This week, Enigmacursor mollyborthwickae has been unveiled at London's Natural History Museum. This newly described herbivorous dinosaur has inspired us to take a stomp through the science of ancient animals, mass extinctions and fossils.First up, we hear about a shepherd who recently found a South African dinosaur, which has helped shed light on the period between the Triassic and Jurassic. We then take a look at some new theories that suggest the mass extinctions that wiped out ancient creatures may not have been as massive as we thought. But one extinction definitely is currently underway, according to ecologist Professor Dave Goulson. And that’s the mass extinction of insects. Plus, we find out the latest theory of why the Tyrannosaurus rex had such tiny arms, and we meet the rat ancestors that munched on dinosaurs. All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Candice Bailey and Camilla Mota
Producer: Margaret Sessa Hawkins, with Alice Lipscombe-Southwell and Minnie Harrop
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49:29
Some really cool science
This week, the Florida Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers at ice hockey’s Stanley Cup championship, which sent us skating into ice-related science.First up, we hear about an ancient ice skate that’s been unearthed in Prerov, Czech Republic, which sends us pondering about the physics of ice-skating. We then discover why licking a flagpole on a chilly day is a bad idea, before delving into the science of cryopreservation. Next up, we speak to Dr Mark Drinkwater of the European Space Agency, who reveals how satellites can help us monitor and better understand our planet’s melting ice sheets. Plus, what do you do if you want to play ice hockey but you live near the equator? All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Chhavi Sachdev and Sandy Ong
Producer: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, with Margaret Sessa Hawkins and Minnie Harrop
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Defuse and diffuse
World War II bombs were defused in Cologne, Germany, which has inspired us to explore the science of diffusion and defusing!First, we hear how new, artificially intelligent video generators are modelled on diffusion. We also hear about the health impacts of home aroma diffusers and candles. We’re joined by conflict-mediator Gabrielle Rifkind of the Oxford Process, to discuss the psychological stakes behind defusing conflict in wars and at home.We also taste-test the difference between raw and cooked broccoli, learn about in-insect synthesis, and explore an anechoic chamber. All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Caroline Steel, with Tristan Ahtone and Edd Gent
Producer: Imaan Moin, with Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, Minnie Harrop and Debbie Kilbride
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Gaming-inspired science
This week, get ready for a whole loot box of gaming-related stories!First up, we find out about a video game that could give people the power to battle misinformation. We also hear how scientists are putting harbour seals in front of a computer monitor to decipher how they navigate under the water. And Dr Brett Kagan from Cortical Labs joins us down the line to tell us why he taught a clump of brain cells to play the 1970s arcade game Pong. Along the way, we discover what happens when artificial intelligence tries to explain idioms, we learn about a tiny frog named after Bilbo Baggins and try to establish whether or not video games benefit your brain. All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Kai Kupferschmidt and Leonie Joubert
Producer: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, with Margaret Sessa Hawkins, Imaan Moin and Minnie Harrop
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Mission unexpectedly possible
With the new Mission Impossible film playing in cinemas, the Unexpected Elements team is channelling Tom Cruise’s energy to see if scientists can push the boundaries of what is considered ‘impossible.’ First up, we fuse medieval alchemy with particle physics and explore a method to turn lead into gold. We then look at the latest research that uses artificial intelligence to help us humans communicate with animals. We put the spotlight on a favourite trope of science-fiction films – time travel! String theorist Brian Greene of Columbia University explains how going to the past, or back to the future, may or may not be hypothetically possible. We also ponder ancient auroras, whether ants can plan a Hollywood-style heist, and what it takes to understand our consciousness.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Affelia Wibisono and Andrada Fiscutean
Producer: Imaan Moin, with Alice Lipscombe-Southwell
Studio engineer: Mike Mallen
The news you know, the science you don’t. Unexpected Elements looks beyond everyday narratives to discover a goldmine of scientific stories and connections from around the globe. From Afronauts, to why we argue, to a deep dive on animal lifespans: see the world in a new way.
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