Episodes

  • This July 4th, are you a thrill- or chill-seeker?

    This July 4th, are you a thrill- or chill-seeker?
    Jul 3 2026
    Independence Day is approaching!


    Imagine if someone has procured illegal fireworks from a couple of states over. Are you:

    1. first in line to light them?

    2. content to watch while others set them off?

    3. going to find a fire extinguisher — just in case — while loudly condemning the activity?

    Ken Carter, a psychologist at Oxford College of Emory University, says everyone has a different level of sensation-seeking. This episode, we get into the factors at play, like people's brain chemistry, when deciding whether or not to do an activity, like setting off fireworks.

    For low and average sensation-seekers, very thrilling activities like large, self-run fireworks displays can cause their bodies to produce a lot of cortisol, a stress hormone.

    On the other hand, high sensation-seekers, Carter says, "don't tend to produce that much cortisol when they're in those highly chaotic experiences. So when they're seeing those fireworks, they actually produce higher amounts of another chemical called dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter or a chemical messenger that's involved in pleasure."

    Carter has developed a 40-point self-assessment survey for people to figure out how much of a sensation-seeker they are. The survey can be found in his book, Buzz!

    Interested in more psychology episodes? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.

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    13 mins
  • Is setting your trash on fire a good idea?

    Is setting your trash on fire a good idea?
    Jul 1 2026
    The U.S. generates 292 million tons of trash each year – and that trash has to go somewhere. Sometimes, that’s to an incinerator, where it’s burned and turned into electricity. Proponents of incineration applaud the ability to generate energy from waste and divert garbage from landfills. Opponents worry about the potential health risks, especially to minoritized communities. Today on the show, we explore the good and the bad of waste-to-energy facilities – and even get to see one up close.

    Interested in more deep dives into the often invisible science powering our lives? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.

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    14 mins
  • Ticks are a growing problem, no matter where you live

    Ticks are a growing problem, no matter where you live
    Jun 30 2026
    In the grand scheme of things, Lyme disease is a fairly new scientific discovery. It was first traced back to ticks in the late 70s and early 80s. The tick-borne illness can cause a rash, fever, pain, neurological complications, and even facial paralysis. It’s spread by only two of the nearly 50 species of ticks in the United States. Historically, most Lyme cases were limited to a small region, including the Great Lakes area and northeastern US. But thanks to changing temperatures, animal migration and shifts in land use, scientists say tick territory is expanding. So what does that mean for Lyme disease risk? And do you have to be worried about it in your own backyard?

    Interested in more episodes about pests and parasites? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.

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    13 mins
  • Is working from home actually good for you?

    Is working from home actually good for you?
    Jun 29 2026
    For many, being able to work from home is a boon: saving time on your commute, working in your sweatpants, throwing in a load of laundry before a meeting. People say it makes them happier. But a new study suggests that, despite all the advantages, working from home isn’t creating a happier workforce. It’s making people more socially isolated. We get into all the details with NPR mental health correspondent Rhitu Chatterjee.

    Interested in more everyday science? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.

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    14 mins
  • Salty Clouds aren’t the only strange thing about this object in space

    Salty Clouds aren’t the only strange thing about this object in space
    Jun 26 2026
    There’s an object in space 25 times the size of Jupiter that’s stumped scientists for years. They haven’t been able to figure out if it’s a planet or a failed star. But scientists are one step closer to an answer thanks to the powerful James Webb Space Telescope. After analyzing data collected by the telescope, astronomers have uncovered unexpected new clues floating light years away from us: Salty clouds sitting in space as hot as some home ovens. And if this mystery isn’t enough, we have more to look forward to in this episode, including insights into the evolution of laughter and the burials of ancient human relatives.

    Interested in more science in the news? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.

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    9 mins
  • Did Trump's foreign aid cuts fuel the Ebola outbreak?

    Did Trump's foreign aid cuts fuel the Ebola outbreak?
    Jun 24 2026
    The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is growing – and is likely larger than official numbers show. The deadly disease spreads through bodily fluids, on average killing half the people it infects. And while officially declared in May, the case numbers point to the virus circulating for months without being detected. To make matters worse, there’s not a vaccine for this specific species of ebolavirus – at least, not yet. NPR global health correspondent Jonathan Lambert has been covering everything Ebola-related for the past month or so, and shares what he’s learned today.

    Interested in more health and science news? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.

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    11 mins
  • What can a tornado teach us about kindness?

    What can a tornado teach us about kindness?
    Jun 23 2026
    One evening in May of 2011, tornado sirens went off in a small Missouri city called Joplin. Thousands of homes were destroyed in the tornado, about a third of the town’s 50,000 residents were displaced and around 160 people died. And in the months following the tornado, the town became known not just for the destruction, but the kindness and cooperation that led to its recovery. Scientists who have studied behavior after mass traumas say, disasters can spark an outpouring of kindness and powerful bonds between strangers. Reporter Pauline Bartolone joins Short Wave co-host Emily Kwong to share the science behind this phenomenon.

    Interested in more science? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.

    Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.

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    13 mins
  • Inside the mysterious minds of horses

    Inside the mysterious minds of horses
    Jun 22 2026
    Janet Jones has been fascinated by horses since childhood. She’s now a horse trainer and a neuroscientist, which allows her to explore the minds of the animals to which she’s devoted her life. She even recently wrote a book all about their brains. She says there’s an enormous gap between the way humans have relied on horses for tens of thousands of years – and what we actually know about their brains. And they have lots to teach us humans. That’s why we’re diving into science today.

    Interested in more science? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.

    Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes, early access, archive access, curated playlists, sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.

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    14 mins