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Short Wave 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.

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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

Most Recent Episodes

How the Trump administration is halting scientific research

Lea Davis speaks during a Stand up for Science rally Friday, March 7, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. AP Photo/George Walker IV hide caption

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AP Photo/George Walker IV

How the Trump administration is halting scientific research

In its first 50 days, the Trump administration made sweeping changes to scientific arms of the government like the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration. The president issued executive orders to terminate all work that was related to DEI, environmental justice and gender inclusivity. In response, research was halted and thousands of people were fired — some of which was reversed. It's a lot to keep track of, so we called in reinforcements. Here to recount it all and analyze what these ongoing changes mean for the future of scientific research in the United States are NPR science correspondents Rob Stein, Pien Huang and Jonathan Lambert.

How the Trump administration is halting scientific research

Listen · 16:39
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Here's how tourists are solving a plankton puzzle in Antarctica

In the summer, there are enough phytoplankton to feed the millions of tons of krill that then feed the migratory whales that tourists travel very far to see in Antarctica. Andrew Peacock/Getty Images hide caption

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Andrew Peacock/Getty Images

Here's how tourists are solving a plankton puzzle in Antarctica

Tourists to Antarctica are fueling research on some of the tiniest, most influential organisms on Earth: phytoplankton. These itty bitty critters make their own food and are the base of the food web in most of the ocean, but tracking how well they're doing is historically tricky. So, researchers with the program FjordPhyto are using samples collected by these tourists to understand how the balance of power in the Antarctic food web could be shifting — could ripple across the food web of the entire ocean.

Here's how tourists are solving a plankton puzzle in Antarctica

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Early humans made tools from bones 1 million years sooner than scientists thought

Bone tool shaped on a 1.5-million-year-old elephant humerus. CSIC hide caption

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CSIC

Early humans made tools from bones 1 million years sooner than scientists thought

Archeologists know early humans used stone to make tools long before the time of Homo sapiens. But a new discovery out this week in Nature suggests early humans in eastern Africa were also using animal bones – one million years earlier than researchers previously thought. The finding suggests that these early humans were intentionally shaping animal materials – like elephant and hippopotamus bones – to make tools and that it could indicate advancements in early human cognition.

Early humans made tools from bones 1 million years sooner than scientists thought

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How a dog's nose became a powerful tool for science and conservation

Conservation detection dogs help biologists find a range of hard-to-find targets, from invasive and endangered species, to animal scat to poachers. Collette Yee hide caption

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Collette Yee

How a dog's nose became a powerful tool for science and conservation

On their second job ever, Collette Yee and her partner were assigned a difficult job: locate transient whale poop in the ocean before it sinks. Luckily, Collette was partnered with Jack, a blue heeler mix trained to sniff out cryptic odors from things that conservation biologists have trouble collecting on their own. Producer Berly McCoy reports on Jack and the growing field of dog detection conservation that helps science by sniffing out everything from invasive crabs to diseased plants to endangered species.

How a dog's nose became a powerful tool for science and conservation

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These scientists are trying to revive woolly mammoths ... by modifying mice

Left, a regular mouse sits near a genetically modified mouse, seen to the right. The latter has been genetically modified to have the longer, golden hair and fat stores of a woolly mammoth. Colossal Biosciences hide caption

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Colossal Biosciences

These scientists are trying to revive woolly mammoths ... by modifying mice

You've heard of the woolly mammoth. But have you heard of woolly mice? These critters were genetically modified by the Dallas-based biotech company Colossal Biosciences to have the same "woolly" and fat appearance as the ancient mammoths. The mice are a key step in the longer journey to de-extinct the woolly mammoth. NPR's Rob Stein takes us to the lab where it all happened.

These scientists are trying to revive woolly mammoths ... by modifying mice

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Two patients navigate the new Alzheimer's drugs

Susan Bell plays with a fidget toy at her home as part of her physical therapy on September 16, 2024 in St. Charles, Mo. The toys help provide Susan with cognitive stimulation. Michael B. Thomas for NPR / @miketphotog hide caption

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Michael B. Thomas for NPR / @miketphotog

Two patients navigate the new Alzheimer's drugs

There are now two fully approved drugs on the market that can, sometimes, slow down the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Both have been shown to slow down the mental decline of Alzheimer's by more than 25%. But that's in a group of patients—an individual may do much better, or not be helped at all. NPR Science Correspondent Jon Hamilton has been talking to people who've taken these drugs. Today he has the story of two patients to receive them.

Two patients navigate the new Alzheimer's drugs

Listen · 12:51
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To ease the energy crisis, we're going to need better batteries

California Flats is a 2900 acre plot of land in central California that's covered in solar panels. The extra energy generated from all that solar flows straight into batteries right on site. Hearst Corporation, California Flats Solar-plus-Storage Project hide caption

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Hearst Corporation, California Flats Solar-plus-Storage Project

To ease the energy crisis, we're going to need better batteries

Batteries are everywhere. They're in our phones, our remote controls, smart-watches, electric cars and so much more. They could also be the solution to a problem that renewable energy companies have faced for years: How to store the mass amounts of energy they produce for later use. Some companies are using batteries to make renewable energy accessible 24/7. Today, we dig into how the technology is rapidly progressing with Cooper Katz McKim, a producer from fellow NPR podcast The Indicator from Planet Money.

To ease the energy crisis, we're going to need better batteries

Listen · 13:40
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How Jocelyn Bell once made a discovery that changed the field of astronomy

At the center of this image made by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory is a very young and powerful pulsar, known as PSR B1509-58, or B1509 for short. NASA/CXC/SAO/P.Slane, et al. hide caption

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NASA/CXC/SAO/P.Slane, et al.

How Jocelyn Bell once made a discovery that changed the field of astronomy

In 1967 Jocelyn Bell Burnell made a discovery that revolutionized the field of astronomy. She detected the radio signals emitted by certain dying stars called pulsars. This encore episode: Jocelyn's story. Host Regina G. Barber talks to Jocelyn about her winding career, her discovery and how pulsars are pushing forward the field of astronomy today.

How Jocelyn Bell once made a discovery that changed the field of astronomy

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This scientist is on a quest ... to salvage whale brains
Instituto Baleia Jubarte

This scientist is on a quest ... to salvage whale brains

A year and a half ago, neuroscientist Kamilla Souza got the call she'd been waiting for: A baby humpback whale had died just offshore. She wanted its brain. That's because scientists know little about the brains of whales and dolphins off the Central and South American coasts. Studying them, like Kamilla is doing, can teach scientists about the inner workings of these animals — about their behavior and how they're adapted to living underwater. So, she has to race against time to save the brains. The heat in this area of Brazil accelerates decomposition. Minutes matter.

This scientist is on a quest ... to salvage whale brains

Listen · 11:27
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What happens to your body when you're under anesthesia?

Anesthesia can be administered through a mask while patients undergo surgery. czardases/Getty Images hide caption

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czardases/Getty Images

What happens to your body when you're under anesthesia?

Picture a relaxing scene. Maybe a beach in Tahiti, your toes in the sand, a cold drink in hand. Now imagine your favorite music playing in the background.

What happens to your body when you're under anesthesia?

Listen · 14:01
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