Activity Overview
Episode publication activity over the past year
Why The Science Of Tides Was Crucial For D-Day
05 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
June 6, 1944 the Allied Forces stormed the beaches of Normandy and took the Nazis by surprise in the...
Psychedelic Treatment For PTSD Faces Misconduct Hurdle
03 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
People with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may soon have a new treatment option: MDMA, the ch...
A Silky Shark Named Genie Swam 17,000 Miles, a Record-Breaking Migration
31 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A silky shark named Genie traveled from the Galapagos Islands out to the open ocean and back – ove...
A Vaginal Microbiome Transplant Could Help People With BV
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Humans rely on our symbiotic relationship with good microbes—in the gut, the skin and ... the vagi...
With Summer Approaching, Here's A Smarter Way To Use Sunscreen
27 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Each year 84,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with melanoma. About 90% of these skin cancers are...
How Israel Is Using Facial Recognition In Gaza
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After the Hamas attack of Oct. 7 triggered Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip, hundreds of thousand...
Who's At Risk For Uterine Fibroids? Most Women
22 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Fibroids are benign uterine tumors. So why does it matter that the majority of people with a uterus ...
What Are Sperm Whales Saying? Researchers Find A Complex 'Alphabet'
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Scientists are testing the limits of artificial intelligence when it comes to language learning. One...
Scientists Reveal Mysterious Origin of Baobab Trees, Rafiki's Home in 'The Lion King'
17 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Baobabs are sometimes called the "tree of life" with their thick trunks, crown of branches and flowe...
Climate Change Is Coming For Your Chocolate
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Chocolate may never be the same. The majority of chocolate is made in just two countries and erratic...
How AI Is Cracking The Biology Code
13 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As artificial intelligence seeps into some realms of society, it rushes into others. One area it's m...
NEWS: NOAA Issues First Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Since 2005
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration observed a cluster of sunspots on ...
How Autism Can Look Very Different, Even In Identical Twins
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sam and John Fetters, 19, are identical twins on different ends of the autism spectrum. Sam is a sop...
The Wonderous World Of Nudibranchs
08 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Emily gets super nerdy with former host Maddie Sofia get as they dive into the incredible world of n...
'Stealing The Past': A Spat Between Twins Leads To A Theory Of Disputed Memories
06 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's not unusual for siblings to quibble over ownership of something — a cherished toy, a coveted ...
Deer Are Expanding North. That Could Hurt Some Species Like Boreal Caribou
03 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Wildlife ecologists have seen white-tailed deer expanding their range in North America over many dec...
The Mysterious "Great Attractor" Pulling Our Galaxy Off Course
01 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
No matter what you're doing right now – sitting, standing, walking – you're moving. First, becau...
How The New Catan Board Game Can Spark Conversations On Climate Change
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we're going full nerd to talk about a new board game — Catan: New Energies. The game's goal...
10 Years After Flint, The Fight To Replace Lead Pipes Continues
26 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ten years ago, Flint, Mich. switched water sources to the Flint River. The lack of corrosion control...
Beavers Can Help With Climate Change. So How Do We Get Along?
24 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
NPR's Tom Dreisbach is back in the host chair for a day. This time, he reports on a story very close...
Sustainable Seafood Is All Around You — If You Know Where To Look
22 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Roughly 196 million tons of fish were harvested in 2020, according to the Food and Agriculture Organ...
An 11-Year-old Unearthed Fossils Of The Largest Known Marine Reptile
19 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When the dinosaurs walked the Earth, massive marine reptiles swam. Among them, a species of Ichthyos...
The Nightmarish Worm That Lived 25 Million Years Longer Than Researchers Thought
17 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
500 million years ago, the world was a very different place. During this period of time, known as th...
How The Brain Experiences Pleasure — Even The Kind That Makes Us Feel Guilty
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We've all been there: You sit down for one episode of a reality TV show, and six hours later you're ...
What To Know About The New EPA Rule Limiting 'Forever Chemicals' In Tap Water
12 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Wednesday the Environmental Protection Agency announced new drinking water standards to limit people...
The Order Your Siblings Were Born In May Play A Role In Identity And Sexuality
10 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's National Siblings Day! To mark the occasion, guest host Selena Simmons-Duffin is exploring a de...
How Climate Change And Physics Affect Baseball
07 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's baseball season! And when we here at Short Wave think of baseball, we naturally think of physic...
The "Barcodes" Powering These Tiny Songbirds' Memories May Also Help Human Memory
05 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tiny, black-capped chickadees have big memories. They stash food in hundreds to thousands of locatio...
How To Make The Most Of Next Week's Solar Eclipse
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On April 8, the moon will slip in front of the sun, blocking its light and creating an eerie twiligh...
The Two Sides Of Guyana: A Green Champion And An Oil Producer
01 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For Guyana the potential wealth from oil development was irresistible — even as the country faces ...
The Shy Rodents Lost To Science
29 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Historic numbers of animals across the globe have become endangered or pushed to extinction. But som...
Shots Are Scary. But They Don't Have To Be.
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
According to the CDC, about one in four adults has a fear of needles. Many of those people say the p...
What's It Like To Live In Space? One Astronaut Says It Changes Her Dreams
25 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Few humans have had the opportunity to see Earth from space, much less live in space. We got to talk...
The Evolutionary Mystery Of Menopause ... In Whales
22 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Across the animal kingdom, menopause is something of an evolutionary blip. We humans are one of the ...
Syphilis Cases Are Rising In Babies. Illinois Has A Potential Solution
20 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The number of newborns born with syphilis – a serious sexually transmitted infection – has skyro...
A Tale Of Two Bengali Physicists
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When Shohini Ghose was studying physics as a kid, she heard certain names repeated over and over. "E...
Are We On The Brink Of A Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough?
15 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Nuclear fusion could one day change the world by producing energy at lower costs than we generate it...
What We Know About Long COVID, From Brain Fog to Fatigue
13 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"Long COVID has affected every part of my life," said Virginia resident Rachel Beale said at a recen...
The Science Of Atomic Bombs At The Heart Of 'Oppenheimer'
11 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Coming down from the buzz of the Oscars, we're taking a look at Christopher Nolan's award-winning fi...
The "Shocking" Tactic Electric Fish Use to Collectively Sense the World
08 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Neuroscientist Nathan Sawtell has spent a lot of time studying the electric elephantnose fish. These...
The Recent Glitch Threatening Voyager 1
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Voyager 1 space probe is the farthest human-made object in space. It launched in 1977 with a gol...
The Evolution Of Cancer Treatment
04 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration approved a first-of-its-kind cancer therapy to treat a...
Could Dune Really Exist? What Scientists Think of Our Favorite Sci-Fi Worlds
01 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The sci-fi film Dune: Part Two is out in theaters now. The movie takes place on the harsh desert pla...
Is It Possible To Feed The World Sustainably?
28 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
According to the United Nations, about ten percent of the world is undernourished. It's a daunting s...
In Light of The Alabama Court Ruling, A Look At The Science Of IVF
26 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
An Alabama Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos can be considered "extrauterine children" under ...
Didn't Get A Valentine's Love Song? These Skywalker Gibbons Sing Love Duets
23 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the green tree canopies of forested areas in Myanmar, you might wake up to the sounds of gibbons ...
When The Sun Erupts
21 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We are at the height of the Sun's activity in its eleven year cycle, known to astronomers as the sol...
The Life And Death Of A Woolly Mammoth
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lately, paleoecologist Audrey Rowe has been a bit preoccupied with a girl named Elma. That's because...
The U.N.'s First-Ever Analysis Of World's Migratory Species Just Dropped
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Every year, billions of animals across the globe embark on journeys. They fly, crawl, walk or slithe...
Celebrate Valentine's Day With These Queer Animals
14 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In a Valentine's Day exclusive report, NPR has learned there is currently a gay anteater couple at S...
The Shared History Of The Chinese And Gregorian Calendars
12 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Happy Lunar New Year! According to the Chinese lunisolar calendar, the new year began Saturday. For ...
Clownfish Might Be Counting Their Potential Enemies' Stripes
09 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
At least, that's what a group of researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Grad...
After 20 Years, This Scientist Uncovered The Physics Behind The Spiral Pass
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you've ever watched part of a professional football game, you've probably seen a tight spiral pas...
Wolves Are Thriving In The Radioactive Chernobyl Exclusion Zone
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In 1986 the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded, releasing radioactive material into northern Ukr...
This Scientist Figured Out Why Your Appendix Isn't Useless
02 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Back in the day, many of us heard that the appendix is a vestigial organ — at best, a body part th...
Murder, Mayhem At The Zoo: A Naked Mole Rat Succession War
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
An all-out "naked mole rat war" has broken out at Smithsonian's National Zoo, after the queen of the...
Choose Your Lightning Protection: Lasers, Rockets or Rods?
29 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Every year, lightning is estimated to cause up to 24,000 deaths globally. It starts forest fires, bu...
Lessons on the limits of ecosystem restoration from the Everglades
27 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When the U.S. government and state of Florida unveiled a new plan to save the Everglades in 2000, th...
When Tiny, Invasive Ants Go Marching In...And Alter An Ecosystem
26 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
At the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a wildlife preserve in central Kenya, lions and cheetahs mingle with z...
Experiencing Racism May Physically Change Your Brain
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Scientists know that Black people are at a greater risk for health problems like heart disease, diab...
This Wild Bird Will Lead You To Honey On Command
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Honeyguides are wild birds that team up with humans and then lead them to honey. Researchers recentl...
After Domestic Abuse Ends, the Effects of Brain Injuries Can Persist
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
At least one in four women — and a much smaller proportion of men — experiences intimate partner...
What You Need To Know About The Current Tripledemic
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Winter is upon us – and with the holiday travel and time spent indoors comes a triple threat of re...
Our Lives Are Ruled By The Illusion Of Time
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Time is a concept so central to our daily lives. Yet, the closer scientists look at it, the more it ...
Body Electric: The Body Across The Ages
13 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you work at home or in an office, you might spend a lot of your day sitting down and staring at a...
Odd Radio Circles Are glowing Around Some Galaxies. Now We Know Why
12 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Since they were discovered in 2019, strange, glowing circles of light in space have mystified resear...
Preserving Our Humanity In The Age Of Robots
10 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Human beings are hardwired for social connection – so much so that we think of even the most basic...
The Record For World's Largest Snowflake Might Not Count
08 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A winter storm brought heavy rain and snow to parts of the East Coast this weekend, which got us thi...
Snow Flies Pay An Arm And A Leg For Love
05 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The winter is usually when insects die or go into a state of paused development, but for tiny specks...
Why Big Numbers Break Our Brains
03 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In celebration of our 1000th episode, we're wrapping our heads around big numbers. Educational neuro...
Asian Glow Might Have A Major Upside
01 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever gotten a scarlet, hot face after drinking? Or know someone who has? Many people felt it as they...
This Year's Top Science Stories, Wrapped
29 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
2023 was filled with scientific innovation, exploration and new discoveries. A few of the biggest th...
A year in music science: wonder, volume and animals that groove
28 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As 2023 comes to a close, Short Wave teamed up with our friends at All Things Considered to round up...
Life Could Be Different ... And Maybe Better?
27 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are people ever satisfied? Two social psychologists, Ethan Ludwin-Peery and Adam Mastroianni, fell d...
This Holiday, Dig Into Some Of The Hilarious Science Of Christmas BMJs Past
25 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Would you survive as a doctor in The Sims 4? What's an appropriate amount of free food to take from ...
LED Lights Make You Sick? We Found Out What Causes It
22 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
LED light bulbs are the future. They're better for the environment and the pocket book. But for some...
Once A Satirical Conspiracy, Bird Drones Could Soon Be A Reality
21 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Millions of people in the U.S. are bird watchers. But a couple of years ago a satirical conspiracy t...
Climate Talks Call For A Transition Away From Fossil Fuels. Is That Enough?
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For the first time in its history, the United Nations climate conference concluded with a call to tr...
Want To Be Greener This Holiday Season? Try Composting!
18 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Does thinking about the trajectory of the climate make you have a panic spiral? If so, we have the p...
More Plant And Fungi Emojis, Please!
15 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A team of conservation biologists from Italy recently found that current emoji options are sorely la...
When AI Goes Wrong
14 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used throughout the world to predict the future. Banks...
Why it's so hard to resist holiday sales (and how to try)
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Malls are designed to overwhelm our brains. Add the stress of holiday shopping, and a quick trip to ...
How Glaciers Move — And Affect Sea Level Rise
11 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Glaciers like the ones in Greenland are melting due to climate change, causing global sea levels to ...
Feeling Lonely? Your Brain May Process The World Differently
08 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The U.S. is in the midst of a loneliness epidemic. And for a lot of people, the feeling is even more...
A Star Is Born ... And Then What? Journey Through The Life Cycle of a star
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Soon after the sun sets on winter nights, if you live in the northern hemisphere you can look into t...
Don't Call It Dirt: The Surprising Science Of Soil
04 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's easy to overlook the soil beneath our feet, or to think of it as just dirt to be cleaned up. Bu...
These Penguins Take 10,000 Little Naps A Day — Seconds At A Time
01 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sleep. It's an essential biological function that has long intrigued scientists. Researchers have st...
The International Race To Create Human Eggs And Sperm In The Lab
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In which we meet the pioneers of one of the most exciting — and controversial — fields of biomed...
Monday Night Football And Pursuing Two Careers With John Urschel
27 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As kids, some of us dream of multiple careers: being an astronaut AND the next president. Or digging...
What Fossilized Poop Can Teach Us About Dinosaurs
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Walking into Karen Chin's office at the University of Colorado, Boulder, one of the first things you...
The Thanksgiving Quest For The (Scientifically) Best Turkey
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Turkey is the usual centerpiece of the Thanksgiving dinner, but it's all too easy to end up with a d...
3 Major Ways Climate Change Affects Life In The U.S.
20 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Every five years, the United States government releases the National Climate Assessment, a comprehen...
Cutting A Teaspoon Of Salt Is Comparable To Taking Blood Pressure Medication
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How much salt is too much salt? Most likely, the amount you're consuming. A new study published this...
Thousands of earthquakes in Iceland may spell a volcanic eruption
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Saturday, the entire coastal town of Grindavik, Iceland was evacuated. That's because over the weeke...
How Venus got caught up in an 18th century space race
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the 18th century the world was focused on Venus. Expeditions were launched in pursuit of exact me...
Trailblazing Computer Scientist Fei-Fei Li on Human-Centered AI
10 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
AI is popping up everywhere nowadays. From medicine to science to the Hollywood strikes. Today, with...
To Figure Out The Future Climate, Scientists Are Researching How Trees Form Clouds
08 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you've ever looked up at the clouds and wondered where they came from, you're not alone. Atmosphe...
Mapping The Seafloor Is Daunting But Key To Improving Human Life
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Scientists have mapped less than 25% of the world's seafloor. Experts say that getting that number u...
Pulling An All-Nighter Is A Temporary Antidepressant
03 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What your parents didn't tell you about pulling an all-nighter? It just might ease depression for se...
Sky Vaccines: Ridding Raccoons Of Rabies En Masse
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Every year, the USDA drops millions of oral rabies vaccines across fourteen states, mostly along the...