{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/e421d786-ec36-4148-aa99-7a3b2928a779/3cd3974a-cb64-403b-96f9-8cf0a1750d9a?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Babbage: Maskarade","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/62e286a934d4d9fe5e874247/62e286c1bd17c20012ef418a.jpg?height=200","description":"<p>The “<a href=\"https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2020/04/11/how-important-is-silent-spreading-in-the-covid-19-epidemic\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">silent transmission</a>” of covid-19 means people without symptoms could be a major source of its spread. How effective are <a href=\"https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2020/04/11/should-the-public-wear-masks-to-slow-the-spread-of-sars-cov-2\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">masks</a> as a defence? Plus, Kenneth Cukier asks Ivan Oransky, co-founder of Retractionwatch.com, whether the race to uncover the mysteries of the virus could lead to a torrent of “bad science”.</p><p><br></p><p>For more on the pandemic, see The Economist's coronavirus <a href=\"https://www.economist.com/news/2020/03/11/the-economists-coverage-of-the-coronavirus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">hub</a>.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>And&nbsp;please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions:</p><p><a href=\"http://www.economist.com/radiooffer\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">www.economist.com/radiooffer</a></p>","author_name":"The Economist"}