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Unexpected Elements

Factual: Science & Nature

Factual: Science & Nature: Science & Technology

The news you know, the science you don’t.

The news you know, the science you don’t. Unexpected Elements looks beyond everyday narratives to discover a goldmine of scientific stories and connections from around the globe. From Afronauts, to why we argue, to a deep dive on animal lifespans: see the world in a new way.

The Science Hour

Unexpected Elements: Artificial Reefs

Artificial Reefs

24/08/2013

BBC World Service - Unexpected Elements, Artificial Reefs

How do artificial reefs change marine environments?

How do artificial reefs change marine environments? Is winning a classical music competition about body language or skill? Plus Rural areas get themselves connected.

Artificial Reefs 
There have been artificial reefs around Gibraltar since 1973 when tyres were tied down to the sea bed to attract marine wildlife.  In 1974 sunken ships were used.  Now, in 2013, a number of concrete blocks have been dropped into the sea.  But what is an artificial reef?  We look at how artificial reefs are made and what effect they have on the marine environment.

Classical Music and Body Language
To judge a classical music competition you might expect a good ear is essential. But did you know your eyes might be equally important? New research at University College London shows that the best predictor of a winner's musical performance was the visible passion they displayed, followed closely by their uniqueness and creativity. An artist's stage presence could be even more important when it comes to evaluating a recital. The research, published in the journal PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) found that people shown silent videos of piano competitions could pick out the winners more often than those who could also hear the music. It underlines the dominance of our sense of vision, scientists say.

B4RN
The myth is that we all inhabit a world of high speed broadband connectivity. But is this really true?  In rural areas of the UK many people still depend on their dial-ups and the connectivity is slow, unreliable and often breaks down. Gareth Mitchell and Bill Thompson travel to the north of England to hear about how life and work is hampered by poor connectivity. Fed up with the reluctance of the big telecom companies to come to their aid, some remote, rural communities are taking matters into their own hands, digging ditches and laying fibre-optic cables. B4RN is a community-based initiative for high speed connectivity which is spreading throughout rural parts of the UK.

Photo: A scientist diver discovers the flora and fauna located on artificial reefs. Credit: AFP/Getty Images.

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