You've heard about mRNA vaccines and how it's a revolutionary new technology. mRNA vaccines were the first to be approved for use, have the highest efficacy and can be modified the most quickly for boosters. How do they have all these amazing properties and at a more fundamental level, how do they work?

In this special episode we bring you my mother, Susan Rao (Henning, if you want to Google Scholar her!), an expert in molecular biology, to explain in layman's terms how they work and why they are a huge step forward in vaccine development. She explains it's not just vaccines this technology will be used for (e.g., fighting cancer) and that she believes that if anything, they are being under-hyped. Amazingly, she explained this all so I (who last took biology in high school) could understand it!  

Please join us for this extra special episode!

General Motors just announced that they will not make internal combustion engines for consumer vehicles beyond 2035 -- they're going all electric. Electric cars have been around for a century, but were cost prohibitive until this past decade. And today we're seeing them enter more of the mainstream, with some countries Northern European countries approaching or passing 50% of new vehicles sold. But without those government subsidies, it still seems that you still either have to pay more or sacrifice functionality for the money. 

In this episode we want to discuss when we think the tipping point that, all up, it will just be the option that makes the most economic sense for people. We'll also dig into  the factors that contribute to the tipping point.   

Vikram's latest book, Particulates Matter: Impact, Measurement, and Remediation of Airborne Pollutants can be purchased here.  https://www.elsevier.com/books/particulates-matter/rao/978-0-12-816904-9