High-altitude bird migration and a news round...

First up on the podcast, people are buying consumer-grade brain wave detectors ostensibly to help with sleep, concentration, and meditation. But as freelance investigative journalist Jonathan Moens describes, companies are getting more than the price of the devices in the exchang ...  Show more

First up on the podcast, thousands of tons of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been released into the environment. It’s not always that difficult to round them up, but what to do next has been a tougher call. Until now, the default has been to burn PFAS—but that ha ...  Show more

Human migration is in the headlines again – India and Australia have announced a new migration deal, in the US a Covid-inspired policy that allowed migrants to be quickly expelled has come to an end, and in the UK new measures were announced to stop foreign students bringing fami ...  Show more

Andy Clements of the British Trust for Ornithology explains why he finds the sound of Pink-footed Geese so exciting as they fly overhead calling to one another. Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. Producer: Sarah Blunt 

Matt Chorley boards a Times Radio Airways flight around the world to see how the vaccine roll-out is faring in America, China, France, Germany, Spain and Japan.

PLUS: Libby Purves and Rachel Sylvester on the art of stepping back, from royals to Nigel Farage.