stories, |
| 0:46.6 | wherever you get your BBC podcasts. |
| 0:48.9 | You better be ready because we want to bring it to you. |
| 0:55.4 | This week I did a big clear out of my bedroom and found an old box of birthday cards. |
| 1:00.7 | Like most people, I imagine, I throw away my cards shortly after the event. |
| 1:05.6 | But since I was 12, I've kept hold of one card each year to kind of represent that time in my life. And there's |
| 1:13.5 | a real mixed bag. I have the first birthday card my partner ever gave me. I have one my parents |
| 1:18.8 | sent me when I couldn't see them during lockdown. And I have one from my best friend from when |
| 1:23.3 | I turned 16. And she forgot to write anything inside it. I'm Caroline Steele. And I'm Marnie |
| 1:29.8 | Chasterton from the BBC World Service. This is unexpected elements. As you might have noticed, we've got both Caroline and me in the studio together. |
| 1:52.2 | A first, very exciting. |
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