Climate Change Is Here For Your Chocolate
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Last year, we reported how extreme weather events may be dwindling the future of chocolate. Just las...
Why Illusions Are A Brain Feature, Not A Bug
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A grayscale ballerina who appears to be moving. A human who can fit in a doll box. A black-and-white...
Nature Quest: Are Summers Getting Hotter?
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Much of the country is deep in the middle of a heat wave right now. And every summer, Duane Stilwell...
Sea Camp: The Largest Daily Migration On Earth
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The twilight zone of the ocean is a mysterious place. At 200-1000 meters below the surface, it's a t...
Did Spiders' Ancestors Come From The Ocean?
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you love spiders or can't be within 10 feet of them, you probably think of them crawling aro...
Eating Disorder Recovery In A Diet Culture World
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Eating disorders are complicated illnesses that skyrocketed among teenagers during the COVID-19 pand...
Will Federal Budget Cuts Affect Space Science?
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Earlier this year, the White House proposed a nearly 24% cut to NASA's 2026 fiscal year budget — t...
Sea Camp: Is Better Human Health Hidden In The Sea?
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For this week's Sea Camp, we're diving below the ocean's surface to explore the sunlight zone, the p...
Congress has voted to eliminate government funding for public media
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Act now to ensure public media remains free and accessible to all. Your donation will help this esse...
These Scientists Are Using AI To Listen To Frogs
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you were a miner in California during the Gold Rush, you might have dined on a California red-leg...
Who Is Using The 988 Crisis Line?
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — 988 — launched on this day exactly three years ago. P...
How Realistic Are Movie Dinosaurs?
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jurassic Park: Rebirth is the latest installment in the Jurassic World series. And while dinosaur pa...
Sea Camp: These Critters Call The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Home
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For this second installment of the Sea Camp series, we explore the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It's...
Meet The Third Ever (!!) Interstellar Comet
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A rare visitor from another star system has been spotted: the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS! It was de...
Evolution Went On Trial 100 Years Ago. Where Are We Now?
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week marks the 100th anniversary of the Scopes "Monkey Trial" — where a teacher was charged w...
Itchy? Air Pollution May Be Making It Worse
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Short Wave producer Hannah Chinn has adult-onset eczema. They're not the only one. Up to ten percent...
Sea Camp: Why Are Ocean Currents Shifting?
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A warming climate doesn't just affect dry land — it affects the ocean, too. For years, Earth's oce...
Why Dew Point Is This Summer's 'It Girl'
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Happy Independence Day, Short Wavers! Do you have plans outdoors this weekend and want to figure out...
Is The Milky Way On A Collision Course?
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Andromeda galaxy lies just beyond (...OK, about 2.5 million light-years beyond) our galaxy, the ...
On July 4th, Are You A Thrill- Or Chill-Seeker?
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Independence Day is approaching! Imagine in a few days, someone has procured illegal fireworks from ...
RFK Jr.'s New Vaccine Advisors Signal Big Changes
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Policy, an influential CDC committee that shapes U.S. vaccine...
Aha! The Power Of A Short Rest
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Since 2004, scientific research has shown that a full night of sleep may lend itself to a burst of i...
When Eavesdropping Pays Off
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why did the ornithologist strap a taxidermy badger to a remote controlled car and drive it around th...
Does It Feel Like Mosquitoes Are Getting Worse?
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal on the planet, and some of them may be on the rise. At least in ...
The Power Grid Problem
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The U.S.'s power grid — a nearly 100-year-old network of electrical circuits — is facing increa...
What Makes South Korea's 'Super Divers' Special?
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For generations, the all-female Haenyeo divers have routinely dove into frigid waters off the coast ...
Why Emotions Run High For Sports Fans
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We are in the thick of multiple sports seasons: the NBA finals are happening, and baseball and socce...
Trump Wants A Missile Defense System Like Israel's
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Since last week, Israel has been attacking Iran's nuclear facilities, along with many other targets ...
Why Weed's Signature Scent Has Changed Over Time
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The skunky smell of cannabis may be going out of style. NPR's science correspondent Pien Huang visit...
Your Breathing Pattern Is Like A Fingerprint
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Take a big inhale through your nose. Now, exhale. Breathing may seem simple, but it's controlled by ...
Wanna Save Money? Climate-Proof Your Home
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Homeowners' insurance isn't just getting more expensive ... it's also getting harder to secure in th...
Living With OCD
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Roughly 163 million people experience obsessive-compulsive disorder and its associated cycles of obs...
Helping Dogs and Their Pawrents Live Healthier, Longer
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Dog Aging Project is a long-term nationwide survey on the health and lifestyles of U.S. dogs tha...
Unveiling Olo — A Color Out of Oz!
Fri, 06 Jun
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
"Olo" does not exist in nature, nor can it be found among paint cans. But for a very select few, olo...
Unveiling Olo — A Color Out of Oz!
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Olo" does not exist in nature, nor can it be found among paint cans. But for a very select few, olo...
Anglerfish Ancestors Once Roamed The Seafloor
Wed, 04 Jun
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
There are over 200 species of deep-sea anglerfish; some are long and thin, some are squat and round,...
Anglerfish Ancestors Once Roamed The Seafloor
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There are over 200 species of deep-sea anglerfish; some are long and thin, some are squat and round,...
Can AI Crack The Biology Code?
Tue, 03 Jun 2025 07:00:59 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
As artificial intelligence seeps into some realms of society, it rushes into others. One area it's m...
Can AI Crack The Biology Code?
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As artificial intelligence seeps into some realms of society, it rushes into others. One area it's m...
Solving A Centuries Old Maritime Mystery
Mon, 02 Jun
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
For hundreds of years sailors have told stories about miles of glowing ocean during moonless nights....
Solving A Centuries Old Maritime Mystery
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For hundreds of years sailors have told stories about miles of glowing ocean during moonless nights....
Why Daylight Boosts Immunity
Fri, 30 May
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Depending on what time it is, your body responds differently to an injury or infection. During the d...
Why Daylight Boosts Immunity
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Depending on what time it is, your body responds differently to an injury or infection. During the d...
Unpacking Bipolar Disorder
Wed, 28 May
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Around 40 million people around the world have bipolar disorder, which involves cyclical swings betw...
Unpacking Bipolar Disorder
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Around 40 million people around the world have bipolar disorder, which involves cyclical swings betw...
Nature Quest: The Climate-Kid Question
Tue, 27 May 2025 07:00:59 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Gen Z and younger millennials are the most climate literate generations the world has ever seen. The...
Nature Quest: The Climate-Kid Question
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Gen Z and younger millennials are the most climate literate generations the world has ever seen. The...
The Great Space Race ... With Clocks
Mon, 26 May
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
It's Memorial Day, Short Wavers. This holiday, we bring you a meditation on time ... and clocks. The...
The Great Space Race ... With Clocks
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's Memorial Day, Short Wavers. This holiday, we bring you a meditation on time ... and clocks. The...
Flamingos: The Water-Bending Physics Masters
Fri, 23 May
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Riddle us this: Which animal is pink, curved beaked and a master of the physics required to create w...
Flamingos: The Water-Bending Physics Masters
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Riddle us this: Which animal is pink, curved beaked and a master of the physics required to create w...
New Antivenom, Thanks To 200 Intentional Snake Bites
Wed, 21 May
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
What's it like to get bit by a venomous snake? "It's like a bee sting times a thousand," Tim Friede ...
New Antivenom, Thanks To 200 Intentional Snake Bites
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What's it like to get bit by a venomous snake? "It's like a bee sting times a thousand," Tim Friede ...
Will Trump Unleash Energy Dominance Or Damage?
Tue, 20 May 2025 07:00:59 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
The Trump administration is rewriting policies and reducing funding for multiple agencies that handl...
Will Trump Unleash Energy Dominance Or Damage?
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Trump administration is rewriting policies and reducing funding for multiple agencies that handl...
Could Wormholes Exist?
Mon, 19 May
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
In science fiction, wormholes are hyperspace subway tubes linking one part of a galaxy directly to a...
Could Wormholes Exist?
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In science fiction, wormholes are hyperspace subway tubes linking one part of a galaxy directly to a...
Orange Cat Lovers, Rise Up!
Fri, 16 May
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Approximately 80% of orange cats are males, including the four orange cats owned by the Short Wave t...
Orange Cat Lovers, Rise Up!
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Approximately 80% of orange cats are males, including the four orange cats owned by the Short Wave t...
How Baby Bats Learn To Eavesdrop On Dinner
Wed, 14 May
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Most bats use echolocation to navigate and hunt, but some use their ears for another trick: eavesdro...
How Baby Bats Learn To Eavesdrop On Dinner
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most bats use echolocation to navigate and hunt, but some use their ears for another trick: eavesdro...
Learning A Second Language As An Adult
Tue, 13 May 2025 07:00:59 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Becoming fluent in a second language is difficult. But for adults, is it impossible? Science says no...
Learning A Second Language As An Adult
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Becoming fluent in a second language is difficult. But for adults, is it impossible? Science says no...
The Indicator: American Science Brain Drain
Mon, 12 May
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Today, we're airing an episode of NPR's daily economics podcast, The Indicator from Planet Money. It...
The Indicator: American Science Brain Drain
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we're airing an episode of NPR's daily economics podcast, The Indicator from Planet Money. It...
Could AI Go Green?
Fri, 09 May
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Google, Microsoft and Meta have all pledged to reach at least net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. Ama...
Could AI Go Green?
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Google, Microsoft and Meta have all pledged to reach at least net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. Ama...
What's The Environmental Cost Of AI?
Wed, 07 May
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
By 2028, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory forecasts that U.S. data centers could use as much as...
What's The Environmental Cost Of AI?
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
By 2028, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory forecasts that U.S. data centers could use as much as...
Science Can Make You More Creative!
Tue, 06 May 2025 07:00:59 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Do you consider yourself a creative person? If not, you may be holding yourself back. Psychologist Z...
Science Can Make You More Creative!
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you consider yourself a creative person? If not, you may be holding yourself back. Psychologist Z...
Did Scientists Find Alien Life Or Just Controversy?
Mon, 05 May
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Recently, a group of scientists claimed they found possible signs of life on a planet called K2-18b....
Did Scientists Find Alien Life Or Just Controversy?
05 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Recently, a group of scientists claimed they found possible signs of life on a planet called K2-18b....
What Can Minecraft Teach Us About Learning?
Fri, 02 May
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Minecraft is a movie and a very popular video game with iconic block graphics that characters can "m...
What Can Minecraft Teach Us About Learning?
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Minecraft is a movie and a very popular video game with iconic block graphics that characters can "m...
Are DOGE Cuts Making America Healthy?
Wed, 30 Apr
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
In its first 100 days, the Trump administration — specifically, the Department of Government Effic...
Are DOGE Cuts Making America Healthy?
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In its first 100 days, the Trump administration — specifically, the Department of Government Effic...
Should Kids Be Taking Melatonin?
Tue, 29 Apr 2025 07:00:59 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
A good night's sleep makes a big difference to our mental and physical health. Without quality sleep...
Should Kids Be Taking Melatonin?
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A good night's sleep makes a big difference to our mental and physical health. Without quality sleep...
Harnessing Spineless Sea Creatures' Superpowers
Mon, 28 Apr
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
From starfish and sea slugs to jellyfish and sponges, the ocean's invertebrates are some of the most...
Harnessing Spineless Sea Creatures' Superpowers
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From starfish and sea slugs to jellyfish and sponges, the ocean's invertebrates are some of the most...
This Telescope Could Find "Planet 9"
Fri, 25 Apr
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Some scientists are convinced that beyond Neptune, there's a planet they've yet to see. This so-call...
This Telescope Could Find "Planet 9"
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some scientists are convinced that beyond Neptune, there's a planet they've yet to see. This so-call...
Why These Salmon Are On Anxiety Meds
Wed, 23 Apr
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
A fish walks into a pharmacy ... well, not exactly. Fish aren't being prescribed anti-anxiety drugs....
Why These Salmon Are On Anxiety Meds
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A fish walks into a pharmacy ... well, not exactly. Fish aren't being prescribed anti-anxiety drugs....
Nature Quest: Are Flowers Blooming Early?
Tue, 22 Apr 2025 07:00:59 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Welcome!! This is the first episode of Nature Quest, a monthly Short Wave segment that answers liste...
Nature Quest: Are Flowers Blooming Early?
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome!! This is the first episode of Nature Quest, a monthly Short Wave segment that answers liste...
Should Humans Live On Mars?
Mon, 21 Apr
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
As global warming continues and space technology improves, there is more and more talk about the gro...
Should Humans Live On Mars?
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As global warming continues and space technology improves, there is more and more talk about the gro...
Good Vibrations: How Fiddler Crabs Mate
Fri, 18 Apr
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
The male European fiddler crab attracts his mate by performing a courtship dance. New research publi...
Good Vibrations: How Fiddler Crabs Mate
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The male European fiddler crab attracts his mate by performing a courtship dance. New research publi...
How Nature Makes A Complex Brain
Wed, 16 Apr
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
A recent series of studies suggests that the brains of birds, reptiles and mammals all evolved indep...
How Nature Makes A Complex Brain
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A recent series of studies suggests that the brains of birds, reptiles and mammals all evolved indep...
Your Allergies May Be Getting Worse
Tue, 15 Apr 2025 07:00:59 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Plants are blooming right now – and so are people's allergies. And if it feels like those pesky sy...
Your Allergies May Be Getting Worse
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Plants are blooming right now – and so are people's allergies. And if it feels like those pesky sy...
All Hail The Butt Flicker
Mon, 14 Apr
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Did you know there's an insect that can fling its pee 40 times faster than a cheetah accelerates? We...
All Hail The Butt Flicker
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know there's an insect that can fling its pee 40 times faster than a cheetah accelerates? We...
How Do Astronomers Find Exoplanets? Wiggles!
Fri, 11 Apr
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Dune. Star Wars. Alien. Science fiction movies love alien worlds, and so do we. But how do scientist...
How Do Astronomers Find Exoplanets? Wiggles!
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dune. Star Wars. Alien. Science fiction movies love alien worlds, and so do we. But how do scientist...
Could Psychedelics Become Tripless?
Wed, 09 Apr
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
This week, we've heard from researchers trying to untangle the effects of the "trip" that often come...