Short Wave
Hosted by Emily Kopp & Regina G. Barber · 36 decoded episodes · newest Oct 7, 2026
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.<br><br><em> Support public media by joining NPR+ at </em><a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" ><em>plus.npr.org</em></a><em>. You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including sponsor-free listening for Short Wave.</em>
Episodes 36
- Aug 26, 2026 · 12 minMetabolic health emerges as a new frontier in psychiatryThe episode examines whether improving insulin signaling and energy metabolism could complement psychiatric care, while stressing that the evidence remains early and incomplete.
- Aug 25, 2026 · 12 minAI designs viruses, forcing medicine to confront new risksThe same systems that could tailor treatments for drug-resistant infections may also make dangerous biological engineering easier to attempt.
- Aug 24, 2026 · 14 minCamera traps reveal wildlife’s long American transformationThe comparison shows how settlement, altered rivers, and predator losses reshaped ecosystems while leaving room for recovery and conservation.
- Aug 21, 2026 · 12 minWebb’s red dots may reveal how supermassive black holes growThe episode connects a puzzling cosmic signal with practical findings about dementia risk and an animal’s remarkable seasonal body changes.
- Aug 19, 2026 · 15 minTestosterone therapy gains ground faster than the evidenceAs online clinics and cultural influencers recast testosterone as a route to masculinity and longevity, diagnosis and treatment still require careful medical judgment.
- Aug 18, 2026 · 12 minA tornado survivor explains what science still cannot predictPerry Sampson’s account connects the limits of tornado science with the life-or-death choices people face when storms turn dangerous.
- Aug 17, 2026 · 15 minAI reshapes military judgment before autonomous weapons arriveThe episode examines whether AI-assisted targeting and strategic simulations can make military decisions less transparent, more escalatory, and easier to choose.
- Aug 14, 2026 · 12 minColombia’s earthquake reveals why depth mattersThe episode shows how tectonic complexity shapes earthquake damage while practical protections remain possible despite the limits of prediction.
- Aug 13, 2026 · 12 minMeteor debris, solar turbulence and a lunar crashThe episode connects an accessible night-sky spectacle to frontier observations of the Sun and the scientific opportunities—and risks—created by space debris.
- Aug 12, 2026 · 12 minAI stories fool readers as black holes wander and pumas reshape roadsThe episode connects uncertainty about machine-made writing with discoveries showing how AI can aid astronomy and animal behavior can improve road safety.
- Aug 11, 2026 · 12 minTotality turns a familiar eclipse into a journey into spaceThe episode explains both the science and safety behind eclipse viewing while showing why a narrow path can transform daylight into an otherworldly experience.
- Aug 10, 2026 · 14 minScientists debate mirror life before it can existMirror cells remain far beyond current capabilities, but scientists are weighing whether their potential biological risks justify a proactive pause now.