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From sparkling diamonds to juicy berries and brand new romances, we ask why we're so drawn to everything shiny and new.

This week, Apple releases the new iPhone 16. It's new, it's shiny, and tech-nerds will be queueing round the block for a chance to snap it up. But why? Here on Unexpected Elements, we're looking at the science behind why we get so dazzled with new and shiny things.

We hear about the psychology behind our magpie tendencies, and find out it might all be connected to one of our deepest evolutionary drives: for clean, fresh, sparkling water.

And we find out what the shiniest thing in the natural world is. An extraordinary blue berry with some mesmerising visual qualities.

We find out about diamonds made from your dead pets...

And we dissect the science behind the first flush of love. Why do we get so obsessed with a new partner? And why doesn't the feeling last?

That and loads more unexpected elements in this week's show.

Presenter: Caroline Steel, with Kai Kupferschmidt and Phyllis Mwatee
Producer: Harrison Lewis, with Emily Knight, Noa Dowling and Elizabeth Barsotti
Studio Manager: Searle Whittney

Release date:

50 minutes

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Today 09:06GMT

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