Unexpected Elements

A keg of beer-based science


Listen Later

A 150-year-old bottle of Arctic Ale is being uncapped, which got the team talking about all things related to yeast, beer, and opening things.

First, we hear about a rare condition where the body brews its own alcohol. Next up, we find out that small amounts of alcohol make male fruit flies more attractive.

We’re then joined in the studio by food historian Pen Vogler, who helps us travel back in time to explore beer’s origins.

Next, we discover how air pollution is affecting our brains, and delve into some surprising ways that yeast could help the climate.

All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Chhavi Sachdev and Candice Bailey

Producers: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, with Lucy Davies and Robbie Wojciechowski

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Unexpected ElementsBy BBC World Service

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

336 ratings


More shows like Unexpected Elements

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,669 Listeners

The Archers by BBC Radio 4

The Archers

1,093 Listeners

More or Less by BBC Radio 4

More or Less

891 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,062 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,475 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,801 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,761 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,054 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,080 Listeners

The Naked Scientists Podcast by The Naked Scientists

The Naked Scientists Podcast

603 Listeners

Nature Podcast by Springer Nature Limited

Nature Podcast

764 Listeners

Health Check by BBC World Service

Health Check

90 Listeners

Discovery by BBC World Service

Discovery

973 Listeners

BBC Inside Science by BBC Radio 4

BBC Inside Science

404 Listeners

Science Weekly by The Guardian

Science Weekly

424 Listeners

Science Magazine Podcast by Science Magazine

Science Magazine Podcast

823 Listeners

Curious Cases by BBC Radio 4

Curious Cases

830 Listeners

The Life Scientific by BBC Radio 4

The Life Scientific

238 Listeners

Science In Action by BBC World Service

Science In Action

333 Listeners

CrowdScience by BBC World Service

CrowdScience

475 Listeners

People Fixing the World by BBC World Service

People Fixing the World

247 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,204 Listeners

The world, the universe and us by New Scientist

The world, the universe and us

111 Listeners

The Bomb by BBC World Service

The Bomb

1,034 Listeners