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
- 1344
- Years Active
- 2019 - 2025
The Special Connection Between Smell and Memory
Why can a smell trigger such a powerful memory? Biological anthropologist Kara Hoover explains what's going on in the brain when we smell, how smell interacts with taste, and why our sense of smell i…
00:12:24 |
Thu 26 Nov 2020
When Critters Bleed ... On Purpose!
Some insects and reptiles have a strange self-preservation characteristic — they suddenly start bleeding from places like their eyes or knees. NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce looks at …
00:11:57 |
Tue 24 Nov 2020
Ultracold Soup: Meet The 'Superfluid' States Of Matter
Sharpen your pencils. Get out your notebook. Today, we are unveiling a new series called "Back To School." In these episodes, we take a concept you were taught in school and go a little deeper with i…
00:11:43 |
Mon 23 Nov 2020
Measuring Sea Level Rise From Space
A new satellite, scheduled to launch this weekend, is the latest in a parade of missions to measure sea level rise. As climate reporter Rebecca Hersher explains, it's vital data for scientists trying…
00:09:32 |
Fri 20 Nov 2020
Happy (Harm Reduction) Thanksgiving!
The safest way to have Thanksgiving this year is to stay at home. But realistically, we know many people will still be traveling to gather with loved ones. So in this episode, Emily and Maddie outlin…
00:15:00 |
Thu 19 Nov 2020
Trump Administration Lifts Protections For Largest National Forest In US
The Trump administration has officially eliminated federal protections for Alaska's Tongass National Forest, the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world. With the rollback of the Roadless Ru…
00:13:19 |
Tue 17 Nov 2020
Who Gets The Vaccine First? And How Will They Get It?
Developing a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine will be crucial to getting the pandemic under control. Also important, distributing it throughout the country once it's been approved. NPR science …
00:10:25 |
Mon 16 Nov 2020
The COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Results: What They Mean, What Comes Next
Interim results are in from a large trial of an experimental COVID-19 vaccine. Drug maker Pfizer, working with German company BioNTech, says its vaccine appears to be working really well — it was fo…
00:10:37 |
Fri 13 Nov 2020
A Call For Equity In Genomics Research
In the future, genomic research could lead to new treatments for human disease. It turns the data in our DNA into a global commodity. But historically, minoritized communities have been left out of t…
00:14:33 |
Thu 12 Nov 2020
Undisclosed: Fire And Flood Risk In The United States
There have been many climate-related disasters this year, and along with those events come a heavy emotional and financial toll for residents. But what NPR climate reporters Rebecca Hersher and Laure…
00:14:58 |
Tue 10 Nov 2020
What's It Like To Be A COVID-19 'Long Hauler'
That's what they call themselves: long-haulers. They've been sick for months. Many have never had a positive test. Doctors cannot explain their illness any other way, and can only guess at why the vi…
00:14:47 |
Mon 09 Nov 2020
The US And The Paris Climate Agreement: 5 Things To Know
President Trump announced his intention to withdraw from the landmark Paris climate agreement in 2017 and formally notified the United Nations last year. A mandatory yearlong waiting period ended on …
00:12:18 |
Fri 06 Nov 2020
Pandemic Reality Check - Where We Are. Where We're Headed.
Throughout the U.S., the pandemic is still raging. And with cooler weather and the height of flu season ahead, an already dire situation could get much, much worse. On today's show, a pandemic realit…
00:12:48 |
Thu 05 Nov 2020
Touch And Go: NASA Samples An Asteroid
A NASA spacecraft sent out to collect a sample of rock and dust from an asteroid has nabbed so much that it's created an unexpected problem. NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce shares a ca…
00:14:17 |
Tue 03 Nov 2020
Welcome To The World Of Whale Falls
What happens after a whale dies? Their carcasses, known as "whale falls," provide a sudden, concentrated food source for organisms in the deep sea. Biologist Diva Amon is our guide through whale-fall…
00:08:47 |
Mon 02 Nov 2020
Micro Wave: "Once In A Blue Moon" Is Happening Again This Halloween
This year, there will be a "blue moon" for Halloween. So for today's show, we're asking: What IS a blue moon? Is the moon ever blue? And are they as rare as the phrase "once in a blue moon" implies?
F…
F…
00:09:46 |
Fri 30 Oct 2020
One More Step Toward Solving The Sleep & Alzheimer's Puzzle
We know that people with Alzheimer's often have sleep problems. But does it work the other way? Do problems with sleep set the stage for this degenerative brain disease?
NPR correspondent Jon Hamilto…
NPR correspondent Jon Hamilto…
00:10:10 |
Thu 29 Oct 2020
The Mystery Of The Mummified Twinkie
Happy Hallo-Week! Today we have the story of Twinkies that were left alone for eight years. One grew a moldy spot and another shriveled up in its packaging, almost like a mummy. NPR's Nell Greenfield…
00:12:31 |
Tue 27 Oct 2020
Crows: Are They Scary Or Just Super Smart?
Crows have gotten a bad rap throughout history — a group of them is called a "murder," after all. To get some insight into crows and perhaps set the record straight, we talked to Kaeli Swift. She's a…
00:09:44 |
Mon 26 Oct 2020
Micro Wave: Why Do Leaves Change Color During Fall?
Botanist and founder of #BlackBotanistsWeek Tanisha Williams explains why some leaves change color during fall and what shorter days and colder temperatures have to do with it.
Plus, a bit of listener…
Plus, a bit of listener…
00:11:02 |
Fri 23 Oct 2020
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