The Beautiful Game

As the FIFA Men’s World Cup kicks off this week in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, football fever is everywhere – and Unexpected Elements wants a slice of the action.First, we discover how it took 8 years and 170 experiments for scientists to create the perfect grass pitch. Then, why a football isn’t really a ball… it’s a truncated icosahedron. We discuss how this shape revolutionised not only the beautiful game, but nanotechnology too.Then, what secrets can your sweat reveal? We’re joined by Professor John Rogers who explains how sweat is an underappreciated and understudied biomarker of our health.And whether in life or in football, what’s a better strategy – survival of the fittest or cooperation and teamwork? Author Rowan Hooper joins us to battle it out.All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Chhavi Sachdev and Ogechi Ekeanyanwu Producers: Ella Hubber, with Sophie Ormiston, Lucy Davies and Robbie Wojciechowski