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Totally bananas

The Unexpected Elements team have gone bananas鈥or bananas! From the science of slipping on banana skins, to the (allegedly) radioactive fruit, to the Ethiopian 鈥榝alse banana鈥�.

This week, a banana sold at auction for $6.2 million dollars. Well, not quite鈥� it鈥檚 actually a piece of conceptual art and it鈥檚 WAY more than just a banana. There鈥檚 also some duct tape.

In response to this most bananas of auctions, the Unexpected Elements team are going bananas for bananas!

We investigate the science of slipping on a banana-skin. Is it just 鈥榗artoon physics鈥� or are they actually a slip-hazard?

And did you know your breakfast banana might be鈥� radioactive?

Also, can Romanian ethical hackers succeed where the police have failed? We look at the computer sleuths tackling real life missing persons cases.
We find the answer to why toads have evolved such dangerous skins, and yet more bananas, as we look at the pros and cons of the Ethiopian False Banana. Why hasn鈥檛 this hardy plant conquered the world?

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Andrada Fiscutean and Christine Yohannes
Producers: Emily Knight, Alice Lipscombe-Southwell and William Hornbrook
Sound engineer: Searle Whittney

Available now

50 minutes

Last on

Sun 15 Dec 2024 20:06GMT
91福利社 World Service

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  • Fri 13 Dec 2024 10:06GMT
    91福利社 World Service
  • Sat 14 Dec 2024 00:06GMT
    91福利社 World Service
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    91福利社 World Service & Live News
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    91福利社 World Service News Internet
  • Sun 15 Dec 2024 20:06GMT
    91福利社 World Service

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