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...

Episodes

This common garden plant summons wasps as bodyguards

Why are scientists planting tiny forests in big cities?

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

This distant planet has wild weather and gemstone clouds

Should we reengineer the world's deadliest animal?

Is it getting windier?

The magic — and science — of synchronous fireflies

The supertree shielding coastlines and storing carbon

Why renaming this common hormonal disorder is a huge deal

A solution for California's water woes

What's up with your nightmares?

A chemical found in fish could help reinvent your sunscreen

Should you be fibermaxxing? Here's what the science says

Why Swedish scientists gave salmon cocaine

Without this pill, lots of people would be dead

Hantavirus: the risks, the science and what you need to know

How science is taking tripping mainstream

This medical condition stumped doctors for years

The secret behind clownfish stripes and more fishy fascinations

Coffee is complex. Can science standardize it for the better?