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Short Wave

NPR
Climate Change
Artificial Intelligence
Mental Health
NASA
Neuroscience
Screen Time
NPR
Micro Forests
Bobsled
Smartphones
Aging
Biodiversity
Social Media
Penny
Suicide Prevention
Winter Storm
Challenger Disaster
Dopamine
Fiber
Cascadia Subduction Zone

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. Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org. You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including sponsor-free listening for Short Wave.... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes1975Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Life SciencesAstronomyScience

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Artwork for Short Wave

Latest Episodes

It’s been just over two years since the rise of Make America Healthy Again, or MAHA. The movement united a coalition of moms, wellness influencers and voters across the political spectrum over concerns about chronic illness and childhood diseases. An... more

It feels like everyone we know is talking about the new documentary You Can See Everything. It tracks the effort of comedian and documentarian Nathan Fielder to suss out how deceptive Elizabeth Holmes, disgraced founder of the company Theranos, is. A... more

At the beginning of our universe, in addition to matter, there was also an equal amount of antimatter, matter's opposite. But today, there's lots more matter than antimatter. So how did that happen? Well, the answer might have to do with neutrinos, a... more

Virtually every human on Earth has a slew of different types of dormant viruses in our bodies. They are remnants of past infections and are—generally—harmless. Unless they wake up, which can be triggered by extreme stress or something that severely c... more

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Recent Guests

Akiko Iwasaki
Immunologist at Yale School of Medicine who researches long COVID
Yale School of Medicine
Episode: The dormant viruses in all of us may help explain long COVID
Juan Diego Ramirez
Producer and reporter covering urban tree canopies, pollen and allergy exposure
NPR
Episode: Can planting more trees make allergies worse?
Seven Rasmussen
Astrobiologist and author of Cloudy with a Chance of Starships
Episode: What are the odds we're not alone in the universe?
Eric Lee
Researcher at Montreal Heart Institute; professor
Montreal Heart Institute
Episode: What the world's leading researchers think about saunas
Hilda Carlson
Fragrance presenter performing ritual in floating sauna
Floating sauna village (Oslo harbor)
Episode: What the world's leading researchers think about saunas
Ashley Mason
Clinical psychologist at University of California, San Francisco
University of California, San Francisco
Episode: What the world's leading researchers think about saunas
Ant Shepard
Professor of clinical environmental physiology
University of Portsmouth
Episode: What the world's leading researchers think about saunas
Courtney Reed
Ecologist
UC Santa Barbara and Princeton
Episode: The terrifying physics of prehistoric sea monsters
Asia Carter
Paleontologist and roboticist
Carnegie Mellon University
Episode: The terrifying physics of prehistoric sea monsters

Hosts

Regina Barber
Host of Short Wave, introduced on the show; NPR/Short Wave; NPR affiliation varies across instances
Emily Kwong
Host of Short Wave (co-host); NPR science podcast host

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 9.2k ratings
  • The best

    Love them

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    laniktodd
    United States2 months ago
  • False science

    Stating that the Covid pandemic was natural is false and not science, as there was never an original animal host discovered with this strain of virus - as well the first discovered Covid incident occurred within proximity of the Wuhan Lab.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    HTTR_
    United States2 months ago
  • Sitting on the fence

    Clearly knowledgeable people talking about interesting subjects. Anything that can bring science to a mainstream audience is a good thing. But I find the giddy banter distracting. Is this what smart people think they need to do to make science interesting? I think not. Tell a story about science and trust your audience.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    MiDav73
    United States2 months ago
  • 6 stars

    Picks a topic, gives you the information, and unlike a lot of podcasts, keeps the length just right with no unnecessary clutter. Brings new science to you in a perfect format.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HDA2929
    United States3 months ago
  • Helo

    everybody here EK clubs have been loving this podcast we only think it fitting to offer our gratitude by making a fan club we would love to have you as a admin if you would be willing and would be honored to have a fair club for your podcast among our clubs on band

    Sincerely, EKclubs

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ek clubs on band
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some feedback calls for stricter balance when industry perspectives are involved, especially in sponsor reads.
Many appreciate the mix of hard science and accessible storytelling, with strong guest selections.
Listeners praise the concise, in-depth science coverage and approachable host dynamic.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Can planting more trees make allergies worse?
Q: Is there anything people can do with that knowledge, like any tips for them that might help lessen their symptoms during those really pollen-heavy months?
Keep windows closed at home and in the car, shower after spending time outdoors, use an air purifier and check local pollen counts.
The dormant viruses in all of us may help explain long COVID
Q: What are the big questions that you have? Like, if you had unlimited funding, unlimited research capacity, where would you take that?
Iwasaki would study how chronic viruses and persistent SARS-CoV-2 affect the nervous system and contribute to inflammation, autoimmunity and long-term conditions, while finding ways to identify each patient's active mechanisms and target treatment.
What are the odds we're not alone in the universe?
Q: How is this equation different from the Drake Equation?
Rasmussen explains that the Seeger Equation estimates the odds of finding any kind of life, not just intelligent life, using more available data and fewer unknown variables. It is more practical and focused on near-term scientific capabilities.
Can planting more trees make allergies worse?
Q: So what did she find?
The study found tree-pollen sensitization was more common among children who lived near more tree cover early in life.
What are the odds we're not alone in the universe?
Q: So how do we determine which of those are habitable? Like, how are we defining habitability?
Rasmussen says habitability is a difficult and debated concept because scientists may be biased toward Earth-like conditions. She identifies essential life elements, temperatures likely below water's boiling point, and a liquid medium as basic requirements.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Short Wave

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

The show delivers quick, accessible science updates and explainers across a broad range of topics, from space and astronomy to biology, technology, and environmental science. Episodes mix expert guests with engaging hosts who translate complex research into relatable stories, often tying discoveries to everyday life and current headlines. Listeners likely appreciate concise, well-researched science light on jargon, with a friendly, curious tone and a penchant for visuals and real-world implications. A notable strength is the consistent use of diverse experts—from space scientists to physicians and journalists—creating a well-rounded science briefing in under 15 minutes per episode.

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

How many episodes of Short Wave are there?

Short Wave launched 7 years ago and published 1975 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.

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What guests have appeared on Short Wave?

Recent guests on Short Wave include:

1. Akiko Iwasaki
2. Juan Diego Ramirez
3. Seven Rasmussen
4. Eric Lee
5. Hilda Carlson
6. Ashley Mason
7. Ant Shepard
8. Courtney Reed

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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