The Postal Service plans to stop delivering regular mail on Saturday. Mathematician Curtis Cooper talks about his discovery of the longest prime number. Thousands of people who had their homes destroyed by Hurricane Sandy four months ago are still living in hotel rooms, rentals or crashing with friends and family. A new startup aims to help those without bank accounts or credit cards pay for stuff online. As Hasbro gets rid of the iron token in its Monopoly game, we look at the innovations behind the iron’s real-world demise. And In the latest installment of Freakonomics Radio, Kai Ryssdal recalls some memories in a conversation with Stephen Dubner — only to find out how deceiving our minds often are.
Segments From this episode
Final Note
Name Timothy Geithner's book
by Kai Ryssdal
Feb 6, 2013
News came today that former Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner plans to write a book. Twitter took the opportunity to think of titles.
Turning cash into online payments for the unbanked
by Tracey Samuelson
Feb 6, 2013
PayNearMe is one of many companies finding opportunity in services for millions of people who don't have bank accounts.
Freakonomics Radio
Sure, I remember that
by Marketplace Contributor
Feb 6, 2013
It is startlingly easy to create false memories, especially in politics.
AEG looks to take on Ticketmaster
by David Weinberg
Feb 6, 2013
The entertainment conglomerate wants to collect its own ticketing fees.
Interior nominee Sally Jewell looks to strike a balance
by Nancy Marshall-Genzer
Feb 6, 2013
Interior nominee Sally Jewell would weigh resource extraction and conservation on public lands.
Monopoly retires iconic iron piece
by Jeff Tyler
Feb 6, 2013
One reason the board game piece may have been canned is new products like wrinkle-free fabrics have made ironing a thing of the past. Once a staple in every home, many people no longer even own an iron.
Largest prime number: Still just a slice of pi
by Kai Ryssdal
Feb 6, 2013
A discovery of a lifetime (at least for the math geeks among us): the largest prime number in the world.
The postman will only ring five times a week
by Sally Herships
Feb 6, 2013
The U.S. Postal Service plans to drop Saturday deliveries, except for packages. But don’t expect the 237-year-old service to disappear.