Babbage: Goodbye darkness, my old friend

12/07/21 • 29 min

1 Listener

Thousands of satellites are being propelled into low-Earth orbit to provide internet access. Host Alok Jha investigates the impact on astronomy, as companies such as SpaceX multiply their constellations. What can be done to protect the night sky?

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We would love to hear from you—please take a moment to complete our listener survey at economist.com/babbagesurvey.

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Previous Episode

Babbage: Omicron and on

Countries are scrambling to stop the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. We search for scientific clues to understand how it will shape the pandemic. Professor Sharon Peacock, one of the world’s top variant hunters, predicts Omicron will be more transmissible than previous strains. And, will Omicron supplant the Delta variant globally? Correspondent Hal Hodson looks to immunology for answers.

Alok Jha hosts, with The Economist’s health policy editor, Natasha Loder and deputy editor, Edward Carr.

We would love to hear from you—please take a moment to complete our listener survey at economist.com/babbagesurvey.

To keep up-to-date with our coverage of the Omicron variant, go to economist.com/omicron.

For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/podcastoffer and sign up for our weekly science newsletter at economist.com/simplyscience.

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Next Episode

Babbage: Unpacking Omicron

The world is desperate to understand the variant, which is poised to overtake Delta in parts of Europe. We ask how experts make sense of emerging data to project Omicron's impact. Also, Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter explains why scientists have drawn widely differing conclusions from covid-19 statistics. And, we reveal the winners of our final book giveaway of the year. Kenneth Cukier hosts.

To keep up-to-date with our coverage of the Omicron variant, go to economist.com/omicron.

For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/podcastoffer and sign up for our weekly science newsletter at economist.com/simplyscience.

Terms and conditions for the book competition featured in this podcast are available at economist.com/podcast-contest.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.