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World Service

Mission unexpectedly possible

Up Next

00:00 - 00:06

BBC News

31/05/2025 00:01 GMT

00:06 - 01:00

Business Matters

31/05/2025 GMT

01:00 - 01:06

BBC News

31/05/2025 01:01 GMT

01:06 - 01:30

The Newsroom

31/05/2025 01:06 GMT

01:30 - 01:32

BBC News Summary

31/05/2025 01:30 GMT

01:32 - 02:00

Science In Action

Thirteen months to a chip off the moon

02:00 - 02:06

BBC News

31/05/2025 02:01 GMT

02:06 - 02:50

Outlook

Outlook Mixtape: The artist, the detective, and the music boss

02:50 - 03:00

Witness History

The Battle of the Beanfield

With the new Mission Impossible film playing in cinemas, the Unexpected Elements team is channelling Tom Cruise’s energy to see if scientists can push the boundaries of what is considered ‘impossible.’

First up, we fuse medieval alchemy with particle physics and explore a method to turn lead into gold. We then look at the latest research that uses artificial intelligence to help us humans communicate with animals.

We put the spotlight on a favourite trope of science-fiction films – time travel! String theorist Brian Greene of Columbia University explains how going to the past, or back to the future, may or may not be hypothetically possible.

We also ponder ancient auroras, whether ants can plan a Hollywood-style heist, and what it takes to understand our consciousness.

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Affelia Wibisono and Andrada Fiscutean

Producer: Imaan Moin, with Alice Lipscombe-Southwell

Studio engineer: Mike Mallen