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Short Wave

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

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes1852Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceLife SciencesAstronomy

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Artwork for Short Wave

Latest Episodes

A multi-year megadrought in the Western U.S. has claimed untold populations of wild plants. Amid the conditions, some have survived. Scientists have produced a stunningly complete picture about how populations of one particular flower – the scarlet m... more

The new food pyramid was released earlier this year. It emphasizes protein, full-fat dairy and what Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. calls “healthy fats.” These guidelines influence the standards for  school lunches, food lab... more

US-Israeli airstrikes on oil depots culminated in ‘black rain’ in Iran early last week – a phenomenon usually caused by large amounts of soot, carbon and other pollutants in the air. Usually, rain leaves the atmosphere cleaner than it was before. But... more

It’s likely you have at least one “guilty pleasure.” Maybe it’s romance novels. Or reality TV… Playing video games… or getting swept into obscure corners of TikTok. Neuroscientists say the pleasure response helps us survive as a species. So why do we... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Victor Tsai
Geophysicist, Brown University; studied lake stars and their formation
Brown University
Episode: An icy mystery: What are lake stars?
Joshua Stewart
Marine ecologist, Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Episode: We saved gray whales from extinction. Why are so many dying again?
Justin Torres
Writer, National Book Award winner for Blackouts
Writer
Episode: Sibling order may affect sexuality and identity
Anusia Chinsami-Turan
Paleobiologist, University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
Episode: What crocodile bones teach us about dinosaurs
Maureen Deneuil
Researcher on Cascadia fault studies
University of Washington / Science Advances study team
Episode: Teen sleep is getting wrecked by more than just phones
Oliver Craig
Senior author of the PLOS One study on ancient diets
University of York
Episode: Teen sleep is getting wrecked by more than just phones
Cora Collette Bruner
Pediatrician at Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle Children's Hospital
Episode: Teen sleep is getting wrecked by more than just phones
Gabrielle Emanuel
Global health correspondent at NPR
NPR
Episode: The global fallout of RFK Jr.'s vaccine policies
Lauren Robinson
Visiting assistant professor of psychology at Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College
Episode: Will Punch the baby monkey be okay?

Hosts

Regina Barber
Co-host and producer, known for her engaging storytelling and emphasis on science with creativity and humor.
Emily Kwong
Host of Short Wave, skilled at making intricate scientific topics accessible and engaging for a broad audience.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 8.9k ratings
  • Can't differentiate the show from the ads... poor

    Podcast Addict
    2
    Aurorespera
    21 days ago
  • Disappointed

    Novice level science

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Integrated High Perform. Coach
    Netherlands25 days ago
  • Love the show

    But please do not overproduce your show like so many NPR shows by adding music in the background which to me as a distraction from the great content you provide

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Freakinout Johny
    United Statesa month ago
  • Short wave

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bananabreadawesomeness
    United States2 months 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
    Canada2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The mix of expert guests and diverse topics keeps listeners coming back for more.
Fans appreciate the brevity and accessibility of episodes, making learning enjoyable.
Positive feedback often highlights the show's ability to explain science without overwhelming complexity.
Content is informative and engaging, presenting science in a relatable way.
Listeners value the humor intertwined in discussions, making complex topics more digestible.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

An icy mystery: What are lake stars?
Q: What causes lake stars to form on the ice surface?
Lake stars form when a thin ice layer with snow above it allows warm lake water to melt through from underneath through a slow, controlled drainage, creating star-shaped melt patterns as heat diffuses through the slushy layer.
We saved gray whales from extinction. Why are so many dying again?
Q: What larger lessons should people take away from this whale mystery?
Populations that recover and reach carrying capacity can become highly sensitive to environmental fluctuations and climate change, meaning we may see pronounced responses in these “recovered” groups, underscoring the need to address climate change even if some populations appear to be doing well at the moment.
We saved gray whales from extinction. Why are so many dying again?
Q: How long has this latest decline been ongoing, and what does that mean for the population?
The decline has been ongoing since 2019, with mortality rates down but birth rates remaining low, indicating a slower recovery and a population facing sustained stress from climate-driven changes to Arctic feeding areas.
We saved gray whales from extinction. Why are so many dying again?
Q: So if this is a natural cycle, should humans do anything about this when they start seeing whales just dying?
The deeply unsatisfying part is that there's probably nothing we can do about these natural cycles. While we should work to confirm what's driving the die-offs and address other potential factors, the primary driver appears to be prey availability and climate-related changes, so human intervention is limited beyond reducing climate impact.
Will Punch the baby monkey be okay?
Q: What would indicate Punch is fully integrated into the group?
Indicators include stable grooming relationships and pro-social interactions like appropriate aggression display and apologies, not just the absence of extreme aggression; true integration takes years.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Short Wave

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

Topics explored include a wide range of scientific findings encompassing astronomy, health, and psychology. Listeners can expect discussions on structures like the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, the complexities of health conditions such as tinnitus, and the impact of diet and AI on mental health. Noteworthy is the podcast's ability to distill complex scientific subjects into digestible content, typically spanning under 15 minutes, making it accessible and engaging for a broad audience. This focus on brevity, creativity, and humor differentiates it from more traditional science podcasts, offering a pleasant educational experience for all ages.

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?

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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. Up First from NPR

How many episodes of Short Wave are there?

Short Wave launched 6 years ago and published 1852 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.

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

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What guests have appeared on Short Wave?

Recent guests on Short Wave include:

1. Victor Tsai
2. Joshua Stewart
3. Justin Torres
4. Anusia Chinsami-Turan
5. Maureen Deneuil
6. Oliver Craig
7. Cora Collette Bruner
8. Gabrielle Emanuel

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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