Main content

Science bears fruit

With India鈥檚 prized 鈥榢ing of mangoes鈥�, the Alphonso mango, being in short supply this year, the Unexpected Elements team takes a look at what fruit science can bear.

Long live the king 鈥� of mangoes! In India the famed 鈥榢ing of mangoes鈥�, the Alphonso mango, is in drastically short supply after a particularly bad bout of adverse weather. Inspired by the mango鈥檚 plight, the Unexpected Elements team takes a look at what fruit science can bear.

First, from the 鈥榢ing of mangoes鈥� to the 鈥榢ing of fruits鈥�, we hear how the infamously stinky durian could be used to charge your phone. Then, an evil lemon planet. We discuss the planet so bizarre it sounds like it belongs in a sci-fi movie.

Plus, have you ever wondered what the key to immortality is? Well, if you guessed sea cucumbers you might be right. We鈥檙e joined by Dr Annie Mercier who tells us all about these eternal weirdos of the sea and their surprisingly vital role in the ocean鈥檚 ecosystem.

Also, a crayfish invasion, plant cause of death, and what exactly is El Ni帽o?

All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Sandy Ong and Michael Kaloki
Producers: Sophie Ormiston, with Lucy Davies, Alice Lipscombe-Southwell and Robbie

Available now

52 minutes

Last on

Sun 7 Jun 2026 19:06GMT

Featured

  • .

Broadcasts

  • Fri 5 Jun 2026 09:06GMT
  • Fri 5 Jun 2026 23:06GMT
  • Sat 6 Jun 2026 03:06GMT
  • Sat 6 Jun 2026 14:06GMT
  • Sun 7 Jun 2026 19:06GMT

Podcast