Short Wave
1,140 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 17 hours ago - ★★★★★ - 5.7K ratingsNew discoveries, everyday mysteries, and the science behind the headlines — in just under 15 minutes. It's science for everyone, using a lot of creativity and a little humor. Join hosts Emily Kwong and Regina Barber for science on a different wavelength.
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Episodes
The Science Of Smell And Memory
November 29, 2019 09:00 - 11 minutes - 10.1 MBWhy can a smell trigger such a powerful memory? Biological anthropologist Kara Hoover explains what's going on in the brain when we smell, how smell interacts with taste, and why our sense of smell is heightened in the winter. Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter @maddie_sofia. Email the show at [email protected]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
Happy Thanksgiving!
November 28, 2019 09:00 - 1 minute - 1.52 MBMaddie and Emily wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, and explain how you can support the show. Find and donate to your local public radio station at donate.npr.org/short. Follow Maddie and Emily on Twitter @maddie_sofia and @emilykwong1234. Email the show at [email protected]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
One Small Step For Cookie Baking
November 27, 2019 09:00 - 10 minutes - 9.94 MBImagine having your Thanksgiving meal in microgravity? That's the reality for the six astronauts aboard the International Space Station. Today, we look at the evolution of astronaut food and a planned attempt to bake chocolate chip cookies in space. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
The Nightmare Of Sleep Paralysis
November 26, 2019 09:00 - 11 minutes - 10.2 MBAs a teenager, Josh Smith was plagued by sleep paralysis. Now he's afraid his kid might be experiencing it too. In this listener questions episode, Josh asks what the science says about this sleep disorder and what he can do to help his son. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
Uganda's Solution For Treating Extreme Pain
November 25, 2019 09:00 - 10 minutes - 9.65 MBUganda has come up with a low-tech solution to treat patients in a lot of pain: drinkable liquid morphine. Nurith Aizenman tell us how this model works and how other African countries are taking inspiration. Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter @maddie_sofia. Email the show at [email protected]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
The CDC, Its 'F-Word' (Firearms) & Suicide Prevention
November 22, 2019 09:00 - 9 minutes - 9.12 MBCongress prohibits the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from using any of its funding to promote or advocate for gun control. NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce looked into how that makes it difficult for the CDC to talk frankly about the role guns play in suicide. If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (En Español: 1-888-628-9454; Deaf and Hard of Hearing: 1-800-799-4889) or the Crisi...
Solving The Sleep & Alzheimer's Puzzle
November 21, 2019 09:00 - 8 minutes - 7.61 MBWe know that people with Alzheimer's often have sleep problems. But does it work the other way? Do problems with sleep set the stage for this degenerative brain disease? Jon Hamilton introduces us to some scientists looking into that connection. In a recent study, researchers observed a key role deep sleep potentially plays in maintaining brain health and protecting the brain against Alzheimer's. Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter @maddie_sofia. Email the show at [email protected]. Learn mo...
That Revolutionary Gene-Editing Experiment? So Far So Good.
November 20, 2019 09:00 - 12 minutes - 11.6 MBEarlier this month NPR health correspondent Rob Stein introduced us to Victoria Gray, the woman at the center of a groundbreaking medical treatment using CRISPR, the gene-editing technique. This week, Rob reports exclusively for NPR on the first results of that closely-watched experiment. Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter @maddie_sofia. Email the show at [email protected]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
Saving Water One Flush At A Time
November 19, 2019 09:00 - 10 minutes - 9.39 MBHappy World Toilet Day! Flushing toilets can consume a lot of water, so Tak-Sing Wong, a biomedical engineer at Penn State University, is trying to minimize how much is needed. Wong developed a slippery coating for the inside of a toilet bowl. It can potentially move human waste more efficiently, leaving a cleaner bowl and using less water. Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter @maddie_sofia. Email the show at [email protected]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adch...
Bye Bye, Bei Bei: Giant Panda Heads to China
November 18, 2019 09:00 - 10 minutes - 9.6 MBThe Smithsonian's National Zoo is bidding farewell to Bei Bei. The 4-year-old giant panda will be sent to China on Tuesday, Nov. 19. While born in captivity at the zoo, Bei Bei is the property of China. Reporter Emily Kwong tells us about Bei Bei's elaborate departure plans, why he's leaving now, and what it would take to ensure the survival of giant pandas in the wild. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
An Eyewitness to Extinction
November 15, 2019 09:00 - 9 minutes - 8.27 MBWhile doing field work in Central America in the 1990's, biologist Karen Lips noticed the frogs she was studying were disappearing. Scientists in other parts of the world had documented the same thing - frogs and amphibians dying at an alarming rate. For years no one knew what was killing the animals until, finally, a bit of good luck helped solve the mystery. Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter @maddie_sofia. Email the show at [email protected]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: pod...
An Eyewitness to Extinction
November 15, 2019 09:00 - 9 minutes - 8.27 MBWhile doing field work in Central America in the 1990's, biologist Karen Lips noticed the frogs she was studying were disappearing. Scientists in other parts of the world had documented the same thing - frogs and amphibians dying at an alarming rate. For years no one knew what was killing the animals until, finally, a bit of good luck helped solve the mystery. Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter @maddie_sofia. Email the show at [email protected].
You Asked About The Flu
November 14, 2019 09:00 - 10 minutes - 10.3 MBHow can you tell if you have the flu, or the common cold? Why does your arm hurt after you get the flu shot? And can getting the flu shot actually give you the flu? This episode, we answer your flu-related listener questions with the help of Dr. Nicole Bouvier at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter @maddie_sofia and reporter Emily Kwong @emilykwong1234. Email the show at [email protected]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.c...
SpaceX's Satellite Swarm: Could It Hurt Astronomy?
November 13, 2019 09:00 - 11 minutes - 11.2 MBThe private space company run by Elon Musk launched 60 satellites into orbit this week. Science correspondent Geoff Brumfiel explains why astronomers worry that kind of traffic — if it continues unabated — could permanently alter their ability to observe the night sky. Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter @maddie_sofia. Email the show at [email protected]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
Most U.S. Dairy Cows Come From 2 Bulls. That's Not Good.
November 12, 2019 09:00 - 9 minutes - 8.98 MBNPR science correspondent Dan Charles explains why most of the dairy cows in America are descended from just two bulls, creating a lack of genetic diversity that can lead to health problems. He also visits a lab at Penn State University where scientists are trying to change that. Follow reporter/host Emily Kwong on Twitter @emilykwong1234. Email the show at [email protected]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
Can Global Shipping Go Zero Carbon?
November 11, 2019 09:00 - 11 minutes - 10.2 MBA lot of the stuff we buy in the U.S. comes by ship — ships that use a particularly dirty kind of fuel. Now a big shipping company says it wants to go zero carbon. Climate reporter Becky Hersher tells us how some old tech might play a role and where that tech falls short. Follow Maddie on Twitter @maddie_sofia. Email the show at [email protected]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
The Mind-Bending Ascent Of Helium — And Why It's Running Low
November 08, 2019 09:00 - 13 minutes - 11.9 MBHelium is the second-most common element in the cosmos, but it's far rarer on planet Earth. As part of our celebration of the periodic table's 150th birthday, reporter Geoff Brumfiel shares a brief history of helium's ascent, to become a crucial part of rocket ships, MRI machines, and birthday parties. Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter @maddie_sofia. Email the show at [email protected]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
Life After Whale Death
November 07, 2019 09:00 - 9 minutes - 8.69 MBWhat happens after a whale dies? Their carcasses, known as "whale falls," provide a sudden, concentrated food source for organisms in the deep sea. Biologist Diva Amon is our guide through whale-fall ecosystems and the unique species that exist on these fallen whales. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
Fighting An Insect Invasion With... An Insect Invasion
November 06, 2019 09:00 - 9 minutes - 9.08 MBThe spotted lanternfly is eating its way through trees and crops in eastern Pennsylvania. NPR science correspondent Dan Charles explains how scientists hope to stop the spread of this invasive pest by importing a natural enemy from its home in China. Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter @maddie_sofia. Email the show at [email protected].
Fighting An Insect Invasion With... An Insect Invasion
November 06, 2019 09:00 - 9 minutes - 9.08 MBThe spotted lanternfly is eating its way through trees and crops in eastern Pennsylvania. NPR science correspondent Dan Charles explains how scientists hope to stop the spread of this invasive pest by importing a natural enemy from its home in China. Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter @maddie_sofia. Email the show at [email protected]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
The U.S. Wants Out Of The Paris Agreement
November 05, 2019 09:00 - 9 minutes - 8.52 MBIt's official, but not a surprise. The U.S. has told the United Nations it wants to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, the global accord to fight climate change. President Trump announced his intention to leave it back in 2017. Climate reporter Becky Hersher tells us what the Paris Agreement is, why the Trump Administration wants out and what it means now that the U.S. has made it official. Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter @maddie_sofia. Email the show at [email protected]. Learn more abo...
A Revolutionary Experiment To Edit Human Genes
November 04, 2019 09:00 - 12 minutes - 11.5 MBVictoria Gray has sickle cell disease, a painful and debilitating genetic condition that affects millions of people around the world. But an experimental gene-editing technique known as CRISPR could help her — and, if it does, change the way many genetic diseases are treated. Correspondent Rob Stein tells her story, an NPR-exclusive, and explains the science behind her treatment. Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter @maddie_sofia. Email the show at [email protected]. Learn more about sponsor ...
A Revolutionary Experiment To Edit Human Genes
November 04, 2019 09:00 - 12 minutes - 11.5 MBVictoria Gray has sickle cell disease, a painful and debilitating genetic condition that affects millions of people around the world. But an experimental gene-editing technique known as CRISPR could help her — and, if it does, change the way many genetic diseases are treated. Correspondent Rob Stein tells her story, an NPR-exclusive, and explains the science behind her treatment. Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter @maddie_sofia. Email the show at [email protected].
When A Listener Calls...
November 01, 2019 08:00 - 10 minutes - 9.62 MBIt's our first-ever listener questions episode! On this Short Wave, listener Charlotte asks why some people seek out scary experiences. We reached out to Ken Carter, a psychology professor at Oxford College of Emory University, for answers. Turns out, some of us may be more wired to crave the thrill. Follow Maddie on Twitter @maddie_sofia. Email the show at [email protected]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
When A Listener Calls...
November 01, 2019 08:00 - 10 minutes - 9.62 MBIt's our first-ever listener questions episode! On this Short Wave, listener Charlotte asks why some people seek out scary experiences. We reached out to Ken Carter, a psychology professor at Oxford College of Emory University, for answers. Turns out, some of us may be more wired to crave the thrill. Follow Maddie on Twitter @maddie_sofia. Email the show at [email protected].
The Zombies That Walk Among Us
October 31, 2019 08:00 - 9 minutes - 8.86 MBThe idea of human zombies probably seems pretty far-fetched. But there are real zombies out there in the animal kingdom. Ed Yong of The Atlantic creeps us out with a couple of examples. Hint: they involve fungus. Follow Maddie on Twitter - she's @maddie_sofia. Email the show at [email protected]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
Crows Don't Forget
October 30, 2019 08:00 - 9 minutes - 8.61 MBCrows have gotten a bad rap throughout history. Think about it. A group of them is called a "murder." To get some insight into crows and perhaps set the record straight, we talked to Kaeli Swift. She's a lecturer at the University of Washington and wrote her doctoral thesis on crow "funerals." In an earlier version of this episode, we used the word "spooky" to describe crows. Because that word has a history of being used as a racial slur, we chose to replace it with the words "scary" and "c...
Wildfire Season Is Here To Stay
October 29, 2019 08:00 - 9 minutes - 8.61 MBCalifornians face a terrible new normal as wildfire season grows longer and more intense. Jennifer Montgomery, head of the California's Forest Management Task Force, explains three key factors at the heart of why the state is now at such high risk. It turns out, one of them goes all the way back to Spanish colonization. Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter: @maddie_sofia. Or email the show at [email protected]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privac...
Meet Two MacArthur 'Genius Grant' Scientists
October 28, 2019 08:00 - 10 minutes - 9.82 MBWe meet two scientists working on opposite sides of the world, both thinking creatively about rising sea levels and our changing oceans. Andrea Dutton, a geologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Stacy Jupiter, a marine biologist and Melanesia Director with the Wildlife Conservation Society, were awarded MacArthur Fellowships this fall. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
Seen Any Nazi Uranium? These Researchers Want To Know
October 25, 2019 08:00 - 13 minutes - 12.2 MBNPR science correspondent Geoff Brumfiel shares the story of Nazi Germany's attempt to build a nuclear reactor — and how evidence of that effort was almost lost to history. It's a tale he heard from Timothy Koeth and Miriam Hiebert at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Maryland in College Park. Read more on their original story in Physics Today. Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter @maddie_sofia. Email the show at [email protected]. Learn more about spons...
Adversarial AI
October 24, 2019 08:00 - 9 minutes - 8.94 MBArtificial intelligence might not be as smart as we think. University and military researchers are studying how attackers could hack into AI systems by exploiting how these systems learn. It's known as "adversarial AI." Some of their experiments use seemingly simple techniques. Dina Temple-Raston has been looking into this for her special series, I'll Be Seeing You. Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter: @maddie_sofia. Or email the show at [email protected]. Learn more about sponsor message ch...
Logging 'The Lungs' of North America
October 23, 2019 08:00 - 10 minutes - 9.45 MBThe world's largest intact temperate rainforest is in a place you may not expect: southeast Alaska. The Trump administration wants to eliminate a longstanding rule protecting the Tongass National Forest from logging and road construction. Why? And what might this mean for one of the top carbon sinks in the world? Maddie talks with reporter Emily Kwong about the Tongass. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
Finally, An All-Female Spacewalk
October 22, 2019 08:00 - 12 minutes - 11.2 MBNASA astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir completed the first all-female spacewalk last week. The historic moment came 35 years after Kathryn Sullivan became the first American woman to spacewalk. We hear from Koch, Meir, and Sullivan. And former NASA chief scientist Ellen Stofan tells us why she says this moment is long overdue. Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter @maddie_sofia. Email the show at [email protected]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Randall Munroe's Absurd Science For Real-World Problems
October 21, 2019 08:00 - 9 minutes - 8.76 MBRandall Munroe, the cartoonist behind the popular Internet comic xkcd, finds complicated solutions to simple, real-world problems. In the process, he reveals a lot about science and why the real world is sometimes even weirder than we expect. His new book is called How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems. Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter: @maddie_sofia. Email the show at [email protected]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR ...
Exploring The Rainforest With 'TreeTop Barbie'
October 18, 2019 08:00 - 13 minutes - 11.9 MBPioneering ecologist Nalini Nadkarni takes us up into the canopy — the area above the forest floor — where she helped research and document this unexplored ecosystem. Plus: the story of her decades-long effort to get more women into science, and how she found a surprising ally in the fight — Barbie. Video and more from Maddie's trip to the canopy is here. Follow Maddie on Twitter @maddie_sofia. Email the show at [email protected]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/...
The Squishy Science Behind ASMR
October 17, 2019 08:00 - 10 minutes - 9.77 MBThe science is nascent and a little squishy, but researchers like Giulia Poerio are trying to better understand ASMR — a feeling triggered in the brains of some people by whispering, soft tapping, and delicate gestures. She explains how it works, and tells reporter Emily Kwong why slime might be an Internet fad that is, for some, a sensory pleasure-trigger. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
What We Know (And Don't) About The Dangers Of Vaping
October 16, 2019 08:00 - 9 minutes - 8.89 MBAmid an outbreak of lung injury cases, there's a new spotlight on the dangers of vaping, a practice that's been marketed as an alternative to smoking. NPR health correspondent Allison Aubrey explains, with the story of one teenager whose vaping habit landed her in the ER. Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter @maddie_sofia. Email the show at [email protected]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
What We Know (And Don't) About The Dangers Of Vaping
October 16, 2019 08:00 - 9 minutes - 8.89 MBAmid an outbreak of lung injury cases, there's a new spotlight on the dangers of vaping, a practice that's been marketed as an alternative to smoking. NPR health correspondent Allison Aubrey explains, with the story of one teenager whose vaping habit landed her in the ER. Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter @maddie_sofia. Email the show at [email protected].
Kicking The Habit With 'Shrooms
October 15, 2019 08:00 - 10 minutes - 9.23 MBMagic mushrooms — they're not just for getting weird with your friends. Researchers are increasingly looking at psychedelics to treat conditions such as depression and addiction. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
Introducing Short Wave
October 06, 2019 19:57 - 1 minute - 1.82 MBShort Wave, NPR's new daily science podcast, starts October 15th. Join host Maddie Sofia for new discoveries, everyday mysteries, and the science behind the headlines – all in about 10 minutes, Monday through Friday. Subscribe now. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy