That's what Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan said in 2019. And while the war on cash may be a strong trend for investors, it's also important to understand the implications of a world that only takes cards (or Apple Pay). Jason Moser caught up with Brett Scott, author of the new book “Cloudmoney: Cash, Cards, Crypto, and the War for Our Wallets” to discuss: - Incentives in the war on cash - How money transforms when it moves from your wallet to a Venmo account - Why cash is like an emergency staircase - How COVID changed the way we use money
Stocks mentioned: BAC, V, PYPL, SQ, MA
Host: Jason Moser Guest: Brett Scott Producer: Ricky Mulvey Engineers: Dan Boyd, Rick Engdahl
This week two research groups announced that they have made synthetic mouse embryos that developed brains and beating hearts in the test tube, starting only with embryonic stem cells. No sperm and eggs were involved. Previously, embryos created this way have never got beyond the stage of being a tiny ball of cells. These embryos grew and developed organs through 8 days – more than a third of the way through the gestation period for a mouse. Roland Pease talks to the leader of one of the teams, developmental biologist Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz of Cambridge University and Caltech about how and why they did this, and the ethical issues around this research.
Also in the programme: the latest research on how we spread the SARS-CoV-2 virus when we breathe. Infectious disease researcher Kristen Coleman of the University of Maryland tells us about her experiments that have measured the amounts of virus in the tiny aerosol particles emanating from the airways of recently infected people. The results underscore the value of mask-wearing and effective ventilation in buildings.
We also hear about new approaches to vaccines against the virus – Kevin Ng of the Crick Institute in London talks about the possibility of a universal coronavirus vaccine based on his research, and immunologist Akiko Iwasaki of Yale University extolls the advantages of nasal vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.
From dumping raw sewage into rivers to littering the streets with our trash, humans don’t have a great track record when it comes to dealing with our waste. It’s something that CrowdScience listener and civil engineer Marc has noticed: he wonders if humans are particularly prone to messing up our surroundings, while other species are instinctively more hygienic and well-organised.
Are we, by nature, really less clean and tidy than other animals? Farming and technology have allowed us to live more densely and generate more rubbish - maybe our cleaning instincts just aren’t up to the vast quantities of waste we spew out? CrowdScience digs into the past to see if early human rubbish heaps can turn up any answers. We follow a sewer down to the River Thames to hear about The Great Stink of Victorian London; turn to ants for housekeeping inspiration; and find out how to raise hygiene standards by tapping into our feelings of disgust and our desire to follow rules.
(Image: Stem cell built mouse embryo at 8 days. Credit: Zernicka-Goetz Lab)
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“The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell and research by Scott Hill. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “The Now” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: Cemile Bingol/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.
Johannes Vermeer was one of the greatest painters of the Dutch Golden Age. Unlike many of his contemporary painters, however, he didn’t leave a large body of work behind.
The paintings he did create have left experts in both art and technology wondering if he didn’t have a secret that helped him with his craft. A technical secret, not an artistic one.
Learn more about Vermeer and the question as to if he and other painters used optical devices to help themselves paint, on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.
It makes intuitive sense for companies that develop a technology to hold its intellectual property rights. But in the case of vaccines and medical treatments, IP laws slow down manufacturing and distribution and give private companies the power to make huge decisions that affect public health globally.
Guest: Zain Rizvi, researcher for advocacy group Public Citizen, specializing in pharmaceutical innovation and access to medicine.
Bashar Murad's danceable riffs and live concerts and videos - filled with bubbles, enormous hats, and layers and layers of veils - have earned him the nickname "Palestinian Lady Gaga" from his fans. And much like Born This Way is an anthem of equality, Murad's songs challenge conservative social norms and push for LGBTQ rights while also challenging the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. Earlier this summer, Murad's concert in the West Bank city of Ramallah was cancelled under threats by anti-LGBTQ activists. As an outspoken proponent of LGBTQ rights, Murad is challenging both the external conflict Palestinians face with Israel and the internal conflicts imposed by a conservative society. This week, NPR's Daniel Estrin speaks with Bashar Murad about his music, his activism, and how anti-LGBTQ events that unfolded during the summer have added to the complexities that can come with being a voice for both the Palestinian and the LGBTQ communities.In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment that will help you make sense of what's going on in your community.This episode was reported by Daniel Estrin. It was produced by Miranda Mazariegos and edited by Jeanette Woods and Larry Kaplow. Our executive producer is Natalie Winston. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
In this installment of Best Of The Gist, we listen back to Monday’s Spiel about “unintended consequences,” as they relate to the Dobbs decision. And that inspired us to dig up Mike’s 2017 interview with Kurt Andersen about his book Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire, in which, Andersen bemoans a system on the brink.
With millions of available and unfilled jobs, Alex Nowrasteh says job openings in the U.S. does more to explain migrant border crossings than almost any of the smaller details of immigration enforcement.
Quickie with Bob: Friction; News Items: The Neuroscience of Politics, Cozy Lava Tubes, Video Games and Well-Being, Invisible Dark Matter; Who's That Noisy; Your Questions and E-mails: Lord Kelvin, Green Methane, Universe Isotropy; Science or Fiction
