Short Wave
Podcast

Short Wave

NPR

1588 episodes

ScienceNews & Politics

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 (http://plus.npr.org/). You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including sponsor-free listening for Short Wave.

What this show covers

electionsforecastingmidtermspolitical sciencepolling

What listeners will find here

Why election forecasts keep struggling—and what the midterms revealed
Election forecasting is under the microscope again as political scientist Jack Rametta revisits his Senate model after the midterms. The episode looks at how his predictions held up and what polling and forecasting still can—and can’t—tell us about voter behavior.

Episodes

Predicting elections is getting harder. What did the midterms teach us?
Predicting elections is getting harder. What did the midterms teach us?
5 Nov 2026 · 12 min
AI is changing mathematics -- but not how you think
AI is changing mathematics -- but not how you think
4 Nov 2026 · 13 min
OpenAI whistleblowers on the fight over AI safety | Machine Gods
OpenAI whistleblowers on the fight over AI safety | Machine Gods
3 Nov 2026 · 32 min
Could virtual reality speed up learning?
Could virtual reality speed up learning?
2 Nov 2026 · 9 min
Is your favorite crime show rooted in fake science?
Is your favorite crime show rooted in fake science?
30 Oct 2026 · 14 min
MAHA’s midterm report card
MAHA’s midterm report card
28 Oct 2026 · 13 min
You Can See Everything and the science of spotting liars
You Can See Everything and the science of spotting liars
27 Oct 2026 · 13 min
The battle between matter and antimatter
The battle between matter and antimatter
26 Oct 2026 · 11 min
The dormant viruses in all of us may help explain long COVID
The dormant viruses in all of us may help explain long COVID
23 Oct 2026 · 14 min
Can planting more trees make allergies worse?
Can planting more trees make allergies worse?
21 Oct 2026 · 11 min
What are the odds we're not alone in the universe?
What are the odds we're not alone in the universe?
20 Oct 2026 · 14 min
What the world's leading researchers think about saunas
What the world's leading researchers think about saunas
19 Oct 2026 · 13 min
The terrifying physics of prehistoric sea monsters
The terrifying physics of prehistoric sea monsters
16 Oct 2026 · 9 min
What's at stake if we can't regrow our forests
What's at stake if we can't regrow our forests
15 Oct 2026 · 13 min
What Flock cameras really see – and how
What Flock cameras really see – and how
14 Oct 2026 · 15 min
The sound of fear: Why so many animals scream
The sound of fear: Why so many animals scream
13 Oct 2026 · 13 min
One of the toughest parts of ADHD is left out of the diagnosis
One of the toughest parts of ADHD is left out of the diagnosis
9 Oct 2026 · 12 min
What's missing from the lethal injection conversation
What's missing from the lethal injection conversation
7 Oct 2026 · 14 min
Science-backed guidance for healthy screen time
Science-backed guidance for healthy screen time
6 Oct 2026 · 12 min
The genetic secret helping bats survive a deadly epidemic
The genetic secret helping bats survive a deadly epidemic
5 Oct 2026 · 13 min
Eating alone may be secretly spiking your blood sugar
Eating alone may be secretly spiking your blood sugar
2 Oct 2026 · 9 min
How much of Earth's life is still undiscovered?
How much of Earth's life is still undiscovered?
30 Sept 2026 · 13 min
What social media gets wrong about inflammation
What social media gets wrong about inflammation
29 Sept 2026 · 14 min
A fall mystery: why do only certain leaves turn red?
A fall mystery: why do only certain leaves turn red?
28 Sept 2026 · 13 min
'Super' El Niño is coming. What should you expect?
'Super' El Niño is coming. What should you expect?
25 Sept 2026 · 12 min
Vaccinated or not, we’re on the brink of a measles epidemic
Vaccinated or not, we’re on the brink of a measles epidemic
23 Sept 2026 · 14 min
The science of self-worth (and how to boost yours)
The science of self-worth (and how to boost yours)
22 Sept 2026 · 12 min
Why we should all be 'bookmaxxing'
Why we should all be 'bookmaxxing'
19 Sept 2026 · 10 min
The latest on AI panic — and whether it's justified
The latest on AI panic — and whether it's justified
18 Sept 2026 · 14 min
When batteries get a facelift, so does renewable energy
When batteries get a facelift, so does renewable energy
16 Sept 2026 · 13 min
Why you'll probably be misdiagnosed in your lifetime
Why you'll probably be misdiagnosed in your lifetime
15 Sept 2026 · 13 min
Should race affect BMI guidelines? Doctors are split
Should race affect BMI guidelines? Doctors are split
14 Sept 2026 · 13 min
How scientists discovered that animals are doctors, too
How scientists discovered that animals are doctors, too
11 Sept 2026 · 13 min
Lindsay Clancy and postpartum psychosis
Lindsay Clancy and postpartum psychosis
9 Sept 2026 · 14 min
How hurricanes triggered lizard evolution
How hurricanes triggered lizard evolution
8 Sept 2026 · 11 min
When is your brain actually 'adult'?
When is your brain actually 'adult'?
7 Sept 2026 · 13 min
A new investigation shows heat is even deadlier than we thought
A new investigation shows heat is even deadlier than we thought
4 Sept 2026 · 14 min
The science of emotional regulation — and how to do it better
The science of emotional regulation — and how to do it better
2 Sept 2026 · 12 min
What can seashells teach us about the health of our oceans?
What can seashells teach us about the health of our oceans?
1 Sept 2026 · 13 min
Football is here – and so is a new study on CTE
Football is here – and so is a new study on CTE
31 Aug 2026 · 15 min
NASA's newest telescope has a top secret past
NASA's newest telescope has a top secret past
28 Aug 2026 · 13 min
How your metabolism could alter your mental health
How your metabolism could alter your mental health
26 Aug 2026 · 12 min
AI-made viruses could be the future of medicine
AI-made viruses could be the future of medicine
25 Aug 2026 · 11 min
How much has the U.S.’s wildlife changed since Lewis and Clark?
How much has the U.S.’s wildlife changed since Lewis and Clark?
24 Aug 2026 · 14 min
Why scientists are stoked about mysterious black hole stars
Why scientists are stoked about mysterious black hole stars
21 Aug 2026 · 12 min
More men are taking testosterone. What gives?
More men are taking testosterone. What gives?
19 Aug 2026 · 14 min
A survivor's view from inside a tornado
A survivor's view from inside a tornado
18 Aug 2026 · 12 min
Could future wars be fought by AI?
Could future wars be fought by AI?
17 Aug 2026 · 14 min
Inside Colombia's big quake – and why more could be coming
Inside Colombia's big quake – and why more could be coming
14 Aug 2026 · 12 min
How to see the year's best meteor shower tonight
How to see the year's best meteor shower tonight
13 Aug 2026 · 12 min

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