Shiny: Why we are dazzled by new sparkly thin...

After the end of a near 17-year legal battle between popstar Katy Perry and fashion designer Katie Perry, the Unexpected Elements team has been inspired to explore the question at the heart of the case – what's in a name? First, we hear how marmosets use their calls as a way of n ...  Show more

With this year’s Oscars on the horizon, and vampire film Sinners nominated for a record-breaking 16 awards, the Unexpected Elements team sinks their teeth into some blood-sucking science.First, we discover that Vlad the Impaler, the Romanian prince who inspired Dracula, may have ...  Show more

What is love? What's happening in our brains when we're falling for someone? And why are we wired for forming deep, meaningful connections? In this episode of How We’re Wired, join evolutionary anthropologist and love expert Dr Anna Machin as she unpicks the neuroscience of love, ...  Show more

Who doesn’t love the smell of freshly cut grass? While there may be some people who don’t like that smell, it seems most people do. Why is it so universally liked? This episode starts with an explanation and reveals why that scent may actually be good for you. https://www.prevent ...  Show more

Why are some of us more susceptible to dementia? What is a 'Super Ager'? And what might help us protect our brains in later life? In this focus episode of How We’re Wired join producer Dr Eva Higginbotham as she dives into the science of Super Agers, from the genes that increase ...  Show more

A recent study on how to get rid of microplastics in water sparked presenter Marnie Chesterton’s curiosity. When she turns on the tap in her kitchen each day, what comes out is drinkable, clean water. But where did it come from, and what’s in it? Dr Stewart Husband from Sheffield ...  Show more