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Artwork for Short Wave

Short Wave

NPR
Greater Honey Guide
Honey Hunting
Chernobyl Exclusion Zone
Climate Change
Naked Mole Rats
NPR
Hadza
Gray Wolves
Tomatoes
Clownfish
Migratory Species
Bees
Racism
Appendix
Radiation
Skywalker Gibbons
In Vitro Fertilization
Domestic Violence
Tanzania
Kenya

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.If you're hooked, try Short Wave Plus. Your subscription supports the show and unlocks a sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/shortwave

PublishesDailyEpisodes1844Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
AstronomyLife SciencesScience

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Artwork for Short Wave

Latest Episodes

Folks over 65 are putting in a lot of screen time. In 2019, the Pew Research Center found that people 60 years and older spend more than half their daily leisure time in front of screens, mostly watching TV or videos. Since the pandemic, that screen ... more

Helicopters. Cargo containers. Old washing machines. For years, fishermen dumped this waste into the Gulf of Mexico. But they weren’t just trying to get rid of junk; they were trying to create artificial reefs that would help attract fish. For this m... more

Bring up aliens and a lot of people will scoff. But not everyone is laughing. Around the turn of the century, 3.8 million people banded together in a real-time search for aliens -- with screensavers. It was a big moment in a century-long concerted se... more

Almost 15% of adults suffer from a persistent, often intolerable sound... that is literally just in their heads. Why does the brain do this to us? We help one of our listeners get some answers.This is the second episode of a five-part series called T... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

James Davenport
Astronomer at the University of Washington and collaborator with the SETI Institute
University of Washington
Episode: The serious hunt for alien life
Stefan Maison
Director of the Tinnitus Clinic at Mass Eye and Ear
Mass Eye and Ear
Episode: The noise that isn't there
Dan Polly
Tinnitus researcher focused on brain function related to tinnitus
Mass Eye and Ear
Episode: The noise that isn't there
Noam Hassenfeld
Host of the Unexplainable podcast and producer of this episode
Vox
Episode: The noise that isn't there
Vikram Chib
Biomedical engineer and neuroscientist
Johns Hopkins University
Episode: The neuroscience of cracking under pressure
Kristen Andrews
Philosophy professor focusing on animal minds
City University of New York; York University
Episode: Tea time... with an ape?
Chris Krupenye
Cognitive scientist focusing on animal minds
Johns Hopkins University
Episode: Tea time... with an ape?
Nandip Hamongo
25-year-old community member interested in participating in the trial
Episode: Could this vaccine trial mean a future without HIV?
Penny Moore
Virologist at the University of Witwatersrand
University of Witwatersrand
Episode: Could this vaccine trial mean a future without HIV?

Hosts

Emily Kwong
Host and co-host with experience in science communication, bringing a humorous and engaging approach to various scientific topics.
Regina Barber
Co-host and member of the science communication team, focusing on making science relevant and enjoyable for the audience.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 8.8k ratings
  • Short wave

    More like long wave (it’s a good thing)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bananabreadawesomeness
    United Statesa month ago
  • Must listen

    Such a great listen as it cuts through the noise with positivity and depth. I never miss a show!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Quicklsk
    Canadaa month ago
  • Fascinating and enlightening. Highly Recommended.

    The team at Short Wave dig up super-interesting scientific findings and share their conversations with the researchers. Manages to make the science understandable and digestible without dumbing down the content. Available add-free with plus version.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Captain Moderate
    United States2 months ago
  • The best podcast ever!

    The great thing about short wave is that you can listen to it in about 15-20min and of the episodes are kid-friendly! It perfect for a short car ride. We didn’t listen to it before One of my kids found it and it's a Hit!!! Best podcast ever!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jay659?
    United States2 months ago
  • Wow

    Emily went deep with the “hole” metaphor on depression 😮‍💨 life changing!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    txgrown303
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The hosts are described as well-informed, engaging, and able to break down complex scientific concepts into digestible chunks.
The podcast is praised for covering a wide range of relevant topics that resonate with current events and societal interests.
Listeners appreciate the concise and informative format that offers a daily dose of science.
Feedback indicates a preference for the incorporation of humor and creativity into the discussion.
Overall, listeners express satisfaction with the show's consistency and quality, making it a staple in their podcast rotation.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Could this vaccine trial mean a future without HIV?
Q: Has it started? Like, is the new vaccine trial underway?
Yes, it already started in January and will continue for several months.
Could this vaccine trial mean a future without HIV?
Q: Does it wear a cape?
Not exactly, but you're on the right track, Nate, because compared to regular antibodies, these guys are weird looking.
Could this vaccine trial mean a future without HIV?
Q: So Ari, where do we pick up this story?
The story picks up with a background on the research team and the vaccine trial that faced funding challenges.
Tea time... with an ape?
Q: Does the scale of this study limit its findings in any way?
The study is based on a single individual, which may limit broader conclusions, but it provides a clear demonstration that imagination is not unique to humans.
Tea time... with an ape?
Q: How do you turn pointing and language comprehension into an experiment that tests for something as intangible as imagination?
Scientists engage children in pretend scenarios and apply similar methods to Kanzi, exploring if he can show imagination like children do during tea parties.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Short Wave

What is Short Wave about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Content across episodes focuses on a wide array of scientific topics ranging from the impact of technology on daily life to the natural world and health. The discussions are designed to be digestible and engaging, making complex subjects accessible to a general audience. Each episode typically features expert guests who bring their insights into diverse scientific inquiries, from AI data centers and climate change to the psychological aspects of everyday phenomena like disagreement and nightmares. The unique format allows for brief, informative explorations of scientific mysteries and discoveries, appealing to listeners who appreciate learning something new in a short time frame.

Where can I find podcast stats for Short Wave?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Short Wave. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Short Wave and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Short Wave get?

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What are the audience demographics for Short Wave?

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How many subscribers and views does Short Wave have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Short Wave has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Short Wave?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Short Wave:

1. The Indicator from Planet Money
2. Throughline
3. Planet Money
4. Consider This from NPR
5. Science Friday

How many episodes of Short Wave are there?

Short Wave launched 6 years ago and published 1844 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Short Wave?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Short Wave?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Short Wave from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

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Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Short Wave. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Short Wave?

Recent guests on Short Wave include:

1. James Davenport
2. Stefan Maison
3. Dan Polly
4. Noam Hassenfeld
5. Vikram Chib
6. Kristen Andrews
7. Chris Krupenye
8. Nandip Hamongo

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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