70 episodes

We’re fascinated by everyday objects and what they can tell us about the global economy. Join us every week as reporters from our global newsroom dig into the most fascinating facets of an object: where it came from, how it got to us, and what it can tell us about the forces that are changing the way we live and work.

Quartz Obsession Quartz

    • Business

We’re fascinated by everyday objects and what they can tell us about the global economy. Join us every week as reporters from our global newsroom dig into the most fascinating facets of an object: where it came from, how it got to us, and what it can tell us about the forces that are changing the way we live and work.

    Drug names: The machinations behind the monikers

    Drug names: The machinations behind the monikers

    Ever heard of Viagra, Rogaine, or Ozempic? 
    The process for turning a chemical compound into a household name is both a science and an art. In fact, naming a prescription drug can take a manufacturer up to four years, as a set of three monikers per medicine must run the gauntlet of several regulatory agencies.
    It all starts with determining a drug’s chemical and generic names — both of which involve established rules. After those are settled, the rest is marketing. 
    So how do some drugs become memorable? What global trends dominate drug naming? And what happens when a company gets it wrong?
    Get all the answers in our season 8 opener.

    • 15 min
    Tail lights: Smart signals

    Tail lights: Smart signals

    You’ve seen the endless sea of red when you’re stuck in traffic. But chances are, you haven’t given the simple tail light much thought. Car designers past and present have, though — and so has Jason Torchinsky, co-founder of auto news blog The Autopian. These signals, which include the lights that indicate a car’s existence on the road, brake lights, and turn indicators, have traveled from oil lamp to bespoke brand signature over the years. All so we can show each other where we are and where we’re going. This episode is guaranteed to change how you think about any road-based journey (and it might involve a little tail light fan fiction, too).
    Presented by Deloitte
    Episode art by Vicky Leta

    • 26 min
    Smart rings: Digital digits

    Smart rings: Digital digits

    Smart rings have been around for years. And according to some tech experts (and a lot of consumers), they might outlast the smartwatch. These sleeker, less bulky wearables collect more accurate data, often at a lower price point. And the technology has come a long way. But do we really want or need all this information about our bodies? And does having all that information at our, well, fingertips actually help us in any practical way?
    Presented by Deloitte
    Episode art by Vicky Leta

    • 25 min
    VR headsets: We're practically there

    VR headsets: We're practically there

    We’ve long associated virtual reality with escaping to someplace more exciting, but the technology has never quite caught up with science fiction’s promise. But VR headsets’ emerging practical applications are a different kind of thrilling — training workers, helping in healthcare, making the workplace less stressful. All of these are reasons to celebrate, and show that VR headsets actually do have a place in every home and office, without being a means to escape them.

    • 25 min
    Green steel: Structural change

    Green steel: Structural change

    Think of the world’s dirtiest industries and you’re probably thinking along the lines of oil or meat… but the buildings we live in, the bridges we drive on, the cars we drive in, those all involve something pretty nasty. Steel. Traditional steelmaking is a famously dirty process, but we’re here to tell you that there’s a greener way to make the thing that makes all the things.

    • 24 min
    Video game remakes: Revival of the fittest

    Video game remakes: Revival of the fittest

    Love a game, buy a game. Really love a game, buy a new, improved version of that game. The video game industry knows that you don’t even have to be a die hard gamer to get out your wallet for a chance to recapture the thrill of killing that zombie or discovering that master sword. Plus, there are new technologies to consider — new graphics to enjoy, new storylines to flesh out, the possibilities are endless, and the piles of gold coins keep growing.

    • 27 min

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