The Element in the Room

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What to expect

'They make science fun and understandable which is a great combo.' Sandi Toksvig

'These nerds are the real deal.' Ben Goldacre, author of BAD SCIENCE



  • Why is it impossible to spin your right foot clockwise while you draw a 6 with your right hand?

  • Can you extract DNA from a strawberry daiquiri?

  • Would you make love like a praying mantis?

  • Should you book a holiday on Earth 2.0?




The Element in the Room will take you on a rib-tickling, experiment-fuelled adventure to explain everyday science that is staring you in the face. If you are sci-curious, pi-curious or just the-end-is-nigh-curious then this is the book for you.

Steve Mould and Helen Arney are two thirds of science comedy phenomenon Festival of the Spoken Nerd. As a trio they have appeared on QI, created their own experimental* comedy show 'Domestic Science' for Radio 4, toured their stand-up science shows to over 50,000 nerds (and non-nerds) and accumulated millions of views on YouTube.

'Made me go Hydrogen Argon, Hydrogen Argon, Hydrogen Argon.' Rufus Hound

'MIND BLOWN.' Tim Harford

'Science was never such hilarious explosive fun.' Richard Herring

'This book is 37% better than mine. But it took 100% more nerds to write it.' Matt Parker (the other third of Spoken Nerd)


(P) 2017 Octopus Publishing Group

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