Unexpected Elements

Marnie Chesterton, Caroline Steel

Booking Overview

This is a science-focused current-affairs magazine show that uses external interviews with researchers, academics, and subject-matter experts to explain unusual scientific stories and global connections. Credible pitches include scientists, conservationists, university researchers, and experts with accessible insights into biology, ecology, psychology, climate, or related fields; booking difficulty is medium because the show seeks authoritative specialists but does not appear limited to highly prominent public figures.

Metrics

Episodes: 339

Frequency: Weekly

Rating: 4.4/5.0

Estimated listeners: 10k-100k

Gender skew: Neutral

Location: USA

Contact Information

Publicly listed emails

podcast.support@bbc.co.uk

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Host

Marnie Chesterton - Science journalist and broadcaster.

Caroline Steel - Science presenter and broadcaster.

Booking Intelligence

Booking Requirements

medium

Typical Credentials:

Researchers, university academics, conservationists, and other subject-matter experts with direct expertise in a distinctive scientific topic and the ability to explain it engagingly to a broad audience.

Required Achievements:

Published or ongoing scientific research, University or institutional expertise, Recognized conservation or environmental work

Recent Guest Discussions

Paulo Bittencourt - The Ecological And Scientific Importance Of Trees.

Elizabeth MacDougall-Shackleton - Aggressive Sparrow Vocalizations And What They Reveal About Animal Behavior.

Steve Simpson - Using Sound To Restore Coral Reefs And Help Fish Populations Recover Amid Climate Change.

Rodrigo Medellín - Bat Biology, Conservation, Ecological Myths, And The Role Of Bats In Tequila Production.

Recent Topics

Science, Biology, Ecology, Psychology, Conservation

Episodes

Here's the recent few episodes on

Unexpected Elements

Light entertainment

August 14, 2026

As Europe experiences its first total solar eclipse in almost 30 years this week, Unexpected Elements investigates the surprising science that emerges when sunlight is blocked out. We travel to the forests of Italy, where we investigate whether trees can communicate their eclipse plans to each other. We learn about an ambitious scientific plan to launch a wall of bubbles the size of Brazil into outer space. And we contemplate whether astronauts will ever need to take rice cookers the moon. Al...

Someone's always watching

August 07, 2026

The UK's Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has found that birdwatching is the second-fastest growing hobby amongst Gen Z with 750,000 of them regularly venturing into the outdoors to spot some of our feathered friends. Inspired by this new appreciation for an old pastime, the Unexpected Elements team are on the lookout for some birdwatching science. First, we watch birds, but did you know they watch us back? We hear how crows don't just hold grudges; they also pass on those grudges to...

Down The Rabbit Hole

July 31, 2026

75 years ago, Walt Disney's Alice in Wonderland hit our screens, welcoming us into a technicolour, topsy-turvy world of eccentric characters – including the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, the Queen of Hearts, the White Rabbit and many more.On Unexpected Elements, we're tumbling down the rabbit hole to uncover the strange and surprising science hidden within the classic story.We’ll find out how bizzarro land of Lewis Carroll's original novel was inspired by the real scientific discoveries of hi...

Publicly listed emails

podcast.support@bbc.co.uk

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