Babbage: Back to school

<p>As debates over vaccinating children rage and the Delta variant of covid-19 surges in many countries, <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/08/17/how-might-the-return-to-classrooms-affect-covid-19-transmission?utm_campaign=babbage&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">what impact will the return to classrooms have on the covid-19 pandemic?</a> Also, our science correspondent Alok Jha asks ecologist Meg Lowman about the secrets that can be revealed by exploring the treetops. And the northern white rhino is <a href="https://www.economist.com/technology-quarterly/2021/06/15/reviving-extinct-species-may-soon-be-possible?utm_campaign=babbage&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">nearing extinction</a>, but can technology bring this species <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2018/07/05/ivf-may-bring-northern-white-rhinos-back-from-the-brink-of-extinction?utm_campaign=babbage&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">back from the brink</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><p><br></p><p>Terms and conditions for the book competition featured in this podcast are available at <a href="http://economist.com/podcast-contest" rel="noo