Where do beaches come from?
Unexpected Elements
BBC
4.4 • 565 Ratings
🗓️ 29 August 2025
⏱️ 50 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
It’s August, and in the northern hemisphere, many people are hitting the beach to escape the summer heat. And that inspired us to investigate bucketloads of beach-based science.
First up, we find out about the forces that build and shape the seaside.
Next, we discover that the waves from the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption reached the atmosphere.
Speaking of waves, we’re joined by Dr Edward Hurme from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour, who tells us about his research into surfing bats.
And why are beaches disappearing?
All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Tristan Ahtone and Phillys Mwatee Producers: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, with Imaan Moin, Robbie Wojciechowski and Lucy Davies
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 like |
| 0:05.0 | our podcast too. You might. You might. It is called Sightracked with me, Nick Grimshaw. And me, |
| 0:09.7 | Annie Mack. And we talk about the week in music. All the news, all the cultural happenings in the |
| 0:15.2 | UK and beyond. And great guests. And it's on BBC Sounds. Yes, where you can 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, |
| 0:28.9 | start with our podcast sidetrack. Obviously. Obviously. So if you like music, listen on BBC |
| 0:33.7 | Sounds. So this week, I may have picked up a stranger at the beach. |
| 0:42.2 | A couple of days ago, I went to see an optician to see if I'd scratched my eyeball. |
| 0:47.2 | It was really gritty and sore. |
| 0:49.8 | She had a look and referred me to the eye hospital where they also had a look and took a sample, |
| 0:56.2 | all because I said that at the weekend I'd been swimming in the sea. |
| 1:01.0 | I wore contact lenses to do so and apparently they can provide a temporary shelter for little amoeba |
| 1:07.0 | to help these tiny critters set up home on your eyeball. |
| 1:11.5 | I'm still waiting for the test to come back, |
| 1:14.4 | but who knew that the seaside holds an extra level of danger |
| 1:18.2 | to adds to the jellyfish, sharks and sunburn? |
| 1:22.9 | I'm Marnie Chesterton from the BBC World Service. |
| 1:25.8 | This is unexpected elements. |
| 1:41.7 | This show is a conversation, usually with three of us science broadcasters dotted around the world, |
| 1:48.5 | possibly added to buy some unwelcome amoeba this week. |
| 1:53.0 | But joining me in Helsinki, Finland is Tristan Arton. Hello. |
| 1:57.7 | Hi, on day, on day, and bon. Nice to hear you. |
... |
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