Audio

Science Podcast: Human Genome Sequencing – 20 Years Of Research & Data

This week we’re dedicating the whole show to the 20th anniversary of the publication of the human genome. Today, about 30 million people have had their genomes sequenced. This remarkable progress has brought with it issues of data sharing, privacy, and inequality.

Host Sarah Crespi spoke with a number of researchers about the state of genome science, starting with Yaniv Erlich, from the Efi Arazi School of Computer Science and CEO of Eleven Biotherapeutics, who talks about privacy in the age of easily obtainable genomes. Next up Charles Rotimi, director of the Center for Research on Genomics and Global Health at the National Human Genome Research Institute, discusses diversity—or lack thereof—in the field and what it means for the kinds of research that happens. Finally, Dorothy Roberts, professor in the departments of Africana studies and sociology and the law school at the University of Pennsylvania, talks about the seemingly never-ending project of disentangling race and genomes. 

Morning News Podcast: Opioid Payment, GameStop Profits, Employment Data

A.M. Edition for Feb. 4. A hedge fund made nearly $700 million in the GameStop rally. Consulting giant McKinsey reaches a settlement centering on opioid painkillers.

Plus, WSJ economics reporter Kate Davidson previews coming jobs data. Marc Stewart hosts.

Science Podcast: Secrets Of Einsteinium, Chemicals Sap Ozone & Traffic Jams

Exploring the properties of a vanishingly-rare man-made element, and the AI that generates new mathematical conjectures.

In this episode:

01:04 Einsteinium’s secrets

Einsteinium is an incredibly scarce, man-made element that decays so quickly that researchers don’t know much about it. Now, using state-of-the-art technology, a team has examined how it interacts with other atoms, which they hope will shed new light on einsteinium and its neighbours on the periodic table.

Research Article: Carter et al.

06:28 Research Highlights

The mysterious appearance of three ozone-depleting chemicals in Earth’s atmosphere, and how ride-sharing services have failed to reduce traffic jams.

Research Highlight: Mystery on high: an ozone-destroying chemical appears in the air

Research Highlight: Uber and Lyft drive US gridlock — but not cuts in car ownership

8:38 The computer that comes up with new mathematical formulas

A team of researchers have developed artificial-intelligence algorithms that can generate new formulas for calculating the digits of key mathematical numbers like pi. Although crucial, many of these numbers remain mysterious, so it is hoped that this system will open up new avenues of questioning for mathematicians.

Research Article: Raayoni et al.

14:48 Briefing Chat

We discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, a new theory to explain a sixty-year-old mystery surrounding the icy deaths of a group of Russian students, and the continued controversy about the chances of life on Venus.

Video: Explaining the icy mystery of the Dyatlov Pass deaths

News: Life on Venus claim faces strongest challenge yet

Morning News Podcast: Republican Party Issues, Impeachment, Amazon

House GOP leaders are dealing with divisions on two fronts, including how to deal with freshman Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and her incendiary comments and support for conspiracy theories. 

And, the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump begins next week and House managers have detailed their case that he is singularly responsible for the Capitol insurrection. Also, Jeff Bezos is stepping down as CEO of Amazon after 27 years at the company he founded.

Morning News Podcast: Stimulus Plan, Snow In Northeast, New Covid Test

President Biden meets Republicans to discuss stimulus plan, snow, wind hammer U.S. Northeast, and investor puts GameStop gains to good use at Texas children’s hospital.

Morning News Podcast: $1.9 Trillion Relief, Coup In Myanmar, Russia Protests

President Biden has invited Senate Republicans to the White House to hear their response to his proposed $1.9 trillion relief package. Also, in Myanmar the military has staged a coup and taken control of the civilian government.

And, protests in Russia continued for a second weekend over the jailing of opposition leader Aleksei Navalny.

GLOBAL NEWS PODCAST: Nuclear Nations, West Bank & Gaza, Boeing Flies

A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week: who will go nuclear next?new leadership is needed in the West Bank and Gaza (9:45) and can Boeing fly without government help? (15:35)

Sunday Morning Podcast: World News From Zurich, London & Bangkok (Jan 31)

The weekend’s biggest discussion topics covered by Monocle’s Tyler Brûlé, Juliet Linley, Eemeli Isoaho and Marcus Schögel, with commentary from our editors in London and Bangkok.

Plus: what’s on the pages of Iceland’s Morgunblaðið newspaper.

World News Podcast: Headlines From London, Paris & Vienna (Jan 30)

The weekend’s biggest discussion topics: Simon Brooke on the day’s newspapers, Monocle’s editor in chief Andrew Tuck’s column and a look at ‘Alexander’, a new digital storytelling platform.

Morning News Podcast: A New Covid Vaccine, Trump And The Republican Party

Another vaccine has shown its effectiveness against the coronavirus. There’s one caveat though, it’s not as effective against the South African variant, which has now made its way to the U.S. 

Also, how unified is the GOP around Donald Trump these days? After the insurrection at the Capitol, some Republican Congress members tried to distance themselves from the former president. But others never left his side. And President Biden says he’ll take on environmental justice issues. But other presidents have made similar promises.