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.
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Happy Independence Day, Short Wavers ! Do you have plans outdoors this weekend and want to figure out just how swampy it's gonna feel? For that kind of mental preparation, we're revisiting an episode in which some meteorologists are telling us to pay more attention to dew point temperature, not relative humidity. Interested in more weather episodes? Email us your question at [email protected] . Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short...
For decades, scientists believed our Milky Way galaxy was destined to collide with its nearest large neighbor, Andromeda. This episode explores the historical reasons for this certainty, including the role of dark matter and galaxy composition. However, recent data from telescopes like Gaia and improved models suggest the odds are now closer to 50-50, revealing that our galaxies might instead engage in a perpetual cosmic dance rather than a head-on collision.
Independence Day is approaching! Imagine in a few days, someone has procured illegal fireworks from a couple of states over. Are you: A) first in line to light them B) content to watch while others set them off C) going to find a fire extinguisher — just in case — while loudly condemning the activity? Ken Carter , a psychologist at Oxford College of Emory University, says everyone has a different level of sensation-seeking. This episode, we get into the factors at play, like people's brain chemi...
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Policy, an influential CDC committee that shapes U.S. vaccine policy, has become a flashpoint in recent weeks. Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired all 17 members and replaced them with 7 new members — many of whom do not have deep expertise in vaccines, and some of whom have spread vaccine misinformation. NPR public health correspondent Pien Huang was at the new working group's first meeting last week. This episode, she talks with Emily about th...
Discover how even a short nap can lead to a "eureka" moment, according to new research on sleep stages. Plus, hear about the groundbreaking image of a young exoplanet still within its formation disk. Finally, learn about a study revealing that wildfires can impact water quality for nearly a decade after they occur.
Explore the vital role prairie dogs play in grassland ecosystems. Learn how long-billed curlews eavesdrop on prairie dog alarm calls to detect predators, a behavior tested using a remote-controlled taxidermy badger. The findings highlight how conserving prairie dogs is crucial for the survival of many other grassland species.
Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal on the planet, and some of them may be on the rise. At least in listener Abigail Krich-Starr's area, that's due to warmer, wetter weather — which, yes, is linked to climate change. But it doesn't stop there: Ecologists and entomologists say increased heat could also alter mosquito behavior, shift their natural habitat, and even change how pathogens incubate and spread inside their bodies. So how do you protect yourself against the (mosquito) masses? Our expert...
The U.S. electric grid, a network built over a century, faces significant challenges including aging infrastructure, rising demand, and increasing extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change. An electrical engineer explains how the grid works, its vulnerabilities, and the complex cost-benefit analyses involved in modernization efforts and the transition to renewable energy sources.
For generations, the all-female Haenyeo divers have routinely dove into frigid waters off the coast of South Korea, holding their breath for minutes at a time, as they collect seafood to eat and sell. These women start diving as girls and continue well into old age. And recent research suggests that it's not just years of training that makes this feat possible – it's also a set of special genetic adaptations. Science reporter Ari Daniel brings us the story. Read more of Ari's reporting here . Ha...
Cognitive anthropologist Dimitris Xygalatas shares his research into why sports fans are so deeply connected to their teams and each other. His work reveals that communal rituals, like pre-game events or chanting in the stands, are often more powerful drivers of emotional alignment among fans than the gameplay itself. He also discusses how structural differences, like commercial breaks in US sports, can impact the fan experience compared to sports globally, and how this intense connection can foster both unity and division, ultimately tying back to the human need to create meaning through shared experiences.
Since last week, Israel has been attacking Iran's nuclear facilities, along with many other targets around the country. Iran has fired hundreds of missiles in response. NPR correspondent Geoff Brumfiel has been watching all of this very closely because Israel's missile defenses have been a focus of the Trump White House. This year, President Trump requested funding from Congress for a " Golden Dome for America " — a missile defense system that would protect all of the United States. The idea com...
Short Wave visits a cannabis grow facility in Maryland to uncover the science behind marijuana's distinctive scent. The episode delves into how compounds like terpenes and sulfur create aromas, explaining why some strains have a strong skunky smell. It also explores how breeders are now cultivating new varieties with diverse scents like fruity and cake, reflecting changing consumer preferences and the growing legal market.
Take a big inhale through your nose. Now, exhale. Breathing may seem simple, but it's controlled by a complex brain network. Each inhale gives the human brain information about the external world. And now, a new research paper in the journal Current Biology suggests that humans have unique breathing patterns, almost like nasal "fingerprints." Not only that: These unique breathing patterns seem to say a lot about people's physical and mental health. Questions about the science behind your brain a...
Climate change-fueled disasters are driving up homeowners insurance costs and causing insurers to drop policies. Climate-proofing measures, like fortified roofs, can make homes more resilient and qualify owners for insurance discounts, as seen in Alabama. However, challenges remain in areas facing different risks like wildfires, and insurers aren't currently required to consider these improvements, highlighting a need for policy reform to address non-renewal.
Roughly 163 million people experience obsessive-compulsive disorder and its associated cycles of obsessions and compulsions. They have unwanted intrusive thoughts, images or urges; they also do certain behaviors to decrease the distress caused by these thoughts. In movies and TV, characters with OCD are often depicted washing their hands or obsessing about symmetry. Dr. Carolyn Rodriguez says these are often symptoms of OCD, but they're not the only ways it manifests – and there's still a lot of...
The Dog Aging Project is collecting health and lifestyle data from tens of thousands of dogs across the U.S. to uncover factors influencing healthy aging. Learn about early findings, including breed trends and the lifespan anomaly in large dogs, and hear about research exploring interventions like rapamycin. The project also aims to use dogs as sentinels for environmental threats that could impact both canine and human health.
"Olo" does not exist in nature, nor can it be found among paint cans. But for a very select few, olo can be seen — through the intervention of careful computing and lasers. A team led by vision scientist Austin Roorda and computer scientist Ren Ng at UC Berkeley figured out a method for stimulating only one specific subset of cones of the retina. It's the only way to view this spectacular teal. Creating the color is helping push the boundaries of vision science. Follow Short Wave on Spotify , an...
There are over 200 species of deep-sea anglerfish; some are long and thin, some are squat and round, some have fins that they use to "walk" along the sea floor, and others have huge eyes set far back into their heads. But how did all this morphological diversity first come to be? Thanks to a new anglerfish family tree, now we know. Scientists built this evolutionary tree using genetic information from hundreds of samples and anglerfish specimens across the globe. It indicates that anglerfish ori...
Protein shape determines function, but predicting this has been difficult for decades due to the billions of trillions of folding possibilities. Google DeepMind's AlphaFold AI models have dramatically improved prediction accuracy and speed, allowing scientists to rapidly determine protein structures and understand their interactions with other molecules. Building on this, researchers are now using AI to design entirely new proteins with potential applications in medicine, sustainability, and technology, fundamentally changing the field.
For centuries, sailors have reported witnessing 'milky seas'—vast areas of glowing ocean at night. Scientists, including atmospheric science researcher Justin Hudson, are now using historical accounts dating back 400 years, combined with modern satellite data, to finally unravel this maritime mystery. The leading theory points to luminous bacteria as the cause, and new research aims to predict and sample these elusive events.
This episode of Short Wave explores fascinating science stories, including how your immune system's response varies between day and night, why powerful immune cells called neutrophils have a circadian clock, and potential applications for this research. It also delves into prototype contact lenses that allow wearers to perceive infrared light and a curious observation of a hawk seemingly using traffic light patterns to ambush prey.
Around 40 million people worldwide have bipolar disorder, which involves cyclical mood swings from depression to mania. This episode features Kay Redfield Jamison, a professor of psychiatry and pioneering researcher who also lives with the condition. She discusses her personal journey, the genetic and environmental factors that may contribute to bipolar disorder, treatment options like lithium, challenges in diagnosis and adherence, and the role of support systems.
This episode of Nature Quest explores the complex decision of whether or not to have children in the age of climate change, a major concern for Gen Z and younger millennials. It traces the origin of the idea that having fewer kids significantly impacts climate change to a specific academic paper and discusses the historical context of population control debates. Experts weigh in on the validity of climate anxiety and the importance of focusing on high-impact collective climate actions and finding community support.
Just as precise clocks were needed to solve the historical longitude problem for sea travel, ultra-accurate timekeeping is now crucial for navigating deep space. This episode explores the limitations of current space clocks, like those used in GPS, which suffer from drift. It delves into the science behind atomic clocks and introduces a new NASA project called OASIC, which uses optical light and a strontium atom to achieve unprecedented precision, potentially enabling autonomous navigation and fundamental physics research in space.
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...
