Main content

Why is Water Exceptional?

Mike Williams explains why water is exceptional and what that means for all of us.

Water is the only molecule in the natural world which expands when it freezes. And that is not its only unusual feature. It is the cornerstone of all of life on this planet, and maybe others. Water is part of the myths and rituals of civilisations all over the world. But if H20, the one chemical formula just about everyone can recognise, was just a little bit different, life as we know it would not exist. Mike Williams explains why water is exceptional and what that means for all of us.

(Photo: Raindrops on a window. Credit to James Beard)

Available now

18 minutes

Last on

Mon 8 Feb 2016 17:32GMT
成人快手 World Service US Public Radio

More episodes

Previous

Impersonators: Why do People Pretend to be Someone Else?

Next

Pleasure: Why We Like the Things We Like

See all episodes from The Why Factor

Clip

Broadcasts

  • Fri 5 Feb 2016 20:32GMT
    成人快手 World Service Online, Europe and the Middle East, UK DAB/Freeview & Americas and the Caribbean only
  • Fri 5 Feb 2016 21:32GMT
    成人快手 World Service East Asia, West and Central Africa, South Asia & Australasia only
  • Sun 7 Feb 2016 11:32GMT
    成人快手 World Service US Public Radio
  • Sun 7 Feb 2016 19:32GMT
    成人快手 World Service US Public Radio
  • Mon 8 Feb 2016 02:32GMT
    成人快手 World Service Americas and the Caribbean
  • Mon 8 Feb 2016 03:32GMT
    成人快手 World Service UK DAB/Freeview, Online, Europe and the Middle East & East Asia only
  • Mon 8 Feb 2016 04:32GMT
    成人快手 World Service South Asia
  • Mon 8 Feb 2016 05:32GMT
    成人快手 World Service Australasia
  • Mon 8 Feb 2016 07:32GMT
    成人快手 World Service Europe and the Middle East & East and Southern Africa only
  • Mon 8 Feb 2016 08:32GMT
    成人快手 World Service US Public Radio
  • Mon 8 Feb 2016 13:32GMT
    成人快手 World Service UK DAB/Freeview & Online only
  • Mon 8 Feb 2016 14:32GMT
    成人快手 World Service Europe and the Middle East, West and Central Africa, East Asia, South Asia & East and Southern Africa only
  • Mon 8 Feb 2016 17:32GMT
    成人快手 World Service US Public Radio

Get the podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes for free

Why do we look the way we do?

Tattoos, trainers, jeans, hair, ties ... why?

Podcast

  • The Why Factor

    The extraordinary and hidden histories behind everyday objects and actions