The Economist.

Hello and welcome to the intelligence from The Economist.

I'm Rosie Bloor.

And I'm Jason Palmer.

Every weekday, we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

There have been many conversations over the years about how to make prisons work.

But what about when prisoners are finally released?

And here in Britain, people are famously quick to say sorry.

Our data journalist looks at apologies in the workplace,

and whether being apologetic gets you further ahead

or leaves you in a sorrier position.

... First up, though. The printful application of bachylyte resinoid is in the manufacture of molding material.

After the resinoid has been ground to a fine powder, fillers such as woodmeal or fabric,

as well as dyes and pigments are added.

The first plastic, as we now think of it, completely synthetic, hardened, endlessly shapeable,

was called Bakelight, and it was revolutionary.

Containers and bottle caps are now molded from Bakelite materials.

Each day produces a new idea for its use.

Each day for weeks and months and years and decades.

At you and nickel, you're within reaching distance of something plastic right now.

So many things in daily use, both in the office or home, are made of baker's life.

It's everywhere because it's so useful, so endlessly malleable, colourable, and of course, durable,

...