Episodes

  • Will Federal Budget Cuts Affect Space Science?

    Will Federal Budget Cuts Affect Space Science?
    Jul 22 2025
    Earlier this year, the White House proposed a nearly 24% cut to NASA's 2026 fiscal year budget — the largest in the agency's history. The trims are largely aimed at the NASA's fundamental science research and would halt science that has already been partially paid for, like the Mars sample return and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Many scientists and policy experts are also worried that the reduced funding would cause a scientific brain drain. But within the last month, Congress has started to discuss appropriations packages that may not severely contract the budget after all. So, in this episode, Regina reports on the important hypotheticals: What programs might be affected? Are these cuts likely to happen? If so, when?

    Want to hear more stories about space and policy? Let us know at shortwave@npr.org.

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    13 mins
  • Sea Camp: Is Better Human Health Hidden In The Sea?

    Sea Camp: Is Better Human Health Hidden In The Sea?
    Jul 21 2025
    For this week's Sea Camp, we're diving below the ocean's surface to explore the sunlight zone, the portion of ocean that's 0-200 meters deep. Here, we zoom in on some spineless inhabitants envied for their "superpowers." Marine biologist Drew Harvell tells us about stealthy sea slugs, sea stars with super strength and life-saving sponges.

    Also, exciting news!! WE HAVE A NEWSLETTER! It lets you go even deeper with the marine research each week of Sea Camp. Sign up here!

    Plus,     check out the comic we commissioned to accompany this episode!

    Want to hear more stories about underwater marvels? Email us and let us know at shortwave@npr.org.

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    13 mins
  • Congress has voted to eliminate government funding for public media

    Congress has voted to eliminate government funding for public media
    Jul 18 2025
    Act now to ensure public media remains free and accessible to all. Your donation will help this essential American service survive and thrive. Visit donate.npr.org now.

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    2 mins
  • These Scientists Are Using AI To Listen To Frogs

    These Scientists Are Using AI To Listen To Frogs
    Jul 18 2025
    If you were a miner in California during the Gold Rush, you might have dined on a California red-legged frog. The largest native frog in the western United States, this Golden State denizen used to be found as far inland as the Sierra Nevada mountains and south, into Baja California. But today, they're listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Conservationists have worked to translocate new populations of the red-legged frog back to California in hopes that their numbers can be restored. But how do they monitor those populations' growth? Enter AI.

    Want to hear more stories about critters or conservation? Let us know at shortwave@npr.org.

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    13 mins
  • Who Is Using The 988 Crisis Line?

    Who Is Using The 988 Crisis Line?
    Jul 16 2025
    The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — 988 — launched on this day exactly three years ago. People who call the line seeking support are connected to a local network of crisis centers and a trained crisis counselor. And while millions of people have contacted the line since its launch, a new study shows portions of the country still don't know about it. Short Wave host Emily Kwong speaks to Jonathan Purtle, one of the lead researchers of on this study, about the findings, how the hotline differs from 911 and what its existence signals to Americans.

    Want us to cover more mental health news? Tell us by emailing shortwave@npr.org! We'd love to know what you want to hear from us!

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    13 mins
  • How Realistic Are Movie Dinosaurs?

    How Realistic Are Movie Dinosaurs?
    Jul 15 2025
    Jurassic Park: Rebirth is the latest installment in the Jurassic World series. And while dinosaur paleontologist Matt Lamanna has loved dinos — and the Jurassic Park franchise — his whole life, he says some of the films are more accurate than others. So how accurate are the ones unveiled in this latest movie? Matt gets into it with Short Wave host Regina G. Barber, who got a tour of the dinosaur exhibits where Matt works: the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh. They also discuss the accuracy of the beloved giant creatures in the newest Jurassic World film, as well as some of the hits from the franchise's archive — like the dinosaur he was partially responsible for discovering.

    Want us to cover more natural history? Tell us by emailing shortwave@npr.org! We'd love to know what you want to hear from us.

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    13 mins
  • Sea Camp: These Critters Call The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Home

    Sea Camp: These Critters Call The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Home
    Jul 14 2025
    For this second installment of the Sea Camp series, we explore the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It's the largest of five gigantic garbage patches in the sea. These patches hang out at the nexus of the world's ocean currents, changing shape with the waves. These areas were long thought to have been uninhabited, the plastics and fishing gear too harmful to marine life. But researchers have uncovered a whole ecosystem of life in this largest collection of trash. Today, with the help of marine biologist Fiona Chong, we meet the tiny marine life that calls this place home.

    Also, exciting news!! WE HAVE A NEWSLETTER! It lets you go even deeper with the marine research each week of Sea Camp. Sign up here!

    Interested in hearing more sea stories? Tell us by emailing shortwave@npr.org!

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    15 mins
  • Meet The Third Ever (!!) Interstellar Comet

    Meet The Third Ever (!!) Interstellar Comet
    Jul 11 2025
    A rare visitor from another star system has been spotted: the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS! It was detected July 1 by the NASA-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System, or ATLAS. Most known comets orbit the Sun and are bound by the gravity of the solar system ... but this object came from far beyond the pull of our Sun, traveling 137,000 miles per hour from another star. Now, scientists are racing to get a good image of it, in the hopes it can answer big questions like: What is the universe like where this comet is from? Is the solar system we live in unique?

    Want us to cover more space news? Tell us by emailing shortwave@npr.org! We'd love to know what you want to hear from us.

    Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at     plus.npr.org/shortwave.

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    9 mins