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
- 1344
- Years Active
- 2019 - 2025
How The Lack of Fans Is Changing the Psychology of Sports
Professional sports are back - but it's anything but normal. The most obvious difference is the glaring absence of fans in the stands. This has led to some creative experimentation with recordings of…
00:10:44 |
Thu 20 Aug 2020
The Science Behind Storytelling
Encore episode. Storytelling can be a powerful tool to convey information, even in the world of science. It can also shift stereotypes about who scientists are. We talked to someone who knows all abo…
00:13:09 |
Wed 19 Aug 2020
Farming Releases Carbon From The Earth's Soil Into The Air. Can We Put It Back?
Traditional farming depletes the soil and releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. But decades ago, a scientist named Rattan Lal helped start a movement based on the idea that carbon could be put…
00:13:20 |
Tue 18 Aug 2020
The Science Is Simple, So Why Is Opening Schools So Complicated?
School districts, parents and teachers are all facing big decisions about how to return to the classroom this fall. NPR health correspondent Allison Aubrey and education correspondent Cory Turner joi…
00:13:45 |
Mon 17 Aug 2020
Save The Parasites
Saving endangered species usually brings to mind tigers or whales. But scientists say many parasites are also at risk of extinction. Short Wave's Emily Kwong talks with Chelsea Wood, an Assistant Pro…
00:13:19 |
Fri 14 Aug 2020
How To Know If A Hurricane Is Coming For You
Federal forecasters are predicting a busy hurricane season this year — three to six of them could be major hurricanes. So how do you know if one is headed toward your community, and if so, how to pre…
00:12:49 |
Thu 13 Aug 2020
1st U.S. Dog With COVID-19 Has Died, And There's A Lot We Still Don't Know
Buddy, an adult German shepherd from Staten Island, was the first dog in the U.S. to test positive for the coronavirus. His death reveals just how little we know about COVID-19 and pets. Natasha Daly…
00:13:18 |
Wed 12 Aug 2020
Gene-Altered Squid Could Be The Next Lab Rats
The first genetically altered squid is here. NPR's Nell Greenfieldboyce explains how this breakthrough was made and why it's a game changer for scientists who study these critters.
Learn more about sp…
Learn more about sp…
00:12:12 |
Tue 11 Aug 2020
Why Herd Immunity Won't Save Us
Herd immunity. It's the idea that enough people become immune to an infectious disease that it's no longer likely to spread. It makes sense theoretically. But as NPR's Geoff Brumfiel tells us, the re…
00:13:47 |
Mon 10 Aug 2020
Micro Wave: Spreading Warm Bread With Socks
It's another Micro Wave! 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 N40…
00:09:29 |
Fri 07 Aug 2020
Wearing A Mask Could Be Even More Important Than We Thought
A new paper and growing observational evidence suggest that a mask could protect you from developing a serious case of COVID-19 — by cutting down on the amount of virus that takes root in your body.
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00:13:24 |
Thu 06 Aug 2020
How Gene Therapy Helped Conner Run
Gene therapy has helped a 9-year-old boy regain enough muscle strength to run. If successful in others, it could change the lives of thousands of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. NPR's Jon …
00:11:55 |
Wed 05 Aug 2020
The Search For Ancient Civilizations On Earth ... From Space
Encore episode. Sarah Parcak explains how she uses satellite imagery and data to solve one of the biggest challenges in archaeology: where to start digging. Her book is called 'Archaeology From Space…
00:11:31 |
Tue 04 Aug 2020
Pregnancy And COVID-19: What We Know And How To Protect Yourself
How dangerous is COVID-19 for pregnant women and their babies? The research has been scant and the data spotty. Dr. Laura Riley, the chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Weill Cornell Medicine and …
00:13:09 |
Mon 03 Aug 2020
Coronavirus Q&A: Running Outside, Petting Dogs, And More
What's the deal with wiping down groceries? How often should you sanitize your phone? Can you greet other people's dogs? In this episode, an excerpt of Maddie's appearance on another NPR podcast wher…
00:14:03 |
Fri 31 Jul 2020
Butterflies Have Hearts In Their Wings. You'll Never Guess Where They Have Eyes
Adriana Briscoe, a professor of biology and ecology at UC Irvine, studies vision in butterflies. As part of her research, she's trained them to detect light of a certain color. She also explains why …
00:13:50 |
Thu 30 Jul 2020
Mars Is The Place To Go This Summer
The United Arab Emirates launched a mission to Mars earlier this month, followed by China days later. And tomorrow, NASA is scheduled to launch its own mission to the red planet that includes a six-w…
00:09:51 |
Wed 29 Jul 2020
The Controversy Around COVID-19 Hospital Data
Data are so more than just a bunch of numbers, especially when it's the data hospitals are reporting about COVID-19. Earlier this month, the Trump Administration made a sudden change to the way that …
00:10:26 |
Tue 28 Jul 2020
Eavesdropping On Whales In A Quiet Ocean
The pandemic has led to a drop in ship traffic around the world, which means the oceans are quieter. It could be momentary relief for marine mammals that are highly sensitive to noise. NPR's Lauren …
00:11:46 |
Mon 27 Jul 2020
Why Shame Is A Bad Public Health Tool — Especially In A Pandemic
So much of dealing with the pandemic is about how each of us behaves in public. And it's easy to get mad when we see people not following public health guidelines, especially when it looks like they'…
00:14:50 |
Fri 24 Jul 2020
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