Business Daily

Latest Episodes:

Business and science: How risky is SynBio? Sep 05, 2023

Show notes

For all the exciting developments in the synthetic biology industry, there are also concerns.

People can edit genes in their garages these days, so who’s regulating this space?

Plus - we’ll hear about the exciting new business models with biology at their core, including one of the first synbio businesses to trade as a public stock - Ginkgo Bioworks.

Presenter: Gareth Mitchell Producer: Izzy Greenfield

(Image: A petri dish in a lab. Credit: Getty Images)

Business and science: What you need to know about SynBio Sep 04, 2023

Show notes

In this week’s series focusing on business and science, we start things off by looking at the world of synthetic biology.

The industry is estimated to be worth around $30bn in the next few years, but how is that money actually made?

We speak to businesses across the world to find out how they’ve taken the building blocks of synthetic biology and engineered them into products that we use on a daily basis.

Presenter: Gareth Mitchell Producer: Izzy Greenfield

(Image: A scientist working with lab grown meat. Credit: Getty Images)

Cutting waste in the beauty industry Sep 01, 2023

Show notes

Many of us have drawers and boxes full of beauty products that we never end up finishing.

We meet the Nordic start-ups who are trying to cut some of that waste by changing the way we shop.

We find out about tech which personalises products, and then makes it 'on demand' rather than in bulk.

And will the use of AI actually end up encouraging people to buy more, rather than less?

Presented and produced by Maddy Savage

(Image: A scientist at Swedish tech start-up Ellure. Credit: BBC)

The row over Uruguay's pulp mills Aug 31, 2023

Show notes

Does the paper industry use too much water? As concern about plastic waste grows, many companies have switched from plastic packaging to paper, but how environmentally friendly is paper production?

Uruguay, in South America, has been suffering from drought and its forestry and pulp milling industries are coming under increasing scrutiny for the amount of water used.

We’ve been to an enormous new pulp mill in central Uruguay, capable of producing more than two million tonnes of pulp every year, to find out more.

Producer / presenter: Grace Livingstone

(Image: Water protests in Uruguay; Credit: BBC)

The importance of sleep Aug 30, 2023

Show notes

How does sleep relate to your job, your income, or your socio-economic status?

We look at the impact of a good, and bad night’s rest. We discuss the factors affecting sleep, including access to health care, where and how you live, and how that might influence other aspects of your life.

Plus we look at the growing market in devices to ‘cure’ sleep problems.

Producer and presenter: Elizabeth Hotson

(Image: A man in bed in a deep sleep. Credit: Getty Images)

The UNESCO effect Aug 29, 2023

Show notes

Delegates will soon descend on Saudi Arabia for perhaps the most consequential meeting in UNESCO’s history. With an extended agenda after last year’s cancellation, it’s the first World Heritage Committee meeting to be held in-person for four years.

In this episode we examine the so-called ‘UNESCO effect’ - and hear from entrepreneurs around Angkor Wat, in Cambodia, about the mixed consequences of its listing. We also hear from officials in Liverpool, in England, about UNESCO's decision to remove World Heritage status from the city's historic centre and docklands.

Presenter / producer: Laura Heighton-Ginns Image: Angkor Wat; Credit: Getty Images

Ireland's data centre boom Aug 28, 2023

Show notes

These tech powerhouses bring in money and jobs but can be environmentally problematic and in Ireland data centres account for almost a fifth of the electricity consumption.

We explore how Ireland can keep hold of this valuable industry and make sure it's energy supply isn't affected.

Producer / presenter: Leanna Byrne

(Image: Data centre; Credit: Getty Images)

Swiftonomics Aug 25, 2023

Show notes

Taylor Swift's Eras tour is predicted to make a record $1 billion - but how?

As countries around the world grapple with high inflation, how has Taylor Swift been able to persuade fans to spend money?

Olivia Wilson speaks to Brittany Hodak, author of Creating Superfans, to understand the role Swiftomania has played in her commercial and financial success.

Tyler Morse is the CEO of MCR, the third largest hotel owner-operator in the United States. He explains how Taylor Swift’s concerts have had a significant impact on the local economies of the cities she has toured in – including some of his hotels in Phoenix, Arizona.

Presented and produced by Olivia Wilson.

(Image: Taylor Swift performing in Seattle. Credit: Getty Images)

The end of the office? Aug 24, 2023

Show notes

Many of us started working from home in the coronavirus pandemic - and never went back.

Now, office space in many cities around the world is standing empty. We visit Mumbai, New York and London, where an increase in home working means buildings in business districts standing empty. And Singapore, which seems to be bucking the trend, with demand as high as ever.

We also hear from the CEO of US-based commercial real estate company Remax - are we witnessing the end of the traditional office?

Produced and presented by Alex Bell.

The return of the wine cork Aug 23, 2023

Show notes

The humble wine cork, once the main way to stop a bottle of wine, had its market share decimated in the 1990’s when screw caps were favoured. However, the problem of 'corked' wine has been almost completely solved and cork is recognised as a more sustainable, if slightly less convenient material for wine makers to use.

In this episode we visit the world’s largest cork producing region in Portugal to find out more about how the cork industry has hit the good times once again. We explore which wines taste better with cork and how supermarkets are cutting down on wine packaging.

Presenter / producer: Rick Kelsey Additional reporting: Alastair Leithead Image: Cork production; Credit: Getty Images