Unexpected Elements Episodes Episode guide
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21/08/2026 GMT
The news you know, the science you don't.
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14/08/2026 GMT
The news you know, the science you don't.
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07/08/2026 GMT
The news you know, the science you don't.
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Unexpected Elements
The news you know, the science you don't.
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Unexpected Elements
The news you know, the science you don't.
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A scientific odyssey
A new film adaptation of the Greek epic poem sends us on our own unexpected journey (R)
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Everyone needs a hero
A Mexican vigilante nicknamed Batman has us exploring superhero science.
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Stuck in a cycle
The removal of sales tax on period products in Pakistan has us talking biological cycles.
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Dividing lines
A shifting border line in South Korea has us investigating all things boundaries.
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Anyone for chips?
The rising cost of microchips has the team investigating chips of all descriptions.
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The beautiful game
The Fifa Men’s World Cup has the Unexpected Elements team exploring all things football
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Science bears fruit
A shortage of India’s prized ‘king of mangoes’ has us exploring some fruity science.
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Celebrating science on Africa Day
From continental shifts to sky mountain, we explore the science across Africa
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Unexpected enhancements
From cocaine salmon to peptides we look at performance enhancement
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Hantavirus outbreak and what’s in a name
An outbreak of hantavirus has us looking at the unexpected science around the disease.
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One hundred years of Sir David Attenborough
Sir David turns 100, but what’s the science behind achieving this significant birthday?
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The soaring price of condoms
The strait of Hormuz blockade raises condom costs, and we explore the science of safe sex
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Chernobyl: 40 years later
Forty years after the Chernobyl disaster, we look at radiation science.
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The ribbiting science of frogs
A visa being revoked over frog embryos has us diving into all things amphibian
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Is everyone accounted for?
India undertaking the world’s largest ever census has us exploring population science.
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Putting science on the map
China’s undersea mapping project has us scanning the deep for map-tastic science.
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A bumper edition
Colliding Japanese pedestrians has us exploring some bumpy science.
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In the name of science
Katy Perry vs Katie Perry, a trademark war has us exploring the science of names
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Out for blood
Oscar favourite Sinners has us sinking our teeth into some vampire-inspired science
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The colour of science
When did the world really burst into colour?
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A sweet treat
A dip in global cocoa prices has us wondering about chocolate science.
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Seeing double
A pair of twins on trial for murder has us wondering about all things identical.
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Are you lucky?
The formula behind how lucky you are – spoiler, it isn’t just down to chance
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Let the games begin
How did one extra stitch cause a ski jumping scandal? -- Physics.
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Are you still with us?
China’s viral app has us contemplating the science of connection.
