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Short Wave

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes1827Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Life SciencesAstronomyScience

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Artwork for Short Wave

Latest Episodes

PFAS make pans nonstick, clothes waterproof and furniture stain resistant. They're so ubiquitous, they're even inside of us. Now, researchers are looking for more insights in firefighters' blood.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoi... more

On Jan. 28, 1986, NASA’s 25th space shuttle mission, Challenger, left the launchpad in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Seventy-three seconds into flight, Challenger exploded over the Atlantic Ocean as millions of people watched. All seven people on board di... more

This past weekend, Winter Storm Fern struck the States. Sleet, snow and ice battered Americans all the way from New Mexico to New York. Scientists predicted its arrival in mid-January, and in anticipation of the storm, more than 20 state governors is... more

Listener Shabnam Khan has a problem: Every time she works in her garden, she’s visited by lizards and frogs. Shabnam has lived in the metro Atlanta area for decades, and she says this number of scaly, clammy visitors has exploded over the past few ye... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Melissa Furlong
Assistant professor of environmental health sciences and environmental epidemiologist
University of Arizona
Episode: Why research into ‘forever chemicals’ includes firefighters
Adam Higginbotham
Journalist and author of 'Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space'
Episode: Lessons and failures from the Challenger space shuttle explosion
Mara Dudley
Biology professor at Oglethorpe University and urban ecologist for the Amphibian Foundation in Atlanta.
Oglethorpe University
Episode: What drives animals to your yard? It's complicated
Daniel Sollenberger
Herpetologist and senior wildlife biologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Episode: What drives animals to your yard? It's complicated
Edwin Dahlmeier
Lead author of the diaper study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Psychology
Episode: The plight of penguins in Antarctica
Dr. Alok Patel
Pediatrician at Stanford Medicine Children's Health
Stanford Medicine
Episode: Is ‘The Pitt’ accurate? Medical experts weigh in
Michael Ruprecht
Stanford Global Health Media Fellow
NPR/Stanford
Episode: Is ‘The Pitt’ accurate? Medical experts weigh in
Duncan Astle
Neuroscientist and professor at the University of Cambridge.
University of Cambridge
Episode: When is your brain actually an "adult"?
Irina Petropadlovskikh
Atmospheric scientist
Episode: The ozone layer is still healing…thanks to science

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 States6 days 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
    Canada18 days 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 Statesa month 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 Statesa month ago
  • Wow

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    txgrown303
    United Statesa month 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.

Why research into ‘forever chemicals’ includes firefighters
Q: What are the recommendations for individuals regarding PFAS?
Individuals can use water filtration systems and test their water, especially those on private wells, as these often may contain groundwater contamination.
Lessons and failures from the Challenger space shuttle explosion
Q: Did this event, the Columbia disaster, lead to the end of the shuttle program?
Yes, Higginbotham confirms that the Columbia disaster ultimately resulted in the shutdown of the shuttle program.
Lessons and failures from the Challenger space shuttle explosion
Q: What were the conclusions of the investigation?
Higginbotham highlights that the investigation revealed a series of communication failures and that previous concerns raised by engineers were not properly escalated or addressed.
Lessons and failures from the Challenger space shuttle explosion
Q: Can you take us through the moments right before and after the launch on January 28th?
Higginbotham explains that the Challenger launch had been delayed multiple times and was under immense public and media scrutiny, intended to draw attention to NASA.
A failed galaxy could solve the dark matter mystery
Q: What does this mean for theory? What does this mean for astronomy going forward?
It's a big win for the theory because finding one of these objects confirms their existence and allows us to better understand dark matter's properties.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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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?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Short Wave, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Short Wave?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Short Wave, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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

How many episodes of Short Wave are there?

Short Wave launched 6 years ago and published 1827 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.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Short Wave?

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. Melissa Furlong
2. Adam Higginbotham
3. Mara Dudley
4. Daniel Sollenberger
5. Edwin Dahlmeier
6. Dr. Alok Patel
7. Michael Ruprecht
8. Duncan Astle

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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