Babbage: Belt, road and orbit

<p>China recently launched the first module of its <a href="https://espresso.economist.com/9f369b3d166fd7623b321cfe91ca4c9f?utm_campaign=babbage&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">new space station</a>—what impact will this have on the international scientific community? Also, how <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2021/04/22/mapping-cancer-as-if-it-were-the-universe?utm_campaign=babbage&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">orbiting telescopes could be useful in understanding cancer</a>. And when solving problems, <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2021/04/14/why-people-forget-that-less-is-often-more?utm_campaign=babbage&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">why do people prefer to innovate by adding things rather than getting rid of them</a>? Kenneth Cukier hosts&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at <a href="http://www.economist.com/podcastoffer?utm_campaign=babbage&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">economist.com/podcastoffer</a> and sign up for our new weekly science newsletter at <a href="http://www.economist.com/simplyscience?utm_campaign=babbage&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">economist.com/simplyscience</a>.</p> &#10;&nbsp;<br /><hr><p style='color: grey; font - size: 0.75em; '>See <a style='color: grey; ' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>