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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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 shortwave@npr.org ! 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.
This episode of Short Wave explores the mystery of how iguanas, native to the Americas, ended up on the remote island of Fiji. Scientists investigated two main hypotheses: gradual migration via ancient land bridges and a trans-oceanic journey on a raft of vegetation. By analyzing genomic data and iguana family trees, they found evidence supporting the rafting theory, highlighting the resilience of these animals and the role of improbable dispersal events in shaping the biological world.
It seems like artificial intelligence is everywhere in our virtual lives. It's in our search results and our phones. But what happens when AI moves out of the chat and into the real world? NPR science editor and correspondent Geoff Brumfiel took a trip to the Intelligence through Robotic Interaction at Scale Lab at Stanford University to see how scientists are using AI to power robots and the large hurdles that exist for them to perform even simple tasks. Read Geoff's full story . Interested in ...
This episode of Short Wave explores the mysterious narwhal and its tusk, diving into recent drone footage that reveals new insights into their behavior. The discussion covers the tusk's potential uses beyond attracting mates, including hunting and social interaction, while also highlighting the many unknowns about these elusive arctic whales. Experts discuss the challenges of studying narwhals and the importance of ongoing research to understand their lives.
Microalgae are tiny organisms that convert energy from sunlight into fuel. The arctic ecosystem depends on them. In springtime, the algae bloom brilliant shades of green and draw tiny crustaceans, fish, birds and more to arctic waters. But what happens in wintertime, when the sun goes down and darkness reins for months? In the depths of the polar night, biogeochemist Clara Hoppe has found evidence that some microalgae are still ready to photosynthesize. Today on the show: how tiny microalgae lim...
Baseball season is nigh! From Yankee stadium in New York to Dodger stadium in Los Angeles, teams around the country will face off Thursday to mark the start of the 2025 MLB season. And when we here at Short Wave think of baseball, we naturally think of physics. To get the inside scoop on the physics of baseball, like how to hit a home run, we talk to Frederic Bertley , CEO and President of the Center of Science and Industry, a science museum in Columbus, Ohio. In this encore episode, he also tal...
This episode of Short Wave discusses how early predictions about the slow mutation rate of the SARS-CoV-2 virus were proven wrong. It explores research suggesting that persistent infections in immunocompromised individuals may act as a 'training ground' for the virus, accelerating its evolution. The episode also touches on how COVID-19 has revolutionized virology research and disease surveillance.
Ever diagnosed yourself with a mental health disorder based on a TikTok video? If so, you're not alone. "I personally don't think that there's anything more human than wanting to understand yourself and wanting to understand your own experiences," says Vasileia Karasavva . Vasileia is the lead author of a paper published Wednesday in the journal PLOS One that gets into why this kind of self-diagnosis can be such a double-edged sword. Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support...
Ever scan the ingredient list of your favorite personal care products like shampoos or lotions and think, what are these complicated chemicals? And are any of them bad for me? We definitely have. And our colleagues at NPR's Life Kit did one step better: They parlayed their anxiety spiral into a helpful guide on the safety of personal care products. So today, Gina talks to Life Kit 's Marielle Segarra about some of the top chemicals of concern, including parabens and phthalates. Click here to hea...
Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases known to science – more contagious than Ebola, smallpox or COVID-19. Declining vaccination rates over the past few years, plus a recent outbreak in West Texas, have public health experts concerned. Here's what to know about the science of this virus — plus how to protect against it. For the latest, host Regina G. Barber talks to NPR health correspondent Maria Godoy . Interested in other stories about public health? Tell us what you want t...
This episode explores the neuroscience behind the Apple TV+ show Severance with neurosurgeon and science consultant Dr. Vijay Agarwal. The discussion covers the plausibility of the show's premise, the potential of neurotechnology, and the ethical considerations of manipulating memory and consciousness. Agarwal also touches on the themes of trauma, grief, and the human brain's complexities.
This episode of Short Wave explores the surprising link between dinosaur extinction and the evolution of fruit-bearing plants. Chris Doughty discusses how the extinction of dinosaurs led to darker forests and larger seeds, eventually fostering the rise of fruit and influencing the evolution of primates. The episode also examines how human activities are reshaping ecosystems today, similar to the impact of past mass extinctions.
This episode of Short Wave explores the complexities of biological sex, challenging the common binary understanding. It delves into chromosomal, chemical, and physical factors that determine sex, highlighting variations and intersex conditions. The episode also examines the societal and political influences on how we interpret biological sex, revealing that it is not as simple as male and female.
In its first 50 days, the Trump administration made sweeping changes to scientific arms of the government like the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration. The president issued executive orders to terminate all work that was related to DEI, environmental justice and gender inclusivity. In response, research was halted and thousands of people were fired — some of whi...
Tourists to Antarctica are fueling research on some of the tiniest, most influential organisms on Earth: phytoplankton. These itty bitty critters make their own food and are the base of the food web in most of the ocean, but tracking how well they're doing is historically tricky. So, researchers with the program FjordPhyto are using samples collected by these tourists to understand how the balance of power in the Antarctic food web could be shifting — could ripple across the food web of the enti...
Archeologists know early humans used stone to make tools long before the time of Homo sapiens . But a new discovery out this week in Nature suggests early humans in eastern Africa were also using animal bones – one million years earlier than researchers previously thought. The finding suggests that these early humans were intentionally shaping animal materials – like elephant and hippopotamus bones – to make tools and that it could indicate advancements in early human cognition. Want more on ear...
On their second job ever, Collette Yee and her partner were assigned a difficult job: locate transient whale poop in the ocean before it sinks. Luckily, Collette was partnered with Jack, a blue heeler mix trained to sniff out cryptic odors from things that conservation biologists have trouble collecting on their own. Producer Berly McCoy reports on Jack and the growing field of dog detection conservation that helps science by sniffing out everything from invasive crabs to diseased plants to enda...
You've heard of the woolly mammoth. But have you heard of woolly mice ? These critters were genetically modified by the Dallas-based biotech company Colossal Biosciences to have the same "woolly" and fat appearance as the ancient mammoths. The mice are a key step in the longer journey to de-extinct the woolly mammoth. NPR's Rob Stein takes us to the lab where it all happened. Interested in more biotech stories? Let us know by dropping a line to shortwave@npr.org . Listen to every episode of Shor...
This episode of Short Wave explores the experiences of two patients using recently approved Alzheimer's drugs. It details the journeys of Sue Bell, who participated in the Lakembi clinical trial, and Mayra Solano-Garcia, who is undergoing treatment with Casunla. The episode discusses the potential benefits and limitations of these drugs, including their impact on slowing cognitive decline and reducing amyloid plaques in the brain.
Batteries are everywhere. They're in our phones, our remote controls, smart-watches, electric cars and so much more. They could also be the solution to a problem that renewable energy companies have faced for years: How to store the mass amounts of energy they produce for later use. Some companies are using batteries to make renewable energy accessible 24/7. Today, we dig into how the technology is rapidly progressing with Cooper Katz McKim, a producer from fellow NPR podcast The Indicator from ...
In 1967 Jocelyn Bell Burnell made a discovery that revolutionized the field of astronomy. She detected the radio signals emitted by certain dying stars called pulsars. This encore episode: Jocelyn's story. Host Regina G. Barber talks to Jocelyn about her winding career, her discovery and how pulsars are pushing forward the field of astronomy today. Have cosmic queries and unearthly musings? Contact us at shortwave@npr.org . We might open an intergalactic case file and reveal our findings in a fu...
A year and a half ago, neuroscientist Kamilla Souza got the call she'd been waiting for: A baby humpback whale had died just offshore. She wanted its brain. That's because scientists know little about the brains of whales and dolphins off the Central and South American coasts. Studying them, like Kamilla is doing, can teach scientists about the inner workings of these animals — about their behavior and how they're adapted to living underwater. So, she has to race against time to save the brains....
Dr. Alopi Patel guides listeners through the world of anesthesia, explaining its history, different types, and effects on the body. She shares a calming pre-op routine, emphasizing the importance of patient comfort and honesty. The episode also touches on the evolution of anesthesia in childbirth and a personal story highlighting the human connection in anesthesiology.
Ever eat a full meal ... and find you still have room for dessert? If so, you're not alone. Sugar is a quick form of energy that many people crave — even when they're full . Today, hosts Emily Kwong and Regina G. Barber dive into a new study on the neural origins of the "dessert brain." Want us to cover more neuroscience on the show? Let your voice be counted by emailing shortwave@npr.org ! Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wav...
What happens when a team of scientists and local Awajún guides go on a 38-day trip into the Alto Mayo region of Peru? Over 2000 species are identified, of course! Tucked in this lush landscape where the Amazon basin meets the Andes mountains, were 27 species of animals previously unknown to science. It makes us wonder, what else is out there that the scientific community hasn't seen? And who already knows about it? Check out photos of all the critters we mentioned — and more! Other ecosystems or...
Asked ChatGPT anything lately? Talked with a customer service chatbot? Read the results of Google's "AI Overviews" summary feature? If you've used the Internet lately, chances are, you've consumed content created by a large language model. These models, like DeepSeek-R1 or OpenAI's ChatGPT, are kind of like the predictive text feature in your phone on steroids . In order for them to "learn" how to write, the models are trained on millions of examples of human-written text. Thanks in part to thes...
Physics has a bit of a messy problem: There's matter missing in our universe. Something is there that we can't see but can detect ! What could this mysterious substance be? A lot of astronomers are searching for the answer. And some, like theoretical particle physicist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein , think a hypothetical particle called the axion may make this problem a little ... tidier. That's right: hypothetical. Scientists have never seen one, and don't know if they exist. So today, we point our ...
For years, scientists have known that oxytocin is important in facilitating the feeling of love in humans. How do they know? Prairie voles. For years, scientists have relied on the cuddly rodents to help us humans understand how this protein works in our brains. But within the past few years, research has complicated that understanding, prompting the question: Can love prevail without the "love" hormone? (encore) Help shape the future of Short Wave by taking our survey: npr.org/ shortwavesurvey ...
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is one of the deadliest tickborne diseases in the United States, often killing people within about a week if left untreated. At one point, the San Carlos Apache Reservation had rates of infection 150 times the national average. But now, they've achieved a huge milestone — no deaths from the disease in at least five years. NPR science correspondent Pien Huang and producer Megan Lim visited the reservation to see the program that led to their success. Read Pien's full ...
