The only one

As the film adaptation of the Odyssey bursts onto screens around the world this week, here at Unexpected Elements we’re undertaking our own epic journey through science – all inspired by the ancient Greek epic.First, we discover the tiny virus that’s using its own Trojan Horse to ...  Show more

A mysterious vigilante in Mexico nicknamed “Batman” has inspired the Unexpected Elements team to investigate the science of superheroes.First up, we explore whether a Batman’s presence can actually change human behaviour. One unusual psychology experiment suggests that people may ...  Show more

We humans are a supremely social species, but the coronavirus pandemic has forced many of us into solitary confinement.It feels like an unnatural, regressive move, that goes against our collective nature. So why do some species embrace the power of one? And how do they make a suc ...  Show more

We talk about different animals which can reproduce without having sex. 

Don't worry if that old hamstring injury dashed your Olympic dreams of bringing glory to your nation... do what Da Shan did... put on a blue silk Chinese suit and make your Mandarin so annoyingly good that you make your otherwise unassuming country famous. No steroids requ ...

Cat Jaffee didn’t necessarily think of herself as someone who loved being alone. But then, the pandemic hit. And she got diagnosed with cancer. Actually, those two things happened on the exact same day, at the exact same hour. In the shadow of that nightmarish timing, ...