
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


December is a time of celebration, family feuds, and now scientific rivalries. It's also one of the most wasteful months of the year, with festivities in full swing across the globe. No wonder the world is overflowing with rubbish—both literal and metaphorical!
Unexpected Elements dives headfirst into the scientific bin to wallow in waste. Could worms be the unexpected heroes of our plastic pollution crisis? How much garbage have we jettisoned into space? And why is part of our very own genome called "junk DNA"?
But it’s not all rubbish, we’re also talking trash. While celebrations can bring people together, spending too much time with loved ones can lead to tense moments. Rafi Kohan shares expert tips on how to outsmart your opponent during a heated board game debate.
And don’t think trash talk is limited to sports fields. The world of science has its share of drama, too. We’ll explore some of history’s most scandalous squabbles with scientists behaving badly.
Come waste an hour with us on Unexpected Elements!
Presenter: Caroline Steel, with Chhavi Sachdev and Candice Bailey
By BBC World Service4.5
333333 ratings
December is a time of celebration, family feuds, and now scientific rivalries. It's also one of the most wasteful months of the year, with festivities in full swing across the globe. No wonder the world is overflowing with rubbish—both literal and metaphorical!
Unexpected Elements dives headfirst into the scientific bin to wallow in waste. Could worms be the unexpected heroes of our plastic pollution crisis? How much garbage have we jettisoned into space? And why is part of our very own genome called "junk DNA"?
But it’s not all rubbish, we’re also talking trash. While celebrations can bring people together, spending too much time with loved ones can lead to tense moments. Rafi Kohan shares expert tips on how to outsmart your opponent during a heated board game debate.
And don’t think trash talk is limited to sports fields. The world of science has its share of drama, too. We’ll explore some of history’s most scandalous squabbles with scientists behaving badly.
Come waste an hour with us on Unexpected Elements!
Presenter: Caroline Steel, with Chhavi Sachdev and Candice Bailey

7,701 Listeners

883 Listeners

1,046 Listeners

5,431 Listeners

1,804 Listeners

1,786 Listeners

1,072 Listeners

1,931 Listeners

614 Listeners

764 Listeners

76 Listeners

959 Listeners

433 Listeners

416 Listeners

826 Listeners

827 Listeners

737 Listeners

246 Listeners

351 Listeners

480 Listeners

3,192 Listeners

736 Listeners

111 Listeners

1,619 Listeners