Maddie Sofia

Today on the show, the death and potential rebirth of the American chestnut tree, how science is trying to give this functionally extinct tree a fresh start and how that has created some controversy. OK, Kwong, the mysterious disappearance of the American chestnut tree. Take it away.

Today on the show, the death and potential rebirth of the American chestnut tree, how science is trying to give this functionally extinct tree a fresh start and how that has created some controversy. OK, Kwong, the mysterious disappearance of the American chestnut tree. Take it away.

Hey, everybody. Maddie Safaya here with shortwave reporter Emily Kwong. Hey, Maddie. Hey, Kwong. You've been delving into the mystery of what happened to one of the most significant trees in the United States, the American chestnut.

Hey, everybody. Maddie Safaya here with shortwave reporter Emily Kwong. Hey, Maddie. Hey, Kwong. You've been delving into the mystery of what happened to one of the most significant trees in the United States, the American chestnut.

Pustules are never good.

Pustules are never good.

Poor little trees never get to grow up.

Poor little trees never get to grow up.

So the big, strong trees, they were basically gone.

So the big, strong trees, they were basically gone.

So we can grow and essentially reproduce on its own in nature.

So we can grow and essentially reproduce on its own in nature.

Tree-pronged approach, if you will.

Tree-pronged approach, if you will.

Sure.

Sure.

And how does this gene affect the American chestnut tree?

And how does this gene affect the American chestnut tree?

So these trees have been genetically modified at this point.

So these trees have been genetically modified at this point.

And what are these regulatory agencies looking for?

And what are these regulatory agencies looking for?

Right. Some people are worried about genetically engineered trees and other things being released into the wild. Right.

Right. Some people are worried about genetically engineered trees and other things being released into the wild. Right.

All right, Emily Kwong, I appreciate you. Thank you for sharing with us the scientific saga of the American chestnut tree. Such a saga. Yeah. You're welcome, Maddie.

All right, Emily Kwong, I appreciate you. Thank you for sharing with us the scientific saga of the American chestnut tree. Such a saga. Yeah. You're welcome, Maddie.

Hello, hello. Anybody there?

Hello, hello. Anybody there?

This is VIA Radio in Pittston, Pennsylvania.

This is VIA Radio in Pittston, Pennsylvania.

Okay, Britt, we are talking about whether or not allergy season is getting worse. So who'd you talk to?

Okay, Britt, we are talking about whether or not allergy season is getting worse. So who'd you talk to?

What a mix, Britt. What a mix. Okay, so what did you find out? This is an investigative report, and I want answers. Okay, okay, okay. I'm just going to play the tape.

What a mix, Britt. What a mix. Okay, so what did you find out? This is an investigative report, and I want answers. Okay, okay, okay. I'm just going to play the tape.

Okay. All right. Well, that was easy. You were right. I mean, do we know why the pollen levels are higher and the seasons are getting longer? I have an idea, but I want you to tell me.

Okay. All right. Well, that was easy. You were right. I mean, do we know why the pollen levels are higher and the seasons are getting longer? I have an idea, but I want you to tell me.

Okay, so basically the more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the more pollen that is produced.

Okay, so basically the more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the more pollen that is produced.

OK, what is factor number two?

OK, what is factor number two?

Okay.

Okay.

I feel like a lot of this comes back to climate change. I mean, increased CO2, rising temperatures. Like, I know it's pretty complicated. Like, am I oversimplifying this here?

I feel like a lot of this comes back to climate change. I mean, increased CO2, rising temperatures. Like, I know it's pretty complicated. Like, am I oversimplifying this here?

Wow. All right. Well, honestly, Brett, all you did was bring me bad news today.

Wow. All right. Well, honestly, Brett, all you did was bring me bad news today.

I think at this point it's the least you could do, Brett Hansen.

I think at this point it's the least you could do, Brett Hansen.

OK, I didn't know that. Keep the outside out. Got it. Check.

OK, I didn't know that. Keep the outside out. Got it. Check.

Okay, wash the outside off you and your clothes if you go out there.

Okay, wash the outside off you and your clothes if you go out there.

OK, so like I know when it's getting really bad out there. All right. I'm about to download that. OK. All right, Britt. Thank you so much for validating the allergy struggle and also for sharing some tips with us.

OK, so like I know when it's getting really bad out there. All right. I'm about to download that. OK. All right, Britt. Thank you so much for validating the allergy struggle and also for sharing some tips with us.

Love it.

Love it.

Fact-checked by Rasha Reedy and edited by Viet Le. The audio engineer for this episode was Josh Newell. I'm Maddie Safaya. Thanks for listening to Shortwave from NPR.

Fact-checked by Rasha Reedy and edited by Viet Le. The audio engineer for this episode was Josh Newell. I'm Maddie Safaya. Thanks for listening to Shortwave from NPR.

I don't know about you, but when I hear the word smoke, it makes me think of like huge thick plumes of different shades of gray sort of blanketing everything, you know, nothing too complicated. For somebody like Jessica, though.

I don't know about you, but when I hear the word smoke, it makes me think of like huge thick plumes of different shades of gray sort of blanketing everything, you know, nothing too complicated. For somebody like Jessica, though.

biomass. We're talking things like trees and brush that burn up in a wildfire. When it comes to particles in smoke, there's also a huge range from larger ones in the form of ash and dust that can more quickly settle out of the sky.

biomass. We're talking things like trees and brush that burn up in a wildfire. When it comes to particles in smoke, there's also a huge range from larger ones in the form of ash and dust that can more quickly settle out of the sky.

Yeah. And from the particulates side, the thing that people seem to be the most freaked out about is this PM 2.5, or the little particles that are super, super small. Yeah. And there seems to be a lot of that going on right now in California and large parts of the West, right? Yeah.

Yeah. And from the particulates side, the thing that people seem to be the most freaked out about is this PM 2.5, or the little particles that are super, super small. Yeah. And there seems to be a lot of that going on right now in California and large parts of the West, right? Yeah.

One of the most interesting things about smoke is how it behaves, how it interacts with the different layers of our atmosphere, including the layer closest to us called the boundary layer. And how big that layer is, how thick it is, depends on temperature. So at night, when it's cooler, that layer condenses and comes back down in altitude.

One of the most interesting things about smoke is how it behaves, how it interacts with the different layers of our atmosphere, including the layer closest to us called the boundary layer. And how big that layer is, how thick it is, depends on temperature. So at night, when it's cooler, that layer condenses and comes back down in altitude.

Also, with cooler temps and higher humidity at night, wildfires tend to die down.

Also, with cooler temps and higher humidity at night, wildfires tend to die down.

Yeah. And I guess I didn't, I had no idea that, you know, in areas where there's wildfire burning, that the smoke actually kind of settles back down at night. And it makes me think about, like, you know, it's night, it's cool, you want to open a window, right? That can be problematic. Yeah.

Yeah. And I guess I didn't, I had no idea that, you know, in areas where there's wildfire burning, that the smoke actually kind of settles back down at night. And it makes me think about, like, you know, it's night, it's cool, you want to open a window, right? That can be problematic. Yeah.

And so I think it's important to remember, right, so we're seeing the bonfire, we're seeing the smoke, and all of this smoke doesn't just hang out there, right? Like, smoke really travels.

And so I think it's important to remember, right, so we're seeing the bonfire, we're seeing the smoke, and all of this smoke doesn't just hang out there, right? Like, smoke really travels.

You know, the kicker is, though, when this smoke maybe clears up from the way that we can detect it, like just by going out and being like, oh, I can breathe a little bit easier. It never just disappears, right? Like, you know, smoke feeds into this cycle of climate change, right? Yeah.

You know, the kicker is, though, when this smoke maybe clears up from the way that we can detect it, like just by going out and being like, oh, I can breathe a little bit easier. It never just disappears, right? Like, you know, smoke feeds into this cycle of climate change, right? Yeah.

And all of these things kind of feed into, and this is simply put, but these things feed into a longer, hotter fire season. So it's kind of this garbage cycle.

And all of these things kind of feed into, and this is simply put, but these things feed into a longer, hotter fire season. So it's kind of this garbage cycle.

You know, I feel like the wildfires and the smoke are very visual examples of climate change. I mean, do you think that fires could impact how people are thinking about climate change and what needs to be done?

You know, I feel like the wildfires and the smoke are very visual examples of climate change. I mean, do you think that fires could impact how people are thinking about climate change and what needs to be done?

So today in the show, we ask some big questions about second language acquisition and get answers from neurolinguist Sarah Phillips. This is Shorewave from NPR.

So today in the show, we ask some big questions about second language acquisition and get answers from neurolinguist Sarah Phillips. This is Shorewave from NPR.

All right, Emily Kwong, today we are talking about the science of learning a second language because you are learning Mandarin Chinese, which, like, as far as a hobby goes, more power to you, Emily, more power to you.

All right, Emily Kwong, today we are talking about the science of learning a second language because you are learning Mandarin Chinese, which, like, as far as a hobby goes, more power to you, Emily, more power to you.

You're listening to Shortwave from NPR.

You're listening to Shortwave from NPR.

Oh, yeah. I remember, Sarah, from our episode on P600, like how the brain responds to sentences with confusing grammar or syntax.

Oh, yeah. I remember, Sarah, from our episode on P600, like how the brain responds to sentences with confusing grammar or syntax.

Oh, that's pretty cool, though. You're a developing baby bilingual.

Oh, that's pretty cool, though. You're a developing baby bilingual.

Are we going whitewater rafting?

Are we going whitewater rafting?

I think so. Is that the idea that you can only become fluent in a language when you're young? Like there's this critical window for language learning?

I think so. Is that the idea that you can only become fluent in a language when you're young? Like there's this critical window for language learning?

Dang. Okay, so does the same thing happen with humans? Like, I don't know that you could ethically study that, but I'm curious.

Dang. Okay, so does the same thing happen with humans? Like, I don't know that you could ethically study that, but I'm curious.

Gotcha, gotcha. Okay, but how does this apply to second language? And your earlier question, like how late is too late to learn another language?

Gotcha, gotcha. Okay, but how does this apply to second language? And your earlier question, like how late is too late to learn another language?

Do you need more eggs? My baby Kwong.

Do you need more eggs? My baby Kwong.

Every second? Yes. That's too many. Take it easy, brain.

Every second? Yes. That's too many. Take it easy, brain.

Not just like you're essentially rewiring your brain a little bit.

Not just like you're essentially rewiring your brain a little bit.

Oh. Oh.

Oh. Oh.

It's true. Emily, you want an egg?

It's true. Emily, you want an egg?

Oh, my gosh. I love that. That's so comforting. Like, this is like language therapy right now, like learning a new language therapy, because everybody worries about that pronunciation when they're trying to speak in a different language, right? Yeah, it took the pressure off enormously.

Oh, my gosh. I love that. That's so comforting. Like, this is like language therapy right now, like learning a new language therapy, because everybody worries about that pronunciation when they're trying to speak in a different language, right? Yeah, it took the pressure off enormously.

Emily, thank you so much for bringing us a story that's as personal as it gets. Your heritage, your family, your brain chemistry. Thank you. Thank you, Maddie. Today's episode was produced by Thomas Liu, edited by Viet Le, and fact-checked by Indy Cara. The audio engineer for this episode was Alex Strawenskis.

Emily, thank you so much for bringing us a story that's as personal as it gets. Your heritage, your family, your brain chemistry. Thank you. Thank you, Maddie. Today's episode was produced by Thomas Liu, edited by Viet Le, and fact-checked by Indy Cara. The audio engineer for this episode was Alex Strawenskis.

This is Shortwave from NPR.

This is Shortwave from NPR.

So today in the show, we ask some big questions about second language acquisition and get answers from neurolinguist Sarah Phillips. This is Shorewave from NPR.

All right, Emily Kwong, today we are talking about the science of learning a second language because you are learning Mandarin Chinese, which, like, as far as a hobby goes, more power to you, Emily, more power to you.

You're listening to Shortwave from NPR.

Oh, yeah. I remember, Sarah, from our episode on P600, like how the brain responds to sentences with confusing grammar or syntax.

Oh, that's pretty cool, though. You're a developing baby bilingual.

Are we going whitewater rafting?

I think so. Is that the idea that you can only become fluent in a language when you're young? Like there's this critical window for language learning?

Dang. Okay, so does the same thing happen with humans? Like, I don't know that you could ethically study that, but I'm curious.

Gotcha, gotcha. Okay, but how does this apply to second language? And your earlier question, like how late is too late to learn another language?

Do you need more eggs? My baby Kwong.

Every second? Yes. That's too many. Take it easy, brain.

Not just like you're essentially rewiring your brain a little bit.

Oh. Oh.

It's true. Emily, you want an egg?

Oh, my gosh. I love that. That's so comforting. Like, this is like language therapy right now, like learning a new language therapy, because everybody worries about that pronunciation when they're trying to speak in a different language, right? Yeah, it took the pressure off enormously.

Emily, thank you so much for bringing us a story that's as personal as it gets. Your heritage, your family, your brain chemistry. Thank you. Thank you, Maddie. Today's episode was produced by Thomas Liu, edited by Viet Le, and fact-checked by Indy Cara. The audio engineer for this episode was Alex Strawenskis.

This is Shortwave from NPR.

Okay, Britt, we are talking about whether or not allergy season is getting worse. So who'd you talk to?

What a mix, Britt. What a mix. Okay, so what did you find out? This is an investigative report, and I want answers. Okay, okay, okay. I'm just going to play the tape.

Okay. All right. Well, that was easy. You were right. I mean, do we know why the pollen levels are higher and the seasons are getting longer? I have an idea, but I want you to tell me.

Okay, so basically the more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the more pollen that is produced.

OK, what is factor number two?

Okay.

I feel like a lot of this comes back to climate change. I mean, increased CO2, rising temperatures. Like, I know it's pretty complicated. Like, am I oversimplifying this here?

Wow. All right. Well, honestly, Brett, all you did was bring me bad news today.

I think at this point it's the least you could do, Brett Hansen.

OK, I didn't know that. Keep the outside out. Got it. Check.

Okay, wash the outside off you and your clothes if you go out there.

OK, so like I know when it's getting really bad out there. All right. I'm about to download that. OK. All right, Britt. Thank you so much for validating the allergy struggle and also for sharing some tips with us.

Love it.

Fact-checked by Rasha Reedy and edited by Viet Le. The audio engineer for this episode was Josh Newell. I'm Maddie Safaya. Thanks for listening to Shortwave from NPR.

I don't know about you, but when I hear the word smoke, it makes me think of like huge thick plumes of different shades of gray sort of blanketing everything, you know, nothing too complicated. For somebody like Jessica, though.

biomass. We're talking things like trees and brush that burn up in a wildfire. When it comes to particles in smoke, there's also a huge range from larger ones in the form of ash and dust that can more quickly settle out of the sky.

Yeah. And from the particulates side, the thing that people seem to be the most freaked out about is this PM 2.5, or the little particles that are super, super small. Yeah. And there seems to be a lot of that going on right now in California and large parts of the West, right? Yeah.

One of the most interesting things about smoke is how it behaves, how it interacts with the different layers of our atmosphere, including the layer closest to us called the boundary layer. And how big that layer is, how thick it is, depends on temperature. So at night, when it's cooler, that layer condenses and comes back down in altitude.

Also, with cooler temps and higher humidity at night, wildfires tend to die down.

Yeah. And I guess I didn't, I had no idea that, you know, in areas where there's wildfire burning, that the smoke actually kind of settles back down at night. And it makes me think about, like, you know, it's night, it's cool, you want to open a window, right? That can be problematic. Yeah.

And so I think it's important to remember, right, so we're seeing the bonfire, we're seeing the smoke, and all of this smoke doesn't just hang out there, right? Like, smoke really travels.

You know, the kicker is, though, when this smoke maybe clears up from the way that we can detect it, like just by going out and being like, oh, I can breathe a little bit easier. It never just disappears, right? Like, you know, smoke feeds into this cycle of climate change, right? Yeah.

And all of these things kind of feed into, and this is simply put, but these things feed into a longer, hotter fire season. So it's kind of this garbage cycle.

You know, I feel like the wildfires and the smoke are very visual examples of climate change. I mean, do you think that fires could impact how people are thinking about climate change and what needs to be done?

Today on the show, the death and potential rebirth of the American chestnut tree, how science is trying to give this functionally extinct tree a fresh start and how that has created some controversy. OK, Kwong, the mysterious disappearance of the American chestnut tree. Take it away.

Hey, everybody. Maddie Safaya here with shortwave reporter Emily Kwong. Hey, Maddie. Hey, Kwong. You've been delving into the mystery of what happened to one of the most significant trees in the United States, the American chestnut.

Pustules are never good.

Poor little trees never get to grow up.

So the big, strong trees, they were basically gone.

So we can grow and essentially reproduce on its own in nature.

Tree-pronged approach, if you will.

Sure.

And how does this gene affect the American chestnut tree?

So these trees have been genetically modified at this point.

And what are these regulatory agencies looking for?

Right. Some people are worried about genetically engineered trees and other things being released into the wild. Right.

All right, Emily Kwong, I appreciate you. Thank you for sharing with us the scientific saga of the American chestnut tree. Such a saga. Yeah. You're welcome, Maddie.

Hello, hello. Anybody there?

This is VIA Radio in Pittston, Pennsylvania.