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
- 1345
- Years Active
- 2019 - 2025
Sweating Buckets... of SCIENCE!
Sweating can be unpleasant, but consider the alternatives: You could roll around in mud. You could spend all day panting. You could have someone whip you up a blood popsicle. Sweating turns out to be…
00:13:43 |
Tue 23 Aug 2022
Micro Wave: How to Build a Sandcastle Dreamhouse!
Grab your towels and flip flops, because we're heading to the beach. Whether you love playing in the sand, or dread getting it off your feet, building a sandcastle is an often underappreciated art fo…
00:12:18 |
Mon 22 Aug 2022
Eavesdropping On A Volcano
Volcanoes are "talking" to us all the time. Scientists say the sooner we learn to interpret their normal chatter, the quicker we'll know when something unusual — and potentially dangerous — is happen…
00:12:16 |
Fri 19 Aug 2022
A Rising Demand for Coal Amidst War in Ukraine
Demand for coal in Europe is rising as Russia's invasion of Ukraine threatens the country's vast natural resource and fossil fuel reserves - and subsequently, the world's energy supply.
With trillio…
With trillio…
00:11:58 |
Thu 18 Aug 2022
Ode To The Manta Ray
On a trip to Hawaii, Short Wave host Emily Kwong encountered manta rays for the first time. The experience was eerie and enchanting. And it left Emily wondering — what more is there to these intellig…
00:15:11 |
Wed 17 Aug 2022
How To Brew Amazing Coffee With Science
The perfect cup of joe might be a matter of taste, but knowing the science behind the coffee-making process could help you elevate your at-home brewing game. Today, barista champion Sam Spillman on t…
00:11:38 |
Tue 16 Aug 2022
The Radio Wave Mystery That Changed Astronomy
In 1967 Jocelyn Bell Burnell made a discovery that revolutionized the field of astronomy. She detected the radio signals emitted by certain dying stars called pulsars. Today, Jocelyn's story. Scienti…
00:12:33 |
Mon 15 Aug 2022
Tick Check! The Tiny Bloodsuckers In Our Backyards
Short Wave is going outside every Friday this summer! In this second episode of our series on the National Park system, we head to Big Thicket National Preserve in Texas. Among the trees and trails, …
00:09:41 |
Fri 12 Aug 2022
The Brazilian Scientists Inventing An mRNA Vaccine — And Sharing The Recipe
When Moderna and Pfizer first came out with their mRNA vaccines for COVID-19, supply was limited to rich countries and they did not share the details of how to create it. That left middle income coun…
00:14:10 |
Thu 11 Aug 2022
Twinkle, Twinkle, Shooting Star
Ahead of the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, we're re-airing our first episode with Scientist in Residence Regina G. Barber. In it, Regina and planetary scientist Melissa Rice explore all things s…
00:11:51 |
Wed 10 Aug 2022
How Monkeypox Became A Public Health Emergency
The White House officially declared monkeypox a public health emergency in the United States last week. More than 7,500 cases of the virus have been confirmed since it began spreading across the coun…
00:12:54 |
Tue 09 Aug 2022
Carry The Two: Making Audio Magic With Math
Math is a complex, beautiful language that can help us understand the world. And sometimes ... math is also hard! Science communicator Sadie Witkowski says the key to making math your friend is to fo…
00:13:47 |
Mon 08 Aug 2022
A Tale Of Two Parks And The Bats Within Them
Buckle up! Short Wave is going on a road trip every Friday this summer. In this first episode of our series on the research happening in the National Park system, we head to Shenandoah National Park …
00:13:43 |
Fri 05 Aug 2022
Abortion Laws in Texas are Disrupting Maternal Care
New abortion bans have made some doctors hesitant to provide care for pregnancy complications. That's led to life-threatening delays, and trapped families in a limbo of grief and helplessness.
Today,…
Today,…
00:15:55 |
Thu 04 Aug 2022
The Secret History of DNA
It's been over 150 years since the first article was published about the molecular key to life as we know it — DNA. With help from expert Pravrutha Raman, Short Wave producer Berly McCoy explains how…
00:10:45 |
Wed 03 Aug 2022
Wild Horses Could Keep Wildfire At Bay
Under a 1971 Congressional Act, the Bureau of Land Management has the right to round up wild horses on public lands. Oftentimes, those horses are shipped to holding facilities, where they are kept in…
00:14:00 |
Tue 02 Aug 2022
TASTE BUDDIES: The Controversial World Of Taste Science
Not much is known about why people experience tastes differently and why some people can detect certain tastes and not others. There also might be other tastes out there to add to the list beyond the…
00:13:30 |
Mon 01 Aug 2022
Spice, Spice, Baby! Why Some Of Us Enjoy The Pain Of Spicy Foods
Today, we talk about spicy food and its intersection with pleasure and pain as part of our "Taste Buddies" series — Short Wave's ode to "taste." In this episode, Host Emily Kwong talks to food report…
00:14:15 |
Fri 29 Jul 2022
TASTE BUDDIES: No Sugarcoating How Sweet Affects The Brain
Our ancestors evolved the ability to taste the sweet goodness of foods like pastries and creamy chocolates. They were enticed to consume quick calories that might only be available sporadically. What…
00:10:46 |
Thu 28 Jul 2022
TASTE BUDDIES: Feeling Salty?
Today, we're getting salty as we continue our series "Taste Buddies" — Short Wave's ode to taste buds. In this encore episode, Scientist in Residence Regina G. Barber goes on a salty flavor journey w…
00:14:12 |
Wed 27 Jul 2022
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