Babbage from The Economist

The world is desperate to understand the variant, which is poised to overtake Delta in parts of Europe. We ask how experts make sense of emerging data to project Omicron's impact. Also, Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter explains why scientists have drawn widely differing conclusions from covid-19 statistics. And, we reveal the winners of our final book giveaway of the year. Kenneth Cukier hosts.

To keep up-to-date with our coverage of the Omicron variant, go to economist.com/omicron.

For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/podcastoffer and sign up for our weekly science newsletter at economist.com/simplyscience.

Terms and conditions for the book competition featured in this podcast are available at economist.com/podcast-contest.

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Thousands of satellites are being propelled into low-Earth orbit to provide internet access. Host Alok Jha investigates the impact on astronomy, as companies such as SpaceX multiply their constellations. What can be done to protect the night sky? 

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Countries are scrambling to stop the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. We search for scientific clues to understand how it will shape the pandemic. Professor Sharon Peacock, one of the world’s top variant hunters, predicts Omicron will be more transmissible than previous strains. And, will Omicron supplant the Delta variant globally? Correspondent Hal Hodson looks to immunology for answers.

Alok Jha hosts, with The Economist’s health policy editor, Natasha Loder and deputy editor, Edward Carr.

We would love to hear from you—please take a moment to complete our listener survey at economist.com/babbagesurvey.  

To keep up-to-date with our coverage of the Omicron variant, go to economist.com/omicron.

For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/podcastoffer and sign up for our weekly science newsletter at economist.com/simplyscience.

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The coronavirus could be lurking in many species of animals, according to a new report. We analyse the implications for human health. Also, what is the relationship between an unbalanced gut microbiome and autism? And, the father of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy died this month. Aaron Beck’s daughter, the psychiatrist Judith Beck, tells us how her father turned the world of psychiatry upside down. Kenneth Cukier hosts.

We would love to hear from you—please take a moment to complete our listener survey at economist.com/babbagesurvey.  

For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/podcastoffer and sign up for our weekly science newsletter at economist.com/simplyscience.

Additional audio used with permission from the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy.

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An estimated 55 million people around the world live with dementia, yet only a quarter have been formally diagnosed. How will technology improve diagnostic devices for the condition? Also, with better testing in place but few treatments available, we explore if healthcare systems can cope with this silent epidemic. And, author and professor, Nina Kraus explores how brains build a sound world. Kenneth Cukier hosts. 

For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/podcastoffer and sign up for our weekly science newsletter at economist.com/simplyscience.

Terms and conditions for the book competition featured in this podcast are available at economist.com/podcast-contest. 

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As covid-19 threatens Europe once again, effective oral antiviral treatments for covid-19 are finally being approved by regulators. Is this the next step towards beating the virus? Also, author Azeem Azhar on what the accelerating growth of technology means for business, the economy and society. And we reveal the winners of our latest book giveaway. Kenneth Cukier hosts. 

For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/podcastoffer and sign up for our weekly science newsletter at economist.com/simplyscience.

Terms and conditions for the book competition featured in this podcast are available at economist.com/podcast-contest.

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The pandemic has exposed and exacerbated how the colour of a person’s skin can fix the odds on their physical health. Host Alok Jha and Tamara Gilkes Borr, US public policy correspondent, investigate what drives these disparities around the world. As health services embrace artificial intelligence, is medical AI compounding human bias—or could it hold the cure?

With Dr Lisa Angeline Cooper, healthcare professor at Johns Hopkins University; Dr Jenna Lester, director of the Skin of Colour clinic at the University of California, San Francisco; Dr Mary Janevic of the University of Michigan School of Public Health; and Dr Ziad Obermeyer, head of the Systems Medicine machine-learning lab.

For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/podcastoffer and sign up for our new weekly science newsletter at economist.com/simplyscience.

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The World Health Organisation recently declared that air pollution is the greatest environmental threat to health globally. What do cities and governments need to do to clean up their act? Also, we explore how Occam’s razor, ​​a theory from a medieval theologist, has influenced science. And, could music be an effective way to communicate with extraterrestrials? Alok Jha hosts 

For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/podcastoffer and sign up for our new weekly science newsletter at economist.com/simplyscience.

Terms and conditions for the book competition featured in this podcast are available at economist.com/podcast-contest.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the 150th anniversary of the death of Charles Babbage, we retrace the footsteps of the brilliant but irascible British inventor, mathematician, and engineer. Host Kenneth Cukier investigates why Babbage is hailed by some as the grandfather of the computer, while others argue his contribution is overblown. And could letting go of parts of his legacy help unleash the future of computing?

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A probe to study the Trojan asteroids is expected to take off this week, but what will this mission uncover about the formation of the solar system? Also, we explore new technology to observe asteroids, as well as a mission to deflect an incoming celestial object. And, we hear from the Nobel co-laureate in Physiology or Medicine, Ardem Patapoutian, about temperature and pressure sensing. Alok Jha hosts. 

For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/podcastoffer and sign up for our new weekly science newsletter at economist.com/simplyscience.

Terms and conditions for the book competition featured in this podcast are available at economist.com/podcast-contest.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.