Babbage from The Economist (subscriber edition)

Two decades ago, Neil Shubin discovered a fish-like fossil which transformed scientists’ understanding of how animals transitioned out of the sea. In this episode, Prof Shubin tells us about hunting for fossils at Earth’s extremes and how he is gearing up for another big challenge: taking the reins of America’s National Academy of Sciences. In his telling, American science is in a “dark age”. Why, then, is he so optimistic?Host: Alok Jha, The Economist’s science and technology editor. Guest: Professor Neil Shubin of the University of Chicago and the author of “Ends of the Earth”.Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

A new class of synthetic opioids is sweeping through illicit drug markets all over the world. Nitazenes can be up to 25 times more potent than fentanyl—and hundreds of times stronger than heroin. How could restrictions on other drugs have fuelled the spread of these dangerous new opioids, and what should governments do about it?Host: Alok Jha, The Economist’s science and technology editor. Guests: The Economist’s Emilie Steinmark; Phoenix Kellye of Rebel Harm Reduction; George Eze of the University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospitals Complex. Thanks also to The Economist’s Ore Ogunbiyi. Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

Since 1901, the Nobel prizes have been the pinnacle of scientific achievement. This week, nine more scientists joined the ranks of Albert Einstein and Marie Curie, as they were recognised for their work in immunology, quantum computing and inventing a new class of materials. Who are the scientists who earned those coveted phone calls from Stockholm?Host: Alok Jha, The Economist’s science and technology editor. Guests: The Economist’s Natasha Loder, Geoff Carr and Tim Cross.Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

How do you make an object invisible? Professor Sir John Pendry worked out that it involves guiding and bending light in precise ways by changing the structure of the material it is travelling through. His subsequent work on the interactions between light and matter has led to a new class of materials, known as “metamaterials”, which enable seemingly impossible things to happen. In this episode, he tells us how they work and their applications in everything from 5G technology to simulating the conditions around black holes.Host: Alok Jha, The Economist’s science and technology editor. Guest: Professor Sir John Pendry of Imperial College London.Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

Andrea Sella, a Professor of chemistry at University College London and an expert on rare-earth elements, discusses the unique electronic and magnetic properties of lanthanides. Tim Cross, The Economist's senior science writer, tackles the pressing geopolitical implications surrounding rare earths, especially China’s export controls. They explore the critical roles these elements play in technology, the challenges of recycling, and potential alternatives for Western industries. Could this be the wake-up call for a shift in global supply strategies?

Join Katie Stack Morgan, project scientist for NASA's Perseverance rover, and Sanjeev Gupta, planetary geologist, as they dive into the thrilling discovery of a potential biosignature on Mars. They discuss the significance of the Sapphire Canyon findings and the complex geology of the 'spotty rocks.' Oliver Morton offers insights into the challenges of bringing samples back to Earth, including funding hurdles and political intrigues. The conversation unpacks how this discovery could reshape our understanding of life beyond Earth!

Tim Cross, a Senior science writer at The Economist, dives into the world of strength training. He explains why lifting weights is crucial for longevity and overall health, especially as we age. The discussion emphasizes the importance of protein in muscle growth and optimal nutrition. Cross also uncovers the benefits of creatine, showcasing its positive effects on athletic performance and cognitive function while reassuring listeners about its safety. Get ready to rethink your fitness routine and discover the real secrets to staying strong!

Neutrinos are elementary particles that are extremely light and rarely interact with anything else. Mostly, they pass invisibly through the universe—hundreds of trillions of neutrinos will have passed through your body as you read this. For physicists, though, these ghostly particles present a big problem. The prevailing theory of particle physics, the Standard Model, predicts that neutrinos should have no mass—but this is not what physicists observe in the real world. Now, scientists at JUNO, an enormous new lab in China, have started to hunt for the elusive particles and, in doing so, they hope to solve this giant conundrum in fundamental physics.Host: Alok Jha, The Economist’s science and technology editor, with Emilie Steinmark, The Economist’s science correspondent. Contributors: Juan Pedro Ochoa-Ricoux of the University of California, Irvine; Wang Yifang and Yuekun Heng of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

Jonathan Nash, a professor of oceanography at Oregon State University, shares insights on critical climate tipping points. He discusses the potential for rapid and irreversible changes, like the melting of the Greenland ice sheet and the transformation of North Africa into arid desert. Nash emphasizes the urgency of understanding these shifts, particularly how human-induced greenhouse gases drive them. The conversation highlights the significance of ice cores from Antarctica in revealing our climate history and the need for better prediction models to navigate future uncertainties.

How long you live may be shaped less by your gym routine or diet plan than by the systems that surround you, from clean air and water to safe streets and accessible healthcare. In this episode, Devi Sridhar, a professor of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, argues that governments—not individuals—hold the greatest power to extend lives. She explains what people can learn from long-lived communities in Japan and Europe, how to curb the harms of ultra-processed food, the role of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, and how tackling inequality could help everyone live healthier into old age.Alok Jha, The Economist’s science and technology editor, speaks with Devi Sridhar, the author of “How Not to Die (Too Soon)”.Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.