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
- 1342
- Years Active
- 2019 - 2025
On July 4th, Are You A Thrill- Or Chill-Seeker?
Independence Day is approaching! Imagine in a few days, someone has procured illegal fireworks from a couple of states over. Are you:
A) first in line to light them
B) content to watch while others set…
A) first in line to light them
B) content to watch while others set…
00:13:15 |
Tue 01 Jul 2025
RFK Jr.'s New Vaccine Advisors Signal Big Changes
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Policy, an influential CDC committee that shapes U.S. vaccine policy, has become a flashpoint in recent weeks. Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired a…
00:13:33 |
Mon 30 Jun 2025
Aha! The Power Of A Short Rest
Since 2004, scientific research has shown that a full night of sleep may lend itself to a burst of insight in the morning. But what about the earlier stages of sleep? And what about just a nap? A res…
00:08:54 |
Fri 27 Jun 2025
When Eavesdropping Pays Off
Why did the ornithologist strap a taxidermy badger to a remote controlled car and drive it around the prairie? To interrogate the secret world of animal eavesdropping in the grasslands, of course! To…
00:11:30 |
Wed 25 Jun 2025
Does It Feel Like Mosquitoes Are Getting Worse?
Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal on the planet, and some of them may be on the rise. At least in listener Abigail Krich-Starr's area, that's due to warmer, wetter weather — which, yes, is linked t…
00:13:19 |
Tue 24 Jun 2025
The Power Grid Problem
The U.S.'s power grid — a nearly 100-year-old network of electrical circuits — is facing increased demand and weather-related stress. What will it take to modernize? We interrogate that question tod…
00:11:22 |
Mon 23 Jun 2025
What Makes South Korea's 'Super Divers' Special?
For generations, the all-female Haenyeo divers have routinely dove into frigid waters off the coast of South Korea, holding their breath for minutes at a time, as they collect seafood to eat and sell…
00:10:29 |
Fri 20 Jun 2025
Why Emotions Run High For Sports Fans
We are in the thick of multiple sports seasons: the NBA finals are happening, and baseball and soccer are in full swing. For devoted fans, emotions can run pretty high during a game. Cognitive anthro…
00:12:27 |
Wed 18 Jun 2025
Trump Wants A Missile Defense System Like Israel's
Since last week, Israel has been attacking Iran's nuclear facilities, along with many other targets around the country. Iran has fired hundreds of missiles in response. NPR correspondent Geoff Brumfi…
00:13:57 |
Tue 17 Jun 2025
Why Weed's Signature Scent Has Changed Over Time
The skunky smell of cannabis may be going out of style. NPR's science correspondent Pien Huang visited the grow facility for District Cannabis, which sells weed in Washington D.C. and Maryland. On he…
00:10:55 |
Mon 16 Jun 2025
Your Breathing Pattern Is Like A Fingerprint
Take a big inhale through your nose. Now, exhale. Breathing may seem simple, but it's controlled by a complex brain network. Each inhale gives the human brain information about the external world. An…
00:08:49 |
Fri 13 Jun 2025
Wanna Save Money? Climate-Proof Your Home
Homeowners' insurance isn't just getting more expensive ... it's also getting harder to secure in the first place. Across the country, an increase in climate-related disasters like heat waves, wildfi…
00:12:09 |
Wed 11 Jun 2025
Living With OCD
Roughly 163 million people experience obsessive-compulsive disorder and its associated cycles of obsessions and compulsions. They have unwanted intrusive thoughts, images or urges; they also do certa…
00:14:25 |
Tue 10 Jun 2025
Helping Dogs and Their Pawrents Live Healthier, Longer
The Dog Aging Project is a long-term nationwide survey on the health and lifestyles of U.S. dogs that launched in 2019. Today, the project has more than 50,000 canines and counting. Today, hear what …
00:13:45 |
Mon 09 Jun 2025
Unveiling Olo — A Color Out of Oz!
"Olo" does not exist in nature, nor can it be found among paint cans. But for a very select few, olo can be seen — through the intervention of careful computing and lasers. A team led by vision scien…
00:13:48 |
Fri 06 Jun 2025
Anglerfish Ancestors Once Roamed The Seafloor
There are over 200 species of deep-sea anglerfish; some are long and thin, some are squat and round, some have fins that they use to "walk" along the sea floor, and others have huge eyes set far back…
00:13:07 |
Wed 04 Jun 2025
Can AI Crack 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 |
Tue 03 Jun 2025
Solving A Centuries Old Maritime Mystery
For hundreds of years sailors have told stories about miles of glowing ocean during moonless nights. This phenomenon is known as "milky seas," but the only scientific sample was collected in 1985. So…
00:13:17 |
Mon 02 Jun 2025
Why Daylight Boosts Immunity
Depending on what time it is, your body responds differently to an injury or infection. During the day, you're likely to heal faster and fight infection better than at night. And historically, scient…
00:08:40 |
Fri 30 May 2025
Unpacking Bipolar Disorder
Around 40 million people around the world have bipolar disorder, which involves cyclical swings between moods: from depression to mania. Kay Redfield Jamison is one of those people. She's also a prof…
00:13:32 |
Wed 28 May 2025
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