Category Archives: Podcasts

Science: Stone Age Burial Site In Kenya, Metal-Free Rechargeable Batteries

The earliest evidence of deliberate human burial in Africa, and a metal-free rechargeable battery.

In this episode:

00:44 Human burial practices in Stone Age Africa

The discovery of the burial site of a young child in a Kenyan cave dated to around 78 thousand years ago sheds new light on how Stone Age populations treated their dead.

Research Article: Martinón-Torres et al.

News and Views: A child’s grave is the earliest known burial site in Africa

09:15 Research Highlights

How warming seas led to a record low in Northwestern Pacific typhoons, and the Arctic bird that maintains a circadian rhythm despite 24 hour sunlight.

Research Highlight: Warming seas brought an eerie calm to a stormy region

Research Highlight: The world’s northernmost bird is a clock-watcher

11:35 A metal-free rechargeable battery

Lithium-ion batteries have revolutionised portable electronics, but there are significant issues surrounding their recyclability and the mining of the metals within them. To address these problems, a team of researchers have developed a metal-free rechargeable battery that breaks down to its component parts on demand.

Research Article: Nguyen et al.

Morning News Podcast: ‘Permitless’ Gun Laws, Scottish Voters, Coffee

Today another state will enact a “permitless carry” law—no licence, checks or training required. We ask why states’ loosening of safeguards fails to reflect public sentiment. 

Brexit has supercharged Scottish nationalism, and this week’s elections may pave the way to another independence referendum. And a long-forgotten coffee species may weather the climate-change era.

Morning News Podcast: India Covid Surge, Worker Incentives And Earnings

A.M. Edition for May 4. WSJ reporter Krishna Pokharel discusses the state of the coronavirus crisis in India. More earnings are expected today amid recent market growth. Some companies are offering incentives to lure workers back to the office. Marc Stewart hosts.

Morning News Podcast: Ireland Reunification & Diplomacy, Art Immersion

The province’s largest party aligned with Britain has lost its leader; in the 100 years since the island was split it has rarely seemed so close to reuniting. Diplomacy, as with so much else, had to go online during the pandemic—and emerged more efficient and inclusive than many expected. And how art-lovers are getting ever more fully immersed

World News: Taiwan’s Dangerous Situation, Post-Covid Syndrome

A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, Taiwan: the most dangerous place on earthpost-covid syndrome (09:00) and Buttonwood: private-credit markets (28:55)

Sunday Morning: News From Zurich, London, Amsterdam & Ljubljana

Tyler Brûlé, Andrew Tuck, Chiara Rimella, Chandra Kurt and Eemeli Isoaho on the weekend’s top stories. Plus, we check in with our friends and contributors in London, Amsterdam and Ljubljana.

Saturday Morning News: Latest Headlines From London (May 1, 2021)

Georgina Godwin sets the tone for the weekend: a look at the day’s fresh papers, Monocle’s editor in chief Andrew Tuck’s column, plus the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2021 shortlist.

Morning News Podcast: Biden’s First 100 Days, Laws Of Space & Winemakers

We recap Joe Biden’s accomplishments in his first 100 days in office and discuss the challenges ahead. 

Plus: the laws governing space exploration and why the biggest French wine makers are buying vineyards in California.
From Milan: Salone highlights, interviews and a daily running guide. 

Science Podcast: Storing Wind As Gravity Batteries, Donkeys Digging Wells

Contributing Correspondent Cathleen O’Grady joins host Sarah Crespi to talk about a company that stores renewable energy by hoisting large objects in massive “gravity batteries.” 

Also on this week’s show, Erick Lundgren, a postdoctoral researcher at Aarhus University, talks about how water from wells dug by wild horses and feral donkeys provides a buffer to all different kinds of animals and plants during the driest times in the Sonora and Mojave deserts. 

Morning News Podcast: Biden Speech Highlights, Markets, Amazon Workers

A.M. Edition for April 29. WSJ White House reporter Sabrina Siddiqui on key moments from President Biden’s speech to Congress as he pushes a broad economic agenda. 

A look at the markets as the president marks 100 days in office. Amazon workers are set for a pay raise. Marc Stewart hosts.