The FDA has issued emergency use authorizations for two monoclonal antibody treatments for COVID-19 – one produced by Eli Lilly and another by Regeneron. As science correspondent Richard Harris explains, emergency use authorization doesn't assure that these new drugs are effective, but that their potential benefits are likely to outweigh the risks. So today, we get to the bottom of how this type of treatment works and if they'll really make a difference. Email the show your questions, coronaviru...
Dec 07, 2020•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's another "Back To School" episode where we take a concept you were maybe taught in school as a kid, but didn't really learn or just forgot. Short Wave producer Thomas Lu and host Maddie Sofia go on a journey to explore what a rainbow exactly is and how we see them! We all remember ROY G BIV, right? Email us your Back-To-School ideas at shortwave@npr.org ....
Dec 04, 2020•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Like many states in the Midwest, Nebraska was somewhat spared during the early days of the pandemic. But now, the state has more cases per capita than any other in the country. We talk with two Omaha doctors who say this latest surge is exhausting health care workers, and one explains why she's tired of people calling health care workers heroes. Are you a health care worker who would like to share your experience with the Short Wave team? Email us at shortwave@npr.org ....
Dec 03, 2020•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Some of the most popular agricultural biotech products are running into problems. These plants have been genetically modified to fend off insects, and have been great for the environment and for farmers. But now they are not working as well. NPR food and agriculture correspondent Dan Charles explains the rise and potential fall of Bt crops, and what happens when farmers use too much of a good thing. Before the year comes to a close, show your love for Short Wave and your local public radio stati...
Dec 01, 2020•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast The National Science Foundation recently announced it plans to decommission the Arecibo Telescope in Puerto Rico. The world-renowned telescope has suffered substantial damage this year. Today, we revisit our conversation with planetary scientist Edgard Rivera-Valentín about the unique role Arecibo has played in both scientific research and popular culture. (Encore episode.) Email the show at shortwave@npr.org ....
Nov 30, 2020•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast We talk about the ridiculously complicated science involved in measuring Mount Everest with NPR international correspondent Lauren Frayer . And we'll hear why the height of the world's highest peak is ever-changing. Looking for more? You can read Lauren's story here at our episode page. It's got links, photos, and other cool information. You can find Lauren on Twitter @lfrayer and host Maddie Sofia @maddie_sofia . Email the show at shortwave@npr.org ....
Nov 27, 2020•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Why 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. (Encore episode.) Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter @maddie_sofia . Email the show at shortwave@npr.org . AND consider supporting Short Wave, by supporting your local NPR station here ....
Nov 26, 2020•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Some insects and reptiles have a strange self-preservation characteristic — they suddenly start bleeding from places like their eyes or knees. NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce looks at "reflex bleeding" and explores some of the creatures that bleed on purpose. For more science reporting and stories, follow Nell on twitter @nell_sci_NPR . And, as always, email us at shortwave@npr.org.
Nov 24, 2020•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sharpen your pencils. Get out your notebook. Today, we are unveiling a new series called "Back To School." In these episodes, we take a concept you were taught in school and go a little deeper with it. Short Wave reporter Emily Kwong and host Maddie Sofia explore OTHER states of matter — beyond solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. Have you heard of Bose-Einstein condensate superfluids? It's your lucky day! Email us your Back-To-School ideas at shortwave@npr.org ....
Nov 23, 2020•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast A new satellite, scheduled to launch this weekend, is the latest in a parade of missions to measure sea level rise. As climate reporter Rebecca Hersher explains, it's vital data for scientists trying to understand how global warming is affecting the Earth's oceans. For more, you can also read Rebecca's story, " NASA Satellite To Measure Global Sea Level Rise ." Email the show at shortwave@npr.org ....
Nov 20, 2020•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast The safest way to have Thanksgiving this year is to stay at home. But realistically, we know many people will still be traveling to gather with loved ones. So in this episode, Emily and Maddie outline ways to gather as safely as possible. We'll cover best practices for quarantining before the trip, testing, ventilation and food preparation. That way, this Thanksgiving you can pass the turkey, hold the 'rona. Additional Resources: CDC Holiday Guidelines Aerosol & Ventilation FAQ Short Wave Corona...
Nov 19, 2020•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Trump administration has officially eliminated federal protections for Alaska's Tongass National Forest, the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world. With the rollback of the Roadless Rule, nine million previously-protected acres are now open further to potential development. What does that mean for trees that have been storing carbon for centuries? For more on this story, check out the episode page . You can email the show at shortwave@npr.org ....
Nov 17, 2020•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Developing a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine will be crucial to getting the pandemic under control. Also important, distributing it throughout the country once it's been approved. NPR science reporter Pien Huang tells us which high risk groups will get it first, how the vaccine will be distributed (including some challenges), and who's footing the bill for all of this. Email the show at shortwave@npr.org ....
Nov 16, 2020•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Interim results are in from a large trial of an experimental COVID-19 vaccine. Drug maker Pfizer, working with German company BioNTech, says its vaccine appears to be working really well — it was found to be more than 90 percent effective. Today on Short Wave, host Maddie Sofia talks to NPR science correspondent Joe Palca about what that efficacy number means, details of the study and what more information about the vaccine researchers are awaiting. Reach the show by emailing us at shortwave@npr...
Nov 13, 2020•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the future, genomic research could lead to new treatments for human disease. It turns the data in our DNA into a global commodity. But historically, minoritized communities have been left out of this research. Keolu Fox is a genome scientist trying to change that and advocate for a more equitable approach when Indigenous and other underrepresented communities do participate. Read Keolu's paper, "The Illusion of Inclusion" , in the New England Journal of Medicine . Reach the show by emailing u...
Nov 12, 2020•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast There have been many climate-related disasters this year, and along with those events come a heavy emotional and financial toll for residents. But what NPR climate reporters Rebecca Hersher and Lauren Sommer have found is that most people don't realize their wildfire or flood risk — and that's putting millions in harm's way. Additional Resources: - Read Lauren and Rebecca's series, Climate Risk Hits Home . - Reach out to us if you've tried to get information about the risk of floods or wildfires...
Nov 10, 2020•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast That's what they call themselves: long-haulers. They've been sick for months. Many have never had a positive test. Doctors cannot explain their illness any other way, and can only guess at why the virus appears to be with them for so long. Ed Yong of The Atlantic explains what might be going on, and why their experience mirrors that of other sufferers with chronic illnesses who battle to be believed. We also spoke with Hannah Davis, a long-hauler from New York City. (Encore episode.) Read Ed's s...
Nov 09, 2020•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast President Trump announced his intention to withdraw from the landmark Paris climate agreement in 2017 and formally notified the United Nations last year. A mandatory yearlong waiting period ended on Wednesday. Of the nearly 200 nations that signed the agreement, the U.S. is the only one to walk away from its promises to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. NPR science reporter Rebecca Hersher shares fives things to know. For additional info and links, check out the episode page . Email the show at s...
Nov 06, 2020•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Throughout the U.S., the pandemic is still raging. And with cooler weather and the height of flu season ahead, an already dire situation could get much, much worse. On today's show, a pandemic reality check. Short Wave's Maddie Sofia and Emily Kwong talk about how we got here and how we should all be thinking about the holidays and the coming winter. Email the show at shortwave@npr.org ....
Nov 05, 2020•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast A NASA spacecraft sent out to collect a sample of rock and dust from an asteroid has nabbed so much that it's created an unexpected problem. NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce shares a cautionary tale of a scientific mission that was almost too successful. For additional info and fun links, check out the episode page . Follow Maddie and Nell on Twitter. Maddie's @maddie_sofia and Nell's @nell_sci_NPR . Email the show at shortwave@npr.org ....
Nov 03, 2020•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast What 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. (Encore Episode.)
Nov 02, 2020•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast This year, there will be a "blue moon" for Halloween. So for today's show, we're asking: What IS a blue moon? Is the moon ever blue? And are they as rare as the phrase "once in a blue moon" implies? For additional info and fun links, check out the episode page . Follow Maddie and Rebecca on Twitter for more science nuggets. Maddie's @maddie_sofia and Rebecca's @rebeccalramirez . Email the show your celestial musings and inquiries. We're at shortwave@npr.org ....
Oct 30, 2020•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast We 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? NPR correspondent Jon Hamilton introduces us to some scientists looking into that connection in this updated report on the key role deep sleep may play in maintaining brain health and protecting the brain against Alzheimer's. Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter @maddie_sofia . Email the show at shortwave@npr.org ....
Oct 29, 2020•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Happy Hallo-Week! Today we have the story of Twinkies that were left alone for eight years. One grew a moldy spot and another shriveled up in its packaging, almost like a mummy. NPR's Nell Greenfieldboyce explains how two scientists unraveled the mystery of the mummified and moldy snack cakes.
Oct 27, 2020•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Crows have gotten a bad rap throughout history — a group of them is called a "murder," after all. 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."
Oct 26, 2020•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Botanist and founder of #BlackBotanistsWeek Tanisha Williams explains why some leaves change color during fall and what shorter days and colder temperatures have to do with it. Plus, a bit of listener mail from you! Which you can always send by emailing shortwave@npr.org .
Oct 23, 2020•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast For much of the pandemic, some scientists had been pushing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to recognize that the coronavirus is spread through aerosols--very small particles that can linger in the air. The CDC did that this month, so we brought Senior Science Correspondent Maria Godoy onto the show to explain the distinction, and the implications for staying safe during the pandemic. Is the constant refining of the science behind the coronavirus leaving you confused? Send us your ...
Oct 22, 2020•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Randall 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 latest book is called How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems. ( Encore episode.) Here's more on nuclear tests of bottled beverages from nuclear historian Alex Wellerstein . Email the show at shortwave@npr.org ....
Oct 20, 2020•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Monika Schleier-Smith, associate professor of physics at Stanford University, studies quantum mechanics, the theory that explains the nature of the itty bitty parts of our universe: atoms, photons, and individual particles. It's the science responsible for innovations in computers, telecommunications, and medicine. Schleier-Smith was recently awarded a 2020 MacArthur Fellowship for her work in the field. It's research that often starts in a lab and as Schleier-Smith describes, requires both trou...
Oct 19, 2020•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast We hit the road with NPR Education Reporter Elissa Nadworny . She's been on a weekslong road trip to get an up-close view of how colleges across the U.S. are handling the pandemic. On today's show, she tells us how one university has been using mass testing to fight the spread of the coronavirus on its campus. It's a strategy that's run into some challenges, namely, student behavior. Email the show at shortwave@npr.org ....
Oct 16, 2020•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
