Fertile ambitions: scientists’ plans to slow the biological clock

About this episode

<p>Two European startups are tackling the chromosomal abnormalities that make it difficult for older women to get pregnant. Their <u><a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2026/10/26/treatments-for-age-related-infertility-are-being-developed-at-last?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">innovations</a></u> might also prevent younger women from miscarrying. <u><a href="https://www.economist.com/interactive/europe/2026/10/09/belarus-is-becoming-increasingly-russian?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Belarusian culture</a></u> looks increasingly Russian. And the world is taking a liking to <u><a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/09/23/biltong-is-going-global-like-south-africans?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">biltong</a></u>.</p><br><p>Guests and host:</p><ul><li>Catherine Brahic, environment editor</li><li>Katie Bryant, senior video producer</li><li>John McDermott, chief Africa correspondent</li><li>Ọrẹ Ogunbiyi, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li><li>Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li><li></li></ul><p>Topics covered: </p><ul><li>Infertility, in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), </li><li>Belarus, Russia, Alexander Lukashenko</li><li>Biltong, South Africa, meat</li><li></li></ul><p><em>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—<u><a href="https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">subscribe to The Economist</a></u>.</em></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>