A woman tries to befriend a robot, but when things don’t go as planned, she decides to take matters into her own hands.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
San Antonio Storybook - Chapter 2: Confluence Theatre
A large group of politicians recently descended on an empty lot in downtown San Antonio to break ground on a new federal courthouse. Of course, San Antonio already has a federal courthouse. In this chapter of the San Antonio Storybook we’ll find out the history of this building and the important part it played in the history of San Antonio.
50 Things That Made the Modern Economy - Cellophane
Plastic food packaging often seems obviously wasteful. But when Jacques Brandenberger invented cellophane, consumers loved it. It helped supermarkets go self-service, and it was so popular Cole Porter put it in a song lyric. Nowadays, people worry that plastic doesn’t get recycled enough but there are two sides to this story. Plastic packaging can protect food from being damaged in transit, and help it stay fresh for longer. Should we care more about plastic waste or food waste? As Tim Harford explains, it isn’t obvious and the issue is complicated enough that our choices at the checkout may accidentally do more harm than good.
Producer: Ben Crighton
Editor: Richard Vadon
(Image: Noodles and cellophane, Credit: Getty Images)
50 Things That Made the Modern Economy - Bonus 2: Octopus and camouflage
Episode 2 of our new podcast, 30 Animals That Made Us Smarter. This one is about the eight-limbed master of disguise and surveillance technology. The colour and texture-changing abilities of the octopus are helping researchers with developments in camouflage. Can we make robots do the same thing? With Patrick Aryee. www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals
#30Animals
30 Animals That Made Us Smarter - Octopus and camouflage
The eight-limbed master of disguise and surveillance technology. The colour and texture-changing abilities of the octopus are helping researchers develop camouflage. Can we make robots do the same thing? With Patrick Aryee. #30Animals
Undiscovered - Mini: The Undercover Botanist
In 1767, a young French servant sailed around the world, collecting plants previously unknown to Western science. The ship’s crew knew the servant as “Jean,” the scrappy aide to the expedition’s botanist. But “Jean” had a secret. She was actually Jeanne Baret, a woman disguised as a man—and she was about to make botanical history.
Annie and Elah told this story for a live audience at On Air Fest a few weeks ago.
The Anthropocene Reviewed - The Hall of Presidents and New Partner
John Green reviews the Hall of Presidents and the song "New Partner" by Palace Music.
The Nod - One-on-One
Growing up, a young woman and her dad bonded over their love of basketball. But there was one game she knew they could never talk about. And for years she never asked. But when his health took a turn for the worse, she decided to ask the question she never dared. This week’s story is from The Nod’s editor, Emanuele Berry.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
50 Things That Made the Modern Economy - Langstroth Hive
Humans have valued bees for their honey for thousands of years – and economists have long admired bees for their cooperative work ethic, too. But few of us, whether economists, honey-lovers, or both, have quite appreciated just how much the honey bee has been industrialised – and the simple yet radical invention that made that industrialisation possible. As Tim Harford explains, it is a sign of just how far the modern market economy has penetrated that it now reaches deep into the heart of the beehive.
Producer: Ben Crighton
Editor: Richard Vadon
(Image: Bee keeper lifting shelf out of hive, Credit: MIlan Jovic/Getty Images)
50 Things That Made the Modern Economy - Bonus: 30 Animals That Made Us Smarter
Introducing our new podcast about innovation, technology and the animal kingdom. This is the whole of the first episode about how the kingfisher inspired the design of a train. The 500 series Shinkansen, also known as bullet train, is one of the fastest in the world. It is also quiet, but that was not always the case. This is the tale of Japanese engineer Eiji Nakatsu, the kingfisher, an owl, a penguin and biomimicry. www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals