Recode Daily

There’s a climate solution hiding in our walls

24 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Buildings waste a lot of energy. One low-tech solution could fix that. Neel Dhanesha, Science and Recode fellow for Vox.com, explains.  Read Neel’s...

The hydrogen car revival

23 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The concept of the hydrogen-powered car has been around for decades, but still has yet to really take off. Vox’s Umair Irfan (@umairirfan) tells us ...

How to resurrect a coral reef

22 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Step one: Break coral. Step two: Hack coral sex. Benji Jones, an environment reporter for Vox, explains. Read Benji's reporting: https://www.vox.com/...

Making cryptocurrency climate-friendly

21 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Mining for bitcoin uses a lot of energy. Is there a chance that the crypto industry can become more eco-friendly? Vox’s Neel Dhanesha (@neel_dhan) i...

Can we stay cool without heating up the planet?

17 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do we stay cool on a warming planet? Air conditioning is one way, but depending on what kind of AC unit you have, it could be actually polluting t...

Sold: Apollo 11 moon dust

16 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A tiny sample of dust collected by Neil Armstrong during his historic moon landing was auctioned off in April. Thanks to an unusual series of events, ...

Why am I still getting robocalls???

15 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

They made a Covid-19 vaccine in less than a year, but we're still getting spammed by robocalls. What gives? Recode’s Sara Morrison explains. Read Sa...

What if the future of work is exactly the same?

14 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For many, the work revolution that’s supposedly going on across the country right now doesn’t feel very revolutionary. This episode originally ai...

The space station race

13 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

After decades in orbit, the International Space Station goes offline in 2030 and will retire by burning up in the atmosphere. A crop of new space stat...

Biden makes clean energy a national security issue

10 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

President Joe Biden invoked a war power from the 1950s to build heat pumps and solar panels. Neel Dhanesha, a Science and Recode fellow at Vox, explai...

Why America makes tech tycoons into superheroes

09 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Our founding myths persevere in the hype machine around tech celebrities. University of Washington historian Margaret O’Mara (@margaretomara) explai...

Sheryl Sandberg’s mixed legacy at Meta

08 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The executive, who turned Facebook into a profitable business, leaves behind a series of controversies. Recode senior correspondent Shirin Ghaffary ex...

911 is getting better but less private

07 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As the government and cellphone companies work to improve emergency response, concerns arise around the collection and sharing of sensitive personal i...

How often can you get Covid?

06 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Does your immunity still last for months? Today, Explained asked a researcher who has been studying omicron reinfections. This episode of Today, Expla...

Amazon calls Mom and Pop

03 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Delivering packages to rural America can be expensive, so the tech giant is trying to enlist small businesses to fill in the gaps. Recode senior corre...

Working from home is making you more productive

02 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Quick, go tell your boss! And read Recode senior reporter Rani Molla’s story here: https://www.vox.com/recode/23129752/work-from-home-productivi...

Electric cars vs. flamingos

01 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The booming electric car industry has become a big nuisance for flamingos. Benji Jones explains. Read Benji’s story: https://www.vox.com/22965660/e...

What can you learn from the guy who built the iPod?

31 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Peter Kafka talks with Tony Fadell, who helped bring the iPod and iPhone to life, and then built and sold Nest, the smart home company. His new book ...

The shooters were 18

27 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Writer and parent Joanna Schroeder wrote a guide for parents about what to look out for and how to intervene. This episode of Today, Explained was pro...

Data breaches are everywhere and consequences are ???

26 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Companies lose your data and then nothing happens. Emily Stewart, senior reporter for Vox, explains.  Read Emily’s story: https://www.vox.com/the-g...

Social justice investors

25 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The kids of America’s wealthiest want to invest their way to change. But is “anti-capitalist” investing even possible? Whizy Kim (@Whizyk) expla...

Flight delayed? Blame a spaceship.

24 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In Florida, a surging number of space launches has created a new type of travel headache. Recode’s Rebecca Heilweil explains.  Read Rebecca’s sto...

The scourge of 'the time tax'

23 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why is it so hard to get government benefits? Annie Lowrey joins The Weeds hosts Dara Lind and Dylan Matthews to discuss her recent story for the Atla...

Mass shooting videos are still going viral

20 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Companies are getting better at responding to incidents like the Buffalo shooting. It’s still not nearly good enough. Recode’s Shirin Ghaffary exp...

Post-Roe, Inc.

19 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Major corporations are scrambling to figure out how they need to prepare for a post-Roe America. Washington Post reporter Todd Frankel (@tcfrankel) ex...

Are we living in a post-privacy age?

18 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ronan Farrow says yes. He joins Peter Kafka on the Recode Media podcast to discuss his latest investigation for The New Yorker into the surveillance t...

Netflix will return after these messages

17 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Netflix’s subscriber base is shrinking. So they’re turning to ads to boost them. Recode senior correspondent Peter Kafka (@pkafka) explains. Read...

The crypto crash

16 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Meme stocks, crypto, and fintech are in their flop era, and it would be funny, except that they're dragging real people down with them. Liz Loppato f...

A cure for sickle cell?

13 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Scientists have developed a long-sought treatment — perhaps even a cure — for sickle cell anemia. But getting it to patients might be an even bigg...

America chips in

12 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The semiconductor was invented in the United States and the country once dominated global manufacturing. Now the Biden administration is spending $52 ...

Our nurdle nightmare

11 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Little plastic balls known as nurdles are polluting our waterways at an alarming rate, causing an environmental catastrophe. Vox science and Recode fe...

The Great Resignation grows up

10 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Earlier in the pandemic, younger, less tenured workers in low-paying jobs in industries such as retail, food service, and health care quit their jobs ...

Seeking an abortion? Better watch your digital footprint.

09 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade. This means that citizens seeking or providing abortions are going to need to be extra vigilent ab...

Apple gives the right to repair*

06 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

*Terms and conditions may apply. Recode's Rebecca Heilweil explains. Read Rebecca's story: https://www.vox.com/recode/22787724/apple-self-service-rig...

Tesla's boss is away. Time for the competition to play.

05 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter may offer a chance for Tesla’s competitors to get some oxygen in the EV marketplace. Recode deputy editor Adam Cla...

Gen Z doesn't dream of labor

04 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Does Gen Z actually hate work? Or do they just hate their working conditions? Vox’s Terry Nguyen on zoomers and their relationship to labor.  Read...

ok groomer

03 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Accounts like “Libs of TikTok” are fueling right-wing media to label people who speak openly about sexuality and gender as “groomers.” Vox’s...

Hollywood's plan to keep butts in seats

02 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As Hollywood adapts to the realities of the streaming and Covid eras, it’s narrowing the scope of the types of movies and moviegoers that hit theate...

What if the future of work is exactly the same?

29 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For many, the work revolution that’s supposedly going on across the country right now doesn’t feel very revolutionary. Vox’s Emily Stewart expla...

Sorry, your iPhone apps are still tracking you

28 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Apple launched its App Tracking Transparency feature one year ago. But did it actually stop tracking and increase privacy for iPhone users? Recode’s...

Twitter's new boss

27 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Elon Musk bought Twitter. Now what? Recode's Peter Kafka explains. Read Peter’s story: https://www.vox.com/recode/23041717/twitter-musk-business-pla...

We’re one step closer to self-farming farms

26 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The most exciting gadget of the year isn’t a TV that displays NFTs or anything related to the metaverse. It’s an autonomous tractor. Recode's Ad...

The Amazonification of the American workforce

25 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We can’t deny it, we all love free shipping. But Amazon’s dominance has turned this former perk into the new industry standard. Recode senior corr...

The death of the gas station

22 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As EVs hit the road, gas stations will have to adapt or risk going out of business. Recode's Rebecca Heilweil explains. Read Rebecca’s story: https...

The threat of Russian cyberwar

21 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Russia is ramping up attacks on Ukraine’s digital infrastructure. The US could be next. This episode of Today Explained was produced by Victoria Cha...

Elon Musk's new troll is buying Twitter

20 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Will it work? The Verge's Liz Lopatto explains. Read Liz's story: https://www.theverge.com/2022/4/14/23025396/elon-musk-jack-dorsey-twitter-hostile-ta...

No one nose

19 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Believe it or not, scientists still don't know how the sense of smell works. But they're looking at how powerful it is - dogs can actually sniff out c...

Catching the Brooklyn subway shooter

18 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

WNYC’s Stephen Nessen explains how New York City’s massive subway surveillance system helped — and hindered — authorities in their search for ...

The State of Streaming

15 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Recode Media's's Peter Kafka talks to analyst Michael Nathanson about Big Media’s new problem: TV ratings are plummeting because all the good stuff ...

Is Noom just another diet?

14 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The weight loss app Noom has been gaining popularity. Is it as revolutionary as it claims, or just another dieting fad? Vox senior reporter Constance ...

A grande victory for Starbucks workers

13 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Starting a union can be a tall order, but many baristas have found it’s an effective way to venti their frustration with management. This episode of...

For sale: Apollo 11 moon dust

12 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A tiny sample of dust collected by Neil Armstrong will go up for auction tomorrow. And thanks to an unusual series of events, this will be the first t...

How roller derby blocked the blockchain

11 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What happened when three stars of roller derby tried to bring NFTs into the arena? Sara Morrison (@SaraMorrison) tells us the saga. Read Sara’s sto...

Why am I still getting robocalls???

08 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

They made a Covid-19 vaccine in less than a year, but we're still getting spammed by robocalls. Can they be stopped? Recode’s Sara Morrison explains...

The bizarre world of bitcoin inheritance

07 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Inheriting crypto is more complicated than it sounds. Recode's Rebecca Heilweil explains. Read Rebecca's story: https://www.vox.com/recode/22971265/b...

Beanie babies were the NFTs of the 90s

06 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when the frenzy ends and the world doesn’t value your valuables? Vox’s Emily Stewart explains what the Beanie Baby bubble burst can t...

The problem with TikTok therapists

05 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Social media is now basically WebMD for mental health. Vox’s Rebecca Jennings explains. This episode was first published Jan. 4, 2022. Read Rebecca...

In your off-time, Slack off

04 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Could simply ignoring that after-hours email or Slack message from work be the best way to say “not right now?” Erica Dhawan, author of Digital Bo...

Facebook reeling to stay relevant

01 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Facebook is continuing to lose younger users to TikTok, so they’re going all in on copying it. Will pushing “Reels” make Facebook more relevant?...

A 'dark' future for grocery stores?

31 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Groceries are a trillion dollar market, and there's a new kind of grocery store trying to break in. Erika Beras, host and reporter for NPR's Planet Mo...

Why hackers want your health data

30 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Nearly 50 million Americans had sensitive health data exposed in 2021. Politico’s Ben Leonard explains why hackers are after it and why you shouldn’...

What happened when El Salvador went crypto

29 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been six months since El Salvador‘s president declared Bitcoin a legal currency, offering many lofty promises about what the cryptocurrency c...

Is there a hack for enlightenment?

28 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Vox's Sigal Samuel talks with scholars and authors Wesley Wildman and Kate Stockly about their book, Spirit Tech: The Brave New World of Consciousness...

Texas moves to the right as Big Tech moves in

25 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Major tech companies are expanding in Texas because of low taxes and lower cost of living. Could the recent slate of discriminatory right-wing social ...

The danger of making the internet safe for kids

24 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When lawmakers focus on children’s online safety to get bills passed, they leave everyone else out. Recode’s Sara Morrison explains. Read Sara’s...

The neon shortage is a bad sign

23 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Russia’s war against Ukraine has ramifications for the chips that power all sorts of tech. Recode’s Rebecca Heilweil explains.  Read Rebecca’s ...

Hedge funds bet big on classic rock

22 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The sale of music catalogs has become big business for legacy artists. Why has this huge investment taken off so recently, and why isn’t hip-hop get...

Can TV take down the cult of the tech founder?

21 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Dropout, Super Pumped, and WeCrashed try to break up our love affair with tech founders. They don’t totally succeed. Recode’s Rani Molla expla...

America needs more internet

18 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The bipartisan infrastructure bill that passed in late 2021 includes substantial funds for expanding broadband internet access to close the digital di...

Crypto goes to war

17 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Cryptocurrency has become a major factor on the battlefield, as evidenced by the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Here to tell us about the role crypto has pl...

Electric cars vs. flamingos

16 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The booming electric car industry in Chile has become a big nuisance for flamingos. Benji Jones explains. Read Benji’s story: https://www.vox.com/22...

Radio, someone still loves you

15 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The BBC is bringing back shortwave radio broadcasts to counter censorship and disinformation in Russia and Ukraine. Professor D.W. Stupples explains. ...

Can Russian oligarchs influence Putin’s war?

14 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Their muted reactions to sanctions reveal Putin’s power — and isolation. Recode’s Whizy Kim explains.  Read Whizy’s story: https://www.vox.co...

Biden sees two sides to bitcoin

11 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On Wednesday President Biden signed an executive order related to cryptocurrency regulations. It’s actually being largely welcomed by the crypto com...

How Kibbe body types became an internet obsession

10 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How an out-of-print style guide from the 1980s unexpectedly spawned an online fandom. Vox’s Terry Nguyen explains. Read Terry’s story: https://www...

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has cosmic implications

09 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the aftermath of the Cold War, the US and Russia have collaborated in space exploration and research. But then Russia invaded Ukraine. How does thi...

In your off-time, Slack off

08 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the modern era, there are a glut of ways for us to communicate with one another. In our professional lives, this can create an expectation that we ...

Covering Russia-Ukraine, online and on the ground

07 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Recode Media's Peter Kafka talks to three reporters about the realities of covering the war in Ukraine and sorting truth from disinformation -- from t...

Big Tech’s Russia problem

04 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Social media companies are in a standoff with Russia on censorship and there’s no easy solution. Recode’s Shirin Ghaffary explains. Read Shirin’...

Will Trump's new echo chamber matter?

03 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Former President Trump finally made good on his promise to set up his own social network to rival Twitter. So how has that been going? Makena Kelly, p...

The bizarre world of bitcoin inheritance

02 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Inheriting crypto is more complicated than it sounds. Recode's Rebecca Heilweil explains. Read Rebecca's story: https://www.vox.com/recode/22971265/bi...

Russia's war with Ukraine — and reality

01 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sean Illing talks with journalist, author, and Russian disinformation scholar Peter Pomerantsev about the invasion of Ukraine. Recorded on Friday, Feb...

Russia, Ukraine, and the threat of cyberwar

28 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As part of its invasion of Ukraine, Russia is using cyberattacks against the country’s infrastructure, banks, and more. Cybersecurity journalist Kim...

Uber, but for TV

25 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When Recode’s Peter Kafka advises you not to write your book, WRITE THAT BOOK. That’s the lesson Mike Isaac learned: His book “Super Pumped: The...

The big downside to the rise of sports betting apps

24 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Maybe you shouldn't be able to bet your mortgage on your phone? Recode’s Peter Kafka explains. Today’s episode was produced by Taylor Maycan. Mix ...

The unstoppable robocall

23 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

They made a Covid-19 vaccine in less than a year, but we're still getting spammed by robocalls. Can they be stopped? Recode’s Sara Morrison explains...

The world’s most powerful cyberweapon

22 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The NSO’s Pegasus has the power to invade the personal space of almost everyone on the planet. The New York Times’s Mark Mazzetti explains the ris...

Bitcoin Bonnie and Clyde

18 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A tech investor and his rapper wife were busted for a multi-billion dollar bitcoin heist. They couldn’t really spend any of the money. This episode ...

Nice raise. Too bad about inflation.

17 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Higher prices mean your boss may need to give you more than just a small raise. Recode’s Rani Molla explains. Read Rani’s story: https://www.vox.c...

Does deplatforming extremists work?

16 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It depends. Recode’s Shirin Ghaffary explains.  Read Shirin’s story: https://www.vox.com/recode/22913046/deplatforming-extremists-ban-qanon-proud...

The mushroom detectives of Facebook

15 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When a loved one eats a potentially deadly plant in the front yard, time is of the essence. A Facebook group is stepping in to help users get answers ...

How F-ed is Facebook?

14 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Does a bad showing on the stock market, compounding legal woes, and a drop in usage spell big problems for the tech juggernaut? Recode reporter Shirin...

The Amazon for NFTs

11 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

NFTs (non-fungible tokens) have been gaining mainstream attention lately, but the big business of buying and selling them largely rests on the shoulde...

America needs more internet

10 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The bipartisan infrastructure bill that passed in late 2021 includes substantial funds for expanding broadband internet access to close the digital di...

Why we can't pay attention anymore

09 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sean Illing talks with the author Johann Hari about his new book Stolen Focus, which explores what's happening — and what's already happened — to ...

The ghost stores of Instagram

08 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

That cute dress you bought off Instagram could be found for much cheaper on Shein, AliExpress or Amazon. Vox’s Terry Nguyen explains.  Read Terry’...

Overworking remotely

07 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Workers like working from home, but managers worry it’s bad for business. Is remote work yielding poor results, or could the Great Recession be the ...

The male anxiety industrial complex

04 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Health care brands want to leverage young men’s anxiety over erections and hair loss into a multibillion-dollar empire. Reporter Jesse Barron (@_jes...

A 3G eulogy

03 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

3G networking revolutionized wireless internet connectivity two decades ago. Now, wireless companies are ridding themselves of the increasingly outdat...

BYOB (Be your own boss)

01 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Americans are tired of working for other people, so they’re starting their own businesses in record-breaking numbers. Today’s episode was produced...