Why you'll probably be misdiagnosed in your lifetime
Nearly every person will experience at least one diagnostic error in their lifetime. That means either a delayed diagnosis, a wrong diagnosi...
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Science & Medicine
Short Wave
New discoveries, everyday mysteries, and the science behind the headlines — all in about 10 minutes, every weekday. It's science for everyone, using a lot of creativity and a little humor. J...
Episodes
20 of 1,558 episodes
Should race affect BMI guidelines? Doctors are split
BMI is a quick, cheap way for doctors to estimate body fat and screen for conditions like heart disease and diabetes. But medicine has long...
How scientists discovered that animals are doctors, too
When people are sick, we seek out medications and treatments to help heal. For a long time, scientists thought that was a uniquely human abi...
Lindsay Clancy and postpartum psychosis
The trial around Lindsay Clancy may be over for now, but it still leaves us with questions. On today’s episode, we talk to psychiatrists and...
How hurricanes triggered lizard evolution
Hurricane season is upon us and it turns out that these powerful storms can quickly affect the biology of animals. After hurricanes Irma and...
When is your brain actually 'adult'?
Summer is winding down and school is back. And all of that has us thinking about this idea that something happens in the human brain when we...
A new investigation shows heat is even deadlier than we thought
Hot weather isn’t just an inconvenience. It’s killing thousands more Americans than show up in official records. That’s the finding from a n...
The science of emotional regulation — and how to do it better
Do you ever feel like your emotions control you instead of you controlling them? Maybe you lash out at someone after a long day at work or i...
What can seashells teach us about the health of our oceans?
Seashells: They're beautiful remnants to carry home from the beach—and so much more! According to environmental journalist Cynthia Barnett ,...
Football is here – and so is a new study on CTE
The NFL season begins this week, but America’s favorite sport has been on our minds for other reasons recently. New research released in the...
NASA's newest telescope has a top secret past
The new Nancy Grace Roman space telescope is slated to launch this weekend . It was originally built for the National Reconnaissance Office...
How your metabolism could alter your mental health
In 2009, medical student Shebani Sethi watched a patient in a weight loss program make a remarkable recovery. The dietary intervention she u...
AI-made viruses could be the future of medicine
The era of AI-generated viruses is here. Some scientists are using AI to design viruses that can attack bacteria. The hope is that these tai...
How much has the U.S.’s wildlife changed since Lewis and Clark?
Ever wish you could have been part of the Lewis and Clark expedition? Us too. The Corps of Discovery came across scores of plants and animal...
Why scientists are stoked about mysterious black hole stars
You've heard of black holes. You've heard of stars. But have you heard of the newly discovered black hole stars that may explain multiple my...
More men are taking testosterone. What gives?
If you’re a guy – or even just friends with a guy – and on the Internet, you may have noticed that testosterone discourse is everywhere . Th...
A survivor's view from inside a tornado
What’s the dumbest thing Perry Samson says he’s ever done? Getting caught inside a tornado. But when you’re an atmospheric scientist who stu...
Could future wars be fought by AI?
This year, the Department of Defense announced that they’d entered agreements with eight artificial intelligence companies. It follows decad...
Inside Colombia's big quake – and why more could be coming
The 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck Columbia was devastating. Host Regina Barber talks to earthquake geologist Rodrigo Alejandro Leon L...
How to see the year's best meteor shower tonight
Right now the best shooting star show of the year is happening: the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. People have been viewing this annual...