CrowdScience - I didn’t know that!

Did you know that flies fly in rectangles, fish hide by lighting themselves up and the moon is lifting the ground underneath your feet? Anand Jagatia quizzes members of the CrowdScience team on the moments from the past year that had them scratching their heads in amazement.

We hear Dr Erica McAlister’s attempts to calculate how many flies have ever existed, and about flies’ mating choreography, courtesy of Prof Jochen Zeil. We learn how to tell a mosquito’s sex thanks to Eggrey Aisha Kambewa and Dr Steve Gowelo.

Astronomer Dr Darren Baskill describes tides not of water but of land; Dr Edie Widder paints a vivid picture of a camouflaged creature of the deep; and we explore starfishes’ five-fold symmetry with Dr Imran Rahman.

Khimlal Gautam, Mountaineer and Chief Survey Officer for the Government of Nepal, tells us of the near-death experience he had when checking the height of Mount Everest.

And finally, axolotl expert Dr Elly Tanaka is astonished at the dedication of CrowdScience presenter Alex Lathbridge to the subject of her research.

Presenter: Anand Jagatia Producer: Ben Motley Editor: Cathy Edwards Production Co-ordinator: Ishmael Soriano Studio Managers: Donald MacDonald and Giles Aspen

(Photo: Lost in formulas Credit: Cimmerian via Getty Images)

Focus on Africa - Ivory Coast : What is “ Ivoirité ” ?

What is “ Ivoirité ” ? We explore this controversial concept and its effects as Ivory Coast prepares for general election in 2025. Also, why women in Morocco are welcoming a review of child custody, divorce, and polygamy law, and why dolls aren’t just dolls- find out how they can affect a child’s behaviour in later life.

Unexpected Elements - Festive trash talk

December is a time of celebration, family feuds, and now scientific rivalries. It's also one of the most wasteful months of the year, with festivities in full swing across the globe. No wonder the world is overflowing with rubbish—both literal and metaphorical!

Unexpected Elements dives headfirst into the scientific bin to wallow in waste. Could worms be the unexpected heroes of our plastic pollution crisis? How much garbage have we jettisoned into space? And why is part of our very own genome called "junk DNA"?

But it’s not all rubbish, we’re also talking trash. While celebrations can bring people together, spending too much time with loved ones can lead to tense moments. Rafi Kohan shares expert tips on how to outsmart your opponent during a heated board game debate.

And don’t think trash talk is limited to sports fields. The world of science has its share of drama, too. We’ll explore some of history’s most scandalous squabbles with scientists behaving badly.

Come waste an hour with us on Unexpected Elements!

Presenter: Caroline Steel, with Chhavi Sachdev and Candice Bailey Producers: Harrison Lewis, Imaan Moin, Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, William Hornbrook and Eliane Glaser Sound engineer: Gavin Wong

Focus on Africa - Why has Air Tanzania been banned from EU Airspace?

Air Tanzania, has been added to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency's (EASA) list of airlines that have been restricted from operating within the European Union. So what are the shortcomings? We sought answers from an aerospace expert.

Did you know that South Africa’s unique succulent plants are under threat from poachers? We have a first-hand account from our correspondent who has been to the remote biodiversity hotspot that has become the hub of an illegal trade.

And new research, that included delving into the Vatican archives, has revealed how an Angolan prince, became a key figure in the fight against the trans-Atlantic slave trade, a century before its abolition.

Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Rob Wilson, Bella Hassan and Stefania Okereke in London Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

Focus on Africa - How Sudanese Christians celebrate Christmas in exile

Thousands of Sudanese Christians face Christmas away from home as the Sudan war continues. We hear from one woman who was born into a Muslim family but converted to Christianity, on how her community tries to help those fleeing the war, and how she maintains Christmas traditions despite living in exile in Egypt.

We meet one of the young people who was at the forefront of the unprecedented #RejectFinanceBill2024 protests in Kenya.

And Ivorian chef Brice Assemian joins us in the studio to discuss and serve up the dish that the UN agency, Unesco, has declared a part of the unique heritage of Ivory Coast.

Presenter Audrey Brown Producers: Rob Wilson and Yvette Twagiramariya in London. Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne Technical Producer: Jack Graysmark. Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi.

Focus on Africa - How Sudanese Christians celebrate Christmas in exile

Thousands of Sudanese Christians face Christmas away from home as the Sudan war continues. We hear from one woman who was born into a Muslim family but converted to Christianity, on how her community tries to help those fleeing the war, and how she maintains Christmas traditions despite living in exile in Egypt.

We meet one of the young people who was at the forefront of the unprecedented #RejectFinanceBill2024 protests in Kenya.

And Ivorian chef Brice Assemian joins us in the studio to discuss and serve up the dish that the UN agency, Unesco, has declared a part of the unique heritage of Ivory Coast.

Presenter Audrey Brown Producers: Rob Wilson and Yvette Twagiramariya in London. Senior Producer: Patricia Whitehorne Technical Producer: Jack Graysmark. Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi.

Focus on Africa - What is behind recent stampedes in Nigeria?

Dozens of people have died in stampedes to collect Christmas hampers in Nigeria raising concerns about safety at these events. Also in the programme, why South Sudanese civil servants have not been paid their salaries for nearly a year, and what South African shop owners are saying about the government's new regulations to address food poisonings.