Main content

The science of Santa

The Unexpected Elements team are unwrapping the science of Santa!

As news breaks that archaeologists have found the tomb of St Nick in Turkey, we check in on the North Pole Father Christmas, and fact-check his present giving schedule with advanced level physics and a Gant chart.

Plus, prepare for stories of reindeers high... despite their apparent immunity to their favourite hallucinogenic mushroom treats. And we burrow into Santa鈥檚 iconic beard to find any microbial magic that lives there.

And yet more reindeer magic, this time the mysteries of their amazing body clocks, which they seem to be able to switch on and off at will... AND we reveal Rudolf the red nose reindeer鈥檚 big secret. You鈥檒l never hear that song in the same way again

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Phillys Mwatee and Camilla Mota
Producers: Emily Knight, Alice Lipscombe-Southwell and William Hornbrook
Sound engineer: Searle Whittney

Available now

50 minutes

Last on

Sun 22 Dec 2024 20:06GMT

Featured

  • .

Broadcasts

  • Fri 20 Dec 2024 10:06GMT
  • Sat 21 Dec 2024 00:06GMT
  • Sat 21 Dec 2024 04:06GMT
  • Sat 21 Dec 2024 15:06GMT
  • Sun 22 Dec 2024 20:06GMT

Podcast