Teen sleep is getting wrecked by more than just phones
March 6, 2026
A recent study spanning 2007 to 2023 found that over three-quarters of U.S. high school students are getting insufficient sleep (less than seven hours a night), a trend observed across most demographics.
The global fallout of RFK Jr's vaccine policies
March 4, 2026
The U.S. policy changes under Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as HHS Secretary are creating global public health controversies, specifically through an ultimatum to the international vaccine group Gavi regarding the preservative thimerosol, and the funding/support of a controversial hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau.
Will Punch the baby monkey be okay?
March 3, 2026
While human observers are emotionally invested in the abandoned baby macaque Punch, his situation, including potential bullying, is considered somewhat normal within the strict social hierarchy of Japanese snow monkeys.
Spring ice is thawing earlier in lakes. What does that mean for life below the surface?
March 2, 2026
The timing of lake thaw in the spring has become highly variable, sometimes differing by two months year-to-year, which scrambles the normal food web dynamics (algae blooms feeding zooplankton) essential for young fish survival.
The dangers of warming winter lakes
February 27, 2026
Warming winters are leading to less safe and less predictable lake ice conditions due to increased temperature swings that create weaker ice structures like white ice, which complicates safety assessments.
Screen time is up for grandma and grandpa
February 25, 2026
Smartphone addiction among older adults may result from pre-existing social factors like isolation and alienation, rather than being the primary cause of these issues.
Could our trash become local fishes’ treasure?
February 24, 2026
Fishermen historically dumped waste like helicopters and washing machines into the Gulf of Mexico to intentionally create artificial reefs that attract fish, a practice now more regulated and typically using concrete and rock.
The serious hunt for alien life
February 23, 2026
The search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) has historically focused on radio signals, but scientists like astronomer James Davenport are now expanding the search into optical and infrared astronomy to cover significantly more of the potential search space.
The noise that isn't there
February 21, 2026
Tinnitus, which affects almost 15% of adults, is often caused by 'hidden hearing loss'—damage to auditory nerve fibers that respond to loud sounds, which standard hearing tests fail to detect.
The truth about intermittent fasting
February 20, 2026
A review of 22 smaller studies concluded that intermittent fasting did not lead to weight loss in overweight or obese adults when compared to traditional dieting advice or doing nothing.
The neuroscience of cracking under pressure
February 18, 2026
Fatigue, whether cognitive or physical, arises from brain areas sensing internal state interacting with motivational areas, signaling the inability to produce more effort.
Tea time... with an ape?
February 17, 2026
Scientists used pretend tea parties, mirroring methods for studying human children, to test the limits of imagination in Kanzi, a bonobo.
Could this vaccine trial mean a future without HIV?
February 16, 2026
A promising, multi-national HIV vaccine trial, funded by a $45 million USAID grant, was abruptly halted due to a U.S. executive order freezing foreign aid, nearly derailing decades of preparatory research.
Why do we kiss? It's an evolutionary conundrum
February 13, 2026
Kissing is considered an evolutionary conundrum because it is inherently risky, involving the transfer of up to 80 million bacteria in a 10-second kiss and physical vulnerability due to teeth.
AI is great at predicting text. Can it guide robots?
February 11, 2026
While AI chatbots benefit from vast internet data, applying this intelligence to robotics faces significant hurdles due to the lack of comparable real-world training data and the complexity of physical tasks.
The physics of the Winter Olympics
February 10, 2026
Ski mountaineering ("skimo") utilizes specialized ski skins that create high friction when moving backward (uphill) and low friction when moving forward (downhill), demonstrating a unique application of friction not seen in gravity-dependent sports.
These bacteria may be key to the fight against antibiotic resistance
February 9, 2026
Antibiotic persistence, where bacteria enter a dormant state to survive treatment, is a critical stepping stone that allows them to eventually evolve into antibiotic-resistant strains.
Babies got beat: Why rhythm might be innate
February 6, 2026
Newborn babies appear to track rhythm, but not melody, when listening to Bach, suggesting rhythm perception may be innate while melody processing requires more development.
How do extreme G-forces affect Olympic bobsledders?
February 4, 2026
The condition experienced by sliding sports athletes, characterized by dizziness, nausea, and exhaustion following high G-force runs, is termed "sledhead" and is linked to concussions and subconcussions.
Autism: debunking Trump claims, and what scientists still don't know
February 3, 2026
Claims made by the Trump administration regarding autism—specifically that certain groups don't get the condition or that Tylenol causes it—are definitively misinformation, as research shows autism occurs across all studied groups and Tylenol use in pregnancy has not been reliably linked to autism.
Why research into ‘forever chemicals’ includes firefighters
February 2, 2026
PFAS (per and polyfluoroalkyl substances), known as 'forever chemicals' due to their persistence, are ubiquitous in consumer products like nonstick pans and stain-resistant fabrics, leading to constant human exposure.
Lessons and failures from the Challenger space shuttle explosion
January 30, 2026
The Challenger disaster was preceded by engineers at Morton Thiokol unanimously recommending against the launch due to cold weather concerns related to the O-rings, but management pressure led them to reverse this recommendation.
How scientists predict big winter storms
January 28, 2026
The ability to predict major winter storms days in advance, as seen with Winter Storm Fern, is due to significant advances in computer weather models built upon decades of coordinated Earth system observations.
What drives animals to your yard? It's complicated
January 27, 2026
The increase in lizards and frogs observed by listener Shabnam Khan in her Atlanta-area yard is likely due to local environmental changes that create better wildlife habitat, such as native plants or new water sources, or larger shifts like urbanization displacing wildlife.
Iran offline: How a government can turn off the internet
January 26, 2026
The Iranian government has become more sophisticated in implementing internet shutdowns since 2019, moving from blunt force disconnection to selective whitelisting of services to maintain government communication and control information.
The plight of penguins in Antarctica
January 23, 2026
Adeli, chinstrap, and Gentoo penguins in the Antarctic Peninsula are breeding significantly earlier due to warming environmental conditions linked to climate change, with Gentoo penguins potentially faring better than other species.
A failed galaxy could solve the dark matter mystery
January 21, 2026
The discovery of Cloud 9, a starless, gas-rich dark matter halo, confirms a key prediction of the Lambda CDM model regarding the existence of dark matter halos too small to form galaxies.
Is ‘The Pitt’ accurate? Medical experts weigh in
January 20, 2026
The medical drama *
Come critter spotting with us on a cold winter's night
January 19, 2026
Certain lichens fluoresce neon colors under UV light as a protective response against sun damage, revealing hidden diversity on tree bark.
10 breakthrough technologies to expect in 2026
January 16, 2026
The MIT Technology Review's list of 10 breakthrough technologies for 2026 focuses on high-impact advances that could significantly change life, covering areas like AI, biotech, and climate progress.
When Is Your Brain Actually An Adult
January 14, 2026
New research suggests the human brain may remain in an "adolescent" phase until approximately age 32, challenging the common notion that full development occurs at age 25.
The ozone layer is still healing…thanks to science
January 13, 2026
The ozone layer acts as Earth's sunscreen, protecting life by blocking harmful UV radiation, a function achieved when sunlight helps single oxygen atoms combine with O2 to form O3 (ozone).
These little microbes may help solve our big problems
January 12, 2026
Microorganisms, often found in extreme environments like mineral springs or even household plumbing, are being studied for their unique chemical abilities to potentially solve major global issues like carbon capture and waste cleanup.
Hot galaxies alert!
January 9, 2026
A galaxy cluster formed only 1.8 billion years after the universe began was found to be unexpectedly hot, challenging current theories on how these structures evolve.
Micro Forests: An Emerging Climate Hero?
January 7, 2026
Microforests are small, human-designed urban ecosystems using native plants to mimic natural forests, aiming to cool cities and increase climate resilience.
Behold A T Rex Holotype Paleontology S Gold Standard
January 6, 2026
The Carnegie Museum of Natural History houses the holotype specimen of *
Did Earth’s Water Come From Space?
January 5, 2026
The traditional view suggests Earth formed dry, requiring water delivery from outside the snow line, with current evidence favoring asteroids over comets based on the deuterium-to-hydrogen (D/H) ratio.
The trouble of zero
January 2, 2026
Zero was a relatively late invention in human history, first appearing as a placeholder around 2,500 years ago by Babylonian traders before becoming a true number around the 7th century with Indian mathematicians.
Science In 2025 Took A Hit. What Does It Mean?
December 31, 2025
The commitment to science in the U.S. is in serious doubt following the Trump administration's disruption of federal funding, leading to layoffs and canceled research grants across agencies like the NIH and NSF.
Climate Anxiety Is Altering Family Planning
December 30, 2025
Climate anxiety is leading to reproductive anxiety, particularly among Gen Z and younger millennials, who are worried about raising children on a warming planet.
Why Kratom Is At The Heart Of A Big Public Health Debate
December 29, 2025
The public health debate surrounding kratom and its compound 7-hydroxymitragynine (7OH) centers on its dual nature, acting as a mood booster/energy source in small doses but mimicking opioids in larger doses, with 7OH being significantly more potent and exclusively binding to opioid receptors.
Why Drones Are Catching Whale Breaths
December 26, 2025
Scientists are using drones to non-invasively collect exhaled whale breaths in the Arctic to study the presence of pathogens like cetacean morbilivirus, which is crucial for monitoring whale health and potential zoonotic disease spread.
Drinking Turns Some Red With Asian Glow—And May Fight Tuberculosis
December 24, 2025
The condition commonly known as "Asian glow" or "alcohol flush" is caused by a genetic mutation in the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 gene, which prevents the efficient breakdown of toxic aldehydes that build up in the body after drinking alcohol.
Why Suicide Prevention is 'Everyone's Business'
December 23, 2025
Caregivers in a suicidal crisis must prioritize emotional safety by detaching from their own fear and focusing entirely on the immediate needs of the person in crisis.
No, Raccoons Aren’t Pet-Ready (Yet)
December 22, 2025
A recent study suggests that urbanization may be initiating a domestication process in raccoons, evidenced by urban raccoons potentially having shorter snouts compared to their rural counterparts.
GLP-1 Pills Are On The Way. Here's What To Know
December 19, 2025
The excitement surrounding GLP-1 drugs, currently available as weekly injections like Ozempic and Wagovi, is shifting toward new, experimental pill forms that promise better accessibility and potentially lower costs.
The Indicator: Take A Penny, Leave A Penny, Get Rid Of The Penny
December 18, 2025
The U.S. government minted the final penny after a 232-year run because the cost to produce the coin (3.7 cents by the end, up from 1.4 cents in 2006) exceeded its face value.
A Very Very Big Deal Countries Take On Fossil Fuels
December 17, 2025
A major announcement regarding a new international conference on the just transition away from fossil fuels, involving about 20 countries, was nearly derailed by a fire at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belén, Brazil.
Could Architecture In Space Make A Greener Earth?
December 16, 2025
The primary bottleneck for expanding human presence in space is now real estate and the ability to construct large volumes of space stations, not rocket technology.
Is The Quantum Future Here?
December 15, 2025
Quantum computing is receiving significant government and corporate investment because it harnesses quantum physics concepts like superposition to potentially solve problems too complex for classical computers, despite current utility being unproven.
Could This Exoplanet Harbor Life?
December 12, 2025
Recent research on the exoplanet TRAPPIST-1E suggests that, contrary to prior hopes, it likely lacks the necessary atmosphere (specifically CO2 and methane) to support life, potentially making habitable exoplanets rarer than previously thought.
How Replaceable Are You?
December 10, 2025
Artificial tears are not yet perfected, highlighting that even seemingly simple replacements are technologically challenging, contrasting with the host's initial 'cyborg dreams.'
The Closest Thing To A Cure For Allergies
December 9, 2025
Allergy shots (allergen immunotherapy), which have been around since 1911, work by training the immune system to build tolerance to allergens, making them the closest thing science has to a cure for allergies.
Controversy In Yellowstone
December 8, 2025
The popular narrative attributing sweeping ecosystem-wide changes in Yellowstone National Park solely to the reintroduction of wolves is being scientifically challenged as overly simplistic, with many factors influencing elk populations and vegetation recovery.
Americans Are Not Going To The Dentist Enough
December 5, 2025
A significant portion of the U.S. population (estimated 5-10%) suffers from Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorders (TMD), which are often related to the improper positioning of the cartilage pad in the jaw joint.
What Are AI Data Centers Doing To Your Electric Bill?
December 3, 2025
The construction and power demands of data centers and cryptocurrency mining are projected to increase nationwide electric bills by an average of 8% by 2030, potentially reaching 25% in areas like Virginia.
Why Experts Are Racing To Learn About This Interstellar Comet
December 2, 2025
The comet 3I/ATLAS is significant because it is an interstellar object, offering scientists a rare opportunity to study material formed around another star system to compare with our own solar system's composition.
Who Should Track Their Blood Sugar?
December 1, 2025
Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) measure glucose in the interstitial fluid under the skin and provide real-time data on current levels and trends, which Ping Huang found useful for managing her pre-diabetes.
What’s In A Kiss? 21 Million Years Of Evolution
November 28, 2025
Phylogenetic analysis suggests that kissing, defined as non-aggressive, mouth-to-mouth contact not involving food transfer, was present in the common ancestor of all apes 21 million years ago, and likely occurred between humans and Neanderthals.
How To Disagree Better
November 26, 2025
Disagreement triggers physiological stress responses (dilated pupils, racing heart) and activates the brain's threat detector (amygdala), consuming significant cognitive resources.
Nature Quest: The Earthquake Prediction Problem
November 25, 2025
Scientists can accurately model the potential impact and timing of the Cascadia Subduction Zone's 'Big One' using geological and historical records (like Japanese tsunami logs from 1700), but they cannot predict the exact date of its occurrence because earthquake cycles are chaotic, not strictly periodic.
SNAP Delays: The Science Of Hunger And Food Insecurity
November 24, 2025
Food insecurity, which affects one in eight U.S. households, has profound short-term and long-term impacts on physical health (like chronic disease and malnourishment) and mental health (including stress, anxiety, and social isolation).
What's Up With Nightmares?
November 21, 2025
Sleep plays a crucial role in emotional regulation by helping the brain process and let go of the distress accrued during the day, often by detaching emotion from memories.
The Mystery Of Inner Monologues
November 19, 2025
Not everyone experiences an inner monologue; some people process internal experience primarily through images, emotions, or other non-word-based means.
An Apple Is An Ovary: The Science of Apple Breeding
November 18, 2025
All commercially available apples of the same variety (like Rosalie or Honeycrisp) are genetic clones propagated from a single original plant.
Mental ‘Workouts’ Could Keep Your Brain Young
November 17, 2025
Cognitive training, unlike narrow skill games like Wordle or Mario Kart, aims to improve broad brain functions such as working memory and processing speed, which naturally decline with age.
Are we cooked? How social media shapes your language w/ Adam Aleksic (from TED Tech)
November 15, 2025
Social media algorithms are fundamentally reshaping language evolution by favoring, amplifying, and accelerating the spread of specific slang words, often for engagement or to bypass content moderation (e.g., 'unalive' replacing 'kill' on TikTok).
Data Centers, Icy Moons And Chameleons
November 14, 2025
A Cornell University study mapped the environmental impact of AI, projecting that by 2030, U.S. AI growth could add 24 to 44 million metric tons of CO2 and consume water equivalent to 6 to 10 million Americans annually, jeopardizing tech industry climate goals.
The Future Of Immune Health Might Be Here
November 12, 2025
The Immune Health Metric, developed by immunologist John Tsang, offers a holistic, data-driven assessment of immune system health, contrasting with the limited information provided by traditional Complete Blood Count (CBC) tests.
What Space Dust Reveals About Earth's Ice Age
November 11, 2025
Researcher Frankie Pavia of the University of Washington is using cosmic dust, identified by its unique helium fingerprint, found in ancient Arctic ocean soil cores to reconstruct climate conditions from 30,000 years ago.
Do Birth Control Side Effects Make It Worth Skipping?
November 10, 2025
A significant portion of adults under 35 trust social media influencers over physicians for health advice, leading to the spread of misinformation regarding hormonal birth control.
Fall foliage is still a mystery: Why do some leaves turn red?
November 7, 2025
Unlike yellow pigments which are revealed when chlorophyll breaks down, red pigments are newly manufactured in the fall, leading scientists to question the evolutionary benefit of this energy expenditure in a dying leaf.
Why Some Species Survive Mass Extinctions
November 5, 2025
The Permian-Triassic mass extinction, or The Great Dying, was triggered by massive volcanic eruptions in the Siberian Traps, leading to global warming and ocean deoxygenation.
The Secrets Everyday Rocks Keep
November 4, 2025
The clustering of skyscrapers in the New York City skyline is rooted in hard bedrock, specifically the Manhattan Schist, which is the remnant base of towering mountains formed 500 million years ago when the continents Laurentia and Gondwana Land collided.
Elections: A Big Math Problem
November 3, 2025
Different voting systems, even when applied legitimately to the same set of voter preferences, can produce different election winners, a concept illustrated by a mock election scenario.
This Week In Science: Spiders, TV Pixels And Storytelling
October 31, 2025
The debate over the function of spider web decorations called stabilimenta may be complicated by new simulation research suggesting they help wave propagation parallel to spiral threads.
Like Being Scared? Here’s Why
October 29, 2025
Haunted houses serve as ideal, ethically acceptable settings for scientists to study real-world, immersive human responses to fear, unlike controlled lab environments.
Nature Quest: Rebuild Or Relocate Post-Disaster?
October 28, 2025
Managed retreat, the purposeful and coordinated movement of people and assets out of harm's way, is a strategy that can be effective but depends heavily on community buy-in and government partnership, not just the location's hazard level.
What Works – And Doesn’t – For Hair Loss?
October 27, 2025
Hair loss affects up to half of all women, and the type of hair loss dictates the effective scientific treatment, making a formal diagnosis crucial.
Parasites Have Haunted Us For Millions Of Years
October 24, 2025
Parasites have an ancient history, with fossil evidence dating back over 500 million years, predating the dinosaurs.
Migrating Birds Have a Big, Clear Problem
October 22, 2025
Collisions with glass windows pose a massive, often invisible threat to migrating birds, resulting in an estimated billion bird deaths annually in the U.S.
We Have the Cure. Why is Tuberculosis Still Around?
October 21, 2025
Synthetic biology, defined broadly as genetic modification or engineering of living cells, is a controversial field being explored as a potential permanent solution to save species like frogs from deadly diseases like the chytrid fungus.
Should Scientists Genetically Engineer Wild Species?
October 20, 2025
The central debate in the Short Wave episode "Should Scientists Genetically Engineer Wild Species?" revolves around whether synthetic biology, or genetic engineering, should be used as a permanent solution to save vulnerable species from threats like the chytrid fungus, despite ethical and ecological concerns.
Science Says Quitting Smoking At Any Age Is Good For The Brain
October 17, 2025
Quitting smoking later in life, even in middle age or older, is still beneficial and may lower the risk for dementia by improving cognitive scores compared to those who never quit.
What Happens When You're Under Anesthesia?
October 15, 2025
Dr. Alopi Patel utilizes "verbal anesthesia," a form of guided imagery and patient explanation, to help patients relax before procedures, calling it an anesthesia you can't put in an IV.
Why Legal Weed Isn’t Always Safe
October 14, 2025
The lack of centralized federal regulation for cannabis forces states to create a patchwork of inconsistent safety standards, leading to potential hidden health risks for consumers.
Synthetic Cells: The Next Bioengineering Frontier
October 13, 2025
Scientists are attempting to build synthetic cells from scratch because natural cells are fundamentally complex, lacking a complete chemical ingredient list or known gene set, making them a "black box."
Why The Tropics Have A Weather Forecasting Problem
October 10, 2025
Weather forecasting models are historically biased toward mid-latitude dynamics, leading to significantly less accurate predictions for tropical regions where moisture, not temperature variability, is the primary driver of weather patterns.
Doing Science at the Edge of the Earth
October 8, 2025
The expedition to the northernmost landmass on Earth, Inuit Qeqertaat (Kaffeeklubben Island), aimed to establish a baseline record of plant life to track future changes driven by climate change.
Solved: The Potato Origin Mystery
October 7, 2025
Interspecies mating, traditionally viewed as a biological disaster, is increasingly recognized by scientists as a source of beneficial traits and the creation of entirely new species, such as the modern potato.
The Science Of Fear And Horror Movies
October 6, 2025
Fear is an ancient, evolutionarily vital survival mechanism designed for physical threats, which often manifests as maladaptive 'false alarms' in modern anxieties.
What Are Flies Doing In The Middle Of The Ocean?
October 3, 2025
Hoverflies migrating across the North Sea were found carrying pollen from over 100 plant species, suggesting they play a significant, previously unstudied role in long-distance pollination over water.
Why Animal Scavengers Protect Your Health
October 1, 2025
The decline of scavenging animals, such as vultures, can directly lead to increased human disease and mortality due to the buildup of rotting carcasses and associated pathogens.
Nature Quest: How High Will Sea Levels Rise?
September 30, 2025
Globally, sea levels are projected to be about 15 inches higher by 2050 compared to 1880s levels, a projection scientists are highly confident about for the next few decades.
Why Do Some Hurricane Survivors Thrive After Disaster?
September 29, 2025
Post-traumatic growth (PTG), the positive psychological change following trauma, can coexist with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and in some cases, stronger PTSD symptoms correlate with higher reported PTG among Hurricane Katrina survivors.
A Surprising Cause Of Endometriosis Could Lead To Cure
September 26, 2025
Katie Burns's research indicated that the immune system, specifically innate immune cells like neutrophils and macrophages, is a critical initial factor in the establishment of endometriosis lesions, challenging the long-held primary focus on estrogen.
Tylenol and Autism: What’s True and What Isn’t
September 24, 2025
Scientific consensus, as presented by autism researcher Helen Tager-Flusberg on Short Wave, does not support the claim that Tylenol (acetaminophen) use during pregnancy is a cause of autism, despite recent governmental announcements.
A Surprising Culprit of Food Allergies
September 23, 2025
Food allergies have seen a dramatic increase in prevalence in the United States over the last few decades, with rates in children now at 1 in 13, a significant rise from pre-1990s levels.
Should You Try Red-Light Therapy?
September 22, 2025
Red and near-infrared light therapy may promote skin benefits by increasing cellular energy production within mitochondria, though the exact mechanisms are still being researched.
Untangling The Science of Octopus Arms
September 19, 2025
New James Webb Space Telescope observations of the early universe have revealed mysterious red objects that challenge existing astrophysical models, potentially indicating a new type of black hole surrounded by a dense gas cloud.
What Does a Black Hole Collision Sound Like?
September 17, 2025
The 10th anniversary of the first gravitational wave detection marks a significant milestone, enabling scientists to study extreme cosmic events like black hole mergers, which were previously invisible.
What Do Stem Cells Mean For The Future Of Parkinson's?
September 16, 2025
Parkinson's disease is a rapidly growing neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons, leading to motor and non-motor symptoms.