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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: Seismic swift

Discussion & Talk

21/06/2024 GMT

Seismic swift

BBC World Service - Unexpected Elements, Seismic swift

A Taylor Swift gig in Scotland made us look at human earthquakes and animal seismographs

A recent Taylor Swift concert in Scotland has us discussing human earthquakes and animal seismographs.

At a recent Taylor Swift concert in Scotland, seismographs measured a “Swift Quake” caused by foot-stomping fans. But this wasn’t the only star that has made the ground shake - there have been several others, including Travis Scott and Bruce Springsteen. Could this power be harnessed in some way?

Turning our attention to non-popstar quakes, there are some animals that seem to predict earthquakes. A pond in Italy, usually filled with toads during breeding season, was suddenly void of them shortly before an earthquake hit. Are there any other animals with seismographic abilities? And is there a chance we could harness their abilities somehow?

Also, tremors on the small island of Mayotte led to a surprising deep-sea discovery. Nathalie Feuillet shares some earth-shattering facts about her team’s discovery.

And, to shake things up, Marnie and panel talk about the 'Frenchness' of French fries, the tech hidden inside the Euros’ footballs, and the gadgets that fools your employer into thinking you are working.

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, Godfred Boafo, Christine Yohannes
Producer: Florian Bohr, Julia Ravey, Dan Welsh, Noa Dowling.
Sound engineer: Emily Preston

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