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.
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
- Update frequency
- every 2 days
- Average duration
- 12 minutes
- Episodes
- 1344
- Years Active
- 2019 - 2025
Climate Change Is Coming For Your Chocolate
Chocolate may never be the same. The majority of chocolate is made in just two countries and erratic weather from climate change is decreasing cocoa production. A handful of extreme weather events—fr…
00:13:08 |
Wed 15 May 2024
How AI Is Cracking The Biology Code
As artificial intelligence seeps into some realms of society, it rushes into others. One area it's making a big difference is protein science — as in the "building blocks of life," proteins! Producer…
00:14:05 |
Mon 13 May 2024
NEWS: NOAA Issues First Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Since 2005
Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration observed a cluster of sunspots on the surface of the sun this week. With them came solar flares that kicked off a severe geomagnetic …
00:13:29 |
Fri 10 May 2024
How Autism Can Look Very Different, Even In Identical Twins
Sam and John Fetters, 19, are identical twins on different ends of the autism spectrum. Sam is a sophomore at Amherst College and runs marathons in his free time. John attends a school for people wit…
00:10:57 |
Fri 10 May 2024
The Wonderous World Of Nudibranchs
Emily gets super nerdy with former host Maddie Sofia get as they dive into the incredible world of nudibranchs in this encore episode. Not only are these sea slugs eye-catching for their colors, some…
00:12:10 |
Wed 08 May 2024
'Stealing The Past': A Spat Between Twins Leads To A Theory Of Disputed Memories
It's not unusual for siblings to quibble over ownership of something — a cherished toy, a coveted seat in the car — or whose fault something is. If you're Mercedes Sheen, you not only spent your chil…
00:12:48 |
Mon 06 May 2024
Deer Are Expanding North. That Could Hurt Some Species Like Boreal Caribou
Wildlife ecologists have seen white-tailed deer expanding their range in North America over many decades. And since the early-2000s these deer have moved north into the boreal forests of western Cana…
00:09:00 |
Fri 03 May 2024
The Mysterious "Great Attractor" Pulling Our Galaxy Off Course
No matter what you're doing right now – sitting, standing, walking – you're moving. First, because Earth is spinning around on its axis. This rotation is the reason we have days. Second, because Eart…
00:12:48 |
Wed 01 May 2024
How The New Catan Board Game Can Spark Conversations On Climate Change
Today, we're going full nerd to talk about a new board game — Catan: New Energies. The game's goal is simple: Build and develop a modern-day island without catastrophically polluting it. Although the…
00:11:35 |
Mon 29 Apr 2024
10 Years After Flint, The Fight To Replace Lead Pipes Continues
Ten years ago, Flint, Mich. switched water sources to the Flint River. The lack of corrosion control in the pipes caused lead to leach into the water supply of tens of thousands of residents. Pediatr…
00:13:12 |
Fri 26 Apr 2024
Beavers Can Help With Climate Change. So How Do We Get Along?
NPR's Tom Dreisbach is back in the host chair for a day. This time, he reports on a story very close to home: The years-long battle his parents have been locked in with the local wild beaver populati…
00:14:06 |
Wed 24 Apr 2024
Sustainable Seafood Is All Around You — If You Know Where To Look
Roughly 196 million tons of fish were harvested in 2020, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The organization also notes that the number of overfished stocks wor…
00:14:27 |
Mon 22 Apr 2024
An 11-Year-old Unearthed Fossils Of The Largest Known Marine Reptile
When the dinosaurs walked the Earth, massive marine reptiles swam. Among them, a species of Ichthyosaur that measured over 80 feet long. Today, we look into how a chance discovery by a father-daughte…
00:08:57 |
Fri 19 Apr 2024
The Nightmarish Worm That Lived 25 Million Years Longer Than Researchers Thought
500 million years ago, the world was a very different place. During this period of time, known as the Cambrian period, basically all life was in the water. The ocean was brimming with animals that lo…
00:13:00 |
Wed 17 Apr 2024
How The Brain Experiences Pleasure — Even The Kind That Makes Us Feel Guilty
We've all been there: You sit down for one episode of a reality TV show, and six hours later you're sitting guiltily on the couch, blinking the screen-induced crust off your eyeballs.
Okay. Maybe you…
Okay. Maybe you…
00:13:42 |
Mon 15 Apr 2024
What To Know About The New EPA Rule Limiting 'Forever Chemicals' In Tap Water
Wednesday the Environmental Protection Agency announced new drinking water standards to limit people's exposure to some PFAS chemicals. For decades, PFAS have been used to waterproof and stain-proof …
00:12:48 |
Fri 12 Apr 2024
The Order Your Siblings Were Born In May Play A Role In Identity And Sexuality
It's National Siblings Day! To mark the occasion, guest host Selena Simmons-Duffin is exploring a detail very personal to her: How the number of older brothers a person has can influence their sexual…
00:12:25 |
Wed 10 Apr 2024
How Climate Change And Physics Affect Baseball
It's baseball season! And when we here at Short Wave think of baseball, we naturally think of physics. To get the inside scoop on the physics of baseball, like how to hit a home run, we talk to Frede…
00:12:06 |
Sun 07 Apr 2024
The "Barcodes" Powering These Tiny Songbirds' Memories May Also Help Human Memory
Tiny, black-capped chickadees have big memories. They stash food in hundreds to thousands of locations in the wild – and then come back to these stashes when other food sources are low. Now, research…
00:08:58 |
Fri 05 Apr 2024
How To Make The Most Of Next Week's Solar Eclipse
On April 8, the moon will slip in front of the sun, blocking its light and creating an eerie twilight in the middle of the day. Stars will come out, the air will get cold, colors will dance around th…
00:13:14 |
Wed 03 Apr 2024
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