Ice, ice, maybe: should the Arctic be refrozen?

北极融化失控

The Intelligence from The Economist

2026-02-17

22 分钟
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单集简介 ...

Many scientists are considering the notion of actively cooling the region that is warming fastest. We examine the merits and the risks—both environmental and geopolitical—of messing with the polar climate. We ask why the kind of gig economy that has struggled in many markets is booming in India. And an unsettling peek into the first social network for AI agents. Guests and hosts: Oliver Morton, senior editorCatherine Brahic, environment editorKira Huju, Asia correspondentAlex Hern, AI writerRosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  The Arctic, climate change, geoengineeringIndia, gig economyAgentic AI, social networking, Moltbook Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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单集文稿 ...

  • The Economist.

  • Hello and welcome to The Intelligence from The Economist.

  • I'm Rosie Blau.

  • And I'm Jason Palmer.

  • Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

  • These days in India, you can order street snacks,

  • household appliances, or a single bar of soap to arrive at your door within minutes.

  • But what of the delivery drivers racing through the crazy traffic to meet those whims?

  • Our correspondent reports.

  • And we've talked a lot recently about independent AI agents.

  • And we've talked a lot about the weird and troubling things that arise on social networks.

  • Now, what happens when a bunch of AI agents are cut loose on their very own social network?

  • First up though.

  • As more and more of the Arctic disappears, the debate around it is getting louder.

  • Climate change is transforming the Arctic faster than any other place on Earth.

  • If you take a look outside of Greenland right now,

  • there are Russian destroyers and Chinese.

  • Making clear our commitment to ensuring Arctic security.

  • And indeed.

  • For some leaders, the problem is less environmental than geopolitical.