Regina Barber

You're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR.

Hey Shortwavers, Emily Kwong here. Believe it or not, the year is almost over. And as we are reflecting on 2024, we're thinking about the hundreds of podcast episodes we've brought you this year. I mean, episodes about big things like climate change, nuclear energy, COVID.

Hey Shortwavers, Emily Kwong here. Believe it or not, the year is almost over. And as we are reflecting on 2024, we're thinking about the hundreds of podcast episodes we've brought you this year. I mean, episodes about big things like climate change, nuclear energy, COVID.

Hey Shortwavers, Emily Kwong here. Believe it or not, the year is almost over. And as we are reflecting on 2024, we're thinking about the hundreds of podcast episodes we've brought you this year. I mean, episodes about big things like climate change, nuclear energy, COVID.

And episodes about weird and wonderful things like sea cucumbers, the biology of memory, the science of skincare trends you see on TikTok. And episodes about stuff we just can't stop obsessing over. I'm looking at you, naked mole rat succession war. Now is the time of year when we reflect on all that work and ask you to support it.

And episodes about weird and wonderful things like sea cucumbers, the biology of memory, the science of skincare trends you see on TikTok. And episodes about stuff we just can't stop obsessing over. I'm looking at you, naked mole rat succession war. Now is the time of year when we reflect on all that work and ask you to support it.

And episodes about weird and wonderful things like sea cucumbers, the biology of memory, the science of skincare trends you see on TikTok. And episodes about stuff we just can't stop obsessing over. I'm looking at you, naked mole rat succession war. Now is the time of year when we reflect on all that work and ask you to support it.

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Maybe you are already an NPR Plus supporter, and if so, I'm sorry to bother you and thank you so much. But if you have never given to public media before or not in a while, please consider doing it right now.

Maybe you are already an NPR Plus supporter, and if so, I'm sorry to bother you and thank you so much. But if you have never given to public media before or not in a while, please consider doing it right now.

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NPR Plus is a recurring donation that gets you special perks for more than 25 NPR podcasts, like sponsor-free listening, bonus episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and even exclusive and discounted items from the NPR Shop and the NPR Wine Club. It only takes a few minutes to sign up. You can do it right now at plus.npr.org. Because this year, shortwave turned five years old.

NPR Plus is a recurring donation that gets you special perks for more than 25 NPR podcasts, like sponsor-free listening, bonus episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and even exclusive and discounted items from the NPR Shop and the NPR Wine Club. It only takes a few minutes to sign up. You can do it right now at plus.npr.org. Because this year, shortwave turned five years old.

Whether you've been with us from the very start or you're listening this week for the first time, supporting public media means you're part of a community of people who are curious about the world. We're honestly so proud to have served the public media community these past five years. Let's keep it going, but it can only be done with your help. So join NPR Plus today at plus.npr.org.

Whether you've been with us from the very start or you're listening this week for the first time, supporting public media means you're part of a community of people who are curious about the world. We're honestly so proud to have served the public media community these past five years. Let's keep it going, but it can only be done with your help. So join NPR Plus today at plus.npr.org.

Whether you've been with us from the very start or you're listening this week for the first time, supporting public media means you're part of a community of people who are curious about the world. We're honestly so proud to have served the public media community these past five years. Let's keep it going, but it can only be done with your help. So join NPR Plus today at plus.npr.org.

Thanks so much.

Thanks so much.

Thanks so much.

Okay, Rachel, so earlier we talked about how the thick-billed parrots were really struggling. Like, in the 1990s, scientists think the population could have been at its lowest. And that's the same time period when these researchers at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and OVIS started doing a census of these birds every couple years to keep track of how they were doing.