Plain English

Plain English


Latest Episodes

The rise and slow fall of the indoor mall (Wander around)
March 11, 2024

" The enclosed shopping mall was once the epicenter of suburban social life. But now, the age of the indoor mall is ending. E-commerce and shifting consumer preferences have left some malls struggling

The fate of the penny in 7 currencies (More trouble than it's worth)
March 07, 2024

" Swiss francs, British pounds, euros, and various kinds of dollars are divided into hundredths. But not all currencies have 1/100th coins. Today, we look at how Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switze

‘Nearshoring’ in Mexico and eastern Europe (Carve out)
March 04, 2024

" If the 1990s and 2000s were about globalization and offshoring, then the 2020s are about ""nearshoring."" Large companies in the U.S. and western Europe want to bring manufacturing and services clos

The winners and losers of Leap Years (Fall on)
February 29, 2024

" Leap Years come (about!) once every four years. The unusual day can cause havoc for some people, least of all the approximately 5 million who were born on February 29. In this lighthearted story, we

AM radio goes missing in electric cars (Have something going)
February 26, 2024

" AM radio has been around for over a hundred years and one of the most popular places to listen is in the car. Now, though, some carmakers have decided not to include AM antennas in their new electri

British Post Office scandal: a 'miscarriage of justice' (Drop off)
February 22, 2024

" Thousands of post office workers in the U.K. were falsely accused of accounting fraud--all because of a faulty computer system. Hundreds were falsely convicted, while many more lost their savings. F

Correcting bias in academic research (Give in)
February 19, 2024

" The world of academic publishing has been shaken by a series of scandals of late. But one idea aims to correct the biases in research. A ""registered report"" brings greater transparency and control

The dark side of 'publish or perish' (Cross a line)
February 15, 2024

" Academic researchers are under intense career pressure to publish their findings, a pressure known as ""publish or perish."" While that pressure means that researchers stay productive, it can also l

More problems for Boeing's 737-MAX (Turn around)
February 12, 2024

" A key part blew off the body of a Boeing 737-MAX plane shortly after takeoff, ripping the shirt of a passenger and causing a drop in cabin air pressure. The plane landed safely, but America's FAA ha

Should London's pedicabs be regulated? (Draw the line)
February 08, 2024

" Pedicabs -- bicycles with fancy carriages on the back -- are popular in London's West End and SoHo. Due to a quirk in London's taxi law, they operate without any type of regulation. But they're wide