The science of ageing
Unexpected Elements
BBC
4.4 • 565 Ratings
🗓️ 25 July 2025
⏱️ 50 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
This week, Cameroon’s Paul Biya announced his plan to run for an 8th term as president at the grand old age of 92. So, we have elected to investigate the science of ageing.
First, we ask if a 60-year-old brain is as sharp as a 20-year-old one. Then, we find out about parts of the world that boast impressively long life expectancies. Have these places found the secret to longevity, or are they not what they seem?
Next up, we talk to Professor Thomas Boothby from the University of Wyoming about tiny, eight-legged animals called tardigrades, and what they could teach us about living longer.
We also dig into the story behind a recently uncovered ancient Peruvian city, before finding out the science behind so-called ‘old wives’ tales’.
All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Camilla Mota and Phillys Mwatee Producers: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, with Margaret Sessa-Hawkins, Lucy Davies and Robbie Wojciechowski
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 |
| 0:29.2 | with our podcast sidetrack. Obviously. Obviously. So if you like music, listen on BBC |
| 0:33.7 | Sounds. Last weekend, I called to check in on my mother, who turns 75 this Saturday. |
| 0:43.2 | I'm blessed to be part of a large, loving family, so quality and quantity, but it is tricky |
| 0:49.7 | to work out how to make a big spectacle for someone who doesn't want any fuss. |
| 0:55.0 | Mum doesn't want any more things, please, no more belongings to look after, which makes |
| 1:00.1 | buying birthday presents a bit tricky. |
| 1:02.6 | And she's not particularly greedy, unlike me, so I can't buy her delight with a fancy meal |
| 1:08.0 | or chocolates. |
| 1:09.4 | All she seems to want is some time with her children and grandchildren |
| 1:13.5 | in the back garden of her own home, |
| 1:16.2 | which is both great and annoyingly low-key. |
| 1:20.0 | It's like she's mastered contentment, |
| 1:22.5 | to which I'll be adding a load of balloons and a big old cake. |
| 1:26.7 | I'm Marnie Chesterton from the BBC World |
| 1:29.0 | Service. This is Unexpected Elements. |
| 1:52.3 | And this is the show inspired by events in the news, which then inspire a cascade of science stories and then some conversation. |
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