New 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.
If you're hooked, try Short Wave Plus. Your subscription supports the show and unlocks a sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/shortwave
Riddle us this: Which animal is pink, curved beaked and a master of the physics required to create water tornadoes? If you guessed flamingos, you're right. New research out this month in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that across a range of harsh environments, flamingos have become masters — of physics, fluid dynamics and so much more — all in pursuit of their filter-fed prey. Short Wave host Regina G. Barber sits down with biomechanics researcher Victor Ortega...
What's it like to get bit by a venomous snake? "It's like a bee sting times a thousand," Tim Friede says. Tim would know. Over the past few decades, he's let himself be bitten over 200 times by all kinds of venomous snakes — black mambas, taipans, cobras, kraits and more. With time, he's gradually built immunity to multiple types of venom. Could scientists help him share that immunity with others? Science reporter Ari Daniel joins Short Wave to explain how antivenom works, what scientists discov...
The Trump administration is rewriting policies and reducing funding for multiple agencies that handle climate change, including NOAA, EPA and FEMA. We asked NPR reporters Lauren Sommer and Alejandra Borunda what that the implications of that are — and who the changes will affect. Want to hear more ways research is being impacted by the new administration? Email us at [email protected] to let us know — and we may cover your idea in a future episode! Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-...
This episode of Short Wave explores the theoretical possibility of wormholes. Theoretical physicist Ron Gamble discusses how wormholes relate to Einstein's theory of general relativity and the geometry of space-time. He also explains the requirements for wormhole existence, including the need for exotic matter and extra dimensions, while addressing the skepticism around wormhole research due to the lack of testability.
This episode dives into recent science news, uncovering the genetic mutation responsible for orange cat coloration found on the X chromosome. It also explores a new low-cost sensor prototype that cyclists can use to crowdsource data for mapping safer bike routes in cities. Finally, the discussion highlights a study revealing a potential link between gum disease and an increased risk of atrial fibrillation and heart failure.
Most bats use echolocation to navigate and hunt, but some use their ears for another trick: eavesdropping. "And then these frog-eating bats, for example, they are actually listening in on the mating calls of frogs that are much, much lower in frequency," says behavioral ecologist Rachel Page. But how the bats knew this eavesdropping trick was a mystery. So she set up and experiment with baby bats and a speaker. Have a question about the animals all around us? Email us at [email protected] — we'd...
Becoming fluent in a second language is difficult. But for adults, is it impossible? Science says no. In this encore episode, Short Wave host Emily Kwong dissects the "critical period hypothesis," a theory which linguists have been debating for decades — with the help of Sarah Frances Phillips , a Ph.D. student in the linguistics department at New York University. Together, Emily and former Short Wave host Maddie Sofia explore where the theory comes from, how it applies to second-language acquis...
Today, we're airing an episode of NPR's daily economics podcast, The Indicator from Planet Money . It's about a group of people we know well: scientists. President Trump's federal cuts and scrutiny of academic institutions are forcing some U.S. scientists to head for the border. On today's show, an entomologist keeping America's farms safe from pests reconsiders America. And a CEO of a Canadian hospital explains how they are benefiting from the exodus. Want to learn more about the intersection o...
Google , Microsoft and Meta have all pledged to reach at least net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. Amazon set their net-zero deadline for 2040. To understand how these four tech companies could possibly meet their climate goals amid an artificial intelligence renaissance, Short Wave co-host Emily Kwong discusses the green AI movement. Speaking with scientists, CEOs and tech insiders, she explores three possible pathways: nuclear energy, small language models (SLMs) and back-to-the-future ways of ...
By 2028, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory forecasts that U.S. data centers could use as much as 12% of the nation's electricity. The reason: generative AI. Since 2022, AI innovation by four leading tech companies — Google, Microsoft, Meta and Amazon — has led to annual increases in both energy and water consumption. So, in this episode, Short Wave co-host Emily Kwong probes huge water footprint of AI. We begin with the rise of data centers, then look at how computers came to need so much wa...
This episode of Short Wave explores the science of creativity with psychologist Zorana Ivcevic Pringle. Zorana discusses how creativity isn't an innate trait but a choice and explores methods for studying and measuring creativity, including tests of divergent thinking and experience sampling. She also delves into the connection between emotional intelligence and creative problem-solving and ways to overcome creative blocks, like reconstructing problems and shifting mindsets.
This episode of Short Wave delves into the recent claims of potential life signs on planet K2-18b, exploring the initial excitement and subsequent skepticism within the astronomy community. It examines the data interpretation challenges from the James Webb Space Telescope, the controversy surrounding the research's presentation, and broader implications for future exoplanet research and science communication. The discussion highlights the rigorous process of scientific validation and the importance of balanced reporting in the search for extraterrestrial life.
Minecraft is a movie and a very popular video game with iconic block graphics that characters can "mine" for building material and gems. It's also what cognitive scientist Charley Wu and his team utilized to study how people learned as they played. Their unique study focused on both individual and social learning — and they found a clear answer to which players were most successful. (Hint: Get you a player who can do both.) Their results were published recently in the journal Nature Communicatio...
This episode of Short Wave dissects the health and science policy changes during the Trump administration's first 100 days, focusing on the impact of budget cuts and agency restructuring. It explores the ramifications for both domestic health services, such as food safety and disease tracking, and international aid efforts, particularly in global health initiatives. The discussion highlights the potential long-term consequences for public health and international relations.
A good night's sleep makes a big difference to our mental and physical health. Without quality sleep, we're less productive. Grumpy. It can even affect our hearts. Meanwhile, more and more people are having problems falling and staying asleep, including kids. So some parents are turning to a supplement called melatonin as a potential solution. But some experts worry that there isn't enough research about how regularly taking melatonin affects kids in the long term. Today on the show, we explore ...
This episode of Short Wave explores the fascinating world of marine invertebrates and their unique superpowers. Marine biologist Drew Harvell discusses how these spineless creatures, like sponges, sea slugs, and sea stars, inspire scientific and medical innovation. The episode highlights the ecological importance and potential human applications of these often-overlooked ocean inhabitants.
This episode of Short Wave discusses the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, a new astronomical facility in Chile with a massive digital camera designed to survey the entire southern sky. The observatory will generate an unprecedented amount of data, analyzed in real-time to detect changes and alert astronomers to new events. One of the primary goals is to search for the elusive Planet 9, a hypothetical large planet beyond Neptune.
A fish walks into a pharmacy ... well, not exactly. Fish aren't being prescribed anti-anxiety drugs. But they are experiencing the effects. Researchers have found more than 900 different pharmaceutical ingredients in rivers and streams around the world, though they're not yet sure how this could change the behavior of fish and other aquatic animals in the wild. "We can't, you know, dump a bunch of pharmaceuticals into the river," says Jack Brand , biologist at the Swedish University of Agricultu...
This episode of Short Wave explores the phenomenon of early blooming flowers and trees, prompted by a listener's observations in Oakland, California. It delves into the field of phenology, examining historical records like Thoreau's and modern climate data to understand how warming temperatures and urban environments affect plant timing. The episode also provides resources and advice for gardeners and nature enthusiasts to track and adapt to these changes.
Kelly and Zach Weinersmith discuss the practicalities and challenges of establishing a human settlement on Mars. They explore the dangers of space travel, the difficulties of creating a sustainable environment, and the ethical considerations of raising children in such a hostile setting. They ultimately conclude that focusing on improving Earth is a more viable and responsible path forward.
The male European fiddler crab attracts his mate by performing a courtship dance. New research published in the Journal of Experimental Biology says that dance isn't just notable for its visuals — it's notable for its vibrations, too. Researchers observed four different stages of the crab's courtship dance, each stage escalating the amount of seismic vibrational output. "It's 'come and find me in my underground house, ladies,'" says Beth Mortimer , a study author and biologist at the University ...
This episode of Short Wave explores the evolution of complex brains in birds, reptiles, and mammals. Fernando García-Moreno discusses his research on the pallium, a brain structure involved in cognitive processing, and explains how convergent evolution has led to similar brain circuits across different species. The conversation challenges anthropocentric views, suggesting that human intelligence isn't as unique as we might think, and highlights the amazing capabilities of bird brains.
This Short Wave episode revisits the topic of worsening allergy seasons, featuring an interview with Dr. Juanita Mora. The discussion covers the increasing length and severity of allergy seasons due to climate change factors like rising carbon dioxide levels and temperatures. Practical tips are provided for managing allergy symptoms, such as keeping windows closed, showering after being outside, and monitoring pollen counts.
Did you know there's an insect that can fling its pee 40 times faster than a cheetah accelerates? We did — thanks to a comic from the Bhamla Lab at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Since 2020, principal investigator Saad Bhamla has been leading the charge to make science more accessible by publishing comics alongside every paper his lab publishes. Today, he introduces Emily to two of the most popular characters — Sheriff Sharpshooter and Captain Cicada — and shares why a comic about butt-fli...
This episode of Short Wave discusses how astronomers are using a new method, astrometry, to find exoplanets by observing the 'wiggles' of stars. It explores how the Gaia telescope's precise measurements have enabled this technique, allowing scientists to discover distant planets and paint a more complete picture of solar systems beyond our own. The episode also touches on the discovery of a super Jupiter named Gaia 4b and the future potential of astrometry in exoplanet research.
This week, we've heard from researchers trying to untangle the effects of the "trip" that often comes with psychedelics and ketamine from the ways these drugs might change the human brain. For part three of our series on psychedelic drug research, we get a glimpse into why some researchers are taking the "trip" out of these drugs altogether. You don't need to have heard the previous two episodes to understand this episode on what could be next for psychedelic medicine. Catch the rest of this ser...
This episode of Short Wave explores the complexities of studying psychedelics and ketamine, focusing on the challenge of isolating the drug's effects from the influence of the 'trip' and other non-drug factors. It discusses a study where ketamine was administered under anesthesia to treat depression, and examines the surprising impact of the placebo effect. The episode also explores research into creating new drugs that mimic the benefits of psychedelics without the hallucinogenic experience.
Researchers are studying psychedelics as a possible treatment for conditions like depression, PTSD and substance use disorders. But they don't know exactly how these drugs work. Getting the answer to this question is especially difficult when people often take psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin for the "trip." This week on Short Wave , we're talking to researchers about how they're trying to untangle the effects of this "trip" from the ways psychedelics might change the human brain ... and why...
Running an entire marathon takes a lot of energy. Neuroscientist Carlos Matute knows this: he's run 18 of them. He wondered how runners' bodies get the energy they need to make it to the finish line. His new research in the journal Nature Metabolism may be the first step in answering the question – and suggests their brains might be (temporarily) depleting a fatty substance that coats nerve cells called myelin. Have other questions about the brain? Let us know by emailing [email protected] ! Lis...
This episode explores the science behind Tornado Alley's high tornado frequency compared to similar geographic regions like South America. It discusses research highlighting the impact of land surface roughness on wind patterns and tornado formation. The conversation also touches on the complexities of linking climate change to tornado activity and the importance of considering terrain changes in understanding severe weather.
