Marketplace Tech®

On our show we've been looking into the still very new economy of space. But while the space economy might be new to us, science fiction has explored it in great detail. Host Molly Wood talked with Daniel Suarez, the author of near-future sci-fi books like "Daemon" and "Freedom™." His most recent book, "Delta-v," is out next week. It’s about a group of asteroid miners recruited by an eccentric billionaire to kick-start the space economy.

Today's show is sponsored by Acquia and Clickshare.

Recently none other than Prince Harry waded into the debate about whether video games are addictive. He said he thought "Fortnite" “shouldn't be allowed” and that it's designed to keep kids in front of a computer as long as possible. Last year, the World Health Organization classified game addiction as a mental health disorder for the first time. But many psychiatrists still disagree with that assessment. Host Molly Wood talked with Lindsay Grace, a Knight chair in interactive media and associate professor at the University of Miami School of Communication.

Today's show is sponsored by Clickshare and Ultimate Software.

It's been called "'American Idol' for science geeks." The George Barley Water Prize will award $10 million to the team that develops the most promising technology to remove excess phosphorus from freshwater lakes and streams. Phosphorus pollution from chemical fertilizers and septic tanks has led to the growth of toxic blue-green algae in the Florida Everglades and elsewhere. Marketplace’s Amy Scott talked with Loren Parra, director of the George Barley Water Prize. She says the goal is to spark innovation.

Today's show is sponsored by Clickshare and Panopto.

This week the European Parliament passed a law establishing basic rights for workers in the gig economy. It could apply to some 3 million people, everyone from Uber drivers to couriers for the United Kingdom's Deliveroo. The law requires companies to pay when work is canceled last minute or for mandatory training. It also bans "exclusivity clauses," which prevent freelancers from "gigging" for other companies. It's supposed to make working short-term gigs a little more stable. Marketplace’s Amy Scott talked with Joe Miller, a business and tech reporter with the BBC who's been following this law.

Today's show is sponsored by Clickshare and Ultimate Software.

Last year, California passed the California Consumer Privacy Act, which requires companies to be more careful in the way they handle consumer data. It doesn't go into effect until next year, and it's still a work in progress. Host Molly Wood checked in with Jessica Lee, a partner at the law firm Loeb & Loeb advising clients on data privacy regulations. She said some companies are plowing ahead while others are trying to remake things in their favor.

Today's show is sponsored by the University of Florida Warrington College of Business, Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage and Logi Analytics.