Used cooking oil may be fueling your next flight

The global push for carbon reduction is reshaping supply chains in unexpected ways. As aviation looks for viable paths to decarbonize, attention has turned to materials that already exist in everyday life. Waste, once treated as an endpoint, is increasingly viewed as a starting point. Used cooking oil is being elevated into a prized raw material in China as sustainable aviation fuel. Are environmental goals, industrial capacity, and global demand happily colliding here? / AI hits the streets: from sidewalks to startups (13:42). On the show: Niu Honglin, Laiming & Yushun

Hainan is making headlines these days, because of the island-wide special customs operations at Hainan Free Trade Port. Behind the policy language and tariff schedules, we ask a simpler question: how will this reform change people's daily life? For businesses, workers, investors, and residents, Hainan's customs transition is more than just about trade, but also cost, opportunities, mobility, and a new future for the island. On the show: Niu Honglin, Laiming & Yushun

The global erosion of oral traditions continues not for lack of value, but because modern life leaves little room for slow, spoken memory. As languages vanish and elders pass on, entire ways of understanding the world disappear with them. Yet, the revival of Yimakan, from near-extinction to international recognition, demonstrates a powerful alternative. It shows that cultural heritage can survive not by being frozen in the past, but by finding a vital place in the present. / The joy and benefit of being bad at something (17:27). On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Fei Fei

China's aging society is turning to an innovative solution. The Time Bank allows volunteers to earn care credits by helping others today, securing support for their own future needs. This model transforms neighborly help into a sustainable system. How is this modern mutual aid network redefining elder care? On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Fei Fei

When a global metropolis abandons de-icing agents, what happens? Beijing is finding out. To protect its environment, the city is swapping chemicals for manpower, trading spreaders for shovels. How can this modern capital handle winter the old-fashioned way? We examine the high-stakes experiment on Beijing's icy streets. / Is small talk dying (15:05)? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun

What if artificial intelligence could step out of the screen and into the real world? This is not just about smarter conversation. This is Embodied Intelligence. Imagine a robot that does not just calculate a chess move, but physically makes it. Not every smart robot qualifies, so what changes when AI gains a physical form? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushun

For decades, countries have invested heavily in engineering education. Despite this, many still face a persistent problem where graduates are theoretically proficient but lack practical readiness. This gap between academic training and industrial application is not unique to any one nation. China, however, is pursuing a distinct approach through its coordinated national strategy, the Outstanding Engineer training reform. This initiative aims to reshape how engineers are educated, with potential consequences for innovation worldwide./ Motivational Monday (18:41)! On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Fei Fei

For generations, the mercury thermometer has been a staple in Chinese households, its familiar ritual marking moments of care and concern. However, in accordance with the Minamata Convention and national environment and health policies, China is officially phasing out its production. On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Fei Fei

In most professions, experience is an asset. In academia, it is becoming a barrier. A system of intense competition and rigid quotas now uses age as a crude filter for efficiency, devaluing the very time required to build knowledge. This calculus forces a stark reassessment of the PhD's worth and what our universities truly value. / The anxiety of being left "on read" (18:24). On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushan

It's been ten years since the landmark Paris Agreement, and its novel engine of national pledges and global transparency now faces a decisive test against record warming and a widening climate finance gap. The journey to this point reveals a story of unexpected turns and stubborn realities. On the show: Niu Honglin, Steve & Yushan