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Sep 12, 2025 49 min

Some dam awesome science

from Unexpected Elements Hosted by BBC World Service

The inauguration of Africa’s largest hydroelectric dam has us looking at how we decide when, where, and even whether to build dams. But humans aren’t the only ones building dams – Loren Taylor of the Beaver Institute joins us to talk all about nature’s hydroengineers and the wide-spread benefits beavers (and their dams!) have on ecosystems. Also on the program, how close are we to clean energy from space, the science behind holding your breath for a really, really, really, REALLY long time, and how natural sounds can be turned into musical instruments. All that, plus more unexpected elements. Presenter: Alex Lathbridge with Andrada Fiscutean and Katie Silver Producers: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins, Alice Lipscombe-Southwell and Robbie Wojciechowski.

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Some dam awesome science

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