Want to spend a year living in NASA's Mars simulation?
Have you ever wanted to be an astronaut without risking your life in space? If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you. NASA is calling...
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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...
Short Wave Podcast Guide
Listen to Short Wave, a Science & Medicine podcast by NPR. Stream 1,530 episodes in English, follow new audio stories, and play episodes online on Radio and Podcast.
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Are extreme wildfires the new normal?
With parts of the U.S, Canada, Spain and France all ablaze with wildfires, you might be wondering: Are wildfires on the rise? If so, know th...
A cooler of eggs and a bold plan to save leopard sharks
Leopard sharks have nearly vanished from the waters in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. The country is one of the largest shark fishing nations in the...
Could this nasal spray replace all your vaccines one day?
There’s the flu vaccine. The covid shot. The RSV shot… What if all of these—and more—could be combined into one universal vaccine? That’s wh...
The problem with modern avocados — and the ancient solution
Did you know that when you pick up avocados at the supermarket, make avocado toast at home or order guacamole in your burrito, you’re probab...
Does the science of peptides live up to the hype?
Synthetic peptides are getting some serious hype, from fitness influencers on your FYP to people seeking new options for chronic conditions....
Cyclosporiasis: the science, risks and red flags
What’s small, round and could give you explosive diarrhea? Cyclospora parasites. The diarrheal disease they cause is wreaking havoc on thous...
Are Trump and AI driving a nuclear power boom?
A race started by President Trump is leading to the rapid construction of new, experimental nuclear reactors. If they work, they could power...
Why did designing the World Cup pitches take eight years?
Yamal and Messi aren’t the only stars of the World Cup finals. If you’ve been watching any of the games, you’ve probably stared directly at...
Our favorite brains, including Einstein's stolen one
At Short Wave, we love a good brain. Which is why we’ve had a lot of conversations over the years with NPR’s neuroscience reporter, Jon Hami...
What's this super-aging butterfly’s longevity secret?
What if there were a great ape species that could live over 1,000 years? That’s basically Heliconius in the butterfly world. The insects liv...
How should we decide who, or what, is conscious?
In the age of AI, what differentiates humans from robots? What makes humans … human? To find answers, many people are studying consciousness...
Plot twist: We're probably way undercounting insects on Earth
Maybe you’ve wondered about it late at night as a mosquito buzzes in your ear. Or when you kick over a rock and watch dozens of little critt...
NASA's race against time to rescue a falling satellite
A valuable NASA satellite observatory is falling to Earth faster than scientists expected. It’s called the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, o...
Could this anti-aging dog pill lead to one for you too?
Every dog lover’s greatest fear is inevitably losing their pet to time. We want our furry pals to stick around as long as they can. That wis...
Sky Uber? Air taxis could be here soon.
Taking an air taxi to the airport may become as simple as ordering a ride share today. In our first episode in our summer series Tech Camp,...
This July 4th, are you a thrill- or chill-seeker?
Independence Day is approaching! Imagine if someone has procured illegal fireworks from a couple of states over. Are you: 1. first in line t...
Is setting your trash on fire a good idea?
The U.S. generates 292 million tons of trash each year – and that trash has to go somewhere. Sometimes, that’s to an incinerator, where it’s...
Ticks are a growing problem, no matter where you live
In the grand scheme of things, Lyme disease is a fairly new scientific discovery. It was first traced back to ticks in the late 70s and earl...
Is working from home actually good for you?
For many, being able to work from home is a boon: saving time on your commute, working in your sweatpants, throwing in a load of laundry bef...