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Unexpected Elements Episodes

  1.

    Is everyone accounted for?

    India undertaking the world’s largest ever census has us exploring population science.

  2. Putting science on the map

    China’s undersea mapping project has us scanning the deep for map-tastic science.

  3. A bumper edition

    Colliding Japanese pedestrians has us exploring some bumpy science.

  4. In the name of science

    Katy Perry vs Katie Perry, a trademark war has us exploring the science of names

  5. Out for blood

    Oscar favourite Sinners has us sinking our teeth into some vampire-inspired science

  6. The colour of science

    When did the world really burst into colour?

  7. A sweet treat

    A dip in global cocoa prices has us wondering about chocolate science.

  8. Seeing double

    A pair of twins on trial for murder has us wondering about all things identical.

  9. Are you lucky?

    The formula behind how lucky you are – spoiler, it isn’t just down to chance

  10. Let the games begin

    How did one extra stitch cause a ski jumping scandal? -- Physics.

  11. Are you still with us?

    China’s viral app has us contemplating the science of connection.

  12. Banging the science drum

    The world's most unlikely drumming duo has us banging the drum for some rhythmic science.

  13. Science down under

    The Unexpected Elements team takes a trip down under to discover some Australian science.

  14. Science of the future

    Exciting developments in science, in cervical cancer, xenotransplantation, fusion energy

  15. An episode inspired by our listeners

    In this special programme, we revisit our listeners’ favourite topics and then dig deeper

  16. The gift of science

    This Boxing Day and holiday season, our present to you is the science of gifts.

  17. Why are we sad when television series end?

    The end of Australian soap opera Neighbours has us looking at the science of being sad

  18. Chicken, with a side order of science

    Japan’s love for fried chicken at Christmas gets us digging into chicken’s origins.

  19. Some bear-y interesting space science

    A teddy lost in space has got us seeking stories about space, bears and getting lost!

  20. The unexpected science behind Klimt's artwork

    A record-breaking painting leads us to microbes, spiders, gold and cave art.

  21. Some Beautiful Science

    The Miss Universe pageant final has us examining the science of beauty

  22. A keg of beer-based science

    Inspired by the opening of a 150-year-old bottle of ale, we pore over beer-based stories

  23. A storm of science

    Hurricane Melissa has us thinking about the science of storms

  24. A science heist

    The Louvre jewel theft has us inspecting heists and crime scenes in science.

  25. How does biometric data work?

    Europe’s new entry/exit system has us looking at the science behind biometric data.

  26. Why are gold prices so high?

    Record-high gold prices have us searching for science nuggets

  27. The strongest stuff in the Universe

    The Unexpected Elements team are flexing their muscles and tackling all things strong.

  28. Science inspired by Taylor Swift

    Taylor Swift’s new album The Life of a Showgirl inspires this week’s episode.

  29. Two-hundred years of trains

    The anniversary of the first passenger steam train has us examining the science of trains

  30. Pirate science ahoy!

    For International Talk Like a Pirate Day, we set anchor on some swashbuckling science.

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