Unexpected Elements

Unexpected Elements

BBC World Service

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.

Categories: Science & Medicine

Listen to the last episode:

We take a look at some exciting science of the near future. First, the latest developments in animal-to-human organ transplants and the ambitious goals of eliminating cervical cancer around the world.

We are then joined by plasma physicist Dr Fatima Ebrahimi from the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, who breaks down the mysteries behind nuclear fusion energy and how ambitious scientists are trying to channel the power of the Sun on Earth, in the hope of creating a massive source of clean energy.

Next, we investigate what blue-light-blocking glasses can do and consider what future scientists will think of the fossils of our civilisation!

Presenter: Caroline Steel, with Phillys Mwatee and Edd Gent Producer: Imaan Moin

Previous episodes

  • 529 - Science of the future 
    Fri, 09 Jan 2026
  • 528 - An episode inspired by our listeners 
    Fri, 02 Jan 2026
  • 527 - The gift of science 
    Fri, 26 Dec 2025
  • 526 - Why are we sad when television series end? 
    Fri, 19 Dec 2025
  • 525 - Chicken, with a side order of science 
    Fri, 12 Dec 2025
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