Do you ever feel better after walking down a street that's lined with lush, green trees? You're not alone! For decades, researchers have been studying the effects of nature on human health and the verdict is clear: time spent among the trees seems to make us less prone to disease, more resistant to infection and happier overall. Aaron Scott talks with environmental psychologist Ming Kuo about why we need greenery and how you can bring more of it into your life. Learn more about sponsor message c...
Jun 21, 2022•12 min•Ep 679•Transcript available on Metacast Hi Short Wavers, The team is off today in continued commemoration of Juneteenth, a holiday honoring the freedom of all Americans, by marking the emancipation of enslaved Americans in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865. We'll be back tomorrow with more Short Wave, from NPR. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jun 20, 2022•19 sec•Ep 678•Transcript available on Metacast Cylita Guy was a curious child who enjoyed exploring the beaches, parks and animals that shared her hometown of Toronto, Canada. She's an urban ecologist interested in city-dwelling bats. Cylita talks to guest host Lauren Sommer about the importance of studying wildlife in cities and about her children's book, Chasing Bats and Tracking Rats: Urban Ecology, Community Science and How We Share Our Cities. (Encore) Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Po...
Jun 17, 2022•13 min•Ep 677•Transcript available on Metacast The Uvalde school shooting has renewed questions of how to prevent the next shooting. For many who've opened fire in schools, the path to violence has common traits. A growing number of schools are adopting an evidence-based approach to preventing violence on their campuses. The plan recognizes that a student contemplating violence is a student in crisis. Today, a look at that plan in action: how a school district in Oregon has been turning troubled youth away from violence for nearly two decade...
Jun 16, 2022•14 min•Ep 676•Transcript available on Metacast For decades, U.S. astronauts and Russian cosmonauts have lived side-by-side aboard the International Space Station. Host Aaron Scott talks with Science Correspondent Geoff Brumfiel about how a war on planet Earth is changing life in space and what those changes say about the limits of science as a tool for diplomacy. For more of Geoff's reporting, check out " Russia's war in Ukraine is threatening an outpost of cooperation in space ." You can follow Aaron on Twitter @AaronScottNPR and Geoff @GBr...
Jun 15, 2022•13 min•Ep 675•Transcript available on Metacast Political polarization is affecting Americans' health, according to a new study. Researchers find higher levels of premature death in Republican-leaning counties compared to those in Democratic-leaning ones. The higher mortality in GOP counties is across the board – everything from heart disease to suicide. Allison Aubrey talks to Emily Kwong about what may be causing these disparities. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jun 14, 2022•10 min•Ep 674•Transcript available on Metacast What's the most versatile pan in the kitchen? According to chef and cookbook author J. Kenji López-Alt , it's the wok! And along with spices, he sprinkles science explainers into his writing. Today's episode is just that — the science of the wok in action. He and host Emily Kwong talk about how to choose, season and cook with one, and why its unique shape makes it so versatile. Plus, we hear how Emily fared cooking one of Kenji's dishes from his new cookbook The Wok . Learn more about sponsor me...
Jun 13, 2022•13 min•Ep 673•Transcript available on Metacast Sex can be a nerve-racking experience no matter what. That's especially true if you have no clue what to do, and since LGBTQ+ topics are often left out of the conversation in school sex ed classes, many queer people know this feeling well. Life Kit spoke with sexuality educators to understand what sex education could look like for queer students and the importance of including everybody in the discussions. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jun 10, 2022•25 min•Ep 672•Transcript available on Metacast As a kid, Ariana Remmel had a hard time figuring out where they fit in. They found comfort in the certainty and understanding of what the world was made of: atoms and molecules and the periodic table of elements. Years later, Ari went on to become a chemist and science writer. On today's show, Ari talks with host Maddie Sofia about how chemistry has helped them embrace their mixed identities. For more, read Ari's recent essay in Catapult Magazine : https://catapult.co/stories/ariana-remmel-essay...
Jun 09, 2022•13 min•Ep 671•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...
Jun 08, 2022•15 min•Ep 670•Transcript available on Metacast Kyne is the stage name of Kyne Santos , a math communicator and a drag queen. The former Canada's Drag Race contestant posted her first video explaining a math riddle in full drag on TikTok during the pandemic. Since then, Kyne's videos, under the username @onlinekyne, have have attracted 1.3 million followers and generated 40.7 million likes. Kyne talks to host Emily Kwong about bringing STEM to the drag scene. (Encore) Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR ...
Jun 07, 2022•15 min•Ep 669•Transcript available on Metacast Tam O'Shaughnessy and Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, met as kids in the early 1960s and developed an instant connection. Years later, they fell in love. They also were dedicated to STEM education and founded Sally Ride Science in 2001, a company focused on equity and inclusion in science education. Tam talks about this, and her relationship with Sally Ride, with Maddie Sofia. (encore) Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jun 06, 2022•15 min•Ep 668•Transcript available on Metacast Today, we're passing the mic to our friends at It's Been A Minute. Recently, they dug into how the anticipated repeal of Roe v. Wade will affect broader privacy issues. Will tech platforms continue to provide the same information, in states where the procedure is outlawed? What risk does your digital footprint create, if you seek information about abortion or other reproductive health care? Guest host Elise Hu talks it out with Rachel Cohen, senior policy reporter at Vox News, and Lil Kalish fro...
Jun 03, 2022•12 min•Ep 667•Transcript available on Metacast How do you make the perfect stir-fry chicken without drying it out? Today, we answer that question with cookbook author and chef J. Kenji López-Alt and science! Host Emily Kwong talks to Scientist-In-Residence Regina G. Barber about velveting, a technique used to seal in moisture during high heat cooking. Then, some listener mail! If you're hungry for more food-based episodes, check out our TASTE BUDDIES series . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy ...
Jun 02, 2022•10 min•Ep 666•Transcript available on Metacast Parkland, Fla. Buffalo, NY. Uvalde, Texas. Every mass shooting in the U.S. raises calls for better policies to prevent such tragedies. There's evidence suggesting that certain kinds of laws may reduce deaths from mass shootings, say scientists who study the field — but those policy options are not the ones usually discussed in the wake of these events. Furthermore, the amount of resources devoted to studying gun violence is paltry compared to its public health impact. Learn more about sponsor me...
Jun 01, 2022•13 min•Ep 665•Transcript available on Metacast Recent rule changes have increased access to abortion pills through the mail, using telehealth services. As many U.S. states gear up to restrict abortion access in anticipation of the Supreme Court possibly overturning Roe v. Wade , the medical professionals behind these services are preparing for an even bigger surge in demand. Groups that provide abortion pills are also preparing to face significant new obstacles, as anti-abortion states push back against expanded online access. Both patients ...
May 31, 2022•14 min•Ep 664•Transcript available on Metacast The first all-black team of climbers reached the summit of Mount Everest last week, including the first Kenyan ever to do so. Today on the show Short Wave Host Aaron Scott talks with Science Reporter Ari Daniel about his interview with James Kagambi, a snow-loving, 62-year-old with a bum knee who made the trek despite his doctor's orders. You can follow Aaron on Twitter @AaronScottNPR and Ari on Instagram @mesoplodon_ . Email Short Wave at ShortWave@NPR.org . Learn more about sponsor message cho...
May 27, 2022•11 min•Ep 663•Transcript available on Metacast Is your border collie a lethargic couch potato? Is your golden retriever bad with kids? Is your German shepherd too timid to guard your home? Turns out, there may be good reason why your pooch doesn't act as expected. Regina G. Barber talks with writer Katie Wu about the science of dog breeds, including how much a dog's personality is linked to breed. (Hint: less than you might think!) Got personal stories of your dog breaking its behavioral mold? Share with us at shortwave@npr.org. Learn more a...
May 26, 2022•13 min•Ep 662•Transcript available on Metacast Depending how the Supreme Court votes on a pending case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization , many pregnant people may lose the right to seek an abortion in their state. Host Emily Kwong talks to research scientist Liza Fuentes about the shifting reality of abortion as health care — and how the states with the greatest restrictions generally invest the least in maternal and children's health. Today is part two of Emily and Liza's conversation. Listen to part one of Emily and Liza's con...
May 25, 2022•12 min•Ep 661•Transcript available on Metacast Abortion access has been leading political news in recent weeks. But what happens when we look at abortion as a health care tool that betters public health? Today, Emily talks to Liza Fuentes , a Senior Research Scientist at the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that focuses on sexual and reproductive health. Fuentes says abortion access is an important part of health care for a community and losing access can exacerbate income and health inequalities. Learn more about sponsor messag...
May 24, 2022•12 min•Ep 660•Transcript available on Metacast Growing up, Jada Yuan didn't realize how famous her grandmother was in the world of physics. In this episode, Jada talks to Emily about the life of physicist Chien-Shiung Wu, whom Jada got to know much better while writing the article Discovering Dr. Wu for the Washington Post, where she is a reporter covering culture and politics. Check out part one in which Emily talks to Short Wave's scientist-in-residence about how Chien-Shiung Wu altered physics. She made a landmark discovery in 1956 about ...
May 23, 2022•15 min•Ep 659•Transcript available on Metacast In the 1950's, a particle physicist made a landmark discovery that changed what was known about how the universe operates. Chien-Shiung Wu did it while raising a family and an ocean away from her relatives in China. Short Wave's Scientist-In-Residence Regina Barber joins host Emily Kwong to talk about that landmark discovery—what it meant for the physics world, and what it means to Regina personally as a woman and a Chinese and Mexican American in physics. Email the show at shortwave@npr.org. Le...
May 20, 2022•13 min•Ep 658•Transcript available on Metacast Love the bitter bite of dark chocolate, leafy greens or black licorice? Your genetics may be the reason why. Today on the show, host Aaron Scott talks to scientist Masha Niv about how our bitter taste buds work and how a simple taste test can predict your tolerance for some bitter things. Plus, what bitter receptors elsewhere in the body have to do with your health. To listen to more episodes about how we taste, check out our TASTE BUDDIES series : https://n.pr/3LkXOh7 Learn more about sponsor m...
May 19, 2022•13 min•Ep 657•Transcript available on Metacast Apps can be a great way to stay on top of your health. They let users keep track of things like exercise, mental health, the quality of their skin, and even menstrual cycles. But health researchers Giulia De Togni and Andrea Ford have found that many of these health apps also have a dark side — selling your most personal data to third parties like advertisers, insurers and tech companies. Emily talks to the researchers about the commodification of data, and their suggestions for increasing the s...
May 18, 2022•15 min•Ep 656•Transcript available on Metacast Any hour now, the U.S. is expected to officially mark one million lives lost to the COVID-19 pandemic. Health correspondent Allison Aubrey shares how this misinformation first entered the parenting world--and how some are fighting back. Email the show at ShortWave@NPR.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
May 17, 2022•9 min•Ep 655•Transcript available on Metacast Today on Short Wave, researcher Fatima Aysha Hussain talks to host Emily Kwong about how microbes in the vagina can impact health and how transplanting vaginal microbiomes from one vagina to another could help people managing bacterial vaginosis. To learn more about the vaginal microbiome transplant study, visit https://motifstudy.org/. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
May 16, 2022•14 min•Ep 654•Transcript available on Metacast If the U.S. Supreme Court rules in line with the draft decision leaked in early May, the decision to reverse Roe v. Wade affect a much broader group than people who get pregnant. But research shows abortion restrictions have a disproportionate impact on young women, poor women and especially those in communities of color. NPR health correspondent Yuki Noguchi talks to Short Wave scientist-in-residence Regina G. Barber about how this ruling would affect those women and how groups helping them get...
May 13, 2022•12 min•Ep 653•Transcript available on Metacast In 1992, diplomats and scientists at the United Nations negotiated the first-ever treaty intended to tackle the climate change. This brought the issue to the forefront and led to a series of conferences that have occurred almost every year for the next 30 years. Short Wave host Emily Kwong talks to freelance climate reporter, Dan Charles about how those at the conference wrote a clear and ambitious goal that they didn't even fully understand. Plus — why it rattled the fossil fuel industry. This ...
May 12, 2022•13 min•Ep 652•Transcript available on Metacast In 1992, diplomats and scientists at the United Nations negotiated the first-ever treaty intended to tackle the scientific phenomenon now known as climate change. This brought the issue to the forefront and led to a series of conferences that would occur almost every year for the next 30 years. Short Wave host Emily Kwong talks to freelance climate reporter, Dan Charles , about how those at the conference wrote a clear and ambitious goal that they didn't even fully understand. Email the show at ...
May 11, 2022•14 min•Ep 651•Transcript available on Metacast Stephanie was usually careful about her health and regular vaccinations. But then she got into sharing conspiracy-filled videos and fringe ideas. When COVID hit, misinformation put her and her husband at risk. Science correspondent and editor Geoff Brumfiel shares with Emily Kwong what he learned in reporting Stephanie's story. You can follow Emily on Twitter @EmilyKwong1234 and Geoff at @GBrumfiel . Email Short Wave at ShortWave@NPR.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices...
May 10, 2022•14 min•Ep 650•Transcript available on Metacast 
