Were my atoms once your atoms?
CrowdScience
BBC
4.8 • 1K Ratings
🗓️ 12 June 2020
⏱️ 37 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
We were bowled over by a question from one CrowdScience listener in Australia wants to know how likely it is that the atoms in his body have been used in someone else’s body? We all like to think we are unique; no one is quite like us. But is that really true?
Presenter Marnie Chesterton tackles Moshe’s question with help from every area of science. From geologists helping us work out how many atoms are on the Earth’s surface to biologists helping us work out how many atoms each body uses. Perhaps we are much less special than we think.
Presented by Marnie Chesterton. Produced by Caroline Steel for the BBC World Service. (Photo:
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix, the Science of |
| 0:07.0 | Happiness Podcast. |
| 0:08.0 | For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want |
| 0:14.4 | to share that science with you. |
| 0:16.1 | And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley. |
| 0:19.4 | I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that |
| 0:25.4 | calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:29.7 | After an explosion in space, now it's the climax of the rescue mission. |
| 0:36.0 | Can the astronauts be brought home safely? |
| 0:40.0 | What could we have missed? |
| 0:42.0 | This can't be happening. |
| 0:44.0 | You could hear a pen drop. |
| 0:50.0 | 13 minutes to the moon from the BBC World Service, the final episode. |
| 0:56.0 | Available now. |
| 0:59.0 | Welcome to Crowd Science on the BBC World Service. I'm Marnie Chesterton and |
| 1:07.2 | welcome to the sound of a human consuming some tasty atoms. |
| 1:25.0 | So many good atoms. That's Mocha, today's crowd science listener. Mocha is gaining some atoms by tucking into a packet of crisps. |
| 1:32.0 | And yet more atoms from his morning coffee. |
| 1:35.1 | To further replenish my atoms I will now have my favourite beverage, a flat white. |
| 1:41.5 | I am a coffee snob with certificates. |
| 1:45.0 | First it's the grinding of the beans. Now we all go. One cup of flat white, full of atoms. |
| 2:05.0 | Very yummy indeed. |
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