The Week Unwrapped: EU vs. Apple, lab-made embryos and power naps
Will the bloc force another iPhone redesign? Why are scientists creating synthetic human embryos? And is napping the secret to better brain health?
Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Rory Reid, Rebekah Evans and Suchandrika Chakrabarti.
You can subscribe to The Week Unwrapped wherever you get your podcasts:
In this week’s episode, we discuss:
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Apple vs. EU
Another iPhone redesign is on the cards after the European Parliament green-lit new rules that will force Apple and other tech firms to make batteries in their devices “easily” replaceable by users. The latest requirement comes less than a year after USB-C charging ports were mandated by the bloc. How will Apple react and what does it mean for iPhone fans?
Lab-made embryos
Scientists claim to have created the world’s first “synthetic” human embryos from stem cells. The reported development sidesteps the need for eggs and sperm and could aid research into genetic disorders. But concerns are also being voiced about the ethical and legal implications.
Power naps
Short daytime naps may improve cognitive function by slowing the rate at which our brains shrink with age, according to new research. The University College London study linked regular napping with larger brain volume, which is associated with a lower risk of dementia and other diseases. So can siestas really help keep memory loss at bay?
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Fannie Flagg’s 6 favorite books that sparked her imagination
Feature The author recommends works by Johanna Spyri, John Steinbeck, and more
-
Google: A monopoly past its prime?
Feature Google’s antitrust case ends with a slap on the wrist as courts struggle to keep up with the tech industry’s rapid changes
-
Patrick Hemingway: The Hemingway son who tended to his father’s legacy
Feature He was comfortable in the shadow of his famous father, Ernest Hemingway
-
The Week Unwrapped: Why is horse-racing going on strike?
Podcast Plus, will the South Korean women who worked in state-run brothels set up for US soldiers succeed? And what’s behind a surge in leg-lengthening surgery?
-
The Week Unwrapped: What does Bake Off say about Channel 4?
Podcast Plus, why are Scottish drug deaths so stubbornly high? And are women in their 30s too anxious about their eggs?
-
Thought-provoking podcasts you may have missed this summer
The Week Recommends Check out a true crime binger, a deep-dive into history and more
-
The Week Unwrapped: Could robotic dogs help clear landmines?
Podcast Plus, what can we learn from a new approach to urban renewal? And how much power rests with political spouses?
-
The Week Unwrapped: Is it time for a new world map?
Podcast Plus, why is the pope getting flatmates? And why are seagull 'muggings' on the rise?
-
The Week Unwrapped: Has Donald Trump secured his Nobel Peace Prize?
Podcast Plus, what does the use of North Korean and Indian labour tell us about the Russian war economy? And why have we all gone crazy for pickles?
-
The Week Unwrapped: Why are we watching the ocean floor?
Podcast Plus, what can we learn from a football club on the brink? And which jobs will fall to AI first?
-
The Week Unwrapped: Could AI replace catwalk models?
Podcast Plus, should countries sue each other for climate damage? And what does Grand Theft Auto 6 tell us about the video game industry?