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In Conversation

Interviews and round tables that take one subject and explain it, in clear, slow English.

63 episodes

How Are Humans Changing Earth’s Water Cycle?With me are Alex, our reporter, and Emma, our columnist. Today’s question is: how are people changing where water is found on land, and why does that matter? October 20, 20268:33

Amazon backs plans for 12 small nuclear reactors at an Indiana coal plantLeo is our columnist for technology and digital life. Leo, Amazon is backing plans for a large nuclear power plant in Indiana. What is proposed, and how far along is the project? October 20, 20263:31

Health explained: Menopause treatment guidanceWe share news and stories in clear English to help us understand the world. I’m Emma, and Grace is our columnist for health and medicine. We’re looking at updated guidance on treating menopause symptoms. October 18, 20264:23

Can Space Experiments Improve Medicine?With me are Nora, our science and environment columnist, and Grace, our health and medicine columnist. Today we’re asking whether research in space could help improve medicine on Earth. October 18, 202610:00

NASA confirms Artemis II heat shield performed as expectedI’m Maya, and Nora is our columnist for science and the environment. Today, we’re asking what NASA’s latest heat-shield analysis tells us about the Artemis II spacecraft. October 17, 20263:08

Who Benefits from Nigeria’s Lithium Boom?With me are Alex, a station journalist, and Emma, a station columnist. We’re asking who benefits from Nigeria’s lithium boom, and what it means for local workers and the global move toward cleaner energy. October 17, 20266:38

Afghanistan faces rising malnutrition as aid cuts deepen crisisOur health and medicine columnist, Grace, is here to talk about rising hunger and malnutrition in Afghanistan, and what aid agencies say is happening to people who need help. October 16, 20265:25

Can AI Speed Up Drug Discovery?We use clear, simple English to explore stories and understand the world. I’m Maya. With me are Leo, our technology and digital life columnist, and Alex, our journalist. Thanks for joining us. October 16, 20269:26

World’s timekeepers vote to replace the leap second with a leap hourI’m Maya, and Nora is our columnist for science and the environment. Today, we’re asking why the world’s timekeepers have voted to change how they adjust the clocks we use around the world. October 16, 20264:37

What Can One Brain Reveal About Alzheimer’s?With me are Nora, our science and environment columnist, and Alex, our journalist. Thanks for joining us. Today’s question is: what can one brain reveal about Alzheimer’s disease? October 16, 20268:27

New evidence may explain why the Moon has two different facesI’m Maya, and Nora is our columnist for science and the environment. Nora, why does the Moon have two very different sides? The Moon’s near side, which faces Earth, has broad, dark plains made by ancient volcanoes. October 15, 20263:50

Technology and AI: What Could Change in Bioweapons Development?I’m Maya, and Leo is our columnist for technology and digital life. Thanks for listening. Leo, the question today is whether artificial intelligence could change the risk of bioweapons. October 15, 20263:51

Can AI Help Turn CO₂ into Fuel?With me are Leo, our technology and digital life columnist, and Alex, a station journalist. Welcome. October 14, 20269:20

Health explained: Medical neutrality in warI’m Maya, and this is Health Explained: clear, simple English for following the world. Grace covers health and medicine. We’re discussing a new declaration about protecting healthcare in war. October 13, 20264:30

What is behind the UK’s £35bn budget warning?Omar is our columnist for the economy and work. Omar, the Institute for Fiscal Studies, or IFS, has warned of a possible £35 billion pressure on the UK budget. What is behind that figure? October 13, 20263:27

How Can Governments Stabilise the Economy?Slow English FM brings news and stories in clear, simple English to help us understand the world. I’m Maya, and with me are Omar, our columnist for the economy and work, and Alex, our station journalist. October 13, 202610:03

Economy and Work: Pressures on Developing EconomiesI’m Maya, and Omar covers the economy and work. Thanks for joining us. October 12, 20265:22

How Can El Niño Affect People Around the World?We explore world news in clear, easy-to-follow English. I’m Maya. In this round table, we’ll look at how El Niño can affect weather and food, and what new information says about risks for communities. October 12, 202610:10

Technology and AI: When an AI Sends a False TipI’m Maya, and this is our Technology and AI interview. Leo covers technology and digital life. He joins me to explain what happened when an AI model sent a false tip to Philadelphia police. Thanks for listening. October 11, 20265:22

Reducing Risks to Human SurvivalIn this program, Alex and I look at a new Lancet Commission assessment of serious threats to human health, and the actions its authors say could reduce them. The assessment names 17 major threats over the next 75 years. October 11, 20265:40

Health explained: Rethinking ADHD and autism supportGrace, our health and medicine columnist, is here to discuss a major review of mental health, ADHD, and autism services in England. Welcome, and thanks for listening wherever you are. Thanks, Maya. October 10, 20266:17

Who Holds the Wealth Across Generations?In this program, Alex and I look at what a new Federal Reserve survey says about wealth, income, and financial pressure in American families. Thanks for listening. October 10, 20267:16

Science and the Planet: Tracing a Distant Radio FlashI’m Maya, with Nora, our science and environment columnist. Thanks for listening. Astronomers have identified the galaxy that sent out the most distant fast radio burst yet recorded. October 10, 20265:43

Powering the Data Center BoomAlex joins us from the reporting desk, and Emma brings the energy perspective. Thanks for listening. We’re looking at what rising data-center demand could mean for the choice between batteries and natural-gas power. October 10, 202610:29

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