Science · News · Life Sciences
by 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. 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.
Short Wave explores a significant gap in ADHD diagnosis: the exclusion of emotional dysregulation from the DSM diagnostic criteria, despite clinical recognition of this symptom since the 1970s. The episode features Dr. Sasha Hamdani, who discusses her book "Too Sensitive" and explains the neuroscience behind Rejection…
Worth it if you have ADHD, suspect you might, or are interested in how diagnostic criteria get shaped by measurement convenience rather than clinical reality.
Short Wave tackles the nuanced question of screen time's effects on young people's brain development, challenging the prevailing narrative that all screen time is harmful. The episode features an interview with the author of a study that found a positive relationship between screen time and brain development—a…
Worth it if you're a parent or educator tired of one-sided screen-time warnings and want evidence-based perspective on what actually matters.
Short Wave explores white nose syndrome, a fungal disease devastating little brown bat populations across the U.S. over the past decade, bringing some colonies to near extinction. The episode centers on recent research by conservation biologist Giorgia Auteri and her team, who discovered genetic mutations in bats that…
Worth it if you're interested in wildlife conservation, evolutionary biology, or how natural selection operates in real-time ecological crises.
Short Wave's 10-minute episode explores a recent scientific finding that eating alone may cause blood sugar spikes compared to eating socially with others. The episode frames this discovery within the broader context of social eating's health benefits—lower stress, decreased inflammation, and even increased…
Worth it if you enjoy bite-sized science news about health and social behavior and don't need deep technical detail.
Short Wave's 14-minute episode explores the surprising frequency of new species discoveries on Earth, prompted by the recent announcement of a newly identified cat species—the first in over a century. The episode features John Wiens, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona, who…
Worth it if you enjoy bite-sized science news that connects current events (the cat discovery) to broader questions about biodiversity and want a quick, engaging introduction to how much life remains unknown on Earth.
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Short Wave tackles the inflammation hype cycle that dominates wellness social media. The episode brings on immunologist Shruti Naik to fact-check viral claims about inflammation as a catch-all explanation for bloating, fatigue, digestive issues, and serious diseases like Alzheimer's and cardiovascular disease. The…
Worth it if you're tired of inflammation claims flooding your social media and want a quick, expert-backed reality check on what's actually scientifically sound.
Short Wave tackles a deceptively simple autumn question: why do some leaves turn red in fall while others turn yellow? The episode, reported by NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce, explains the basic mechanism behind leaf color change. Yellow and orange pigments (carotenoids and xanthophyll) are present in…
Worth it if you enjoy bite-sized seasonal science mysteries that reframe everyday observations through a scientific lens.
Short Wave's 13-minute episode tackles the phenomenon of a 'Super El Niño' or 'Godzilla El Niño'—terms used to describe an exceptionally strong El Niño event expected to impact global weather patterns. The episode explains what El Niño actually is and its historical effects: flooding in parts of the U.S., droughts and…
Worth it if you want a quick, understandable primer on El Niño and its connection to climate change without needing technical expertise.
Short Wave examines the resurgence of measles across multiple U.S. states, featuring epidemiologist Michael Mina to explain the current outbreak landscape and epidemic risk. The episode opens with the concrete reality: documented hundreds of cases concentrated in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah,…
Worth it if you want a quick, expert-backed update on measles resurgence and epidemic risk without getting lost in political debate.
This 13-minute Short Wave episode is a repurposed segment from NPR's Life Kit podcast featuring psychologist Marisa Franco discussing the science of self-worth from her book "Worth." The core premise centers on how memories shape current self-esteem and, crucially, how listeners have agency to reshape those memories…
Worth it if you're curious about psychology, self-esteem, or Marisa Franco's work and want a quick introduction before diving into her book or the full Life Kit episode.
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Short Wave's 'Why we should all be bookmaxxing' is an 11-minute episode exploring the cognitive and health benefits of recreational reading. The episode centers on a comprehensive research review published in Psychological Medicine, led by Christelle Langley, a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Cambridge.…
Worth it if you want a quick, science-backed reminder of reading's cognitive and mental health benefits, or if you're curious about recent neuroscience research on recreational reading habits.
Short Wave's 15-minute episode tackles the recent surge in AI safety concerns following high-profile events: a researcher's public resignation from Anthropic over accelerating AI capabilities and alleged irresponsible behavior, followed by calls from both Anthropic and OpenAI leadership for an industry-wide,…
Worth it if you want a quick, current overview of recent AI safety concerns and want to understand whether the latest headlines justify the hype.
Short Wave revisits the role of grid-scale battery storage in renewable energy infrastructure, focusing on California's rapidly expanding battery capacity. The episode features Cooper Katz McKim from The Indicator (Planet Money) as a guest to discuss how batteries are becoming critical infrastructure for storing…
Worth it if you're new to renewable energy storage challenges and want a quick, accessible introduction to how batteries are scaling up in California.
Short Wave explores diagnostic error—a widespread but often overlooked medical problem—through the lens of a 2015 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine report finding that nearly every person will experience at least one diagnostic mistake in their lifetime. This can take the form of delayed…
Worth it if you're interested in healthcare systems, patient safety, or want a quick, accessible introduction to diagnostic error as a widespread medical issue.
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