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EPISODE · May 1, 2026 · 49 MIN

The soaring price of condoms

from Unexpected Elements · host BBC World Service

The blockade on the strait of Hormuz has led to an unexpected consequence – condom prices are set to increase by up to 30 percent! This has us delving into all things contraception, starting with koala hormone implants, the lengthy process of providing birth control to elephants, and a microplastics mystery.Then, we investigate the elusive male contraceptive – why is it taking so long to develop, and why has it been so hard to approve? Professor John Amory Md, from UW Medical Centre in Seattle, joins us to explain the past, present and future of this medical research.Plus, how have Chinese researchers cracked the code on eel breeding, and does the moon’s gravity make us lighter at night?Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Leonie Joubert and Sandy Ong Producer: Ella Hubber, with Alice Lipscombe Southwell, Robbie Wojciechowski and Georgia Christie

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published May 1, 2026

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The soaring price of condoms

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