Unexpected enhancements

Have you ever wondered what happen to salmon when too much cocaine seeps into their rivers? Inspired by the Enhanced Games, we lookat unexpected areas of performance enhancement. Peptides are making a splash in influencer circles, but what is the science? Plus, we hear from Prof David Putrino, who is making sure the athletes at the Enhanced Games are staying safe. He shares what we can learn from the Games – and how the data could help develop future medicines. Also on the show, whether radio waves can enhance your sense of smell, and is an hour at a gallery as beneficial as an hour at the gym? Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Katie Silver and Andrada Fiscutean Producer: Sophie Ormiston, with Margaret Sessa-Hawkins, Robbie Wojciechowski and Scarlett Victoria

You can listen to Unexpected enhancements online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Unexpected enhancements is an episode from The Science Hour by BBC.

This episode is 49:30 long.

This episode was published on May 22, 2026.

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