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Short Wave - Podcast

Short Wave

 NPR ([email protected])

New discoveries, everyday mysteries, and the science behind the headlines — in just under 15 minutes. It's science for everyone, using a lot of creativity and a little humor. Join hosts Emily Kwong and Regina Barber for science on a different wavelength.

If you're hooked, try Short Wave Plus. Your subscription supports the show and unlocks a sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/shortwave

Science Astronomy News Nature Life Sciences Daily News
Update frequency
every 2 days
Average duration
12 minutes
Episodes
1341
Years Active
2019 - 2025
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What Marsquakes Reveal About The Planet's Habitability

What Marsquakes Reveal About The Planet's Habitability

Mars is known for its barren desert landscape and dry climate. But two recent studies in the journals Nature and Science go beneath the surface, exploring the interior of the red planet using seismic…

00:08:03  |   Fri 05 Sep 2025
Have a Stutter? It Could Be Inherited

Have a Stutter? It Could Be Inherited

For a long time, scientists have suspected that stuttering — a common speech condition that affects an estimated 1 in every 100 people — could be heritable. Despite how common it is, it's still a rem…
00:14:01  |   Wed 03 Sep 2025
Stopping SSRIs Can Be Hard. Researchers Are Unsure Why

Stopping SSRIs Can Be Hard. Researchers Are Unsure Why

More than 1 in 10 people in the United States take an antidepressant. And the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant are SSRIs — or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. That includes dru…
00:12:53  |   Tue 02 Sep 2025
A (Monday Night) Football Mystery

A (Monday Night) Football Mystery

Monday night football is back! What better way to celebrate than a close look at some of the physics powering the sport? Specifically, the spiral pass. If you've ever watched part of a professional f…
00:12:20  |   Mon 01 Sep 2025
Why U.S. Sunscreens Don't Measure Up

Why U.S. Sunscreens Don't Measure Up

The United Nations estimates that there were over 1.5 million new cases of skin cancer in 2022. That number might have you reaching for the nearest tube of sunscreen. And it might also have you wonde…

00:13:52  |   Fri 29 Aug 2025
A Lock of Hair Could Rewrite Knowledge Of The Inca Empire

A Lock of Hair Could Rewrite Knowledge Of The Inca Empire

The Inca Empire in South America was one of the most powerful pre-Columbian societies. It was known for the architecture of Machu Picchu, an extensive road network and a system of terraces for agricu…
00:11:31  |   Wed 27 Aug 2025
Nature Quest: What Does Climate Change Sound Like?

Nature Quest: What Does Climate Change Sound Like?

Feel like summers are hotter than they used to be? It’s not just your imagination. Climate researchers say that average annual temperatures around the country have been trending upwards for the past …
00:13:31  |   Tue 26 Aug 2025
Sea Camp: To Mine Or Not To Mine

Sea Camp: To Mine Or Not To Mine

Deep sea mining for rare earth elements could start as early as 2026, even as 38 countries have called for a moratorium on it. The metals that companies are targeting are used in many green technolog…
00:13:17  |   Mon 25 Aug 2025
Could labs replace your natural chocolate?

Could labs replace your natural chocolate?

Chocolate may fill grocery store shelves around the world, but the raw product that powers chocolate is far more selective. The majority of chocolate farms are found in West Africa and South America …

00:08:50  |   Fri 22 Aug 2025
The Yellowstone Wolf Controversy

The Yellowstone Wolf Controversy

Thirty years ago, park rangers reintroduced grey wolves into Yellowstone National Park. They wanted to restore the ecosystem and get the elk population, which had decimated the plant community, in ch…
00:13:55  |   Wed 20 Aug 2025
Toxic? These Animals Don't Care

Toxic? These Animals Don't Care

Imagine, you’re a toxic toad hanging around South America. No other animals are gonna mess with you, right? After all, you’re ~toxic~! So if anyone tries to eat you, they’ll be exposed to something c…
00:13:36  |   Tue 19 Aug 2025
Sea Camp: Why Scientists Want To Map The Entire Seafloor

Sea Camp: Why Scientists Want To Map The Entire Seafloor

Scientists have mapped less than 30% of the world's seafloor. Experts say that getting that number up to 100% would improve everything from tsunami warnings to the Internet and renewable energy. That…
00:14:05  |   Mon 18 Aug 2025
Alive Or Not Alive... Is A Tricky Question

Alive Or Not Alive... Is A Tricky Question

In this Back To School episode we consider the "List of Life": the criteria that define what it is to be a living thing. Some are easy calls: A kitten is alive. A grain of salt is not.

But what about …

00:10:52  |   Fri 15 Aug 2025
The Trait That Makes Robots More 'Human'

The Trait That Makes Robots More 'Human'

Neurotic, anxious robots like C-3P0 from Star Wars' C-3P0 and Marvin from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy are a staple of science fiction — but they're not as common in the real world. Most of t…

00:13:27  |   Wed 13 Aug 2025
Why Gene-Edited Babies May Be Closer Than Ever

Why Gene-Edited Babies May Be Closer Than Ever

A Chinese scientist, He Jiankui, made a shocking announcement to the world in 2018: He had secretly engineered the birth of the first gene-edited babies. The birth of the twins was seen as reckless a…
00:14:18  |   Tue 12 Aug 2025
Sea Camp: Did Life Start In Hydrothermal Vents?

Sea Camp: Did Life Start In Hydrothermal Vents?

How did life start on Earth? The answer is a big scientific mystery scientists are actively investigating. After talking with many scientists, host Regina G. Barber found that an abundance of water o…
00:14:40  |   Mon 11 Aug 2025
Why Do Some 80 Year-Olds Have Extraordinary Memories?

Why Do Some 80 Year-Olds Have Extraordinary Memories?

The human brain tends to slow down as we age — even healthy brains shrink. That can make learning and memory harder as people age. But some people’s brains shrink more slowly than their peers. This l…
00:08:45  |   Fri 08 Aug 2025
Climate Change Could Alter Spidey Love

Climate Change Could Alter Spidey Love

Every September, the small town of La Junta, Colorado puts on a whole festival to celebrate a beloved local animal: the tarantula! Around this time of year, thousands of mature male tarantulas start …
00:12:47  |   Wed 06 Aug 2025
'Zombie' Cells Could Explain Aging — And Help Scientists Slow It

'Zombie' Cells Could Explain Aging — And Help Scientists Slow It

It’s no secret that stress isn’t good for you. But just how bad is it? Well, in the last few decades, scientists have linked psychological stress to changes in our DNA that look a lot like what happe…
00:11:45  |   Tue 05 Aug 2025
The Giants Lurking In The Deep Sea

The Giants Lurking In The Deep Sea

The bathypelagic zone of the ocean is 1,000 to 4,000 meters below the surface. Sometimes it's called the midnight zone because it's too deep for sunlight to reach. Most animals here are much smaller …
00:13:20  |   Mon 04 Aug 2025
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