Category Archives: Analysis

Covid-19: ‘The Variant Hunters’ – Understanding Its Spread (Cambridge)

The variant hunters are helping us to understand how and why the COVID-19 virus is spreading, allowing us to fight back against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hear from some of the scientists behind the UK’s nationwide sequencing effort to track SARS-CoV-2. Sir Patrick Vallance (the government’s Chief Scientific Adviser) also describes how the expertise that came together during the pandemic is now recognised across the world – and why it’s crucially important to continue to sequence to be ready for future pandemics.

This pioneering work is being carried out by the COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) consortium, which comprises numerous academic institutions, four public health agencies and the Wellcome Sanger Institute, and is administered by the University of Cambridge.

“Incredibly impressive, incredibly high quality and incredibly focused on the mission to make sure that as many people benefited from the science as possible,” Sir Patrick Vallance.

Read more: https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/variant…

Analysis: The Future Of Germany Is In Its Cars

As the election approaches, Germany’s carmakers will face the same challenges as its new leaders: a need to innovate, tackle climate change and reassess its trade relationship with China. How this world-renowned motor industry navigates the road ahead could tell a lot about Germany’s future.

Video timeline: 00:00‌ ‌-‌ ‌Germany‌ ‌faces‌ ‌numerous‌ ‌challenges‌ ‌ 00:49‌ ‌-‌ ‌Can‌ ‌Germany’s‌ ‌cars‌ ‌reveal‌ ‌its‌ ‌future?‌ ‌(or‌ ‌whatever‌ ‌the‌ ‌title‌ ‌is)‌ ‌ 02:13‌ ‌-‌ ‌Is‌ ‌Germany‌ ‌too‌ ‌reliant‌ ‌on‌ ‌trade‌ ‌with‌ ‌China?‌ ‌ 03:46‌ ‌-‌ ‌Germany’s‌ ‌reluctance‌ ‌to‌ ‌digitalise‌ ‌ 05:09‌ ‌-‌ ‌The‌ ‌race‌ ‌to‌ ‌go‌ ‌electric‌ ‌ ‌ 06:41‌ ‌-‌ ‌The‌ ‌future‌ ‌of‌ ‌electric‌ ‌cars‌ ‌ ‌ 08:17‌ ‌-‌ ‌What’s‌ ‌in‌ ‌store‌ ‌for‌ ‌Germany’s‌ ‌new‌ ‌leader?‌ ‌

Analysis: Why The Age Of American Cars Is Rising

In 2021, the average age of vehicles on the road reached a record 12.1 years. Every driver that chooses to hold on to a car for another year is postponing a trip to the dealership, and some industry analysts wonder if rising vehicle ages and prices indicate trouble for new car sales in the future. Automakers are stuffing cars with new technology and improvements but will that be enough to keep buyers wanting the latest and greatest?

Education: The 2022 List Of Top-Ranked Colleges (WSJ)

The rankings illustrate the ways the pandemic changed higher education.

WSJ’s rankings of the top colleges in the U.S. shows that schools with deep pockets were best able to ride out the pandemic and perform in key categories. WSJ’s Doug Belkin explains the methodology of this year’s report and its highlights. Photo: Philip Keith for The Wall Street Journal

Analysis: The Truth About Buying Organic Foods

The organic food industry is a booming business. U.S. organic sales surged in 2020, jumping by 12.4% to $61.9 billion. With consumers being more health conscious than ever, they’re willing to pay more for what they perceive as better. But, what exactly does “organic” mean?

Analysis: ‘Dark Stores’ Speed Up Grocery Delivery

Speedy grocery delivery is booming, but competition and high running costs could hinder growth. Startups are promising to deliver groceries to your doorstep in minutes, stepping up competition in the industry. Their strategy: to operate out of “dark stores.” WSJ visits some of these hyperlocal warehouses to see how they operate and the challenges they face. Photo/Video: Michelle Inez Simon

Analysis: Decentralized Finance, Reducing Child Poverty, The Word ‘Like’

A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, the dream and danger of decentralised finance, how America is substantially reducing child poverty (10:02) and a defence of, like, “like” (18:57) 

Political Views: Brooks & Capehart On Immigration, Biden’s Approval Ratings

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week in politics, including immigration, President Biden’s job approval ratings, and tensions between the U.S. and France over a nuclear submarine deal.

Chip Shortage: Forcing Auto Makers To Adapt

The number of semiconductors in a modern car, from the ignition to the braking system, can exceed a thousand. As the global chip shortage drags on, car makers from General Motors to Tesla find themselves forced to adjust production and rethink the entire supply chain. Illustration/Video: Sharon Shi

Political Analysis: Tamara Keith And Amy Walter On $3.5T Social Spending Bill

NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report join Judy Woodruff to discuss the latest political news, including Democrats’ $3.5 trillion social spending bill and California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recall election.