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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.

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Unexpected Elements: Baroness Shields Mounts a Fight Against Online Abuse

Discussion & Talk

Conceptual computer artwork of a human eye

30/01/2016 GMT

Baroness Shields Mounts a Fight Against Online Abuse

BBC World Service - Unexpected Elements, Baroness Shields Mounts a Fight Against Online Abuse

Britain’s Baroness Shields and the tools to fight terrorism online

Rescuing the internet from terrorists; Zika Virus uncovered; Tracking Jupiter on clay tablets; Smokeless Tobacco India; Anniversary of General Theory of Relativity; Penguin Watch

The UK Minister, Baroness Joanna Shields believes the internet is under siege and that there needs to be greater international co-operation to combat the threat of groups such as  so-called Islamic State.  Baroness Shields discusses some possible solutions.

Zika Virus – What Do We Know?
Since October 2014 almost 4,000 babies have been born in Brazil with underdeveloped brains and smaller heads.  Although not proven, doctors suspect that infection with the Zika virus during pregnancy is causing these abnormalities. More details on the devastating consequences of Zika are provided by Professor Jonathan Ball and Professor Trudie Lang. 

Tracking Jupiter on Clay Tablets
New research shows that Babylonians used geometry to model the pathway of Jupiter.  The ability of humans to do this was previously thought to be around 1400 AD.  Dr Mathieu Ossendrijver,  an expert in astrophysics and the cuneiform writing system used by the Babylonians, made the discovery.

Smokeless Tobacco India
Researchers say more than a quarter of a million people die each year from using smokeless tobacco.  India alone accounts for 74% of the global disease burden.  Nearly three years ago  Gutka, a harmful but  popular mix of tobacco, catechu, slaked lime and  flavourings was banned. BBC’s Suhail Haleem reports.

Anniversary of General Theory of Relativity
Brian Cox and Robin Ince explore the legacy of Einstein's great theory of General Relativity, and how a mathematical equation written 100 years ago seems to have predicted so accurately exactly how our universe works.    

Penguin Watch
Scientists have used remote cameras to capture the entire Antarctic year of penguin colonies in time-lapse - revealing some of the threats to the continent's penguins. Science reporter Victoria Gill reports. 


(Image caption: Conceptual computer artwork of a human eye © Science Photo Library)


The Science Hour was presented by Garth Mitchell with comments from online science and technology editor for the Economist, Jason Palmer 


Producer: Colin Grant

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