Short Wave
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.
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- Update frequency
- every 2 days
- Average duration
- 12 minutes
- Episodes
- 1344
- Years Active
- 2019 - 2025
Earth Is More Than A Planet With Life On It. It's A "Living Planet"
About ten years ago, science writer Ferris Jabr started contemplating Earth as a living planet rather than a planet with life on it. It began when he learned that the Amazon rainforest doesn't simply…
00:14:02 |
Mon 24 Jun 2024
We're In For A Brutal Hurricane Season, According To Predictions
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting a record number of hurricanes this season, which began on June 1 and runs through Nov. They're forecasting anywhere from 17 to 25 sto…
00:11:47 |
Fri 21 Jun 2024
What 'Inside Out 2' Got Right About Anxiety, Per A Psychologist
Pixar's new movie, Inside Out 2 came out Friday. It's the sequel to the 2015 movie Inside Out, which follows the life of 11-year-old Riley and her family as they move to San Francisco. In Inside Out …
00:14:05 |
Wed 19 Jun 2024
Pluto Isn't A Planet — But It Gives Us Clues For How The Solar System Formed
Pluto hasn't been a planet for almost 20 years. In the early 2000s, scientists discovered several objects of a similar size to Pluto. So, during the summer of 2006, members of the International Astro…
00:14:23 |
Tue 18 Jun 2024
How Millions Of Mosquitoes Could Save Hawaii's Endangered Birds
To a lot of people, mosquito bites are annoying. But to the rare Hawaiian honeycreepers, they're deadly. Scientists in Maui are racing against time to save them ... and discovering some pretty crazy …
00:14:59 |
Mon 17 Jun 2024
Inheriting: Leah & Japanese American Incarceration
Hey, Short Wavers! Today, we're sharing a portion of Inheriting, an 8-part limited series hosted by Emily Kwong about Asian American and Pacific Islander family history. In this excerpt, we follow th…
00:12:01 |
Sat 15 Jun 2024
Why You Shouldn't Worry About Invasive Joro Spiders
Joro spiders are spreading across the east coast. They are an invasive species that most likely arrived in shipping containers from eastern Asia. Today, we look into why some people find them scary, …
00:08:19 |
Fri 14 Jun 2024
How The Current Heat Dome Can Affect Human Health
Right now, there's a "heat dome" lingering over the southwestern U.S. – a high pressure system that pushes hot air down and traps it, raising the temperature. Heat is becoming increasingly lethal as …
00:10:58 |
Wed 12 Jun 2024
From The Physics Of G-Force To Weightlessness: How It Feels To Launch Into Space
It feels like this is the summer of space launches. So, it's only appropriate that we kick off our new series Space Camp with a look at space launches. Throughout the series, Regina and Emily will pl…
00:14:07 |
Tue 11 Jun 2024
Illegal Wildlife Trade Is Booming. What Does That Mean For The Confiscated Animals?
Wildlife trafficking is one of the largest and most profitable crime sectors in the world. The illegal trade estimated to be a multi-billion dollar industry. On a high level, that illegal trade cause…
00:11:17 |
Mon 10 Jun 2024
'Math In Drag' Explores The Creativity And Beauty In Numbers
Kyne Santos was a student at the University of Waterloo when she began her math and her drag careers. She compares her double life to Hannah Montana, doing math equations at school by day and drag at…
00:12:18 |
Fri 07 Jun 2024
Why The Science Of Tides Was Crucial For D-Day
June 6, 1944 the Allied Forces stormed the beaches of Normandy and took the Nazis by surprise in the largest sea-to-land invasion in history. This would be remembered as D-Day and would ultimately le…
00:13:29 |
Wed 05 Jun 2024
Psychedelic Treatment For PTSD Faces Misconduct Hurdle
People with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may soon have a new treatment option: MDMA, the chemical found in ecstasy. In August, the Food and Drug Administration plans to decide whether MDMA-a…
00:13:57 |
Mon 03 Jun 2024
A Silky Shark Named Genie Swam 17,000 Miles, a Record-Breaking Migration
A silky shark named Genie traveled from the Galapagos Islands out to the open ocean and back – over 17,000 miles – over the course of a year and a half. That's an average of 31 miles per day, making …
00:09:14 |
Fri 31 May 2024
A Vaginal Microbiome Transplant Could Help People With BV
Humans rely on our symbiotic relationship with good microbes—in the gut, the skin and ... the vagina. Fatima Aysha Hussain studies what makes a healthy vaginal microbiome. She talks to host Emily Kwo…
00:13:12 |
Wed 29 May 2024
With Summer Approaching, Here's A Smarter Way To Use Sunscreen
Each year 84,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with melanoma. About 90% of these skin cancers are linked to the ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Sunscreen does protect the skin, but dermatologi…
00:12:08 |
Mon 27 May 2024
How Israel Is Using Facial Recognition In Gaza
After the Hamas attack of Oct. 7 triggered Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians began fleeing from the North of Gaza to the South. As they fled, many Palestinian…
00:14:35 |
Fri 24 May 2024
Who's At Risk For Uterine Fibroids? Most Women
Fibroids are benign uterine tumors. So why does it matter that the majority of people with a uterus will have one before they are 50 years old? Physician Rachell Bervell, founder of the Black OBGYN P…
00:13:29 |
Wed 22 May 2024
What Are Sperm Whales Saying? Researchers Find A Complex 'Alphabet'
Scientists are testing the limits of artificial intelligence when it comes to language learning. One recent challenge? Learning ... whale! Researchers are using machine learning to analyze and decode…
00:13:34 |
Mon 20 May 2024
Scientists Reveal Mysterious Origin of Baobab Trees, Rafiki's Home in 'The Lion King'
Baobabs are sometimes called the "tree of life" with their thick trunks, crown of branches and flowers that only open at twilight. But theories about their geographic origin was divided among three p…
00:09:29 |
Fri 17 May 2024
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