The Week Unwrapped: Cocaine, greener trees and superspeed podcasts
Why is UK drug use on the rise? Could we make trees more carbon-positive? And will you listen to this podcast on fast-forward?
Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Guy Anker, Holden Frith and Sorcha Bradley.
You can subscribe to The Week Unwrapped wherever you get your podcasts:
In this week’s episode, we discuss:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
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.
UK drug use
The UK is Europe’s cocaine capital, and the latest analysis of wastewater in big cities suggests that use could have risen by as much as a quarter in just one year. This routine testing gives a better indication of drug use compared with surveys or seizings, but the picture is still incomplete. What we do know is deaths from cocaine poisoning have risen sharply since the early 90s, most rehab enquiries are now related to the Class A drug, and – thanks to a product that has never been so cheap, pure or accessible – the problem is getting worse.
Greener trees
Scientists this week in North Carolina are looking to turn over a new leaf… almost literally, as they announced results of a new study into gene-editing trees. Using Crispr technology, they managed to grow poplar trees that would contain less lignin, a polymer found in the wood that needs to be removed – a process that uses large amounts of energy and water – to make paper. The scientists suggest their gene-edited trees will result in 20% less carbon being emitted during paper-making. But could it come with other drawbacks?
High-speed podcast playback?
New research suggests that an increasing number of people are watching TV and listening to podcasts at higher playback speeds. ALmost one in 10 even listen to music at a faster-than-intended pace. Under-25s are more than twice as likely to listen at 1.25x or 1.5x normal speed. Is this a good use of time or a sign of diminishing attention spans? And how does it affect our ability to absorb and retain information?
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Red Speedo: a 'darkly comic' doping drama
The Week Recommends Lucas Hnath's play stars Finn Cole as a 'reptilian' swimmer determined to win at all costs
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
One Aldwych: where London's creative spirit takes centre stage
The Week Recommends This five-star Covent Garden hotel is the epitome of elegant independence
By Julia O'Driscoll, The Week UK Published
-
Charlotte Dujardin and equestrianism's dark side
In the Spotlight Olympic gold medallist and dressage star's suspension over horse whipping brings abuse in horse sports back into the spotlight
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The Week Unwrapped: Is Trump off the hook?
Podcast Plus, at-home smear tests, and Katy Perry's feminist flop
By The Week Staff Published
-
The Week Unwrapped: What is Project 2025?
Podcast Plus, trouble in the Indian Ocean and life on Mars
By The Week Staff Published
-
The Week Unwrapped: Are we ready for bird flu?
Podcast Plus, will unrest in Turkey derail a deal with Syria? And could AI exacerbate climate change?
By The Week Staff Published
-
The Week Unwrapped: Why is Airbnb being banished from Barcelona?
Podcast Plus, are aircraft exhaust fumes dangerous to human health? And are Ukrainians really less stressed than Brits?
By The Week Staff Published
-
The Week Unwrapped: Should social media carry health warnings?
Podcast Plus, French's footballers wade into politics, and the rise of news avoidance
By The Week Staff Published
-
The Week Unwrapped: Fracas at the Fringe festival
Podcast Plus, a vice-presidential plane crash and woeful weather
By The Week Staff Published
-
The Week Unwrapped: How the internet has changed the Amazon
Podcast Plus, anonymity for sex-crime suspects, and a bad day for French pride
By The Week Staff Published
-
The Week Unwrapped: The battle for Papua New Guinea
Podcast Plus, the MoD's helicopter cancer scandal and the rebirth of the lad mag
By The Week Staff Published