No One Saw It Coming

Ruth Barton, Emeritus Professor of Film at Trinity College Dublin and biographer of Hedy Lamarr, shares captivating insights about the iconic actress and inventor. Lamarr, known as the most beautiful woman in the world, was also a wartime innovator who patented frequency-hopping technology that later became essential to Wi-Fi. Barton discusses Lamarr's Hollywood glamour, her tumultuous marriage to an arms magnate, and her passion for invention. Despite initial dismissal, her groundbreaking work only gained recognition decades later, reshaping her legacy.

Andrew Ford, a composer and presenter on ABC Radio National's The Music Show, dives into the riotous premiere of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring in 1913. He reveals how Diaghilev's ambitious Ballets Russes stirred the pot of Parisian art with provocative choreography that shocked audiences. Ford recounts the chaotic violence in the theater and the innovative musical elements that reshaped modern composition. Discover how Stravinsky's work, once a scandal, transformed into a monumental success and continues to captivate today.

Alli Sinclair, an author and researcher specializing in women's roles during wartime, delves into the untold story of the 'Garage Girls,' the young female codebreakers in WWII Australia. They worked tirelessly in a shed, intercepting Japanese communications essential for the Allies' success. Sinclair reveals their challenging recruitment and training process, the innovative decoding methods they employed, and their significant contribution to Operation Vengeance against Yamamoto. Despite their crucial work, their achievements were forgotten, highlighting the need for recognition and honoring their legacy.

From moons to mind bending maths and revolutions, the story of how we got the modern calendar is messy. Matthew Champion, Associate Professor in History at the University of Melbourne, takes Marc Fennell (Stuff the British Stole) through time to understand the many iterations of calendars and why the one we use today can still be improved.Binge all the episodes of No One Saw It Coming now on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.Get in touch:Got a story for us? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at noonesawitcoming@abc.net.au

You see it on Christmas cards, in shop windows and at your local church. The nativity scene is everywhere at this time of year. But the scene you know of Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus in the manger, with some animals around is actually thanks to some mistranslations and a popular saint in the Middle Ages who wanted to imprint the story of the birth of Christ into people’s memory. Art historian Mary McGillivray tells Marc Fennell (Stuff the British Stole) about the first nativity play and why its tableau has lasted over 800 years.Binge all the episodes of No One Saw It Coming now on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.Get in touch:Got a story for us? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at noonesawitcoming@abc.net.au

There’s one man you can thank - or curse - for your hand cramp after writing all your Christmas cards. Sir Henry Cole was a ‘dumpy’ Englishman who had too many jobs and not enough time to write back to his friends and family so he created the first Christmas card in 1843. It caused quite the stir, and not exactly in the way he expected. Author and all-things-Christmas expert Ace Collins tells Marc Fennell (Stuff the British Stole) how the Christmas holiday evolved in Victorian England and why the first Christmas card took the country - and the world - by storm.Binge all the episodes of No One Saw It Coming now on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.Get in touch:Got a story for us? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at noonesawitcoming@abc.net.au

Dr. Eugene Helveston, a former pediatric ophthalmologist and author, shares his fascinating journey with botulinum toxin— from its origins as a deadly poison linked to food poisoning to a billion-dollar beauty treatment known as Botox. He discusses pioneering experiments that first used the toxin to treat eye spasms and highlights the daring innovations that led to its cosmetic popularity. The conversation also explores Botox's medical applications, showcasing how one man's vision transformed a lethal substance into a life-changing medical marvel.

Dr. Tatiana Burr, an ancient Greek cultural historian, dives into the captivating story of the Antikythera mechanism, hailed as the world's first computer. She shares how it was unearthed from a shipwreck by sponge divers over a century ago. The discussion covers the intricacies of its gears and functions, revealing advanced ancient engineering. Tatiana challenges the lone-genius myth, highlighting the collaboration between cultures that led to this remarkable device. Her insights transform our understanding of ancient technology and civilization.

William Dalrymple, a historian and author known for his expertise in South Asian history, dives into the captivating saga of Wu Zetian, China's first and only female emperor. He reveals her extraordinary rise from concubine to monarch, leveraging Buddhism as her secret weapon for legitimacy. Dalrymple discusses her bold maneuvers in the brutal court politics, including accusations against rivals leading to their demise. He also connects her reign to the spread of Buddhism in China while tracing its decline in India, painting a vivid picture of power, faith, and intrigue.

Cultural historian Kassia St Clair dives into the fascinating world of purple, once a royal color reserved for the elite. She shares the story of teenager William Perkin, whose lab accident led to the creation of synthetic purple dye, forever changing fashion. Kassia reveals how Perkin's invention sparked a cultural revolution and made color accessible to everyone, along with purple's evolving meanings, from royalty to modern symbols of identity. Tune in for a captivating journey through history and chemistry!