About this episode
The episode explores various scientific phenomena inspired by recent incidents in Japan, including cellular matchmaking, bird flock behavior, and asteroid collision prevention.
Japanese pedestrians have been forcefully colliding with each other in a spate of butsukari otoko – or ‘bumping man’ – incidents and the Unexpected Elements team has been inspired to investigate some bumpy science. First, what does your heart desire? Well, at a cellular level, the perfect match! We hear how your heart is built by cells going speed dating. Then, we discuss how birds avoid in-flock collisions, and we learn all about mesmerising murmurations. Next, we’re joined by science journalist and author Robin George Andrews, who tells us about NASA’s mission to avoid a city-killing disaster by bumping into an asteroid before it can bump into us. Also, a colourful question about migraines, a surprising new treatment for them, and the scientists who took antimatter for a test drive. All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements. Presenter: Marnie Chesterton Producers: Sophie Ormiston, with Ella Hubber, Katie Tomsett, Imy Harper and Lucy Davies
People in this episode
Host: Marnie Chesterton
Guest: Robin George Andrews
Topics covered
- bumping incidents
- cellular biology
- bird behavior
- asteroid collision
- migraines
- antimatter
Keywords
- butsukari otoko
- heart cells
- murmurations
- NASA
- asteroid
- migraines
- antimatter
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: NASA
Places: Japan
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