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
What Does A Healthy Rainforest Sound Like? (encore)
On a rapidly changing planet, there are many ways to measure the health of an ecosystem. Can sound be one of them?
Researcher Sarab Sethi explains how machine learning and soundscape recordings cou…
Researcher Sarab Sethi explains how machine learning and soundscape recordings cou…
00:12:47 |
Fri 10 Dec 2021
What's Driving The Political Divide Over Vaccinations
An NPR analysis shows that since the vaccine rollout, counties that voted heavily for Donald Trump have had nearly three times the COVID mortality rates of those that voted for Joe Biden. That differ…
00:15:43 |
Thu 09 Dec 2021
Seeking Answers To The Universe Deep In A Gold Mine
An underground lab is opening early next year in Australia. Its quest: to help detect dark matter and thereby also help answer some of physics' biggest questions about this mysterious force. It is th…
00:14:17 |
Wed 08 Dec 2021
What A New Antiviral Drug Could Mean For The Future Of COVID
An advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel has voted to recommend that the FDA approve a new antiviral drug to treat COVID-19. The FDA decision is expected soon. Host E…
00:13:49 |
Tue 07 Dec 2021
The 2021 Hurricane Season Wrapped
The end of the 2021 hurricane season was officially November 30. This year, there was a lot of hurricane activity. Today on the show, producer Thomas Lu talks to meteorologist Matthew Cappucci about …
00:13:41 |
Mon 06 Dec 2021
Jane Goodall Says There's Hope For Our Planet. Act Now, Despair Later!
Jane Goodall is a renowned naturalist and scientist. She's made a career studying primates and chimpanzees. But lately — something else has been on her mind: climate change. It might feel like there'…
00:07:42 |
Fri 03 Dec 2021
No sperm? No problem.
Scientists have discovered that some female condors don't need males to reproduce. This phenomenon is known as parthenogenesis, and it's been observed in other animals too. The Atlantic's Sarah Zhang…
00:11:30 |
Thu 02 Dec 2021
Using Math To Rethink Gender (encore)
Gender is infused in many aspects of our world — but should that be the case?
According to mathematician Eugenia Cheng, maybe not. In her new book, x+y, she challenges readers to think beyond their…
According to mathematician Eugenia Cheng, maybe not. In her new book, x+y, she challenges readers to think beyond their…
00:13:56 |
Wed 01 Dec 2021
Omicron's Arrival Is 'Wake-Up Call' That The Pandemic Is Ongoing
The coronavirus is still circulating and mutating — case in point, the World Health Organization has designated a new variant of concern, called omicron. The variant appears to have some characterist…
00:11:35 |
Tue 30 Nov 2021
Why Puerto Rico Is A Leader In Vaccinating Against COVID-19
Puerto Rico was still recovering from Hurricane Maria and a string of earthquakes when the pandemic started. The island was initially hit hard by COVID-19, but is now is a leader in vaccination rates…
00:14:43 |
Mon 29 Nov 2021
How To Choose A Health Insurance Plan
Health insurance can be tremendously confusing, with its complexity, jargon and acronyms. But putting in a bit of time to learn what these health insurance terms mean can empower you to better unders…
00:18:44 |
Wed 24 Nov 2021
Celebrate The Holidays Safely This Pandemic
Millions of Americans are planning to travel this week and gather inside for Thanksgiving — many in groups of 10 or more. At the same time, COVID-19 cases are rebounding. NPR correspondent Allison Au…
00:13:05 |
Tue 23 Nov 2021
A Mission To Redirect An Asteroid
In movies, asteroids careening towards Earth confront determined humans with nuclear weapons to save the world! But a real NASA mission to change the course of an asteroid (one not hurtling towards …
00:12:39 |
Mon 22 Nov 2021
Two Sides Of Guyana: A Green Champion And An Oil Producer
For Guyana the potential wealth from oil development was irresistible — even as the country faces rising seas. Today on the show, Emily Kwong talks to reporter Camila Domonoske about her trip to Guya…
00:15:14 |
Fri 19 Nov 2021
Bee Superfood: Exploring Honey's Chemical Complexities
Honey bees know a lot about honey, and humans are starting to catch up. Scientists are now looking at how the chemicals in honey affect bee health. With the help of research scientist Bernarda Calla,…
00:11:39 |
Thu 18 Nov 2021
One Woman's 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…
00:12:52 |
Wed 17 Nov 2021
Parents, We're Here To Help! Answers To Your COVID Vaccine Questions
Now that the Pfizer COVID vaccine is authorized for children five to eleven years old, a lot of parents are deliberating about what to do next. NPR health policy correspondent Selena Simmons-Duffin a…
00:13:49 |
Tue 16 Nov 2021
Experiencing The Emergence, Life And Death of A Neuron
A new exhibit in Washington, DC, mixes science and technology for an immersive art experience — taking visitors not to a distant land, but into their brains. This installation is a partnership betwee…
00:13:43 |
Mon 15 Nov 2021
Camilla Pang On Turning Fear Into Light
Camilla Pang talks with Short Wave host Emily Kwong about her award-winning memoir, "An Outsider's Guide to Humans: What Science Taught Me About What We Do And Who We Are." Diagnosed with autism spec…
00:14:10 |
Fri 12 Nov 2021
The secret history of DNA: Pus, fish sperm, life as we know it
It's been 150 years since the first article was published about the molecule key to life as we know it — DNA. With help from researcher Pravrutha Raman, Short Wave producer Berly McCoy explains how D…
00:10:18 |
Thu 11 Nov 2021
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