1,084 episodes

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

Short Wave Short Wave

    • Science
    • 3.7 • 3 Ratings

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

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

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    'Math In Drag' Explores The Creativity And Beauty In Numbers

    'Math In Drag' Explores The Creativity And Beauty In Numbers

    Kyne Santos was a student at the University of Waterloo when she began her math and her drag careers. She compares her double life to Hannah Montana, doing math equations at school by day and drag at night. You may already know Kyne from TikTok, where she makes educational videos about math, science, history and drag. And now, in her new book Math in Drag, Kyne explores the connections between math and drag: How both can be creative, beautiful and most of all, fun.

    Want to hear us cover more math? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy

    • 12 min
    Why The Science Of Tides Was Crucial For D-Day

    Why The Science Of Tides Was Crucial For D-Day

    June 6, 1944 the Allied Forces stormed the beaches of Normandy and took the Nazis by surprise in the largest sea-to-land invasion in history. This would be remembered as D-Day and would ultimately lead to the end of World War II in Europe. However, this planned attack wouldn't have been possible without deep knowledge of ocean tides! We get into the whole story, including why tides sit at the intersection of astronomy and marine ecology — and why understanding tides are key to a greener future.

    Want to hear us cover more science history? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy

    • 13 min
    Psychedelic treatment for PTSD faces misconduct hurdle

    Psychedelic treatment for PTSD faces misconduct hurdle

    People with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may soon have a new treatment option: MDMA, the chemical found in ecstasy. In August, the Food and Drug Administration plans to decide whether MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD will be approved for market based on years of research. But serious allegations of research misconduct may derail the approval timeline.

    NPR science reporter Will Stone talks to host Emily Kwong about the clinical trials on MDMA-assisted therapy research and a recent report questioning the validity of the results.

    Read Will's full story here.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy

    • 13 min
    A Silky Shark Named Genie Swam 17,000 Miles, a Record-Breaking Migration

    A Silky Shark Named Genie Swam 17,000 Miles, a Record-Breaking Migration

    A silky shark named Genie traveled from the Galapagos Islands out to the open ocean and back – over 17,000 miles – over the course of a year and a half. That's an average of 31 miles per day, making Genie's journey the longest recorded migration for a silky shark.

    Marine scientist Pelayo Salinas de León and his team named Genie in honor of the late marine biologist Eugenie Clark – also known as "The Shark Lady." She devoted her life to the study of sharks and to improving their reputation.

    Have another story you want us to cover? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy

    • 9 min
    A Vaginal Microbiome Transplant Could Help People With BV

    A Vaginal Microbiome Transplant Could Help People With BV

    Humans rely on our symbiotic relationship with good microbes—in the gut, the skin and ... the vagina. Fatima Aysha Hussain studies what makes a healthy vaginal microbiome. She talks to host Emily Kwong about her long-term transplant study that asks the question: Can one vagina help another through a microbe donation?

    Have a human body question? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy

    • 13 min
    With summer is approaching, here's a smarter way to use sunscreen

    With summer is approaching, here's a smarter way to use sunscreen

    Each year 84,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with melanoma. About 90% of these skin cancers are linked to the ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Sunscreen does protect the skin, but dermatologists have found six very common mistakes people make when it comes to using it. NPR science correspondent Allison Aubrey talks to host Regina G. Barber about the science behind sunscreen and how to avoid making these mistakes this summer. They also get into which sunscreens may be better than others.

    Have other science stories you want us to cover? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy

    • 12 min

Customer Reviews

3.7 out of 5
3 Ratings

3 Ratings

Sebu B. ,

Metric system episode

Why was the metric system episode in fast forward? So irritating!

Top Podcasts In Science

Utelias mieli
Helsingin yliopisto
Tiedekulma podcast
Helsingin yliopisto
Making Sense with Sam Harris
Sam Harris
Dumma Människor
Acast - Lina Thomsgård och Björn Hedensjö
Kasvatuspsykologiaa kaikille!
Katja Upadyaya (Helsingin yliopisto)
Navigating Neuropsychology
John Bellone & Ryan Van Patten - NavNeuro

You Might Also Like

Consider This from NPR
NPR
The Indicator from Planet Money
NPR
Up First
NPR
Throughline
NPR
Planet Money
NPR
Hidden Brain
Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

More by NPR

The NPR Politics Podcast
NPR
Planet Money
NPR
Fresh Air
NPR
The Indicator from Planet Money
NPR
Up First
NPR
Tiny Desk Concerts - Audio
NPR