Babbage from The Economist
438 episodes - English - Latest episode: 21 days ago - ★★★★★ - 398 ratingsBabbage is our weekly podcast on science and technology, named after Charles Babbage—a 19th-century polymath and grandfather of computing. Host Alok Jha talks to our correspondents about the innovations, discoveries and gadgetry shaping the world. Published every Wednesday.
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Episodes
Babbage: Shot at victory
May 06, 2020 16:13 - 24 minutes - 34 MBCould repurposing existing drugs, such as remdesivir, be the answer to the search for treatments for covid-19? Also, the winner of this year’s Marconi Prize, Andrea Goldsmith of Stanford University, on her pioneering work in wireless communications technology. And, the mission to give rivers their wiggle back. Kenneth Cukier hosts. For more on the pandemic, see The Economist's coronavirus hub. Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions: www.eco...
Babbage: Beyond immunity
April 29, 2020 17:42 - 23 minutes - 32.5 MBThe immune system plays a vital role in protecting humans from infections, but how is it faring against covid-19? Pascal Soriot, chief executive of the pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, tells host, Kenneth Cukier, about potential treatments for covid patients. Plus, do people build up an immunity to covid-19 if they have recovered from it, or can they catch it again? And, Sonja Lyubomirsky, professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, on how acts of kindness can boost ...
Babbage: Opening up
April 22, 2020 18:36 - 25 minutes - 35 MBTech firm Microsoft has announced plans to embrace open data. Jeni Tennison, from Britain’s Open Data Institute, says it marks a milestone in the way big companies share data. Also, could mass testing for covid-19 provide a way out of the global lockdown? And, what is causing the worst drought in over 1,000 years in the south-west of the United States? Kenneth Cukier hosts You can read The Economist’s full coverage of the coronavirus. Please subscribe for full access to print, digital a...
Babbage: Worth a shot
April 15, 2020 18:11 - 26 minutes - 37.1 MBScientists are working at an unprecedented pace to find a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes covid-19. The stakes are high. Natasha Loder, The Economist's health policy editor, explains how an effective vaccine might be developed. Dr Trevor Drew of the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness speaks to host Kenneth Cukier about two trials which have reached the animal-testing stage. Plus, once a vaccine is discovered, what can be done to make sure it is distributed fairly? Dr Se...
Babbage: Maskarade
April 08, 2020 16:40 - 21 minutes - 29.2 MBThe “silent transmission” of covid-19 means people without symptoms could be a major source of its spread. How effective are masks as a defence? Plus, Kenneth Cukier asks Ivan Oransky, co-founder of Retractionwatch.com, whether the race to uncover the mysteries of the virus could lead to a torrent of “bad science”. For more on the pandemic, see The Economist's coronavirus hub. And please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions: www.economist.com/...
Babbage: Fighting contagion with data
April 01, 2020 17:58 - 27 minutes - 37.6 MBHow are location data from mobile phones being used to combat covid-19? And, as more people are forced to stay at home, can broadband and mobile internet connections keep up? Plus, the epidemiologist who helped defeat smallpox, Larry Brilliant, on what needs to be done against the coronavirus. Kenneth Cukier hosts. The Economist is making some of its most important coverage of the covid-19 pandemic freely available to readers of The Economist Today, our daily newsletter. To receive it, regi...
Babbage: Fighting contagion with data
April 01, 2020 17:58 - 27 minutes - 37.6 MBHow are location data from mobile phones being used to combat covid-19? And, as more people are forced to stay at home, can broadband and mobile internet connections keep up? Plus, the epidemiologist who helped defeat smallpox, Larry Brilliant, on what needs to be done against the coronavirus. Kenneth Cukier hosts. The Economist is making some of its most important coverage of the covid-19 pandemic freely available to readers of The Economist Today, our daily newsletter. To receive it, regi...
Babbage: The sniff test for covid-19
March 25, 2020 18:11 - 25 minutes - 35.5 MBEar, nose and throat experts believe there may be a link between covid-19 and the loss of the senses of smell and taste. Might this help tackle the spread of the disease? And, how scientists and manufacturers are trying to keep up with demand for life-saving ventilators. Plus, the climate impact of staying at home. Kenneth Cukier hosts. Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions: www.economist.com/radiooffer and read The Economist’s full coverag...
Babbage: Can the curve be flattened?
March 18, 2020 20:32 - 25 minutes - 34.9 MBDramatic measures to staunch the spread of covid-19 are happening around the world, but will they be enough to reduce the rate of new cases? And amid public anxiety we answer your questions such as can you get coronavirus twice? How does testing work? And how long does the virus live on surfaces and in the air? The Economist’s health-care and science correspondents answer your covid-19 questions. Kenneth Cukier hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Babbage: Fighting the virus
March 11, 2020 20:23 - 19 minutes - 27.3 MBAs the number of cases of covid-19 rises over 100,000 around the world, scientists and governments are working around the clock on treatments and vaccines. Our science editor, Geoffrey Carr, explains the genetic make-up of the virus. Mark Suzman, CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rupert Beale from the Francis Crick Institute, and Regina Barzilay from MIT explain their attempts to thwart the outbreak. Plus, we turn data outlining the fatality rate by age into sound. Kenneth Cukier...
Babbage: Fighting the virus
March 11, 2020 20:23 - 19 minutes - 27.3 MBAs the number of cases of covid-19 rises over 100,000 around the world, scientists and governments are working around the clock on treatments and vaccines. Our science editor, Geoffrey Carr, explains the genetic make-up of the virus. Mark Suzman, CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rupert Beale from the Francis Crick Institute, and Regina Barzilay from MIT explain their attempts to thwart the outbreak. Plus, we turn data outlining the fatality rate by age into sound. Kenneth Cukier...
Babbage: The ocean—it ain't easy being blue
March 04, 2020 17:50 - 24 minutes - 34.1 MBThe ocean is under assault as people demand more of its resources. Now climate change is causing the greatest stress yet to ocean ecosystems. Kenneth Cukier talks to Jane Lubchenco, the first US science envoy for the ocean, about why the ocean is too big to ignore. He meets the scientists helping corals to spawn outside their natural habitat and using seaweed as a substitute for single-use plastic. Also, how can Japanese sushi chefs guarantee the origins of their fish? Please subscribe t...
Babbage: Going viral, going global
February 26, 2020 18:03 - 23 minutes - 31.9 MBCovid-19, the new coronavirus, is spreading around the world. Abdi Mahamad, the World Health Organisation’s incident manager for Asia, reveals that for the first time since the start of the outbreak, more cases are being reported outside China than within it. What can countries do to limit the spread of the virus, and will it become a pandemic? The Economist’s deputy editor Tom Standage hosts a debate with Therese Hesketh, professor of global health at the Institute for Global Health at Univ...
Babbage: Feeding tomorrow’s world @AAAS
February 19, 2020 18:01 - 31 minutes - 43.5 MBBy 2050 the global population is projected to reach 9.7 billion. At the same time, climate change is putting increasing pressure on agricultural land. At the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Seattle, Alok Jha, The Economist’s science correspondent, speaks to nutritionists, genetic engineers and computer scientists to find out whether the planet can sustainably feed future generations. Could genetic engineering make key crops more productive,...
Babbage: Close encounters of a solar kind
February 12, 2020 16:49 - 23 minutes - 32.7 MBThe Solar Orbiter is on a two year journey towards the sun, the most studied astronomical subject in the sky. What will this new view of the sun reveal? Also, Kenneth Cukier talks to Amy Zegart, who advises American policymakers on cyber-spycraft, about how countries can improve their defence against digital security threats. And, why living in a city impairs navigational skills. Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions: www.economist.com/radi...
Babbage: Viral hit
February 05, 2020 17:45 - 18 minutes - 25 MBCan a vaccine for the new coronavirus be developed in time to stop a pandemic? How a satellite called Claire has found a new way of spotting methane leaks to help combat global warming. And, unfolding the mystery of butterfly wings. Kenneth Cukier hosts Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions: www.economist.com/radiooffer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Babbage: Judging the book
January 29, 2020 18:50 - 20 minutes - 28.6 MBWill Facebook’s new “oversight board” restore trust in the social media giant? Also, venture capitalist Roy Bahat on how AI will transform the future of work. And, how to make oxygen from moon dust. Kenneth Cukier hosts Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions: www.economist.com/radiooffer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Babbage: Judging the book
January 29, 2020 18:50 - 20 minutes - 28.6 MBWill Facebook’s new “oversight board” restore trust in the social media giant? Also, venture capitalist Roy Bahat on how AI will transform the future of work. And, how to make oxygen from moon dust. Kenneth Cukier hosts Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions: www.economist.com/radiooffer See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Babbage: The Wuhan plan
January 22, 2020 20:48 - 25 minutes - 34.6 MBThe new coronavirus, which was discovered in December in the city of Wuhan China, is now causing a global scare. What are the symptoms of the Wuhan virus and how can it be contained? Also, a new biotech company is hoping to revolutionise the way drugs are brought to market. And, should countries around the world ban Huawei technology from their 5G network? Kenneth Cukier hosts. Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions: www.economist.com/radioof...
Babbage: Starlight, star bright
January 15, 2020 18:47 - 18 minutes - 25.7 MBA giant star called Betelgeuse is behaving strangely. Could the dimming star be about to become a supernova? Also, a group of internet veterans are contesting the billion dollar sale of the “.org” domain registry. What’s their alternative? And, accidental stampedes can be deadly. How does a crowd turn into a crush? Kenneth Cukier hosts ____________________ Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions: www.economist.com/radiooffer ________________...
Babbage: Starlight, star bright
January 15, 2020 18:47 - 18 minutes - 25.7 MBA giant star called Betelgeuse is behaving strangely. Could the dimming star be about to become a supernova? Also, a group of internet veterans are contesting the billion dollar sale of the “.org” domain registry. What’s their alternative? And, accidental stampedes can be deadly. How does a crowd turn into a crush? Kenneth Cukier hosts ____________________ Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions: www.economist.com/radiooffer ________________...
Babbage: Fire fighting
January 08, 2020 17:55 - 24 minutes - 33.5 MBAustralia is battling catastrophic wildfires. Climate models predict extreme fire events are going to become more commonplace. What can countries do to prepare? And, a glimpse into the chip factory around which the modern world turns. Also, what is “open innovation”? Henry Chesbrough, professor at the Haas School of Business, at UC Berkeley talks to Kenneth Cukier. Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions: www.economist.com/radiooffer Hosted ...
Babbage: What’s the frequency Kenneth?
January 01, 2020 11:00 - 23 minutes - 31.8 MBKenneth Cukier celebrates the invention of a musical instrument that turns 100 in 2020—the Theremin. A staple of sci-fi sound-effects, the instrument is enjoying a revival in the digital age. We talk to players, historians, a former student and relative of its inventor to learn about the influence of the Theremin on modern culture. Was the instrument a technological achievement that came a century too soon? Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editio...
Babbage: What’s the frequency Kenneth?
January 01, 2020 11:00 - 23 minutes - 31.8 MBKenneth Cukier celebrates the invention of a musical instrument that turns 100 in 2020—the Theremin. A staple of sci-fi sound-effects, the instrument is enjoying a revival in the digital age. We talk to players, historians, a former student and relative of its inventor to learn about the influence of the Theremin on modern culture. Was the instrument a technological achievement that came a century too soon? Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editio...
Babbage: How the planets got their spots
December 18, 2019 17:20 - 25 minutes - 34.5 MBThe workings of the solar system were once likened to the machinations of a precise clock, but the orbits of the planets haven’t always been so perfectly balanced. How did the planets end up where they are today? Also, the Mars missions which hopes to reveal life on the red planet. And, designer and technologist John Maeda on the importance of understanding machines. Kenneth Cukier hosts Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions: www.economist....
Babbage: Beijing kicks out foreign kit
December 11, 2019 19:40 - 23 minutes - 32.4 MBChina wants to remove all foreign technology from its state offices within the next three years. One in every two people will experience the menopause. Why are so few women taking advantage of life-changing hormone replacement therapies? And, the internet domain registry “.org” is being sold for over $1bn. What does this mean for the future of the internet? Kenneth Cukier hosts ____________________ Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions: ww...
Babbage: Beijing kicks out foreign kit
December 11, 2019 19:40 - 23 minutes - 32.4 MBChina wants to remove all foreign technology from its state offices within the next three years. One in every two people will experience the menopause. Why are so few women taking advantage of life-changing hormone replacement therapies? And, the internet domain registry “.org” is being sold for over $1bn. What does this mean for the future of the internet? Kenneth Cukier hosts ____________________ Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions: ww...
Babbage: Now I’ve learned my ABC’s
December 04, 2019 18:29 - 22 minutes - 30.5 MBAfter the founders of Google, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, step back from their roles at Google’s parent company Alphabet, who will really be in charge? Israeli venture capitalist Chemi Peres on the ways innovation can lead to peace. And, cases of Malaria are no longer in decline — what needs to happen to reignite the fight? Kenneth Cukier hosts Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions: www.economist.com/radiooffer Please complete our li...
Babbage: Now I’ve learned my ABC
December 04, 2019 18:29 - 22 minutes - 30.5 MBAfter the founders of Google, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, step back from their roles at Google’s parent company Alphabet, who will really be in charge? Israeli venture capitalist Chemi Peres on the ways innovation can lead to peace. And, cases of Malaria are no longer in decline — what needs to happen to reignite the fight? Kenneth Cukier hosts Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions: www.economist.com/radiooffer Hosted on Acast. See acast....
Babbage: AI: The end of the scientific method?
November 27, 2019 17:55 - 22 minutes - 31.4 MBResearchers are using artificial intelligence techniques to invent medicines and materials—but in the process are they upending the scientific method itself? The AI approach is a form of trial-and-error at scale, or “radical empiricism”. But does AI-driven science uncover new answers that humans cannot understand? Host Kenneth Cukier finds out with James Field of LabGenius, Demis Hassabis of DeepMind, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, tech venture capitalists Zavain Dar and Nan Li, philoso...
Babbage: Reality check
November 20, 2019 16:40 - 23 minutes - 31.8 MBVirtual reality continues to make people sick. Will the technology ever take off and is it designed for women? Leo Murray, from “Riding Sunbeams”, on using solar power to propel future commuter journeys. Also, how slippery toilets could reduce water-use. Alok Jha hosts Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions: www.economist.com/radiooffer See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Babbage: Reality check
November 20, 2019 16:40 - 23 minutes - 31.8 MBVirtual reality continues to make people sick. Will the technology ever take off and is it designed for women? Leo Murray, from “Riding Sunbeams”, on using solar power to propel future commuter journeys. Also, how slippery toilets could reduce water-use. Alok Jha hosts Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions: www.economist.com/radiooffer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Babbage: Private patients
November 13, 2019 21:09 - 28 minutes - 39 MBGoogle has teamed up with US-healthcare provider Ascension to access patient data without them being notified. What are the privacy concerns and implications for digital healthcare? And, how will 3D printing change the way we build everything from skyscrapers to spaceships. Also, Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and author, speaks to Kenn Cukier about the future of science education and space exploration. Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editi...
Babbage: Private patients
November 13, 2019 21:09 - 28 minutes - 39 MBGoogle has teamed up with US-healthcare provider Ascension to access patient data without them being notified. What are the privacy concerns and implications for digital healthcare? And, how will 3D printing change the way we build everything from skyscrapers to spaceships. Also, Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and author, speaks to Kenn Cukier about the future of science education and space exploration. Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editi...
Babbage: Designer genes
November 06, 2019 18:11 - 23 minutes - 32.8 MBHow far away are “designer babies” from being a reality? Host Kenneth Cukier explores the ethical questions around the applications of a genome-wide association study. Journalist and author Gaia Vince on how “cultural evolution” shapes society. Also, a solution to the problem of “concrete cancer” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Babbage: Home o’Sapiens
October 30, 2019 19:23 - 23 minutes - 32 MBScientists believe they have located the ancestral home of one of humanity’s early ancestors—in northern Botswana. Tom Siebel, a Silicon Valley veteran and the founder of C3.ai, explains how digital transformation stops companies from going extinct. And, host Kenneth Cukier takes a trip to the Natural History Museum in London to learn about bias in species collection _________________________ Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions: www.econo...
Babbage: Libra takes a pounding
October 23, 2019 16:56 - 21 minutes - 29.3 MBFacebook’s cryptocurrency, Libra, has suffered setbacks in recent weeks, as the company’s founder Mark Zuckerberg appears before a congressional committee to defend it. The Economist’s technology editor Tim Cross explains what’s at stake. Also, how a giant timber mill in Finland is leading the way in sustainable forestry. And Damian Bradfield, chief creative officer of WeTransfer, on how ethics and the internet can coexist. Kenneth Cukier hosts ____________________ Please subscribe to The ...
Babbage: Cough up
October 16, 2019 17:15 - 25 minutes - 34.6 MBOver the past two decades the Global Fund has fought the spread of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, but now many in the field fear its progress is under threat. The founder and CEO of language-learning app Duolingo, Luis von Ahn, on his plans to help the 750m illiterate adults in the world learn to read. And, why net-zero carbon emissions targets are measuring the wrong thing. Kenneth Cukier hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Babbage: The promise and peril of AI
October 09, 2019 15:30 - 28 minutes - 65.9 MBArtificial intelligence—the technique of using data and algorithms to make decisions as well as (or better) than humans—is on track to become a mainstream technology, on a par with electricity or computing. But in order to flourish it needs to overcome several challenges. From privacy and market concentration, to safety and explainability. In this week’s show Kenneth Cukier speaks to some of the leading experts in the field about the benefits and risks of AI, and why it is so important that w...
Babbage: Steak and Chips
October 02, 2019 17:57 - 26 minutes - 36.1 MBAs the trade war intensifies, China wants to reduce its reliance on imports of foreign computer chips. Could open-source technology solve its problems? Also, new research on red meat pits statisticians against nutritionists. And Brad Smith, president of Microsoft, on the ethical dilemmas that come from powerful new technology. Kenneth Cukier hosts ____________________ Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions: www.economist.com/radiooffer ____...
Babbage: Carbon sucks
September 25, 2019 15:27 - 25 minutes - 35.3 MBScientists are experimenting with different ways to reduce the amount of carbon being emitted into the Earth’s atmosphere. Nilay Shah, of Imperial College London, explains how carbon capture and storage works. And, Wang Jian, a tech chief of Alibaba, on how data can be harnessed to make cities more efficient. Plus, three low-tech innovations that could make a big difference to sustainable living. Kenneth Cukier hosts Additional music by Chris Zabriskie "Divider" (CC by 4.0) _______________...
Babbage: Climate. Change
September 18, 2019 17:14 - 25 minutes - 34.8 MBAs global leaders prepare for the UN climate change summit next week, we debate what changes individuals can make today to help limit the effects of climate change. The Economist’s environment editor, Catherine Brahic, hosts a roundtable with Christiana Figueres, who convenes Mission 2020 to reduce global carbon emissions; Ed Davey, a director of the Food and Land Use Coalition with the World Resources Institute; and Kevin Anderson, professor of energy and climate change in the school of eng...
Babbage: Taxis for take-off
September 11, 2019 18:04 - 24 minutes - 33.6 MBFlying taxis could soon become commonplace in cities if operators can overcome strict regulations on their use. Journalist Rebecca Fannin explores the future of technology giants in China. And, how can the sound of sand reveal its source? Kenn Cukier hosts extra music by Chris Zabriskie “Divider” (CC by 4.0 UK) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Babbage: Innovation around innovation
September 04, 2019 16:37 - 27 minutes - 37.5 MBInnovation: it’s more than just a buzzword that companies use when trying to sound dynamic. But what does it actually mean? Some entrepreneurs and economists like Patrick Collison and Tyler Cowen think that it needs to be studied as a science of progress. How can pulling together thinking about this help innovators of the future? And what are companies doing today to try and change the way we work? Kenneth Cukier hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Babbage: Oh, grow up
August 28, 2019 19:00 - 22 minutes - 31.5 MBInvestors are ploughing hundreds of millions of dollars into vertical farming. Could towers of vegetables help feed the world’s growing population? Also, how studying gravitational waves could unlock the deepest mysteries of the universe and prove Einstein wrong. And, network theorist Albert-Laszlo Barabasi explains the science of professional success. Kenneth Cukier hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Babbage: Gut Feeling
August 21, 2019 18:12 - 21 minutes - 29.6 MBHow can understanding the link between gut bacteria and Autism Spectrum Disorder help scientists develop a treatment? Broken heart syndrome, or Takotsubo, is a serious condition that can be caused by the death of a loved one. Scientists have recently discovered a possible link to cancer. Also, could re-training the brain combat chronic breathlessness? Kenneth Cukier hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Babbage: A cure for Ebola?
August 14, 2019 18:10 - 20 minutes - 28.2 MBTwo treatments for Ebola have emerged from a clinical trial in Africa. Scientists estimate that sea-levels across the globe will rise by 50cm or so in the next 80 years; in some places they could go up by twice as much. Are governments and businesses prepared to deal with the rising tides? And, as face-recognition technology spreads, so do ideas for subverting it. Kenneth Cukier hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Babbage: Meno-Pause
August 07, 2019 17:12 - 20 minutes - 28.8 MBCan pioneering surgery help delay the menopause and how will it impact women's lives? And, Clara Vu, of Veo Robotics, explains some of the challenges of designing “cobots”, robots that work collaboratively with humans on manufacturing tasks. Also, should people have the right to choose to know if they are a carrier of a hereditary genetic disease? Alok Jha hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Babbage: Hot as hell
July 31, 2019 17:59 - 28 minutes - 66.5 MBRecord-breaking heatwaves are becoming routine and they are killing people. But many of the potentially life-saving solutions are both low-tech and low-cost. Governments should be doing more. Also, we visit Lake Chad in the Sahel to understand how climate change can fuel conflict. And, droughts or floods, heatwaves or cold snaps, just how responsible is humanity for extreme weather events? Catherine Brahic hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Babbage: Return of the king
July 24, 2019 15:34 - 18 minutes - 25.2 MBUnder Satya Nadella, Microsoft has reclaimed its crown as the world’s most valuable listed company. What can other firms learn from its reboot? Also, Reshma Shetty, cofounder of Gingko Bioworks, explains the potential of synthetic biology to harness – and transform – the power of nature. And, British ethicists put police use of artificial intelligence on trial. Alok Jha hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.