The battery that powers the world
This monthly podcast series looks at the people and stories behind game-changing ideas and innovations
WHAT DOES it take for an idea to change the world? This new monthly series examines how innovation really works. The lithium-ion battery is the most important factor in the recent rise of the electric car and also powers everything from toothbrushes to smartphones to lawnmowers. We talk to the Nobel prize-winning scientists, the co-founder of Tesla and the pioneers behind this game-changing technology. What does their story tell us about the nature of innovation? Tom Standage hosts. Runtime: 30 min
The Intelligence
The global asylum system is broken—this is how to fix it
Also on the daily podcast: the rise of superstar coders and a free London performance puts a spotlight on modern fame
21:49
Editor’s Picks
The delusions plagueing Britain’s warming summers
A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist
08:02
Babbage
Scientists are using AI to invent proteins from scratch
Our podcast on science and technology. Scientists can design and make novel proteins. One day they may even be able to build entire genomes.
38:17
The Intelligence
Another delay of hostilities in Trump’s global trade war
Also on the daily podcast: Brazil’s broken football machine and England falls out of love with its lawns
21:53
Editor’s Picks
An insight into Jeff Bezos’s approach to life
A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist
07:12
Drum Tower
China is closing the gap with America in high-tech weaponry
Our weekly podcast on China. This week, we examine the role Chinese weapons played in the recent India-Pakistan conflict—and what it means for the future of warfare
43:56