All posts

7 Oct 2026

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A Briton in 1970 sat in a 12°C living room watching black-and-white telly, and still used more electricity than you do. Here is where it all went, and why the empty corner of one chart should worry us more than the fall itself.

29 Sept 2026

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NASA is flying to an asteroid "worth" more than the entire world economy. The scientist behind that number says it's meaningless, and her reason is the best lesson in scarcity you'll read this year.

17 Sept 2026

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Every card tap costs the shop about 6p, and Britain's annual bill for accepting payment has doubled in five years. Here is where the money goes, and who set the price.

9 Sept 2026

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Britain switched off its prison currency in 2018. Within months, inmates had reinvented money from scratch. What they chose tells you what money really is.

2 Sept 2026

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The Freddo was 10p for thirteen years. Cadbury itself now charges 45p, and cocoa only explains about 3p of the journey. A chocolate frog's guide to where your money went.

27 Aug 2026

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It takes 600 dead phones to make one gold ring. Inside the Royal Mint's plan to outlive the death of the coin.

7 Oct 2026

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Post by

A Briton in 1970 sat in a 12°C living room watching black-and-white telly, and still used more electricity than you do. Here is where it all went, and why the empty corner of one chart should worry us more than the fall itself.

29 Sept 2026

/

Post by

NASA is flying to an asteroid "worth" more than the entire world economy. The scientist behind that number says it's meaningless, and her reason is the best lesson in scarcity you'll read this year.

17 Sept 2026

/

Post by

Every card tap costs the shop about 6p, and Britain's annual bill for accepting payment has doubled in five years. Here is where the money goes, and who set the price.

9 Sept 2026

/

Post by

Britain switched off its prison currency in 2018. Within months, inmates had reinvented money from scratch. What they chose tells you what money really is.

Bitcoin in a Nutshell

The week in Bitcoin, made to make sense. Every Friday, free.

Bitcoin in a Nutshell

The week in Bitcoin, made to make sense. Every Friday, free.

Bitcoin in a Nutshell

The week in Bitcoin, made to make sense. Every Friday, free.