Natasha Loda
Showing 1–2 of 2 transcripts.
- The Economist27 min
Come on out, the vacuum’s fine: SpaceX
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Oliver Morton, Jared Isaacman, Sarah Gillis, Anna Menon, Scott Petit, Natasha Loda, Adam Roberts, Lane Green
SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission successfully executed the first commercial spacewalk with crew member Jared Isaacman and three companions exiting a modified Dragon capsule at an unprecedented polar orbit altitude. This operation tested new low-pressure spacesuits and vacuum-compatible conditions, positioning SpaceX ahead of competitor Boeing in the commercial crewed spaceflight sector while validating three planned missions led by billionaire Isaacman. The achievement underscores a broader shift toward private-sector-led exploration, contrasting with the government-driven Apollo era and highlighting significant engineering advancements in human spaceflight.
- The Economist11 min
Did covid-19 leak from a Chinese lab?
One year after the COVID-19 pandemic caused millions of deaths and trillions in economic damage, scientists continue to debate whether the virus emerged via natural zoonotic spillover or escaped the Wuhan Institute of Virology. While early dismissal of the lab leak theory was fueled by political rhetoric, recent shifts and confirmed past genetic engineering capabilities at the facility have compelled intelligence agencies to investigate further despite China's obstruction of raw data. Experts maintain that a natural origin remains the most probable scenario, yet the inability to access withheld information means the virus's true source may remain an unsolved mystery for decades.