Emily Kwong (host, with guest Nell Greenfield‑Boyce also speaking within these segments)

Hey, Short Wavers, Emily Kwong here.

If you want to support our show, one thing you can do that is free, easy, and only takes a few minutes is to leave us a rating or a review.

On whatever app or platform you're listening to, there's usually a place to sign in and leave some kind of message or five stars if you would like.

It really helps new listeners find our show, and we really do read what people write.

Like M.F.

Ruthie, who wrote last week,

Your pod has the most relevant and creative material.

You are a daily experience in Ruthie's life.

Keep it up for us nerds out there.

Ruthie, thank you from one nerd to another.

And thank you all for listening, for taking a sec to let us know what you think of our show and sharing it with those you love.

Okay, on to the episode.

You're listening to Shortwave from NPR.

Hey, short wavers, it's Emily Kwong here, and it is that time of year again.

Can you feel the crispness in the air?

Can you hear the crunch of dry leaves?

Smell the haunting presence of pumpkin spice?

Oh, God, pumpkin spice.

That is NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfield-Boyce.

Hey, Nell.