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
Micro Wave: Let's Talk About Urine
There are lots of misconceptions around urine. Can urine cure athlete's foot? Or really treat a jellyfish sting?
Today on the show — we'll talk about what it actually is, debunk some common myths, an…
Today on the show — we'll talk about what it actually is, debunk some common myths, an…
00:10:10 |
Fri 26 Feb 2021
The Legacy of Trauma: Can Experiences Leave A Biological Imprint?
Descendants of trauma victims seem to have worse health outcomes. Could epigenetics help explain why? Bianca Jones Marlin and Brian Dias walk us through the field of epigenetics and its potential imp…
00:10:59 |
Thu 25 Feb 2021
Magnets: The Hidden Objects Powering Your Life
It's likely there's a magnet wherever you're looking right now. In fact, the device you're using to listen to this episode? Also uses a magnet. Which is why today, NPR science correspondent Geoff Bru…
00:12:22 |
Wed 24 Feb 2021
James West On Invention And Inclusion In Science
James West has been a curious tinkerer since he was a child, always wondering how things worked. Throughout his long career in STEM, he's also been an advocate for diversity and inclusion — from co-f…
00:12:30 |
Tue 23 Feb 2021
Coronavirus Vaccine Q&A: Variants, Side Effects, And More
Can people who are vaccinated still carry and transmit the coronavirus to other people? How effective are the vaccines against coronavirus variants? And what's the deal with side effects? In this epi…
00:16:03 |
Mon 22 Feb 2021
BONUS: Throughline — Octavia Butler: Visionary Fiction
To round out our celebration of Black History Month, we're bringing you a special episode featuring acclaimed science fiction writer Octavia Butler from our friends at NPR's history podcast Throughli…
01:06:57 |
Sat 20 Feb 2021
Micro Wave: I'll Peanut Jam Your Brain
Today, what happens in your brain when you notice a semantic or grammatical mistake, according to neuroscience. Sarah Phillips, a neurolinguist, tells us all about the N400 and the P600 responses.
Pl…
Pl…
00:09:26 |
Fri 19 Feb 2021
Why Tech Companies Are Limiting Police Use of Facial Recognition
In June 2020, Amazon, Microsoft and IBM announced that they were limiting some uses of their facial recognition technology. In this encore episode, Maddie and Emily talk to AI policy analyst Mutale N…
00:13:44 |
Thu 18 Feb 2021
Anti-Racist Science Education
Some of the most prestigious scientists in history advanced racist and eugenicist views, but that is rarely mentioned in textbooks. Maddie and Emily speak with science educators about how to broaden …
00:13:00 |
Wed 17 Feb 2021
The Creation Of The Magnificent Makers
Author and neuroscientist Theanne Griffith talks with Maddie about her children's book series, The Magnificent Makers, which follows two intrepid third graders as they race to complete science-based …
00:11:24 |
Tue 16 Feb 2021
A Week Of Black Excellence
In honor of Black History Month, Short Wave is focusing on Black scientists and educators — people doing incredible work and pushing for a world where science serves everyone. Enjoy!
Follow Maddie and…
Follow Maddie and…
00:00:50 |
Mon 15 Feb 2021
Bring Me Chocolate Or Bring Me Dead Stuff
Happy Valentine's Day from Short Wave! We've got something special for the holiday, Maddie and Emily exchange the gift of science facts - from the process of farming and fermenting cacao to the court…
00:13:54 |
Fri 12 Feb 2021
Saving Sea Level Records: What Historical Records Tell Us About The Rising Ocean
Archival records may help researchers figure out how fast the sea level is rising in certain places. Millions of people in coastal cities are vulnerable to rising sea levels and knowing exactly how f…
00:13:09 |
Thu 11 Feb 2021
When Defending The Land Puts Your Own Life At Risk
Global Witness documented that 212 environmental and land activists were murdered in 2019. Over half of those documented murders took place in Colombia and the Philippines, countries where intensive …
00:14:36 |
Wed 10 Feb 2021
Why 500,000 COVID-19 Deaths May Not Feel Any Different
Why is it so hard to feel the difference between 400,000 and 500,000 COVID-19 deaths—and how might that impact our decision making during the pandemic? Psychologist Paul Slovic explains the concept o…
00:11:29 |
Tue 09 Feb 2021
What's In A Tattoo? Scientists Are Looking For Answers
Three in 10 people in America have a tattoo, and those in the 18 - 34 age bracket, it's almost 40 percent. But what's in those inks, exactly? NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce talks abou…
00:13:42 |
Mon 08 Feb 2021
When Life Gives You Lemons...Make A Battery
We're going "Back To School" today, revisiting a classic at-home experiment that turns lemons into batteries — powerful enough to turn on a clock or a small lightbulb. But how does the science drivin…
00:10:06 |
Fri 05 Feb 2021
Biden Promises To Grapple With Environmental Racism
People of color experience more air and water pollution than white people and suffer the health impacts. The federal government helped create the problem, and has largely failed to fix it. NPR climat…
00:13:02 |
Thu 04 Feb 2021
Opioids, COVID-19 And Racism: A Deadly Trifecta
Drug overdose deaths are on the rise all around the country, including in Chicago, Illinois. ProPublica Illinois reporter Duaa Eldeib explains how the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the opioid …
00:12:59 |
Wed 03 Feb 2021
The Lost Joys Of Talking To Strangers
With a lot of us stuck at home, trying to physically distance from each other, one part of daily life has largely disappeared: bumping into strangers. On today's show, Maddie talks with Yowei Shaw, c…
00:12:11 |
Tue 02 Feb 2021
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