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Why you can't stop scrolling: the science of 'dark flow' artwork
Science & Medicine

Why you can't stop scrolling: the science of 'dark flow'

Short Wave by NPR

Jun 1, 202612:48Science & Medicine

You pick up your phone to do one quick task, and suddenly 20 minutes have flown by without you even noticing. How do apps do that to you? Science journalist Michaeleen Doucleff felt like her phone had superglue on it, ho...

About This Episode

Why you can't stop scrolling: the science of 'dark flow' is an episode from Short Wave by NPR. You pick up your phone to do one quick task, and suddenly 20 minutes have flown by without you even noticing. How do apps do that to you? Science...

Podcast

This episode belongs to Short Wave.

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Episode Details

Published Jun 1, 2026, 12:48 long, audio available.