Money
Money refers to tokens, usually metal coins and paper or plastic notes which have a formally recognised value and can be exchanged for goods. Money has been used in human societies for millenia, with a few ancient societies bartering shells for goods. The oldest stamped coins were minted between 650-600 year BC and the earliest paper money dates back to the Song dynasty in China. Nowadays a majority of transactions, particularly in developed countries occur digitally, with cryptocurrencies like bitcoin becoming increasingly popular.
Here are the new luxury (and very weird) doomsday bunkers built by billionaires
Super-expensive bunkers with flaming moats and 20 car garages.
The best smart wallets to buy in 2024
Keep your cash and cards safe with our pick of the best smart wallets on the market.
The science of sales: how to survive Black Friday with change in your pocket
With the annual buying bonanza in full swing, Hayley Birch has scoured science journals and sought advice from a psychologist to help you shop smart.
null
undefined
How to think like a billionaire: The personality traits and morality of the ultra-rich
Billionaires live vastly different lives to most people, but are they happy? What personality traits make a billionaire? And are they lacking morals? We spoke to leading psychologists to find out.
What is Bitcoin and can it be a viable currency?
Author Brett Scott explains what this now notorious currency is, and what lies in its future.
Instant Genius Podcast | Bitcoin, with Brett Scott
Brett Scott, author of Cloudmoney, joins us on our podcasts, Instant Genius and Instant Genius Extra.
Can NFTs solve their massive carbon footprint problem?
Sustainable NFT art is possible, but it's not a simple fix.
Could a four-day week really improve productivity and wellbeing?
Could you do just as much work – or even more – in one day less each week?
Are social media influencers misleading their followers about NFTS?
NFTs are the big thing right now, but are they worth the hype?
Want to make money? Become a mathematician. Seriously.
Professor Ian Stewart explains how maths makes money and how you can, too.
The case for cash: Why we still need paper money
The modern, cashless way of paying with a simple tap of our phones has edged out some of the most vulnerable members of society.
Prof Linda Scott | Why is there still economic inequality between men and women?
Economist Prof Linda Scott talks about her work in women's economics and explains her idea for an '80 per cent Christmas' to close the gender pay gap.
What happens to money taken out of circulation?
Asked by: Dileep Bagnall, Lancashire
Prof Linda Scott on gender inequality in the economy
Read the full transcript of our Science Focus Podcast interview with the Prof Linda Scott – listen to the full episode at the bottom of the page.
Rosalind Franklin | British scientist celebrated with commemorative coin
The Royal Mint coin includes Franklin’s Photograph 51, which helped lead to the discovery of the DNA double helix.
Quantum cryptography in a box of chocolates
Quantum cryptography sounds hard, but as this simple demonstration by Karl Svozil shows, it’s easily digestible (especially for chocolate lovers)
What if robots took our jobs?
Would we be happier in a world without work, or would the tedium of a day twiddling our thumbs and cleaning the carpets weigh down on us?
Quick Q&A: How much money is estimated to exist on Earth?
Time to empty those piggy banks and rummage down the back of the sofa, the amount of money out there depends on what we include when defining ‘money’.
Frozen heads and future fortunes: what is the cost of digital information?
Finn Brunton tells the story of economist Phil Salin, a man whose life (and death) involved sugar-based “rocket candy”, digital information exchanges, and frozen heads.
Reality Check | Four-day week: could the UK be more productive by working less?
Some workplaces around the world are trying to increase productivity by shortening working hours without changing pay.
10 mathematical reasons you're not a millionaire… yet
If you’re not already a millionaire, mathematics can be your friend and guide along the way. Almost all business and gambling strategies rely to some degree on numbers and statistics: here are a few examples.
The science of pay transparency
In the UK, women are paid around 10 per cent less than men, on average. One solution might be total pay transparency. Can it fix the problem and are we ready to talk about how much we earn?
Hacking the economy to prosper in the coming age of artificial intelligence
AI is changing everything, from our automated smart homes to the way we drive our cars, but one of the biggest impacts will be on the job market – so how will we survive in the new automated economy?
Should you invest in cryptocurrency?
Bitcoin is never far from the news - we find out whether it’s worth taking the plunge into this emerging form of currency.