Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
In Utrecht, says Steve Caplin, they've installed a fish video doorbell so the lockkeeper can open the lock for spawning fish. Scientists have managed to turn lead into gold but, even with the Large Hadron Collider, they only produced 29 picograms. There's a way of adding three extra screens to your laptop. Audible are to use AI to narrate audiobooks. Fusion scientists think they can cut the time taken to get to Mars by two-thirds. A dead man testified at the trial of his murderer in Arizona. And a duck has been caught speeding by a radar trap in Switzerland, for the second time in seven years.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
Finlay Mathers and Neil Shah of Edison Capital discuss two tech funds heavily involved in AI. Polar Capital's successful Technology Fund has recently shifted massively into the field, with an 80-90% exposure to AI. Focussing on the middle section of the company life cycle, its managers say that AI is on an exponential curve, much like the development of early skyscrapers. Molten Ventures is a publicly-quoted VC fund concentrating on early stage AI, with exposure to R&D and startups. It has plenty of cash ready for seizing interesting opportunities. Both managers consider AI not to be a trend, but a fundamental shift in technology.
Guests: Finlay Mathers
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University says that UK politics is at a crossroads. He explains that many of the themes of modern political discourse have their roots in 1647's Putney Debates; he discusses the ideas of four diverse academics on the shifting sands of our politics and governance. And what of the future? Will Labour become the natural party of government? Are Reform the new Thatcherite Conservatives? And, with the LibDems almost neck and neck with the Conservatives in some polls, which party will end up in fourth place?
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
James Cameron-Wilson says that #1 Thunderbolts* is keeping the UK box office ticking over. A mildly entertaining Marvel movie starring Florence Pugh and David Harbour, it is very noisy and features dreadful badinage. He was hoping for more from Netflix's Havoc, the biggest feature film ever to be shot wholly in Wales. Starring Tom Hardy, nothing about this John Wick knock-off rings true and, with no character development, it feels endless. After enjoying A Simple Favour, he was disappointed by Another Simple Favour on Amazon Prime. With Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively again, it starts promisingly with some good one-liners but descends into unbelievable farce.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin wonders why scientists have developed a cake with pneumatic robotic dancing bears on top, rechargeable but also edible. Amazon have a new budget service – Haul. DVD anti-piracy warnings were piratical themselves. Spielberg's film Duel is about to become a reality in Texas. Delivery robots will soon be able to climb stairs. EEGs are to be considerably less intrusive. Agatha Christie is now helping budding detective writers – from beyond the grave. And Chinese scientists have worked out how to tattoo tardigrades.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Political commentator Mike Indian discusses the predicted US-UK trade deal which is unlikely to be the full deal pursued by the UK for years but should still be a positive. The Indian deal is a significant one, given that India will be the 3rd biggest economy in the world. Both, however, are examples of how the world is becoming ever more complicated. Mike discusses the local elections, a bad night for both Conservatives and Labour. He doesn't think that Reform's success is a flash in the pan but feels there will be a ceiling on its level of support. He also discusses the remarkable turnarounds in the Canadian and Australian elections, both of which owe a considerable debt to Donald Trump's sabre rattling.
Guests: Mike Indian
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Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
Russ Mould of A J Bell explains that markets are hoping that trade deals might be in the offing to reduce the effect of President Trump's tariffs. It is too early to tell if this is a triumph of hope over expectation or if the UK will be one of the first companies to strike a deal with the US and reduce the effect of tariffs. Russ goes through some of the companies which have explained how they will be affected by American tariffs and which might benefit from the Indian trade deal.
Guests: Russ Mould
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin explains the research showing how junk food inhibits the brain. There's a tailor-made Bugatti watch costing a mere $340,000. British scientists plan to weigh the world's trees with a newly-launched satellite. A Newcastle company hopes to grow dinosaur hides in their lab. Urinals could soon be made a little less splashy. Google are trying to talk to dolphins. And Chocolate Digestives are 100 and we've apparently been eating them wrongly for a century.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
James Cameron-Wilson boosts #2 Sinners again but also enjoyed #4 The Accountant 2, again starring Ben Affleck 8 years on. With a plot like a chess game it is smart, entertaining and often very funny. #22 is The Friend with Naomi Watts & Bill Murray. A handsomely acted look at death, it feels like the adaptation it is and lacks drama. Much better is #28 Julie Keeps Quiet. This rivetting and topical Belgian film about a young tennis player in crisis has an electric central performance. James enjoyed Viola Davis as the US President in G20 on Amazon Prime. A topical thriller it is entertaining but silly, falling about halfway between Segal and Cruise.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
Chloe Won Yung Shin of Edison Group thinks investors should keep an eye out for Metlen. It's a Greek energy and metals company with a €6bn market cap heading for a second listing in London later in the year, where it may join the FTSE100. It's Europe's only aluminium producer and has an increasing interest in producing critical metals. IP Group invests in intellectual property businesses, mainly in the UK. As a result of recent headwinds it is trading at over 70% discount to net asset value. But there are plenty of positives about the business. Both are discussed on Edison's website. https://www.edisongroup.com
Guests: Chloe Won Yung Shin
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