Balancing The Future

Around 2 billion people enjoy chocolate and coffee every single day. But growing enough of these crops uses a huge number of resources. For example, making just one cup of coffee takes about 140 litres of water. In West Africa, an estimated 70% of illegal deforestation is linked to cocoa farming. And with demand only expected to rise, the question is: what can we do to stop the environmental impac...

Roughly 80% of funding, research, and equipment ends up in the 10 wealthiest countries. This means most people around the world have fewer opportunities to work on scientific problems. It affects which issues get attention and which don’t. So, how can we make access to science fairer?    In the first episode of Season 3 of Balancing the Future , hosts Micah and Chai talk with Dr. Melissa Wu, CEO o...

Join Chai Nussbaumer and Micah Schweizer on June 16th for a brand-new season of Balancing the Future . This time, we’re exploring the science and technology innovations and solutions that are changing the world today.     Everything from the global lab equipment program that's tackling scientific access disparity to lab-grown coffee and cocoa that could positively impact the environment.    In eve...

Neuroscience and artificial intelligence were once distant disciplines that have been brought together in technological advancement and access to high-quality data. At Dementia Research Oxford, these worlds are coming together to accelerate discoveries in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. In the final episode of Season 2 of Balancing the Future , Micah and Chai speak with Dr. Alejo Nevado-Holga...

Laboratories are the engines of scientific discovery, but they’re also a very resource-intensive workplace. In fact, the average lab produces around 20 tons of carbon emissions every year. Yet the same scientists driving innovation also hold the keys to making their work more sustainable.  In this episode of Balancing the Future , Micah and Chai speak with Raj Patey, Business Development Director...

Rainwater around the world now contains detectable levels of PFAS or ‘forever chemicals.’ Found in everything from waterproof mascara to firefighting foam, PFAS now accumulates in our bodies, soils, and water systems.  In this episode of Balancing the Future , Micah and Chai speak with Dr. Alissa Cordner, Professor of Sociology at Whitman College and Co-Director of the PFAS Project Lab, and Dr. Ki...

What happens when you volunteer to be the first human injected with mRNA? For Dr. Steve Pascolo, it meant glowing skin, but it took many years for this technology to hit the mainstream.  In this episode of Balancing the Future , Micah and Chai speak with Dr. Steve Pascolo, a senior scientist in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Zurich and co-founder of CureVac, about his groundbre...

What happens when you build sustainability into a business from day one? For Russ Wakeham, co-founder of Two Drifters Distillery, the answer is a rum that’s not just delicious but also carbon negative. His approach could help rewrite the rules for how companies think about profit, planet, and scale.  In this episode of Balancing the Future , Micah and Chai speak with Russ about how his background...

An estimated 220 million people worldwide are affected by arsenic exposure. So how can communities be empowered to create and implement solutions themselves?  In this episode of Balancing the Future , Micah and Chai speak with Jagannath Biswakarma, Senior Research Associate at the University of Bristol, about the global threat of arsenic contamination in groundwater and food.  The conversation unp...

Balancing the Future will be taking a break in August.  In the meantime, you can catch up on any episodes you’ve missed in your podcast app of choice.  Balancing the Future will return in September for the second half of Season 2.    LINKS   METTLER TOLEDO Laboratory Solutions Website   METTLER TOLEDO Laboratory Solutions on LinkedIn   Balancing The Future Podcast Website   Micah Schweizer on Link...

What happens to electric vehicle batteries at the end of their life? The answer could help reshape not just battery recycling, but entire local economies.   In this episode of Balancing the Future , Micah and Chai speak with Jake Entwistle, Lead Engineer at Altilium Clean Technology, about the UK pilot plant that's pushing the boundaries of EV battery recycling. Together, they explore how high-eff...

What are “ bugs as drugs ?” These are live microbes used as therapies designed to help rebalance our microbiomes, offering hope against everything from antibiotic-resistant infections to chronic diseases. But working with living organisms isn’t as simple as formulating a pill. These therapies raise deep scientific, regulatory, and manufacturing challenges.  In this episode of Balancing the Future...

Cultivated, or ‘lab-grown meat,’ offers a promising path for reducing climate impact and feeding a growing population. But what does this mean for the traditional agricultural industry? How can it embrace a technology that challenges a practice as old as civilization itself?  In this episode of Balancing the Future , hosts Micah Schweizer and Chai Nussbaumer speak with Illtud Dunsford, farmer, fou...

Hydrogen has long played a behind-the-scenes role in industry, but could it become a frontrunner in the race toward a cleaner energy future?  In this episode of Balancing the Future , Micah Schweizer and Chai Nussbaumer dive into hydrogen’s evolving role in the green transition. From color-coded classifications like green, blue, and even " sad " hydrogens like pink and black, to cutting-edge pilot...

If you haven’t heard of GLP-1s, you’ve almost certainly come across the brand names: Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. These drugs were originally developed to treat diabetes, but they’ve recently become household names thanks to their dramatic impact on weight loss. Beyond shedding pounds, early evidence also points to promising benefits for chronic kidney disease, certain liver conditions, and card...

In an age of constant scientific innovation and shifting public trust, how can science communication help bridge the gap between labs and lives? In this episode of Balancing the Future , Micah Schweizer and new co-host Chai Nussbaumer explore the powerful role that storytelling, emotion, and empathy play in making science more relatable and relevant to the public, grant funders and the media.  The...

Science and technology are evolving faster than ever, and it's exciting to imagine where they might take us next. But which breakthroughs should we be paying attention to?  Join Micah Schweizer and new host Chai Nussbaumer on Balancing the Future as they dive into the innovations shaping our world. From the potential of hydrogen in powering a greener planet, to the rise of GLP-1s in weight loss, a...

For over 200 years, the fundamental principles of battery technology have remained largely unchanged. However, the rapid growth of the electric vehicle market and the urgent need for efficient energy storage solutions for renewable sources have intensified efforts to push this technology further.  In the final episode of Balancing the Future Season 1, Dana and Micah are joined by Simon Taylor, Seg...

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, with over 2.3 million cases diagnosed globally each year. While current detection methods like mammograms and self-exams are valuable, they’re not without limitations. But what if a simple blood test could revolutionize early detection and save countless lives?    In this episode of Balancing the Future , Dana and Micah are joined by Ivana Domlj...

Antibiotics have saved millions of lives over the past century. However, their widespread use has led to a crisis – the evolution of antimicrobial resistance or AMR. According to a 2024 study, over a million people have been killed by antibiotic-resistant bacteria since 1990. This number is only set to rise over the coming decades.    In this episode of Balancing the Future , Ana Almeida joins Dan...

Experiments conducted in space challenge scientists to rethink processes in entirely new ways. But what insights can these experiments offer - not only about the unique environment of space but also about our future on Earth?    In this episode of Balancing the Future , Dr. Magdalena Herová joins Dana and Micah to delve into the meticulous process of preparing experiments for the rigors of space....

On this special holiday episode of Balancing the Future , Dana and Micah revisit some of their favorite moments that didn’t make it into earlier episodes. They also offer an exciting glimpse into what’s ahead, previewing some of the engaging conversations coming in 2025.  Join hosts Dana Clémençon and Micah Schweizer on Balancing the Future from METTLER TOLEDO, where they delve into the world of s...

Bioplastic technology has been around for decades, but how can it be effectively utilized and scaled to address the growing crisis of plastic waste we face today?   In this episode of Balancing the Future , Dr. Manfred Zinn joins Dana and Micah to explore the cutting-edge applications of bioplastics, the implications of enhanced biodegradability, and the challenges and opportunities of scaling the...

Brewing beer is both an art and a science, a tradition that has connected people for millennia. But what lies ahead for this age-old craft?  In this episode of Balancing the Future , Chris Treanor sits down with Dana and Micah to delve into the science behind brewing, the intricate dance between innovation and business, and the pivotal role beer has played in shaping culture and community.  Chris...

Plant-based meat alternatives are having a moment, but do they represent a real shift towards a more sustainable diet? In this episode, Edwina Romanens dives into the technology that made the plant-based protein taste revolution possible, how consumer preference steers the industry, and what place plant-based meat alternatives might have in the diets of the future.    Edwina is the former lead bio...