Short Wave

NPR
  • 4.8 (51)
  • LIFE SCIENCES
  • UPDATED DAILY
Short Wave
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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.If you're hooked, try Short Wave Plus. Your subscription supports the show and unlocks a sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/shortwave

  1. Picking Up Cosmic Vibrations

    18 HRS AGO

    Picking Up Cosmic Vibrations

    A pivotal week in Corey Gray's life began with a powwow in Alberta and culminated with a piece of history: The first-ever detection of gravitational waves from the collision of two neutron stars. Corey was on the graveyard shift at LIGO, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory in Hanford, Washington, when the historic signal came. This episode, Corey talks about the discovery, the "Gravitational Wave Grass Dance Special" that preceded it and how he got his Blackfoot name. (encore) Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    14 min
  2. A Better Life For Trafficked Turtles

    2 DAYS AGO

    A Better Life For Trafficked Turtles

    In North-Central New Jersey, there is a backyard teeming with around 200 turtles. Many of these shelled creatures have been rescued from the smuggling trade and are now being nursed back to health in order to hopefully be returned to the wild. Science reporter Ari Daniel joins host Regina G. Barber to tell the story behind one man's efforts to care for these turtles and to ensure they have a chance at another (better) life. Read more of Ari's reporting. Have an idea for a future episode? We'd love to know — email us at shortwave@npr.org! Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    12 min
  3. Elections Are One Big Math Problem

    3 DAYS AGO

    Elections Are One Big Math Problem

    It's Election Day in the United States. Across the nation, millions of ballots are being cast. But what would happen if the rules of our electoral system were changed? Certain states are about to find out. This year, several places have alternative voting systems up for consideration on their ballots, and those systems could set an example for voting reform throughout the rest of the country. Short Wave producer Hannah Chinn and host Emily Kwong dive into three voting methods that are representative of those systems: Where they've been implemented, how they work, and what they might mean for elections in the future. What to hear more about the math powering our lives? Email us at shortwave@npr.org and we might cover your idea on a future episode! Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    16 min
  4. Did Life Start In Hydrothermal Vents?

    4 DAYS AGO

    Did Life Start In Hydrothermal Vents?

    How did life start on Earth? The answer is a big scientific mystery scientists are actively investigating. After talking with many scientists, host Regina G. Barber found that an abundance of water on Earth is most likely key, in some way, to the origin of life — specifically, in either deep sea hydrothermal vents or in tide pools. It's for this reason some scientists are also exploring the potential for life in so-called "water worlds" elsewhere in the solar system, like some of the moons of Jupiter and Saturn. This episode, Regina digs into two water-related hypotheses for the origin on life on Earth — and what that might mean for possible alien life. Have another scientific mystery you want us to cover on a future episode? Email us at shortwave@npr.org — we might feature your idea on a future episode! Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    14 min
  5. The Best (And Oldest) Tadpole Ever Discovered

    1 NOV

    The Best (And Oldest) Tadpole Ever Discovered

    For years, we've been asking, "Which came first: the chicken or the egg?" Maybe what we should have been asking is, "Which came first: the frog or the tadpole?" A new paper in the journal Nature details the oldest known tadpole fossil. Ringing in 20 million years earlier than scientists previously had evidence of, this fossil might get us closer to an answer. Have another scientific discovery you want us to cover on a future episode? Email us at shortwave@npr.org — we might feature your idea on a future episode! Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    10 min
  6. The Sound Of Fear: Why Do Animals Scream?

    30 OCT

    The Sound Of Fear: Why Do Animals Scream?

    NOTE: This episode contains multiple high-pitched noises (human and other animals) that some listeners might find startling or distressing. In this episode, host Regina G. Barber and NPR correspondent Nate Rott dive into the science behind the sound of fear. Along the way, they find out what marmot shrieks, baby cries and horror movie soundtracks have in common — and what all of this tells us about ourselves. If you like this episode, check out our episode on fear and horror movies. Curious about other science powering the human experience? Email us at shortwave@npr.org and we might cover your topic on a future episode! Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    14 min
  7. Embracing Death: Why We Age

    29 OCT

    Embracing Death: Why We Age

    Humans have seen a significant increase in life expectancy over the past 200 years — but not in overall lifespan. Nobody on record has lived past 122 years. So, for this early Halloween episode, host Regina G. Barber asks: Why do we age and why do we die? Microbiologist Venki Ramakrishnan explains some of the mechanisms inside of our bodies that contribute to our decay — and tells us if it's possible to intervene in the process. Curious about other biology news? Email us at shortwave@npr.org and we might cover your topic on a future episode! Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    16 min
  8. Honey, They Cloned The Apples!

    28 OCT

    Honey, They Cloned The Apples!

    What's your favorite apple? Maybe it's the crowd-pleasing Honeycrisp, the tart Granny Smith or the infamous Red Delicious. Either way, before that apple made it to your local grocery store or orchard it had to be invented — by a scientist. So today, we're going straight to the source: Talking to an apple breeder. Producer Hannah Chinn reports how apples are selected, bred, grown ... and the discoveries that could change that process. Plus, what's a "spitter"? Want to know how science impacts other food you eat? Email us at shortwave@npr.org and we might cover your food of choice on a future episode! Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    16 min
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Hosts & Guests

4.8
out of 5
51 Ratings

About

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.If you're hooked, try Short Wave Plus. Your subscription supports the show and unlocks a sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/shortwave

Information

  • Creator
    NPR
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2024
  • Episodes
    1.2K
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2019-2021 NPR - For Personal Use Only
  • Show Website
    Short Wave
  • Provider
    NPR

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