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BBC World Service West and Central Africa

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: Birds’ Beaks

Discussion & Talk

Birds’ Beaks

04/02/2017 GMT

BBC World Service - Unexpected Elements, Birds’ Beaks

Birds’ beaks; Arclight ophthalmoscope; Glass blowing for scientific instruments; Mexican suicide; Alison Smith on algae; Asi Burak’s Games for Change

When did species such pelicans with flip-top bin beaks diversify from their bird-like dinosaur ancestors?  A new citizen-science study sheds light on the whole process.

Thirty nine million people world-wide are blind. In many rural areas the piece of equipment used to examine eyes - an ophthalmoscope - is not available.  John Sandford-Smith discusses a new cheap, solar-powered version of the device.  

Stephen Ramsey is one of only a few scientific glassblowers left in the world. Caroline Steel reports on the hope that an apprentice might be taken on in preparation for his retirement. 

Mexico’s Ciudad Juarez used to be considered the world’s murder capital.  The killings have decreased, but violence remains high. As Irene Caselli reports a rise in the number of suicides among young people has prompted a campaign to provide psychological support. 

Alison Smith talks to Jim al-Khalili about algae's sometimes bizarre biochemistry; and about how we may become dependent on algae when the oil runs out.

Asi Burak is an advocate for using videogames to encourage empathy for people such as refugees in flight from war zones.  Burak discusses videogames such as Peace Maker, as highlighted in his new book, Power Play.


(Picture caption: White pelicans try to catch fish with wide open beaks © Bernd Wustneck/AFP/Getty Images)


The Science Hour was presented by Gareth Mitchell with comments from BBC Science Correspondent Jonathan Amos 


Producer: Colin Grant

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