Short Wave
Episodes
Planetary Scientists Are Excited About Uranus
28 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Probes to Uranus and to one of Jupiter's moons where conditions might support life; a better plan high-quality science on the moon--those are some of ...
U.S. COVID Case Increases Unlikely To Become A Surge
27 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
COVID cases are up due to the Omicron sub-variants and masking is likely to remain optional as the courts wrangle with the transportation mask mandate...
The Environmental Cost of Crypto
26 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Cryptocurrencies may exist only in the virtual world, but their impact on our natural resources is huge. That's largely because the technology underpi...
Cryptocurrency Is An Energy Drain
25 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As cryptocurrencies become increasingly popular, the environmental impact of the technology is gaining more attention. Local, state and national gover...
Fresh Banana Leaves — An Indigenous Approach To Science
22 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Jessica Hernandez's new book examines the role of displacement — Indigenous peoples like her father, who was displaced by the civil war in El Sa...
The Indicator: How Green Laws Stop Green Projects
21 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The United States has a goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Without serious changes to lifestyles, that means dramatic investments in green ene...
The Science Behind The Delta-8 Craze
20 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the cannabis industry, the chemistry lab meets agriculture. A cannabis product called Delta-8 has been popping up in smoke shops, CBD shops and eve...
TASTE BUDDIES: Y U Salty?
19 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Salt has such a rich history that it was once (and is perhaps still) a sign of wealth. In this latest installment of our series on flavor and taste, "...
The Pandemic Is Damaging Health Workers' Mental Health
18 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A recent study found that working surge after surge in the pandemic, a majority of American health care workers experienced psychiatric symptoms — i...
Can Skiing Survive Climate Change?
15 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Climate change poses an existential threat to the ski industry. A warmer climate means less snow and less now menas a shorter season for snowboarders ...
Addressing Water Contamination With Indigenous Science
14 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ranalda Tsosie grew up in the Navajo Nation, close to a number of abandoned uranium mines. The uranium from those mines leached into the groundwater, ...
Voices From A Ukrainian Hospital Damaged By Russian Attacks
13 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv at least half a dozen hospitals have been damaged by Russian attacks. The Emergency Department of City Ho...
Planet Money: How Manatees Got Into Hot Water
12 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today we share the mic with our colleagues at Planet Money to talk about one of our favorite aquatic creatures: manatees. Decades ago, manatees nearly...
Lemurs Will Rock You
11 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There's a lot for scientists to learn about the origins of humans' musical abilities. In the last few years, though, they've discovered homo sapiens h...
War In Ukraine Sets Back Tuberculosis Treatment
08 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
According to the World Health Organization, Ukraine has the fourth highest incidence of tuberculosis in Europe — and one of the highest rates of mul...
TASTE BUDDIES: The Origins Of Umami
07 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A Japanese chemist identified umami in the early 1900s, but it took a century for his work to be translated into English. Short Wave host Emily Kwong ...
The Indicator: Destroying Personal Digital Data
06 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we present an episode of NPR's daily economics podcast, The Indicator from Planet Money. It's filled with one of our favorite topics: Data.Algo...
When To Consider Another COVID-19 Booster
05 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, U.S. Food and Drug Administration vaccine advisors will meet to discuss long-term COVID vaccine strategy. This follows the recent FDA autho...
What We Gain From Dark Night Skies
04 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For many of us, seeing stars in the night sky is challenging because of light pollution. But there are some communities that are trying to change that...
What Octopus Minds May Tell Us About Aliens
01 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Octopuses! They are escape artists, they camouflage in all kinds of surroundings, and they are incredibly intelligent creatures--and that intelligenc...
The Peculiar Physics Of The Wiffle Ball
31 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Shall we play a game - of Wiffle ball? Invented in 1953, this lightweight alternative to a baseball is perfectly suited for back yard romping. Today ...
The Community Scientists Who Helped Discover A New Planet
30 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When a team of exoplanetary treasure hunters joined forces with professional astronomers, they discovered a whole new world. Short Wave host Emily Kwo...
To Be DST, Or Not To Be. That Is The Question.
29 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This month, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved a bill to make daylight saving time permanent. Now sleep scientists are weighing in and are suggestin...
Indoor Air Quality is Cool for Schools
28 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The benefits of indoor air quality in schools are substantial, but American school buildings are old and many face major challenges when it comes to u...
Hal Walker: The Man Who Shot The Moon
25 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In addition to flying, landing, and returning from the moon in 1969 — NASA's Apollo 11 crew helped with a series of scientific experiments. One of t...
Can Nuclear Power Save A Struggling Coal Town?
24 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A struggling Wyoming coal town may soon go nuclear with help from an unlikely partner, billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates. NPR Correspondent Kirk S...
Should Bulldogs Exist?
23 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Cute, wrinkly faces aside, bulldogs have myriad health problems. Science points to purebred breeding practices as the reason. NPR Science corresponden...
COVID-19 Cases Rise In The U.K., U.S. Watches For New Wave
22 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The omicron outbreak has slowed dramatically in the U.S. But cases are rising in Britain due to an omicron subvariant. There are signs the U.S. could ...
Parents Of Transgender Youth Fear Texas' Anti-Trans Orders
21 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed the state's Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate certain gender-affirming care as possi...
How Art Can Heal The Brain
18 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Arts therapies appear to ease a host of brain disorders from Parkinson's to PTSD. But these treatments that rely on music, poetry or visual arts haven...
Fighting Misinformation With Science Journalism
17 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On December 31, 2021, The Joe Rogan Experience podcast on Spotify posted an episode with an interview with physician Dr. Robert Malone full of misinfo...
What Mount Kilimanjaro Has To Do With The Search For Alien Life
16 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Understanding how life survives in extreme Earth environments could point to ways life can survive on other worlds. Astrobiologist Morgan Cable talks ...
Humble Pi: Enjoying When Math Goes Awry
15 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Over the last 24 hours, some of us Short Wavers celebrated Pi Day the only way we know how: eating some yummy pie and thinking math thoughts. Here on ...
Genetic Fact Vs. Fiction And Everything In Between With Janina Jeff
14 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Geneticist Janina Jeff is back on the show to talk with host Emily Kwong about season 2 of her podcast In Those Genes. They talk about rhythm, aging a...
A Physics Legend Part Two: Chien-Shiung Wu's Granddaughter Reflects
11 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Growing up, Jada Yuan didn't realize how famous her grandmother was in the world of physics. In this episode, we delve into the life of physicist Chie...
A Physics Legend Part One: How Chien-Shiung Wu Changed Physics Forever
10 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the 1950's, a particle physicist made a landmark discovery that changed what we thought we knew about how our universe operates. And Chien-Shiung W...
TASTE BUDDIES: Science of Sour
09 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Pucker up, duderinos! Short Wave's kicking off a series on taste we're calling, "Taste Buddies." In today's episode, we meet Atlantic science writer K...
Checking In On Our Pandemic Habits: What To Lose And What To Keep?
08 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Over the last few years, we've all found different ways to cope with the pandemic. Some people started drinking more, moving less, maybe eating more. ...
Dr. Thomas Insel On Why The U.S Mental Health System Has Failed And What Can Be Done
07 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For over a decade, Dr. Thomas Insel headed the National Institute of Mental Health and directed billions of dollars into research on neuroscience and ...
Emily Runs A Marathon
04 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In 2021, Short Wave host Emily Kwong ran her first marathon. In collaboration with our colleagues at Life Kit, Emily talks about her experience and d...
Silver Linings From The UN's Dire Climate Change Report
03 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) just released the second of three reports on climate change. Nearly 300 scientists...
How A Collection Of Threatened Bird Calls Swept The Australian Album Charts
02 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What bird has a ten-foot wingspan and breeds almost exclusively on a single island in the Pacific Ocean? Find out in this special quiz episode of Shor...
Orcas: Apex Predators Or Marine Park Stars?
01 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
NPR science correspondent Lauren Sommer joins Short Wave host Emily Kwong to talk about a team of researchers who were the first to document a pack of...
What Led To The Massive Volcanic Eruption In Tonga
28 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Scientists are piecing together what led up to a massive volcanic eruption in Tonga last month. NPR science correspondent Geoff Brumfiel joins the sho...
Twinkle, Twinkle, Shooting Star . . .
25 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
One of the video games that Short Wave's Scientist in Residence has been playing a lot in the pandemic is Animal Crossing, in which bits of stars fall...
Schedule Those Doctor's Appointments!
24 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The pandemic is at a turning point. Hospitalizations in this country are down. Deaths are starting to decline. Some of the states that have had the st...
Do You See What I See?
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone sees the world differently. Exactly which colors you see and which of your eyes is doing more work than the other as you read this text is di...
Vacuuming DNA Out Of The Air
22 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A few years ago, ecologist Elizabeth Clare had an idea--what if she could study rare or endangered animals in the wild without ever having to see or c...
The Good and the Bad of TV Forensics
18 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Raychelle Burks is a forensic chemist and an associate professor at American University. She's also a big fan of murder mysteries. Today, we talk pop ...
How Women Of Color Created Community In The Shark Sciences
17 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As a kid, Jasmin Graham was endlessly curious about the ocean. That eventually led her to a career in marine science studying sharks and rays. But unt...
How Many Senses Do We Really Have?
16 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You're likely familiar with touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing - but there are actually more than five senses. Emily Kwong speaks to neurobiologi...
Tracing A Fraught And Amazing History Of American Horticulture
15 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When Abra Lee became the landscape manager at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, she sought some advice about how to best do the job. T...
How to Talk About Hair Like a Scientist
14 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Humans have scalp hair. But why is human scalp hair so varied? Biological anthropologist Tina Lasisi wanted to find out. And while completing her PhD ...
How climate change is forcing cities to rebuild stormwater systems
11 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Deep below our city streets lie intricate networks of underground piping built to carry away excess rainfall run off. These stormwater systems mostly ...
The (Drag) Queen Of Mathematics
10 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kyne is the stage name of Kyne Santos, a drag queen math communicator. The former Canada's Drag Race contestant posted her first video explaining a ma...
Without Inventor James West, This Interview Might Not Have Been Possible
09 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For Black History Month, Short Wave is celebrating Black voices in STEM - bringing back some of our favorite conversations, as well as new guests wit...
The Complete Guide To Absolutely Everything (Abridged)
08 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
At Short Wave, it's an unspoken goal to ask and answer every question under the sun — after all, science underpins the entire universe. Today, we th...
The Physics Of Figure Skating
07 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Triple axel, double lutz, toe loops, salchows — it's time to fall in love again with the sport of figure skating. The 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijin...
Chimp Haven Welcomes New Retirees
04 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In 2015, the National Institutes of Health ended invasive biomedical research on its hundreds of chimps. Since then, it's been gradually moving the an...
Science In The City: Cylita Guy Talks Chasing Bats And Tracking Rats
03 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Cylita Guy was a curious child who enjoyed exploring the beaches, parks and animals that shared her hometown of Toronto, Canada. She's a scientist –...
Should Big Oil Pick Up The Climate Change Bill?
02 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals is deciding whether a Baltimore case against more than a dozen oil and gas companies will be heard in state or fed...
Omicron Ebbing Gives Time to Boost Vaccinations
01 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As COVID-19 cases in the U.S. drop, the hospitalization rate remains high — as does the death rate. Experts say getting a COVID vaccine booster is k...
'Station Eleven': A Home At The End Of The World
31 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today we're bringing you an episode from our friends at NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour. They review the new HBO Max miniseries Station Eleven, based on ...
Omicron Around The World: From "Zero COVID" To Rising Cases
28 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Omicron surge may have peaked in the U.S., but parts of the world are seeing crippling levels of cases. Jason Beaubien, NPR global health and deve...
Did E.T. Phone Us?
27 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A few years back, a radio telescope in Australia picked up a radio signal that seemed to be coming from a nearby star. One possibility? Aliens! NPR sc...
Megadrought fuels debate over whether a flooded canyon should reemerge
26 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the 1960s, the Bureau of Reclamation built a dam that flooded a celebrated canyon on the Utah-Arizona border. Today, it's known as Lake Powell — ...
What's Next For The Pandemic? Will COVID-19 Become Endemic Soon?
25 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Many experts warn there will be more infections on the downslope of the omicron surge, but the U.S. is on the path to the virus becoming endemic — a...
Placebos Vs Parkinson's: The Power Of Joy
24 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that leads to difficulty with walking, balance and coordination. There is currently no cure, but scientists in...
Fighting Bias In Space: When There's A New Telescope, Who Gets To Use It?
21 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The James Webb Space Telescope's mirrors are almost in place and soon it'll be a million miles away from Earth, ready to provide clues to the history ...
The Hodgepodge Of COVID Testing In The U.S.
20 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The U.S. government has launched a website where people can request up to four free coronavirus tests per household--shipping is scheduled to begin in...
A Clean Energy Future: How Hawaii Is Sparking The Push
19 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Sixty percent of electricity in the U.S. comes from fossil fuels, like natural gas and coal. Today on the show, guest host Dan Charles talks with repo...
When Tracking Your Period Lets Companies Track You
18 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Health apps can be a great way to stay on top of your health. They let users keep track of things like their exercise, mental health, menstrual cycles...
The Debate About Pablo Escobar's Hippos
14 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Pablo Escobar had a private zoo at his estate in Colombia, with zebras, giraffes, flamingoes - and four hippopotamuses. After Escobar was killed in 19...
How COVID Is Affecting Kids' Mental Health
13 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's likely the last week has been rough if you're either going to school or in a family with kids trying to navigate school, be it virtual or in pers...
Wingspan! It's Got Birds, Science, Caterpillars - An Ideal Night In
12 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Wingspan is a board game that brings the world of ornithology into the living room. The game comes with 170 illustrated birds cards, each equipped wit...
Pondering A New Normal As The Omicron Surge Continues
11 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The U.S. is experiencing a viral blizzard which will likely continue through January, 2022. The omicron variant's surge is pushing hospitalization rat...
The Electric Car Race! Vroom, Vroom!
10 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Electric cars can help reduce greenhouse gases and companies are taking note — racing to become the next Tesla. Today on the show, guest host Dan Ch...
Man's Best Friend Is Healing Veterans
07 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Service dogs have long helped veterans with physical disabilities. While there have been stories about veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder be...
How To Talk About The COVID-19 Vaccine With People Who Are Hesitant
06 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Infectious disease specialist Dr. Jasmine Marcelin has spent the last year talking to a lot of people about getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Today on the...
Doctor Finds Hope In Helping Inform And Vaccinate Her Community
05 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On today's show, Emily Kwong checks in with infectious disease physician Dr. Jasmine Marcelin at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Jasmine sp...
An Ode To The Manta Ray
04 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A few months ago, on a trip to Hawaii, Short Wave host Emily Kwong encountered manta rays for the first time. The experience was eerie and enchanting....
The Science Of The Delta-8 Craze
03 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The cannabis industry is where the chemistry lab meets agriculture. Delta-8-THC is chemically derived and the hemp industry's fastest growing product....
This New Year - Slow Down, It Doesn't Mean You're Lazy
31 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Social Psychologist Devon Price says instead of viewing "laziness" as a deficit or something people need to fix or overcome with caffeine or longer wo...
2021: Celebrating The Joy Of Birds
30 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Lot of people took up bird watching in some form during the pandemic, including Short Wave editor Gisele Grayson. She edited this episode about 2021'...
Meet the Dermatologists Changing Their Field
29 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Many skin conditions, from rashes to Lyme disease to various cancers, present differently on dark skin. Yet medical literature and textbooks don't oft...
Our Favorite Things: Math And Community In The Classroom
28 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
That's right — Day 2 of Short Wave's Favorite Episodes Week is pure math goodness! This encore episode, we revisit a conversation with mathematician...
Our Favorite Things, Short Wave-style
27 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's "My Favorite Things" week on Short Wave! Through December 30th, we'll dive into our archive to bring y'all some of our personal faves — inclu...
Octavia Butler: Visionary Fiction
23 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today we are wrapping up Science Fiction Week with a very special episode from our friends at NPR's history podcast Throughline. As a part of their Im...
Want To Start Reading Sci-Fi And Fantasy? Here's A Beginner's Guide
22 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today we're bringing you a beginner's guide to reading science fiction and fantasy from our friends at NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour and Life Kit.So wh...
Sci-Fi Movie Club: 'Contact'
21 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today we're throwing back to one of our favorite Science Movie Club episodes: 'Contact' featuring Jodie Foster. It was a real crowd pleaser, especiall...
Happy Science Fiction Week, Earthlings!
20 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's Science Fiction Week on Short Wave, earthlings! So strap on your zero gravity suits and polish your light sabers because we're about to get nerdy...
Ellen Ochoa's Extraordinary NASA Career
19 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ellen Ochoa didn't get picked the first time she applied to become an astronaut--nor the second. But she eventually went to space four times. In thi...
Safety Precautions For The Holiday Season
18 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Omicron variant is spreading across the U.S. as the holidays are upon us. Science Desk reporter Maria Godoy has the latest on the variant and tip...
The James Webb Space Telescope Is About To Launch
17 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Soon the highly anticipated James Webb Space Telescope will blast off into space, hurtling almost a million miles away from Earth, where it will orbit...
Striving To Make Space Accessible For People With Disabilities
16 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As spaceflight inches closer to becoming a reality for some private citizens, science correspondent Geoff Brumfiel chats with the New York Times disab...
NIH Director Talks The Pandemic, Vaccine Hesitancy And Americans' Health
15 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Francis Collins talks with health correspondent Selena Simmons-Duffin about Americans' overall health, how tribalism in American culture has fuel...
The Winter Twindemic: Flu And COVID
14 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The U.S. is approaching 800,000 COVID-19 deaths as the Omicron variant spreads and the Delta variant continues to circulate. Hospital admissions are ...
Concussions: How A Mild Brain Injury Can Alter Our Perception Of Sound
13 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Headaches, nausea, dizziness, and confusion are among the most common symptoms of a concussion. But researchers say a blow to the head can also make i...
What Does A Healthy Rainforest Sound Like? (encore)
10 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On a rapidly changing planet, there are many ways to measure the health of an ecosystem. Can sound be one of them? Researcher Sarab Sethi explains h...
What's Driving The Political Divide Over Vaccinations
09 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
An NPR analysis shows that since the vaccine rollout, counties that voted heavily for Donald Trump have had nearly three times the COVID mortality rat...