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
Dr. Thomas Insel On Why The U.S Mental Health System Has Failed And What Can Be Done
For over a decade, Dr. Thomas Insel headed the National Institute of Mental Health and directed billions of dollars into research on neuroscience and the genetic underpinnings of mental illnesses. He…
00:12:48 |
Mon 07 Mar 2022
Emily Runs A Marathon
In 2021, Short Wave host Emily Kwong ran her first marathon. In collaboration with our colleagues at Life Kit, Emily talks about her experience and discusses keys to training with running coach Laur…
00:23:10 |
Fri 04 Mar 2022
Silver Linings From The UN's Dire Climate Change Report
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) just released the second of three reports on climate change. Nearly 300 scientists from all over the world worked together to creat…
00:10:06 |
Thu 03 Mar 2022
How A Collection Of Threatened Bird Calls Swept The Australian Album Charts
What bird has a ten-foot wingspan and breeds almost exclusively on a single island in the Pacific Ocean? Find out in this special quiz episode of Short Wave. Host Emily Kwong tests the bird knowledge…
00:13:35 |
Wed 02 Mar 2022
Orcas: Apex Predators Or Marine Park Stars?
NPR science correspondent Lauren Sommer joins Short Wave host Emily Kwong to talk about a team of researchers who were the first to document a pack of orcas attacking a blue whale. Their work shows …
00:13:55 |
Tue 01 Mar 2022
What Led To The Massive Volcanic Eruption In Tonga
Scientists are piecing together what led up to a massive volcanic eruption in Tonga last month. NPR science correspondent Geoff Brumfiel joins the show to talk about the likely sequence of events— an…
00:14:58 |
Mon 28 Feb 2022
Twinkle, Twinkle, Shooting Star . . .
One of the video games that Short Wave's Scientist in Residence has been playing a lot in the pandemic is Animal Crossing, in which bits of stars fall along the beach. It got Regina thinking — what …
00:11:25 |
Fri 25 Feb 2022
Schedule Those Doctor's Appointments!
The pandemic is at a turning point. Hospitalizations in this country are down. Deaths are starting to decline. Some of the states that have had the strictest COVID restrictions are starting to dial b…
00:12:47 |
Thu 24 Feb 2022
Do You See What I See?
Everyone sees the world differently. Exactly which colors you see and which of your eyes is doing more work than the other as you read this text is different for everyone. Also different? Our blind s…
00:13:05 |
Wed 23 Feb 2022
Vacuuming DNA Out Of The Air
A few years ago, ecologist Elizabeth Clare had an idea--what if she could study rare or endangered animals in the wild without ever having to see or capture them? What if she could learn about them b…
00:12:34 |
Tue 22 Feb 2022
The Good and the Bad of TV Forensics
Raychelle Burks is a forensic chemist and an associate professor at American University. She's also a big fan of murder mysteries. Today, we talk pop culture forensics with Raychelle and what signs t…
00:12:29 |
Fri 18 Feb 2022
How Women Of Color Created Community In The Shark Sciences
As a kid, Jasmin Graham was endlessly curious about the ocean. That eventually led her to a career in marine science studying sharks and rays. But until relatively recently, she had never met another…
00:11:55 |
Thu 17 Feb 2022
How Many Senses Do We Really Have?
You're likely familiar with touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing - but there are actually more than five senses. Emily Kwong speaks to neurobiologist André White, assistant professor at Mount Holy…
00:11:18 |
Wed 16 Feb 2022
Tracing A Fraught And Amazing History Of American Horticulture
When Abra Lee became the landscape manager at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, she sought some advice about how to best do the job. The answer: study the history of gardening. That l…
00:14:48 |
Tue 15 Feb 2022
How to Talk About Hair Like a Scientist
Humans have scalp hair. But why is human scalp hair so varied? Biological anthropologist Tina Lasisi wanted to find out. And while completing her PhD at Penn State University, she developed a better …
00:15:44 |
Mon 14 Feb 2022
How climate change is forcing cities to rebuild stormwater systems
Deep below our city streets lie intricate networks of underground piping built to carry away excess rainfall run off. These stormwater systems mostly go unnoticed until heavy rains overwhelm them, ca…
00:12:27 |
Fri 11 Feb 2022
The (Drag) Queen Of Mathematics
Kyne is the stage name of Kyne Santos, a drag queen math communicator. The former Canada's Drag Race contestant posted her first video explaining a math riddle in full drag on TikTok during the pande…
00:13:54 |
Thu 10 Feb 2022
Without Inventor James West, This Interview Might Not Have Been Possible
For Black History Month, Short Wave is celebrating Black voices in STEM - bringing back some of our favorite conversations, as well as new guests with expertise and insights to share. In this encore…
00:13:24 |
Wed 09 Feb 2022
The Complete Guide To Absolutely Everything (Abridged)
At Short Wave, it's an unspoken goal to ask and answer every question under the sun — after all, science underpins the entire universe. Today, we think we've finally met our curiosity match in mathem…
00:15:31 |
Tue 08 Feb 2022
The Physics Of Figure Skating
Triple axel, double lutz, toe loops, salchows — it's time to fall in love again with the sport of figure skating. The 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing are underway, and today on the show, Emily Kwong …
00:11:23 |
Mon 07 Feb 2022
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