Our colleagues at the TED Radio Hour introduce us to forager and TikTok influencer Alexis Nikole Nelson. She shares how the great outdoors has offered her both an endless array of food options and an outlet to reconnect with her food and her culture. Listen to the full TED Radio Hour episode, The Food Connection : https://n.pr/3DeRmEU Follow TED Radio Hour and host Manoush Zomorodi on Twitter: - TED Radio Hour: https://twitter.com/TEDRadioHour - Manoush Zamorodi: https://twitter.com/manoushz...
Oct 05, 2021•14 min•Ep 499•Transcript available on Metacast Burnout has long been a problem among health care workers. The pandemic has only made it worse. Some were hopeful COVID vaccines would provide some relief, but that hasn't been the case. Now, health care workers are leaving the industry — and they're taking their expertise with them. Plenty of surveys say that burnout hurts patient care. NPR correspondent Yuki Noguchi spoke to medical workers who agree, the burnout they see on the job means that sometimes patients are not getting what they need....
Oct 04, 2021•13 min•Ep 498•Transcript available on Metacast A paper published recently in the journal Science finds similarities between the babbling of human infants and the babbling of the greater sac-winged bat ( Saccopteryx bilineata ) — a small species of bat that lives in Central and South America. As science correspondent Geoff Brumfiel reports, the researchers believe both bats and humans evolved babbling as a precursor to more complex vocal behavior like singing, or, in the case of people, talking. Wondering what similarities humans have to othe...
Oct 01, 2021•8 min•Ep 497•Transcript available on Metacast People are likely to be confused by common climate change terms like "mitigation" and "carbon neutral," according to a recent study. So how can everyone do a better job talking about climate change so that no one's left confused? NPR climate correspondent Rebecca Hersher tells us the key turns out to be pretty simple. Read more of Rebecca's reporting on climate jargon: https://n.pr/2XdfYOC Read the study: https://bit.ly/3Adj8QT You can always reach the show by emailing shortwave@npr.org — but pl...
Sep 30, 2021•10 min•Ep 496•Transcript available on Metacast Suicide was the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2020, according to the most current data. But research shows that suicide is preventable. Host Emily Kwong talks with NPR health correspondent Rhitu Chatterjee about the signs that someone you know may be thinking about dying, the ways you can support them, and how to possibly prevent suicide. (Encore episode.)
Sep 29, 2021•15 min•Ep 495•Transcript available on Metacast Based on early estimates, as many as 10,600 large sequoias were killed in last year's Castle Fire — up to 14% of the entire population. The world's largest trees are one of the most fire-adapted to wildfires on the planet. But climate change is making these fires more extreme than sequoias can handle. It's also worsening drought that is killing other conifer trees that then become a tinder box surrounding the sequoias, reports climate correspondent Lauren Sommer. Scientists warn that giant sequo...
Sep 28, 2021•11 min•Ep 494•Transcript available on Metacast Will Stone is a science reporter for NPR. He's been reporting about the pandemic for a while now, so he knows the risks of a breakthrough infection, is vaccinated, and follows COVID guidelines as they change. Nonetheless, he got COVID - and today on the show, Will shares what he learned about his breakthrough infection, and what he wish he'd known before his "mild" case. For more of Will's reporting, check out " I Got A 'Mild' Breakthrough Case. Here's What I Wish I'd Known " (https://www.npr.or...
Sep 27, 2021•12 min•Ep 493•Transcript available on Metacast In December, NASA is scheduled to launch the huge $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope , which is sometimes billed as the successor to the aging Hubble Space Telescope. NPR correspondents Rhitu Chatterjee and Nell Greenfieldboyce talk about this powerful new instrument and why building it took two decades. For more of Nell's reporting on the telescope, check out " NASA Is Launching A New Telescope That Could Offer Some Cosmic Eye Candy ." (https://www.npr.org/2021/09/16/1036600340/nasa-is-laun...
Sep 24, 2021•14 min•Ep 492•Transcript available on Metacast Some of the world's best artificial waves are happening hundreds of miles from the ocean—in Waco, Texas. They're so good, they're attracting top professionals, casual riders and a science correspondent named Jon Hamilton. Jon's been following the wave technology for years and says the progress is huge. These days, pro surfers are coming from all over to try out Waco's "Freak Peak." Read more of Jon's reporting on artificial waves: https://n.pr/3zAX95k Wondering what insights science has to offer...
Sep 23, 2021•12 min•Ep 491•Transcript available on Metacast In the early 1900s, the Whitney South Sea expedition gathered 40,000 bird specimens for the American Museum of Natural History. The collection is an irreplaceable snapshot of avian diversity in the South Pacific, but is missing key geographic data. To solve this mystery, student researchers dug into field journals to determine where birds from one island came from.
Sep 22, 2021•12 min•Ep 490•Transcript available on Metacast With booster shots on the horizon for some people, one of the biggest questions is: Am I still protected against COVID-19 if I've only had two doses of the vaccine? As science correspondent Michaeleen Doucleff reports, the answer is...complicated. Read more of Michaeleen's reporting on COVID immunity: https://n.pr/2XIQ6KX Reach the show by emailing shortwave@npr.org ....
Sep 21, 2021•13 min•Ep 489•Transcript available on Metacast Many people are afraid of needles in some capacity — about 1 in 10 experience a "high level" of needle fear, says clinical psychologist Meghan McMurtry . But that fear is often underrecognized or misunderstood. That's why today's show is all about needle fear: what it is, tools to cope, and why it's important to address beyond the pandemic. Some strategies Meghan suggests to help cope with the fear of needles: - the CARD System for adults: bit.ly/3nHIKlw - muscle tension technique: bit.ly/3CBki9...
Sep 20, 2021•14 min•Ep 488•Transcript available on Metacast Fatima's Great Outdoors , a new children's book, centers on a girl named Fatima, who's struggling to adjust to her new life in the U.S. But on her very first camping trip with her family, Fatima unexpectedly discovers courage and joy in the outdoors. Today on the show, Emily talks to Ambreen Tariq about her new book and her social media initiative, BrownPeopleCamping. For Tariq, both efforts are a part of a common vision — to increase diversity in the outdoors and challenge definitions of what i...
Sep 17, 2021•14 min•Ep 487•Transcript available on Metacast It is found in only one lake in the world, never grows up, and occasionally takes bites of its friends: who could we be talking about? The axolotl of course! With some help from Dr. Luis Zambrano , producer Berly McCoy tells us all about this remarkable creature and the ongoing efforts to protect axolotls from extinction.
Sep 16, 2021•12 min•Ep 486•Transcript available on Metacast Millions of people rely on subways for transportation. But as the world warms, climate-driven flooding in subways is becoming more and more common. NPR correspondents Lauren Sommer and Rebecca Hersher talk about how cities across the world are adapting. For more of Rebecca's reporting on climate-driven flooding, check out " NYC's Subway Flooding Isn't A Fluke. It's The Reality For Cities In A Warming World ." (https://www.npr.org/2021/09/02/1021185475/climate-change-means-more-subway-flooding-wo...
Sep 15, 2021•10 min•Ep 485•Transcript available on Metacast In rare cases, the delta variant of the coronavirus is causing vaccinated people to get sick — so-called "breakthrough infections." Now researchers are asking: Could these infections lead to long COVID, when symptoms last weeks and months? Today, science correspondent Rob Stein makes sense of the latest data, explaining what we know so far about long COVID in vaccinated people. Read more of Rob's reporting here: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/09/13/1032844687/what-we-know-about-b...
Sep 14, 2021•10 min•Ep 484•Transcript available on Metacast A new report from the Center for American Progress finds that nearly half of transgender people have experienced mistreatment at the hands of a medical provider. NBC OUT reporter Jo Yurcaba explains the long-term impacts of this discrimination, plus a few potential solutions. • "Nearly half of trans people have been mistreated by medical providers, report finds," NBC OUT • "Protecting and Advancing Health Care for Transgender Adult Communities," Center for American Progress Follow Brit ( @bnhans...
Sep 13, 2021•13 min•Ep 483•Transcript available on Metacast Twenty years later, first responders during the 9/11 attacks have an increased risk of getting some kinds of cancer. But, research shows that they're also more likely to survive. Host Emily Kwong talks to NPR correspondent Allison Aubrey about why. Read more about Allison's reporting here . You can follow Emily on Twitter @EmilyKwong1234 and Allison @AubreyNPR . Email Short Wave at ShortWave@NPR.org ....
Sep 10, 2021•9 min•Ep 482•Transcript available on Metacast Another destructive fire season has Western states searching for ways to prevent it. As climate correspondent Lauren Sommer reports, some answers might lie in the Southeastern U.S. The region leads the country in setting controlled fires — burns to clear vegetation that becomes the fuel for extreme fires. Read more of Lauren's reporting on wildfire prevention. ( https://www.npr.org/2021/08/31/1029821831/to-stop-extreme-wildfires-california-is-learning-from-florida ) And check out our previous ep...
Sep 09, 2021•11 min•Ep 481•Transcript available on Metacast Manufacturers can expect to face unforeseen hurdles when they begin to mass-produce a brand new pharmaceutical product, and in a pandemic, there are bound to be supply chain problems as well. But in late 2020, Pfizer was delivering fewer doses than the government expected and then-federal officials told NPR they did not know why.
Sep 08, 2021•13 min•Ep 480•Transcript available on Metacast The universe is so much bigger than what people can see, and astrophysicist Priyamvada Natarajan is trying to figure out that which we can not see. Producer Rebecca Ramirez talks with Priya and reports on the theory about some of the secret scaffolding of the universe: dark matter.
Sep 07, 2021•14 min•Ep 479•Transcript available on Metacast Today, we bid farewell to our founding host, Maddie Sofia! In this special episode, the Short Wave team and some of our listeners remind Maddie of the huge impact she's had on all of us. There is laughter, a lot of crying, and so, so much appreciation for our duderino. Maddie, may you come back into our orbit soon. We're so excited to cheer you on in your future adventures!
Sep 03, 2021•15 min•Ep 478•Transcript available on Metacast Maddie and Emily get super nerdy one last time as they dive into the incredible world of nudibranchs. Not only are these sea slugs eye-catching for their colors, some of them have evolved to "steal" abilities from other organisms — from the power of photosynthesis to the stinging cells of their venomous predators. These sea slugs are going to blow your mind! You can email Short Wave at shortwave@npr.org .
Sep 02, 2021•13 min•Ep 477•Transcript available on Metacast We're marking Maddie's last week on Short Wave! Today, Maddie wanted to highlight a COVID-related episode from earlier this year. The pandemic has been a big part of our coverage and this particular episode stands out. We hear reflections from two emergency room health workers on the pandemic, how their lives have changed and their hopes as more and more people get vaccinated. Tomorrow, a new episode! Are you a healthcare worker who would be willing to share your experience with the Short Wave t...
Sep 01, 2021•14 min•Ep 476•Transcript available on Metacast It's Day 2 of our trip down Maddie Sofia memory lane! Today's encore episode is all about how you're never really alone. We look at the tiny mites that live on your skin — including your face. They come out at night and mate. And we're not totally sure what they eat. See? Don't you feel better already? Researcher Megan Thoemmes tells us about the lives of these eight-legged creatures — and what they can tell us about ourselves....
Aug 31, 2021•12 min•Ep 475•Transcript available on Metacast This week is our last with Maddie as a host, so we're spending it with a trip down memory lane. The first episode Maddie invites us to relive and enjoy is our first listener question episode on the science behind thrill-seeking. She talks to psychologist Ken Carter about why some people love to get scared. Reach the show by emailing shortwave@npr.org .
Aug 30, 2021•12 min•Ep 474•Transcript available on Metacast Going on a run and curious about how muggy it's going to be out? Maddie Sofia chats with producer Thomas Lu about relative humidity and why some meteorologists are telling us to pay more attention to dew point temperature, not relative humidity. Plus — how moisture in the air and temperature influence the way our body "feels" when we're outside. Click here for the National Weather Service Heat Index chart referenced in the episode. Follow Maddie on Twitter @maddie_sofia and Thomas @thomasuylu . ...
Aug 27, 2021•10 min•Ep 473•Transcript available on Metacast Sunflower sea stars play a key role in ocean ecosystems on the West Coast - and they are disappearing in record numbers. Science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce tells us about the plight of the Sunflower sea star and one biologist's unique fight to save them.
Aug 26, 2021•12 min•Ep 472•Transcript available on Metacast Medical transition-related treatments like hormone replacement therapy are associated with overwhelmingly positive outcomes in terms of both physical and mental health for transgender people. But, it can be hard to know exactly how to get started. Reporter James Factora explains where to start, common misconceptions about HRT, and the importance of finding community through the process. Read James' full reporting for VICE here: " A Beginner's Guide to Hormone Replacement Therapy ." (www.vice.com...
Aug 25, 2021•14 min•Ep 471•Transcript available on Metacast (Encore episode) Class is back in session. We're going "back to school" to dig a little deeper on a concept you were taught in school: states of matter. Today, Emily and Maddie explore OTHER states of matter — beyond solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. Martin Zwierlein , professor of physics at Massachusetts Institute for Technology (MIT), discusses his work with ultracold quantum gases and observing superfluid states of matter.
Aug 24, 2021•12 min•Ep 470•Transcript available on Metacast 
