Works in Progress Podcast
Technology
About
Works in Progress is an online magazine devoted to new and underrated ideas about economic growth, scientific progress, and technology. Subscribe to listen to the Works in Progress podcast, plus Hard Drugs by Saloni Dattani and Jacob Trefethen.
Episodes
- The evolution of bacteria
This episode discusses how scientists observe the evolution of bacteria in real time. Due to their rapid generational changes, microbes allow for accelerated study of natural selection. Images, graphs, and the full article are available at…
- What is local government good for?
Judge Glock and Ben discuss whether local governments are good for economic growth and public goods. Examples include Loudoun County, Virginia, and French nuclear power stations. They also discuss housing and when national government shoul…
- Washer woman: The invention of dishwashers
This episode from the Works in Progress Podcast discusses the invention of dishwashers and their role in reducing housework hours for American women. The content is based on an article by Erin Braid and read by Stuart Ritchie.
- The triumph of logical English
This episode of the Works in Progress Podcast discusses the triumph of logical English, exploring how English prose has become easier to read and the reasons behind this development. It notes that shorter sentences were not the primary fac…
- How to speed up clinical trials
This episode discusses the increasing cost of drug development and Eroom's Law. It explores ways to reform clinical trials, examining why companies are moving trials to Australia, and issues with ethics boards.
- How to spot a monopoly: Measuring competition
This episode discusses a new method for measuring competition to identify monopolies. The method is presented as a potential solution for economic regulation.
- The death rays that guard life: We can use ultraviolet light to disinfect public spaces
This episode discusses how germicidal ultraviolet light can be used to disinfect public spaces. It explores the potential for this technology to make airborne diseases as rare as those carried by water.
- Issue 23: Egg freezing, Australian refugee policy and ASML
This episode explores egg freezing effectiveness, examines Australian refugee policy and its lessons for European leaders, and delves into the success of ASML. The hosts also discuss Britain's nuclear industry decline, the invention of the…
- Inflatable space stations: Creating artificial gravity so we can live in space
This episode discusses inflatable space stations and the need for artificial gravity to enable human life in space. It references an article and images available on the Works in Progress website.
- The algorithm will see you now: Why radiologists haven't been replaced by AI
This episode explores why AI has not replaced radiologists, despite the field's reliance on digital images and repeatable tasks. It discusses the challenges of implementing AI in radiology based on an article by Deena Mousa.
- Did status signaling ruin architecture?
Samuel, Ben, and Aria discuss theories regarding why older architecture is often perceived as more beautiful than modern buildings. They explore topics such as survivorship bias, labor costs, mass manufacturing, and the role of status sign…
- Sunscreen for the planet: Geoengineering a cooler planet
This episode explores the concept of geoengineering as a tool to cool the planet by reflecting sunlight, drawing parallels to the cooling effects of volcanoes. It features an article by Daniele Visioni and Dakota Gruener, read by Stuart Ri…
- How to redraw a city: Land readjustment in Japan
This episode explores how Japan addresses complex urban planning challenges through land readjustment, a process that allows homeowners to replan neighborhoods via supermajority vote. The episode is based on an article by Anya Martin.
- Longevity
Aria, Ben, and Saloni discuss the factors behind increased human lifespans and explore biological processes in animals that may offer insights into aging. They examine potential methods to promote healthy aging in humans and pets.
- Two is already too many: Why South Korean birth rates are so low
The Works in Progress podcast episode 'Two is already too many' discusses South Korea's critically low birth rate, where current generations expect only six great-grandchildren per hundred people. The episode suggests the world can learn f…
- Should everyone be taking statins?
Saloni Dattani and Jacob Trefethen discuss the history and science of cholesterol management, covering the development of statins, the mechanism of cardiovascular disease, and recent breakthroughs in lipid-lowering therapies.
- Why Europe has stagnated
Pieter, Sam, and Aria discuss the reasons behind Europe's stagnant economic growth compared to the United States. They explore topics including tech influence, regulation, environmental policy, energy issues, and potential solutions for th…
- Inflation in Rome, Weimar Germany and Soviet Russia with Mark Koyama
Economic historian Mark Koyama joins Ben and Pieter to discuss the political fallout of inflation crises in the Roman Empire, Weimar Germany, and Soviet Russia. They explore how inflation can erode faith in government and influence voting…
- The nuclear renaissance
This episode discusses the unfulfilled promise of nuclear power as cheap and clean energy, contrasting its global trajectory with France's surprising success. The hosts explore the reasons behind these divergent paths.
- The first cancer vaccine
This episode details the development of the Hepatitis B vaccine, the first of its kind to prevent cancer. Hosts Saloni Dattani and Jacob Trefethen explore the discovery of the virus, the creation of the vaccine from a viral surface protein…
- The history of vaccines
This episode traces the history of vaccines, from early experiments with smallpox and cowpox to the development of immunizations against rabies, TB, and polio. It highlights the evolution from folk practices to scientific methods through h…
- Should we ban ugly buildings?
The Works in Progress Podcast episode discusses the YIMBY movement's internal conflict regarding the balance between increasing housing supply and maintaining architectural beauty. It explores how aesthetic regulations might influence publ…
- The economics of the baby bust with Jesús Fernández-Villaverde
Jesús Fernández-Villaverde, Professor of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania, analyzes the global decline in birth rates, touching on topics such as childcare subsidies and the differing fertility crises in various countries.
- Will AI solve medicine?
The Works in Progress podcast episode "Will AI solve medicine?" discusses the role of artificial intelligence in drug development. Hosts Jacob and Saloni examine AI's potential to accelerate processes like discovery, testing, manufacturing…
- Treating cost disease with Congressman Jake Auchincloss
Works in Progress Podcast features Congressman Jake Auchincloss discussing the Abundance movement. Topics include urban development, historical presidential comparisons, immigration policy, and the politics of building and regulating.
- The art of protein design with AI
This episode of Works in Progress features Jacob and Saloni discussing the use of AI tools such as RFDiffusion, AlphaFold, and ProteinMPNN to design entirely new proteins from scratch. They explore the potential of these technologies to re…
- Hacking proteins with AI
Jacob and Saloni discuss how AI tools such as AlphaFold and ProteinMPNN are used to re-engineer proteins, potentially leading to safer, more stable, and effective medical innovations including vaccines for Strep A, COVID, and RSV.
- How traffic modernism ruined cities with Nicholas Boys Smith
Nicholas Boys Smith discusses how traffic modernism has impacted urban planning, suggesting people distrust current architectural trends. He offers a playbook for YIMBY advocates to gain public trust.
- 100 years of insulin in 15 minutes
In this episode of Works in Progress, Saloni Dattani details the 100-year history of insulin, from its origins in pig pancreases to its modern production in bacteria. This mini-series episode covers drug development, AI, and how insulin be…
- Why feminism worked best in the West with Alice Evans
Social scientist Alice Evans joins Sam and Aria to explore why Western feminism has been more successful than similar movements in East Asia. They discuss dating markets, workplace drinking culture, media control, and tax policies aimed at…
- Proteins: Weird blobs that do important things
This episode begins a mini-series on proteins, drug development, and AI. Hosts Saloni Dattani and Jacob Trefethen discuss how proteins fold, the complexity within cells, and share surprising protein statistics.
- How to become President of China with Dan Wang
Dan Wang, author of "Breakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future," joins Works in Progress to discuss whether China is better run by engineers, lawyers, or regulators, and explores the foundations of its economy.
- The underrated economics of land with Mike Bird
Mike Bird, Wall Street Editor at The Economist, explores the economics of land, addressing questions about Chinese housing costs, historical Russian land reforms, and the fate of Georgism. The discussion draws on his expertise and insights…
- How Henry VIII accidentally started the Industrial Revolution, with Anton Howes
Historian Anton Howes joins the Works in Progress Podcast to discuss how Henry VIII's economic policies, intended to weaken Britain, unexpectedly created conditions favorable for the Industrial Revolution. He details how a small group reco…
- Stian Westlake on the intangible economy and paying for social science
Stian Westlake discusses economic disparities, business scalability, and the role of social science research. He is the Executive Chair of the Economic and Social Research Council and author of Capitalism Without Capital: The Rise of the I…
- Samuel Hughes on The Great Downzoning
Samuel Hughes explains The Great Downzoning, a phenomenon where Western cities lost their historical permissiveness regarding land use and building regulations in the first half of the 20th century. He discusses the causes and consequences…
- Lenacapavir: The miracle drug that could end AIDS
The Works in Progress Podcast episode discusses Lenacapavir, an HIV drug demonstrating nearly 100% efficacy, which could significantly impact global HIV prevention and treatment. Hosts Saloni and Jacob also cover the history of HIV, retrov…