Keeping it cool

This week, hackers infiltrated supermarket fridges and freezers across Europe, sending their temperatures sky-high. Millions of euros worth of food had to be thrown away. Reports say the cyber attacks were a deliberate attempt to disrupt Europe’s food supply.

However, for Unexpected Elements, the news story has inspired the team to investigate some really cool science.

First, we take the plunge into the fascinating world of fungi. New research published this year has been looking at its ice-freezing properties, which could be used for everything from freezing human tissue to engineering the weather.

We then learn about a high school ice-cream experiment that resulted in a puzzling physics phenomenon.

Next, Professor Naoko Kurahashi-Neilson from Dexter University joins us to explain how a James Bond-esque base under the Antarctic ice is helping astronomers to see the Universe in a whole new light.

Plus, what food need to go in the fridge, and how can you brew a good cup of tea at high altitude?

All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.

Presenters: Marnie Chesterton, with Camilla Mota and Michael Kaloki

Producers: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, with Dan Welsh and Robbie Wojciechowski