Why are American drug prices so high?

2025-10-03

How close is humanity to discovering life on Mars? NASA scientist Dr Katie Stack Morgan joins Alok Jha, host of The Babbage podcast, to discuss new research that might finally answer the age-old question.

Thumbnail image source: NASA

00:00 – What makes Perseverance the most advanced Mars rover ever?
02:02 – What exactly did Perseverance discover in Sapphire Canyon?
03:39 – Could the “poppy seeds” and “leopard spots” on the Martian rock be signs of life?
06:11 – When did scientists start thinking this might be biological?
07:55 – What needs to happen to confirm life on Mars?
08:46 – Will these Martian samples ever make it back to Earth?
09:49 – What would it mean to prove life once existed on Mars?

#TheEconomist #Mars #nasa

Listen to the full episode: https://econ.st/4nC5Ru2
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2025-09-30

Following pressure from President Donald Trump, Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, has been strong-armed into agreeing a deal for Gaza.
Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent at The Economist and co-host of The Intelligence podcast Rosie Blau discuss whether Hamas will agree to the deal.

00:00 – What is Trump’s peace plan?
03:09 – How close is this peace plan to previous ones?
05:23 – Will Hamas agree to these terms?
07:00 – What is the likelihood of the plan working?

Listen to the full episode: https://econ.st/3Kx0gq5
Donald Trump reaches for “eternal peace” in Gaza: https://econ.st/46LFM4o
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2025-09-25

As strength training gains popularity, many are turning their attention to the crucial role of protein in building muscle. In this episode on wellness trends, the host of Babbage Alok Jha and senior science writer Tim Cross examine the science behind protein intake, how much is needed and how it supports muscle growth.

00:00 – What role does protein play in our diet?
00:53 – Where does dietary protein come from?
01:39 – What are the recommended daily guidelines for protein intake?
02:35 – How much protein is needed for muscle growth?
03:27 – Are there risks to consuming high levels of protein?
04:09 – Does protein offer other health benefits?
04:53 – Are protein-enriched foods and supplements effective?
06:08 – What is whey protein?06:58 – How can listeners optimise their protein

2025-09-13

Every four minutes a car is stolen in Britain—but where do they end up? We tracked the new global black market in stolen vehicles.

2025-08-05

OnlyFans transformed the online porn industry by charging users to subscribe. Its most famous creator, Bonnie Blue, told The Economist she made $250,000 from the site in March 2025. With the platform now on sale for $8bn, who might buy it?

Click the link to read why Bonnie Blue thinks "being an online creator isn’t as glam as it seems". econ.st/3H07CBj

Welcome to Bonnie Blue’s Britain: econ.st/3HaWoKf
Should you have to prove your age before watching porn? econ.st/3GQwV8U
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2025-07-18

Joshua Roberts, our capital markets correspondent, gives three reasons why yields are so high and explains how it’s affecting government borrowing across the rich world.