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
What Fossilized Poop Can Teach Us About Dinosaurs
Walking into Karen Chin's office at the University of Colorado, Boulder, one of the first things you might notice is that petrified poops are everywhere. They're in shallow boxes covering every surfa…
00:14:14 |
Fri 24 Nov 2023
The Thanksgiving Quest For The (Scientifically) Best Turkey
Turkey is the usual centerpiece of the Thanksgiving dinner, but it's all too easy to end up with a dry, tough, flavorless bird. For NPR science correspondent Maria Godoy, it got so bad that several y…
00:13:00 |
Wed 22 Nov 2023
3 Major Ways Climate Change Affects Life In The U.S.
Every five years, the United States government releases the National Climate Assessment, a comprehensive analysis of how climate change is affecting the country. The fifth assessment was recently rel…
00:12:55 |
Mon 20 Nov 2023
Cutting A Teaspoon Of Salt Is Comparable To Taking Blood Pressure Medication
How much salt is too much salt?
Most likely, the amount you're consuming.
A new study published this week in the journal JAMA found that cutting one teaspoon of salt a day results in a decline in blo…
Most likely, the amount you're consuming.
A new study published this week in the journal JAMA found that cutting one teaspoon of salt a day results in a decline in blo…
00:09:09 |
Fri 17 Nov 2023
Thousands of earthquakes in Iceland may spell a volcanic eruption
Saturday, the entire coastal town of Grindavik, Iceland was evacuated. That's because over the weekend, the country experienced nearly 2,000 earthquakes within 48 hours. And they've kept coming since…
00:13:14 |
Wed 15 Nov 2023
How Venus got caught up in an 18th century space race
In the 18th century the world was focused on Venus. Expeditions were launched in pursuit of exact measurements of Venus as it passed between Earth and the Sun. By viewing its journey and location on …
00:09:41 |
Mon 13 Nov 2023
Trailblazing Computer Scientist Fei-Fei Li on Human-Centered AI
AI is popping up everywhere nowadays. From medicine to science to the Hollywood strikes. Today, with computer scientist and AI pioneer Fei-Fei Li, we dig deeper into the history of the field, how mac…
00:11:03 |
Fri 10 Nov 2023
To Figure Out The Future Climate, Scientists Are Researching How Trees Form Clouds
If you've ever looked up at the clouds and wondered where they came from, you're not alone. Atmospheric researcher Lubna Dada is fascinated by the mystery of how clouds form and what role they play i…
00:12:10 |
Wed 08 Nov 2023
Mapping The Seafloor Is Daunting But Key To Improving Human Life
Scientists have mapped less than 25% 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…
00:13:14 |
Mon 06 Nov 2023
Pulling An All-Nighter Is A Temporary Antidepressant
What your parents didn't tell you about pulling an all-nighter? It just might ease depression for several days. At least, that's what researchers found happens to mice in a study published in the jou…
00:08:48 |
Fri 03 Nov 2023
Sky Vaccines: Ridding Raccoons Of Rabies En Masse
Every year, the USDA drops millions of oral rabies vaccines across fourteen states, mostly along the eastern seaboard. In urban and suburban areas, they use vehicles, but in rural areas, they drop th…
00:13:06 |
Wed 01 Nov 2023
Thanks, Neanderthals: How our ancient relatives could help find new antibiotics
Antibiotics have changed the world. They've made it possible to treat diseases that used to mean anything from discomfort to death. But no new classes of antibiotics have made it to the market since …
00:12:33 |
Mon 30 Oct 2023
Scientist Just Made The Largest Brain Map Ever
The human brain has more than 170 billion cells. A newly published atlas offers the most detailed maps yet of the location, structure and, in some cases, function of more than 3,000 types of brain c…
00:11:37 |
Fri 27 Oct 2023
How Climate Change Is Testing The Endangered Species Act
Some people keep dogs in their backyards. In the Florida Keys, some residents have deer the size of a golden retriever in their yards. As sea levels rise and salt water climbs higher on the islands, …
00:11:13 |
Wed 25 Oct 2023
Why Gray Hair Is Coming For You
As a kid, host Aaron Scott would dress up for Halloween as an older version of himself — complete with a cane, a set of polyester britches and painted gray hair. These days, that costume is becoming …
00:10:38 |
Mon 23 Oct 2023
Light Show! The Science Behind The Orionid Meteor Shower
We're about to hit peak Orionid meteor shower! According to NASA, it's one of the most beautiful showers of the year. The Orionids are known for their brightness and speed — they streak through the s…
00:09:01 |
Fri 20 Oct 2023
Why Scientists Are Reanimating Spider Corpses For Research
That spider you squished? It could have been used for science! Today, we're bringing you Halloween a little early – Short Wave style! Host Regina G. Barber talks to Anil Oza about the scientists rean…
00:11:56 |
Wed 18 Oct 2023
How AI Is Speeding Up Scientific Discoveries
Artificial intelligence can code computer programs, draw pictures and even take notes for doctors. Now, researchers are excited about the possibility that AI speeds up the scientific process — from q…
00:12:34 |
Mon 16 Oct 2023
The Microbiologist Studying The Giant Floating Petri Dish In Space
Microbiologist Monsi Roman joined NASA in 1989 to help design the International Space Station. As the chief microbiologist for life support systems on the ISS, Roman was tasked with building air and …
00:11:25 |
Fri 13 Oct 2023
Florida Corals Are Dying. Can A 'Coral Gym' Help Them Survive?
Coral reefs in Florida have lost an estimated 90% of their corals in the last 40 years. And this summer, a record hot marine heat wave hit Florida's coral reefs, exacerbating that problem. Scientist…
00:13:21 |
Wed 11 Oct 2023
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