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PODCAST

Short Wave

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. Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org. You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including sponsor-free listening for Short Wave.

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All Episodes

13:50

Animal Slander! The Origins Of "Badgering" Will Bum...

Short Wave ·

2021/05/14

It's the latest installment of our series, "Animal Slander," where we take a common saying about animals and see what truth there is to it. The case before the Short Wave court today: "badgering." We look at the dark origins of the word and explore the wild world of badger biology with University of Oxford scientist Tanesha Allen.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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13:56

In The Pandemic, Children Face A Mental Health Crisis

Short Wave ·

2021/05/13

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the proportion of emergency department visits by children in mental health crises went up significantly during the pandemic — about 30% for kids ages 12-17 and 24% for children ages 5-11 between March and October of last year, compared to 2019. For psychiatrists like Dr. Nicole Christian-Brathwaite, this is evident in her practice and personal life. We talk to her about how this past year has taken a toll on children and their mental

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13:05

SCOOP: There's A Dirt Shortage

Short Wave ·

2021/05/12

Mud and dirt have often been treated as waste products from excavation or dredging sites. But these days, coastal communities need massive amounts of mud and dirt to protect their shorelines from rising seas. This is leading to a dirt shortage, where the demand for it is higher than supply. NPR climate correspondent Lauren Sommer gives us the scoop — including why one federal agency that has dirt often disposes of it instead of reusing it for these projects.Learn more about sponsor message choices:

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11:14

Pediatricians Work To Persuade Parents And Teens To...

Short Wave ·

2021/05/11

Some colleges and universities have announced that COVID vaccination will be mandatory (with some exemptions) and the FDA has authorized the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 12 to 15. While coronavirus infections are declining in the United States, vaccination rates also appear to be slowing down, so pediatricians and public health officials say they're trying to spread the word to overcome hesitancy, and get the vaccine out to people where they go to school and shop. Emily talks with NPR

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12:14

The Past, Present and Future of mRNA Vaccines

Short Wave ·

2021/05/10

The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are the first authorized vaccines in history to use mRNA technology. The pandemic might've set the stage for their debut, but mRNA vaccines have been in the works for more than 30 years. Host Maddie Sofia chats with Dr. Margaret Liu, a physician and board chair of the International Society for Vaccines, about the history and science behind these groundbreaking vaccines. We'll also ask, what we can expect from mRNA vaccines in the future?Have a

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13:31

'Everyone I Know Has Lost Someone': An Update From India

Short Wave ·

2021/05/07

The numbers are staggering. India has been reporting more than 300,000 COVID-19 cases each day for the past two weeks, and recently topped more than 400,000 cases in a single day, a global record. Many more cases are likely unreported. NPR International Correspondent Lauren Frayer shares the latest from India. Email the show at shortwave@npr.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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11:23

A Fragile X Treatment May Be On The Horizon

Short Wave ·

2021/05/06

Katie Clapp and Michael Tranfaglia's son was born with a genetic disorder that affects brain development. It makes it hard to learn language and basic daily tasks and often is accompanied by a host of other disorders. To help find a cure, they started a foundation and raised research money. After several setbacks, one treatment is showing promise. NPR neuroscience reporter Jon Hamilton tells Emily Kwong the story.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy

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8:12

Why Some Countries Have Low Vaccination Rates

Short Wave ·

2021/05/05

We've been talking a lot about COVID in the US. Now, we want to look at how things are going in some other countries. NPR's correspondents — Jason Beaubien, Phil Reeves, and Anthony Kuhn — talk with Morning Edition's Noel King about why most of the world is struggling to get even a small percentage of their population vaccinated.Have questions about the latest coronavirus headlines? Email us at shortwave@npr.org and we might cover it on a future episode.Learn more about sponsor message choices:

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12:53

A Vaccination Update And The CDC's Latest Guidance On...

Short Wave ·

2021/05/04

The rate of vaccination in the U.S. continues to slow. Maddie Sofia talks with NPR health correspondent Allison Aubrey about that and what can be done to get more people vaccinated. Also, making sense of the CDC's latest mask guidance. Have questions about the latest coronavirus headlines? Email us at shortwave@npr.org and we might cover it on a future episode.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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13:38

Burnout: The Crisis Plaguing Health Care Workers

Short Wave ·

2021/05/03

Today, NPR's mental health correspondent Rhitu Chatterjee guests hosts Short Wave. She talks to Dr. Arghavan Salles about burnout among health care workers — what it looks like, what it's doing to the mental health of doctors and nurses and how institutions can address it. Have a scientific question you can't stop thinking about? Drop us a line at shortwave@npr.org — we'd love to hear it.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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9:26

The Viral TikTok Explaining mRNA Vaccines With ......

Short Wave ·

2021/04/30

We at Short Wave are sometimes a little too aware of how difficult it can be to explain science to a general audience. So when we came across Vick Krishna's viral TikTok breaking down how the mRNA vaccine works, we were impressed and immediately like, "We've got to get him on the show!" Today's that show. Vick breaks down the inspiration, the science and his newfound responsibility as an accidental science communicator.Know someone else bringing science to the masses? Send us an email at

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13:56

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster: 10 Years Later

Short Wave ·

2021/04/29

In 2011, villages and towns around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear plant in Japan were evacuated because of a series of meltdowns caused by a tsunami. Ten years later, some of the villages and towns are slowly reopening. Geoff Brumfiel talks with producer Kat Lonsdorf about the Fukushima nuclear accident, its lasting effects on Japan, and the future of nuclear power. You can read and listen to more of Kat's reporting about Fukushima and Japan here.Learn more about sponsor message choices:

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16:59

5 Ways To Cut Carbon Emissions At Home

Short Wave ·

2021/04/28

Feeling green? If you'd like to do something to slow down climate change, even if it's just a small thing, you can get started in your own apartment or house. With the help of our friends over at Life Kit, NPR correspondent Dan Charles shares five ways to cut carbon emissions in your own home. This episode was adapted from an earlier Life Kit. To hear the full version, check out npr.org/lifekit.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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11:15

The U.S. Vaccination Rate Continues To Slow

Short Wave ·

2021/04/27

Short Wave's Emily Kwong talks with NPR health correspondent Allison Aubrey about some of the latest coronavirus news, including the return of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the U.S. and vaccine outreach in harder to reach communities.Have questions about the latest coronavirus headlines? Email us at shortwave@npr.org and we might cover it on a future episode.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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11:35

A 142-Year-Old Science Seed Caper

Short Wave ·

2021/04/26

On April 15, at four o'clock in the morning, a small group of scientists found their way to a secret location. A light wintry mix of rain and snow was falling. The lousy weather was a relief because it meant even less of a chance that someone might randomly pass by.Today on the show, NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce unearths why a new generation of scientists is digging up seeds under the cover of night buried 142 years ago.Learn more about sponsor message choices:

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13:45

U.S. Renews Its Commitment To Addressing Climate Change

Short Wave ·

2021/04/23

President Biden is hosting dozens of world leaders for a virtual climate summit on Thursday and Friday. The administration is trying to regain ground lost by pulling out of the Paris climate agreement during the Trump administration. The Biden team is promising dramatic cuts in greenhouse gas emissions in the next several decades. Rhitu Chatterjee talks with NPR climate reporters Rebecca Hersher and Lauren Sommer.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy

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13:44

Medicine And The Horseshoe Crab

Short Wave ·

2021/04/22

Horseshoe crabs have been around for 450 million years — nearly unchanged. And their blood has helped the medical world make some fascinating discoveries. Emily Kwong talks with Ariela Zebede about these living fossils and their role in making medicine safer. Get in touch! You can email Short Wave at ShortWave@npr.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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11:16

Micro Wave: Why Hair Turns Gray

Short Wave ·

2021/04/21

Why does hair turn gray? Stress? Age? Genetics? We turn to dermatologist Dr. Jenna Lester for answers.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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12:56

Half Of U.S. Adults Have Gotten A Vaccine — But...

Short Wave ·

2021/04/20

Today, NPR Health Correspondent Allison Aubrey offers perspective on how to think about the latest coronavirus news. On one hand, half of U.S. adults have been vaccinated and as of this week, everyone 16 years old and up is eligible to be vaccinated. At the same time, the administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been paused and many are still hesitant to get vaccinated.Coronavirus on your mind? Email us at shortwave@npr.org — with your questions about the latest developments.Learn more

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13:13

A Classroom Where Math And Community Intersect

Short Wave ·

2021/04/19

When you think of mathematicians, do you think of lone geniuses scribbling away at complex equations? This myth is one mathematician Ranthony Edmonds actively tries to dispel in her classroom as a post-doc at The Ohio State University. Instead, Ranthony focuses on the community aspects of math — the support systems behind each mathematician and the benefits of a collaborative, inclusive environment for math innovation. Think we should consider math more? Let us know by emailing

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1,540 results

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