Short Wave
NPR
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
Episodes
Mentioned books
56 snips
Mar 6, 2026 • 8min
Teen sleep is getting wrecked by more than just phones
Scott Detrow, NPR reporter known for clear science reporting, joins to talk teen sleep, seismic science, and ancient diets. He outlines a two-decade trend of worsening teen sleep. Then he digs into new Cascadia seafloor findings on fault stress. Finally, researchers’ recreated prehistoric stews reveal surprising ingredients and flavors.
61 snips
Mar 4, 2026 • 15min
The global fallout of RFK Jr.'s vaccine policies
Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR global health correspondent who reports on vaccine policy and epidemiology. She walks through how U.S. vaccine policy shifts are affecting global programs. Short scenes cover U.S. pressure on an international vaccine alliance over thimerosal and a controversial newborn hepatitis B trial with heated ethical debate.
19 snips
Mar 3, 2026 • 13min
Will Punch the baby monkey be okay?
Lauren Robinson, a primate researcher and psychology professor, discusses Punch the macaque and his viral story. She talks about maternal abandonment and surrogate care. She explains how plush toys can help and what survival would look like in the wild. She describes macaque social hierarchies, signs of social integration, and why people tend to anthropomorphize animals.
16 snips
Mar 2, 2026 • 13min
Spring ice is thawing earlier in lakes. What does that mean for life below the surface?
Zach Feiner, a fisheries biologist in Madison who studies lake ice timing and fish, walks the ice and explains big shifts beneath the surface. He talks about wildly variable spring thaws, how mismatched algae-to-fish timing threatens walleye, and signs of warm-water species moving in. The conversation covers on-ice research methods and tough choices for managing changing fisheries.
7 snips
Feb 27, 2026 • 13min
The dangers of warming winter lakes
Justin Tooze, a Madison firefighter who trains on ice rescues, and Burley McCoy, a field reporter covering winter lake ice. They walk through festival life on frozen lakes. They explain safe vs unsafe ice, demonstrate rescue drills and immersion suits. They highlight deceptive thaw‑refreeze shelves and how warming winters shorten ice seasons and raise risk for people on the ice.
24 snips
Feb 25, 2026 • 13min
Screen time is up for grandma and grandpa
Ipsit Vahia, Chief of Geriatric Psychiatry at McLean Hospital, brings brief clinical insight into aging and technology. He talks about the surge in screen time among people over 60. He outlines how smartphones serve practical and social needs. He warns about engagement-driven harms like scams and misinformation. He highlights tech benefits like rideshares and VR therapy.
11 snips
Feb 24, 2026 • 13min
Could our trash become local fishes’ treasure?
Eva Tesfaye, a coastal reporter for WWNO who covered Alabama’s artificial reefs, digs into the Gulf’s ocean junkyard. She explores why fishermen sank cars and helicopters to attract fish. The story covers Alabama’s dense reef network, how hard structures build food webs, the economic boost to fishing and tourism, and the conflicts with shrimpers and fisheries management.
39 snips
Feb 23, 2026 • 12min
The serious hunt for alien life
James Davenport, astronomer at the University of Washington who works with the SETI Institute, talks about the evolving hunt for extraterrestrial intelligence. He traces SETI’s history from distributed volunteer projects to modern optical and infrared searches. He highlights how new telescopes and massive surveys could transform how much of the sky we can search.
62 snips
Feb 21, 2026 • 21min
The noise that isn't there
Dan Polley, a tinnitus researcher probing brain circuits behind phantom sounds, and Stéphane Maison, clinician running a tinnitus clinic, discuss why the brain creates persistent ringing. They cover hidden hearing damage, how reduced input leads the brain to amplify internal noise, why standard hearing tests can miss problems, and how therapies aim to retrain attention and distress responses.
35 snips
Feb 20, 2026 • 9min
The truth about intermittent fasting
Mary Louise Kelly, NPR journalist and All Things Considered host, joins to discuss running and the science behind it. She explores why intermittent fasting rose to fame and what large reviews say about its weight-loss claims. Conversations also cover how ultra-endurance races impact red blood cells and recovery. Short, curious, and science-focused.
