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
Three (Hopeful!) Takeaways From The UN's Climate Change Report
Last week, the U.N. published a landmark report — detailing the current state of global climate change. One thing's for sure, humans are causing a lot of this extreme weather by emitting greenhouse g…
00:11:50 |
Mon 16 Aug 2021
Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall: Can Animals Recognize Their Reflection At All?
(Encore episode) The mirror self-recognition test has been around for decades. Only a few species have what it takes to recognize themselves, while others learn to use mirrors as tools. NPR science c…
00:11:27 |
Fri 13 Aug 2021
Does Your Cat Like You — Or Just Tolerate You?
(Encore episode) It's another installment of our series, "Animal Slander," where we take a common phrase about animals and see what truth there is to it. The issue before the Short Wave court today: …
00:11:42 |
Thu 12 Aug 2021
Bringing Service Animals Into The Lab
(Encore episode) Joey Ramp's service dog, Sampson, is with her at all times, even when she has to work in a laboratory. It wasn't always easy to have him at her side. Joey tells us why she's trying t…
00:13:59 |
Wed 11 Aug 2021
Does Your Dog Love You? Science Has Some Answers
(Encore episode) Clive Wynne, founding director of the Canine Science Collaboratory at Arizona State University, draws on studies from his lab and others around the world to explain what biology, neu…
00:11:17 |
Tue 10 Aug 2021
Siriusly, It's The Dog Days Of Summer!
Ever wonder why we call it the Dog Days of Summer? Today on the show — Emily gives Maddie an astronomical reason why we associate the sweltering heat of summer with the dog star, Sirius.
So, before t…
So, before t…
00:05:15 |
Mon 09 Aug 2021
Gravitational Waves: Unlocking The Secrets Of The Universe
Science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce gives us the latest in gravitational waves and shares what scientists have learned (and heard) from these tiny ripples in spacetime.
Email the show at sh…
Email the show at sh…
00:13:33 |
Fri 06 Aug 2021
How To Correct Misinformation
(Encore episode) The World Health Organization has called the spread of misinformation around the coronavirus an "infodemic." So what do you do when it's somebody you love spreading the misinformatio…
00:14:18 |
Thu 05 Aug 2021
COVID And Aduhelm On The Agenda At Denver Alzheimer's Meeting
The Alzheimer's Association International Conference took place in Denver this year. Today on the show, NPR science correspondent Jon Hamilton talks to Maddie Sofia about what he learned at the confe…
00:12:07 |
Wed 04 Aug 2021
Whales' Vital Role In Our Oceans
Whales are more than just beautiful creatures — they play a vital role in the ocean's ecosystem. Today, Asha de Vos, marine biologist and pioneer of long-term blue whale research within the Northern …
00:13:37 |
Tue 03 Aug 2021
Caregiving During The Pandemic Takes A Toll On Mental Health
Caregivers in the "Sandwich Generation" have reported a steep decline in mental health, as did others who had to juggle changes in the amount of caregiving they had to provide to loved ones. Caregive…
00:13:00 |
Mon 02 Aug 2021
Lightning Bugs, Fireflies - Call Them What You Will, They're Awesome
There are thousands of species of lightning bug and they live all over the world except in Antarctica. Maddie and Emily discuss lots of other amazing tidbits about the family Lampyridae and talk abo…
00:09:29 |
Fri 30 Jul 2021
Breaking Down The New CDC Mask Guidance
On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed its guidance on wearing masks. Short Wave co-host Maddie Sofia and NPR health correspondent Allison Aubrey explain what's changed an…
00:11:16 |
Thu 29 Jul 2021
Managing Wildfire Through Cultural Burns
Fire has always been part of California's landscape. But long before the vast blazes of recent years, Native American tribes held controlled burns that cleared out underbrush, encouraged new plant gr…
00:13:12 |
Wed 28 Jul 2021
Sweat: A Human Superpower
Sweating is critical to helping humans avoid overheating, and it's different than how most animals cool down. Sarah Everts wanted to understand more about how humans came to sweat like we do, and wro…
00:12:26 |
Tue 27 Jul 2021
Can We Predict Earthquakes? (Hint: No)
It's a listener questions episode! Chuck, Short Wave fan, asks, "What is the current state of earthquake prediction systems?"
For some answers, Emily Kwong chats with Wendy Bohon, a geologist and Sen…
For some answers, Emily Kwong chats with Wendy Bohon, a geologist and Sen…
00:12:25 |
Mon 26 Jul 2021
The Great California Groundwater Grab
California is in the middle of a terrible drought. The rivers are running low, and most of its farmers are getting very little water this year from the state's reservoirs and canals. And yet, farming…
00:12:58 |
Fri 23 Jul 2021
Who Runs The World? Squirrels!
Squirrels are everywhere — living in our suburban neighborhoods to our city centers to our surrounding wilderness. Rhitu Chatterjee talks with researcher Charlotte Devitz about squirrels and how stud…
00:13:24 |
Thu 22 Jul 2021
How Tall Is Mount Everest? Hint: It Changes
We talk to NPR's India correspondent Lauren Frayer about the ridiculously complicated science involved in measuring Mount Everest, the world's highest peak. And why its height is ever-changing. (Enco…
00:14:44 |
Wed 21 Jul 2021
The Delta Variant And The Latest Coronavirus Surge
COVID-19 cases are on the rise in the last month due to the Delta variant. NPR correspondent Allison Aubrey talks with Emily Kwong about where the virus is resurging, how some public health officials…
00:10:25 |
Tue 20 Jul 2021
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