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
- 1345
- Years Active
- 2019 - 2025
Why Did The Scientist Cross The Road?...To Meet Kasha Patel!
When Kasha Patel decided to try out stand-up comedy, she was told to joke about what she knew. For her, that was science. Today on Short Wave, Kasha talks to host Emily Kwong about how she developed …
00:13:30 |
Mon 02 May 2022
All Tied Up: The Study of Knots
Climbing enthusiast and producer Thomas Lu has long wondered what makes knots such a powerful tool. Today, Thomas digs into the research with the help of Matt Berry, Quality Assurance Manager at the …
00:12:46 |
Fri 29 Apr 2022
Planetary Scientists Are Excited About Uranus
Probes to Uranus and to one of Jupiter's moons where conditions might support life; a better plan high-quality science on the moon--those are some of the recommendations in a new 700 page report to N…
00:12:28 |
Thu 28 Apr 2022
U.S. COVID Case Increases Unlikely To Become A Surge
COVID cases are up due to the Omicron sub-variants and masking is likely to remain optional as the courts wrangle with the transportation mask mandate that a Federal judge struck down last week. NPR …
00:10:46 |
Wed 27 Apr 2022
The Environmental Cost of Crypto
Cryptocurrencies may exist only in the virtual world, but their impact on our natural resources is huge. That's largely because the technology underpinning crypto is an energy vampire that devours mo…
00:07:53 |
Tue 26 Apr 2022
Cryptocurrency Is An Energy Drain
As cryptocurrencies become increasingly popular, the environmental impact of the technology is gaining more attention. Local, state and national governments are trying to figure out how to regulate t…
00:14:00 |
Mon 25 Apr 2022
Fresh Banana Leaves — An Indigenous Approach To Science
Dr. Jessica Hernandez's new book examines the role of displacement — Indigenous peoples like her father, who was displaced by the civil war in El Salvador, and plants like the banana tree, brought fr…
00:14:28 |
Fri 22 Apr 2022
The Indicator: How Green Laws Stop Green Projects
The United States has a goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Without serious changes to lifestyles, that means dramatic investments in green energy. But environmental laws can actually get in t…
00:10:22 |
Thu 21 Apr 2022
The Science Behind The Delta-8 Craze
In the cannabis industry, the chemistry lab meets agriculture. A cannabis product called Delta-8 has been popping up in smoke shops, CBD shops and even gas stations.
Dr. Katelyn Kesheimer, a researche…
Dr. Katelyn Kesheimer, a researche…
00:15:46 |
Wed 20 Apr 2022
TASTE BUDDIES: Y U Salty?
Salt has such a rich history that it was once (and is perhaps still) a sign of wealth. In this latest installment of our series on flavor and taste, "Taste Buddies," Scientist-in-Residence Regina G. …
00:14:12 |
Tue 19 Apr 2022
The Pandemic Is Damaging Health Workers' Mental Health
A recent study found that working surge after surge in the pandemic, a majority of American health care workers experienced psychiatric symptoms — including depression and thoughts of suicide. And ye…
00:14:04 |
Mon 18 Apr 2022
Can Skiing Survive Climate Change?
Climate change poses an existential threat to the ski industry. A warmer climate means less snow and less now menas a shorter season for snowboarders and skiiers. NPR correspondent Kirk Siegler first…
00:13:12 |
Fri 15 Apr 2022
Addressing Water Contamination With Indigenous Science
Ranalda Tsosie grew up in the Navajo Nation, close to a number of abandoned uranium mines. The uranium from those mines leached into the groundwater, contaminating some of the unregulated wells that …
00:13:41 |
Thu 14 Apr 2022
Voices From A Ukrainian Hospital Damaged By Russian Attacks
In the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv at least half a dozen hospitals have been damaged by Russian attacks. The Emergency Department of City Hospital No. 2, located on the ground floor, was in…
00:12:10 |
Wed 13 Apr 2022
Planet Money: How Manatees Got Into Hot Water
Today we share the mic with our colleagues at Planet Money to talk about one of our favorite aquatic creatures: manatees. Decades ago, manatees nearly went extinct as their habitat dwindled and boats…
00:21:57 |
Tue 12 Apr 2022
Lemurs Will Rock You
There's a lot for scientists to learn about the origins of humans' musical abilities. In the last few years, though, they've discovered homo sapiens have some company in our ability to make musical r…
00:12:29 |
Mon 11 Apr 2022
War In Ukraine Sets Back Tuberculosis Treatment
According to the World Health Organization, Ukraine has the fourth highest incidence of tuberculosis in Europe — and one of the highest rates of multidrug resistant TB anywhere in the world. The coun…
00:09:49 |
Fri 08 Apr 2022
TASTE BUDDIES: The Origins Of Umami
A Japanese chemist identified umami in the early 1900s, but it took a century for his work to be translated into English. Short Wave host Emily Kwong talks with producer Chloee Weiner about why it to…
00:14:59 |
Thu 07 Apr 2022
The Indicator: Destroying Personal Digital Data
Today, we present an episode of NPR's daily economics podcast, The Indicator from Planet Money. It's filled with one of our favorite topics: Data.
Algorithms are the secret sauce for many tech platfor…
Algorithms are the secret sauce for many tech platfor…
00:10:12 |
Wed 06 Apr 2022
When To Consider Another COVID-19 Booster
This week, U.S. Food and Drug Administration vaccine advisors will meet to discuss long-term COVID vaccine strategy. This follows the recent FDA authorization and CDC recommendation of a second boost…
00:10:30 |
Tue 05 Apr 2022
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