Podcasts about shortwave

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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

This week marks the 100th anniversary of the Scopes "Monkey Trial" — where a teacher was charged with the crime of teaching Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. At the time, it was illegal in Tennessee to "teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals." The trial, which was orchestrated to be a media spectacle, foreshadowed the cultural divisions that continue today and led to a backlash against proponents of evolution.Read more of science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce's reporting on the story. Want us to cover more science history? Less? Either way, tell us by emailing shortwave@npr.org! We'd love to know what you're hearing — and 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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Short Wave producer Hannah Chinn has adult-onset eczema. They're not the only one. Up to ten percent of people in the United States have it, according to the National Eczema Association — and its prevalence is increasing. Despite its ubiquity, a lot about this skin condition remains a mystery. So today, Hannah's getting answers. In this encore episode, they sat down with Raj Fadadu, a dermatologist at the University of California, San Diego, to ask: What is eczema? What triggers it in the first place? And might climate change make it worse sometimes?If you liked this episode, check out our episode on the science of itchiness. Also, follow us! That way you never miss another episode.Interested in hearing more about climate change and human health? Email us at shortwave@npr.org — we'd love to hear your feedback!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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

On this week's episode of The Prepping Academy, we welcome a special guest, John Jacob Schmidt, founder of AmRRON, for a discussion on the history of AmRRON and what the future holds. We also discuss his new project, AmRRON Reloaded, and efforts to grow the ranks of individuals capable of effectively communicating in any emergency situation. Remember, the annual AmRRON national grid down communications exercise takes place later in July. It is your opportunity to test your skills and see what information you can receive during the exercise. Remember, if you do not have communications when the balloon goes up, you are just another refugee staring at your dead cell phone, wondering what just happened. Join PrepperNet.Net - https://www.preppernet.netPrepperNet is an organization of like-minded individuals who believe in personal responsibility, individual freedoms and preparing for disasters of all origins.PrepperNet Support the showPlease give us 5 Stars! www.preppingacademy.com Contact us: https://preppingacademy.com/contact/ www.preppernet.net Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3lheTRTwww.forrestgarvin.com

A warming climate doesn't just affect dry land — it affects the ocean, too. For years, Earth's ocean has acted as a heat sink for climate change: A large part of the heat generated by human use of fossil fuels is being absorbed by the ocean. And while the deep sea is largely unaffected by this heat absorption, oceanographers have discovered that the upper ocean currents are accelerating. That acceleration has the potential for huge knock-on effects, including sea level rise, changing fish migration cycles, shifting storm patterns, and more.This is the first episode of Sea Camp, Short Wave's summer series exploring the intriguing and otherworldly depths of the ocean. Follow us every Monday through August as we travel from the sunlit zone to the sea floor.Interested in more stories about the ocean? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Happy Independence Day, Short Wavers! Do you have plans outdoors this weekend and want to figure out just how swampy it's gonna feel? For that kind of mental preparation, we're revisiting an episode in which some meteorologists are telling us to pay more attention to dew point temperature, not relative humidity. Interested in more weather episodes? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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This week's show features stories from France 24, Radio Deutsche-Welle, NHK Japan, and Radio Havana Cuba. http://youthspeaksout.net/swr250704.mp3 (29:00) From FRANCE- First a press review about the bill before the French Parliament which would merge all public broadcasters together, revenge from some politicians who do not like their criticism- the bill has failed to pass so far. A press report on West Bank settlers who have been attacking Israeli Defense Forces who shot an Israeli 14 year old who the soldier mistook for a Palestinian. Then an updated report from Jerusalem about the West Bank settlers and the Israeli right wing who accuse the military of being leftists. From GERMANY- Following an Israeli attack on a seaside cafe in Gaza that killed 30 civilians including another journalist, DW interviewed Martin Roux from Reporters Without Borders. They discuss this cafe incident as well as the unprecedented killing of 200 journalists by the Israeli army in its war on Gaza since October 2023. Journalists in war zones are protected under international law, and targeting them is a war crime. From JAPAN- Trump has expressed frustration in trade talks with Japan- Japan is also frustrated and this report expresses the view from Japan. It also includes some history of the tariff conflict between the massive business partners. Zelensky wants to pull Ukraine from the Ottawa Convention which bans anti-personnel land mines- recently Poland and Finland said they are withdrawing from the treaty as well. Ukraine carried out a drone strike on a Russian factory 800 miles across the border. From CUBA- Venezuela reported an international conspiracy bringing weapons across their borders to destabilize the country and justify a US intervention. No one is sure if the International Criminal Court will survive the Trump administration pressure on Gaza. Iran urged the UN and Security Council to strongly condemn Israel and the US for violating its national sovereignty. Available in 3 forms- (new) HIGHEST QUALITY (160kb)(33MB), broadcast quality (13MB), and quickdownload or streaming form (6MB) (28:59) Links at outfarpress.com/shortwave.shtml PODCAST!!!- https://feed.podbean.com/outFarpress/feed.xml (160kb Highest Quality) Website Page- < http://www.outfarpress.com/shortwave.shtml ¡FurthuR! Dan Roberts "Voters want a fraud they can believe in." -- Will Durst Dan Roberts Shortwave Report- www.outfarpress.com YouthSpeaksOut!- www.youthspeaksout.net

The Andromeda galaxy lies just beyond (...OK, about 2.5 million light-years beyond) our galaxy, the Milky Way. For the past hundred years or so, scientists thought these galaxies existed in a long-term dance of doom — destined to crash into one another and combine into one big galactic soup. But today on the show, Regina and computational astrophysicist Arpit Arora explain why a recent paper out in the journal Nature Astronomy suggests this cosmic game of bumper cars may never come to a head at all. Interested in more space episodes? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Independence Day is approaching! Imagine in a few days, someone has procured illegal fireworks from a couple of states over. Are you:A) first in line to light themB) content to watch while others set them offC) 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. Plus, he and Emily reveal their scores to his forty-point scale. Ken's 40-point sensation seeking survey can be found in his book, Buzz!.Interested in more psychology episodes? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Policy, an influential CDC committee that shapes U.S. vaccine policy, has become a flashpoint in recent weeks. Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired all 17 members and replaced them with 7 new members — many of whom do not have deep expertise in vaccines, and some of whom have spread vaccine misinformation. NPR public health correspondent Pien Huang was at the new working group's first meeting last week. This episode, she talks with Emily about the sweeping changes they promised to how vaccine policy is made in the U.S. — and resurrected issues that have been advanced by groups that question vaccines. Read more of Pien's reporting on this topic.Want us to cover more twists and turns in U.S. health policy? Or less? Either way, tell us by emailing shortwave@npr.org! We'd love to know what you're hearing — and 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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Since 2004, scientific research has shown that a full night of sleep may lend itself to a burst of insight in the morning. But what about the earlier stages of sleep? And what about just a nap? A research team based in Germany found that even a 20-minute nap could deliver a "eureka" moment, and published their findings in the journal PLOS Biology this week. Have a question about sleep? Email us at shortwave@npr.org — we'd love to hear from you!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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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Curious about radios beyond Wi‑Fi? Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Joseph Sund & Victor Lams demystify shortwave, ham, GMRS and CB—from Cold War code stations to kids' bike-ride comms. Could this “analog internet” withstand the next blackout? The post Beyond Wi-Fi: Why Shortwave, Ham & CB Radios Still Matter appeared first on StarQuest Media.

This week's show features stories from NHK Japan, France 24, and Radio Havana Cuba. http://youthspeaksout.net/swr250627.mp3 (29:00) From JAPAN- Vietnam has been officially admitted as a partner country in BRICS group of emerging economies- Trump recently warned the members moving away from international trade using US dollars. Putin has been trying to pressure Ukraine to accept a potential peace treaty. Ukraine is speeding up production of drones designed to take out other drones and wants foreign finance. UNICEF says 470 million children are currently affected by conflicts and wars, that is 1 of 6 children on earth. From FRANCE- I have found that it is increasingly difficult to find news reports that are definitively accurate. That is one of the reasons I love press reviews. Here are 7 press reviews from France, beginning with last weekends extreme heatwave in much of Europe. The US military strikes on Iranian facilities was the front page story for several days, though what effectively happened is widely disputed. International opinion is divided, some calling it illegal and reckless, and others praising what is claimed by Trump to have been accomplished by the bombs. The Iranian military response in Qatar, announced in advance, was said to be the reason for the ceasefire that followed. Then by Thursday the press had returned to the food distribution project in Gaza that has resulted in hundreds of civilians being murdered while trying to avoid starving to death. There was much opinion about Trump getting NATO members to agree to eventually spending 5% of GDP on their militaries. From CUBA- More on the rising death toll in Gaza, made worse by a man made drought. In the UK the group Palestine Action is in the cue to be labeled as terrorists and banned. Last weekend activists held a national day of protest in the US against the US bombing in Iran. It is reported that Israel is seeking access to US military weapons for retaliation against Iran. Available in 3 forms- (new) HIGHEST QUALITY (160kb)(33MB), broadcast quality (13MB), and quickdownload or streaming form (6MB) (28:59) Links at outfarpress.com/shortwave.shtml PODCAST!!!- https://feed.podbean.com/outFarpress/feed.xml (160kb Highest Quality) Website Page- < http://www.outfarpress.com/shortwave.shtml ¡FurthuR! Dan Roberts "The flaws of our leaders perfectly mirror the emotional underdevelopment of the society that elevates them to power." -- Gabor Mate Dan Roberts Shortwave Report- www.outfarpress.com YouthSpeaksOut!- www.youthspeaksout.net

Why did the ornithologist strap a taxidermy badger to a remote controlled car and drive it around the prairie? To interrogate the secret world of animal eavesdropping in the grasslands, of course! Today on the show, we travel to the most imperiled ecosystem on the planet to unravel a prairie mystery and find out why prairie dogs are grassland engineers worth keeping tabs on.Special thanks to Andrew Spencer and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for providing the Long-billed Curlew call recording, and to American Prairie for providing prairie soundscape recordings.Got a question about other animal ecosystem engineers? Email us at shortwave@npr.org. 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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal on the planet, and some of them may be on the rise. At least in listener Abigail Krich-Starr's area, that's due to warmer, wetter weather — which, yes, is linked to climate change. But it doesn't stop there: Ecologists and entomologists say increased heat could also alter mosquito behavior, shift their natural habitat, and even change how pathogens incubate and spread inside their bodies.So how do you protect yourself against the (mosquito) masses? Our experts suggested several things:- Assess your risk by checking local mosquito surveillance efforts, like this one for the state of Massachusetts- Consider rescheduling outdoor events happening between dusk and dawn, which is peak biting time for multiple mosquito species- Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, weather-permitting, to limit exposed skin- Use an EPA-approved DEET repellent, and/or a permethrin spray for clothing and outdoor gearThis episode is part of Nature Quest, a monthly Short Wave segment that answers listener questions about the local environment.Got a question about changes in your local environment? Send a voice memo to shortwave@npr.org with your name, where you live and your question. We might make it into our next Nature Quest episode! 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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

For generations, the all-female Haenyeo divers have routinely dove into frigid waters off the coast of South Korea, holding their breath for minutes at a time, as they collect seafood to eat and sell. These women start diving as girls and continue well into old age. And recent research suggests that it's not just years of training that makes this feat possible – it's also a set of special genetic adaptations. Science reporter Ari Daniel brings us the story.Read more of Ari's reporting here.Have another story about biology and genetics for us to consider? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Audio File: wor2300.mp3

This week's show features stories from France 24, Radio Deutsche-Welle, NHK Japan, and Radio Havana Cuba. http://youthspeaksout.net/swr250620.mp3 (29:00) From FRANCE- First two press reviews from Monday on the Israel war on Iran, from both the Israeli, Iranian,Lebanese, and French press. Then Monday opinion pieces from the Guardian and Foreign Policy. From Thursday the role of Trump and the US in the war is discussed in French and British press. Then global criticism of the cause of the war from China, while a Chinese military delivery plane that seemed to go to Iran. A science website warns that global carbon emissions are on track to go beyond the 1.5 degree threshold for irreversible global warming in three years. From GERMANY- The Israeli military operation in Iran has not slowed down activities in Gaza, where the distribution of limited aid supplies has resulted in nearly daily massacres of starving people. An interview with Olga Cherevko, spokesperson for the United Nations office for Humanitarian Affairs. From JAPAN- Nippon Steel says it has done everything necessary to buy US Steel, which Trump has approved. Australian PM Albanese wasn't able to have a one on one with Trump who left the G7 meeting early. While the G7 leaders were meeting in Canada the Chinese President was on a tour of Central Asia and offered to play a constructive role in stabilizing the Middle East. The Japanese Defense Ministry is evacuating citizens from Iran and Israel. Israel bombed a TV studio that was on air. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute released their annual report on global nuclear weapons. From CUBA- Netanyahu has been urging Trump to join the war on Iran. The Iranian Foreign Ministry says the Israeli strikes are not surgical and are killing many women and children. Available in 3 forms- (new) HIGHEST QUALITY (160kb)(33MB), broadcast quality (13MB), and quickdownload or streaming form (6MB) (28:59) Links at outfarpress.com/shortwave.shtml PODCAST!!!- https://feed.podbean.com/outFarpress/feed.xml (160kb Highest Quality) Website Page- < http://www.outfarpress.com/shortwave.shtml ¡FurthuR! Dan Roberts "War is a place where young people who do not know each other and do not hate each other, kill each other, based on decisions made by old people who know each other and hate each other, but do not kill each other." -- Paul Valery Dan Roberts Shortwave Report- www.outfarpress.com YouthSpeaksOut!- www.youthspeaksout.net

We are in the thick of multiple sports seasons: the NBA finals are happening, and baseball and soccer are in full swing. For devoted fans, emotions can run pretty high during a game. Cognitive anthropologist Dimitris Xygalatas has long been fascinated by that intensity — and how uniform it can be across fans. So, he and fellow researchers at the University of Connecticut decided to look into what exactly makes fans so deeply connected to their team and to fellow supporters. It turns out that connection may have less to do with actual gameplay and more to do with rituals. Their research was recently published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.Questions about sports science? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Since last week, Israel has been attacking Iran's nuclear facilities, along with many other targets around the country. Iran has fired hundreds of missiles in response. NPR correspondent Geoff Brumfiel has been watching all of this very closely because Israel's missile defenses have been a focus of the Trump White House. This year, President Trump requested funding from Congress for a "Golden Dome for America" — a missile defense system that would protect all of the United States. The idea comes from Israel's Iron Dome — a network of interceptor missiles stationed at points across the country. Iron Dome and related Israeli air defenses don't get every missile fired — including some launched in the past few days by Iran — but the Israeli military says it has intercepted thousands of rockets since it was built. Trying to get that kind of protection for America, though, might be a very different matter. Read more of science correspondent Geoff Brumfiel's reporting on this topic and find NPR's coverage of the Middle East here. Questions about nuclear science? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In this episode of Grid Down Comms Up on the Prepping Academy, Patrick looks at tactical and team communications and strategic communications in a disaster. Team communications are a simple concept, but become surprisingly complex when users enter the equation. Frequency coordination and interference are a reality of a large-scale disaster scene. We discuss how that impacts operations and how we can avoid some of those issues. Strategic communication is frequently overlooked by the prepping and survival community, usually due to the lone wolf mentality. In a disaster, you aren't going to be the lone wolf; you may even be the voice of your community. Having the skills and tools to quickly and effectively relay the needs of those around you is critical to helping those who are trying to help you. In this episode, we look at some details and facts of communications to support the logistical log train to keep your community going in a disaster.  Join PrepperNet.Net - https://www.preppernet.netPrepperNet is an organization of like-minded individuals who believe in personal responsibility, individual freedoms and preparing for disasters of all origins.PrepperNet Support the showPlease give us 5 Stars! www.preppingacademy.com Contact us: https://preppingacademy.com/contact/ www.preppernet.net Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3lheTRTwww.forrestgarvin.com

The skunky smell of cannabis may be going out of style. NPR's science correspondent Pien Huang visited the grow facility for District Cannabis, which sells weed in Washington D.C. and Maryland. On her tour, she learned why cannabis smells the way it does. Plus, how many strains have been bred — to smells like lavender, citrus and even cookies. Read more of science correspondent Pien Huang's reporting on this topic here, or check out the entire special series, "How safe is your weed?" Questions about the science behind the mysteries, events and... smells... all around us? Email us at shortwave@npr.org – we'd love to hear your ideas!Listen to Short Wave on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Take a big inhale through your nose. Now, exhale. Breathing may seem simple, but it's controlled by a complex brain network. Each inhale gives the human brain information about the external world. And now, a new research paper in the journal Current Biology suggests that humans have unique breathing patterns, almost like nasal "fingerprints." Not only that: These unique breathing patterns seem to say a lot about people's physical and mental health.Questions about the science behind your brain and body? Email us at shortwave@npr.org – we'd love to hear your ideas!Listen to Short Wave on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In this episode of Grid Down Comms Up on the Prepping Academy, Patrick looks at some of the technical communications failures during the hurricane, from radio programming disasters, broken equipment, and poor engineering practice. We look at them all. If you want to be the person who learns from others' mistakes, get out a pen and paper to take notes now, so you don't mess it up when others didJoin PrepperNet.Net - https://www.preppernet.netPrepperNet is an organization of like-minded individuals who believe in personal responsibility, individual freedoms and preparing for disasters of all origins.PrepperNet Support the showPlease give us 5 Stars! www.preppingacademy.com Contact us: https://preppingacademy.com/contact/ www.preppernet.net Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3lheTRTwww.forrestgarvin.com

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This week's show features stories from NHK Japan, France 24, and Radio Havana Cuba. http://youthspeaksout.net/swr250613.mp3 (29:00) From JAPAN- The new South Korean president, Lee Jae-myung, is implementing a big shift in relations with North Korea, canceling loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts at the border. US National Intelligence Director, Tulsi Gabbard, visited Hiroshima and is speaking out for the abolishment of nuclear weapons. The Indian government is enticing foreign electric car manufacturers to create factories in the country. President Trump says the trade deal with China is done after tariff talks in London. From FRANCE- Some press reviews on the US protests against deportation, including the clearly marked Australian reporter being shot by police while on air in LA. An excerpt from an interview with NYU Professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat on who Stephen Miller is, and his role in creating the crisis over ICE and citizens protesting the arrests of undocumented Americans. An airport interview with Greta Thunberg who was deported from Israel after being kidnapped by Israeli forces while attempting to bring aid to Gaza. An interview with Diva Amon, a marine biologist from UCSB, at the UN Oceans Conference in France- she talks about the dangers of deep-sea mining. From CUBA- 300,000 Italians demonstrated against the war in Gaza last weekend in Rome. Available in 3 forms- (new) HIGHEST QUALITY (160kb)(33MB), broadcast quality (13MB), and quickdownload or streaming form (6MB) (28:59) Links at outfarpress.com/shortwave.shtml PODCAST!!!- https://feed.podbean.com/outFarpress/feed.xml (160kb Highest Quality) Website Page- < http://www.outfarpress.com/shortwave.shtml ¡FurthuR! Dan Roberts "We live in a strange world, where we think we can buy or build our way out of a crisis that has been created by buying and building things." -- Greta Thunberg Dan Roberts Shortwave Report- www.outfarpress.com YouthSpeaksOut!- www.youthspeaksout.net

Roughly 163 million people experience obsessive-compulsive disorder and its associated cycles of obsessions and compulsions. They have unwanted intrusive thoughts, images or urges; they also do certain behaviors to decrease the distress caused by these thoughts. In movies and TV, characters with OCD are often depicted washing their hands or obsessing about symmetry. Dr. Carolyn Rodriguez says these are often symptoms of OCD, but they're not the only ways it manifests – and there's still a lot of basics we have yet to understand. That's why, in this encore episode, Carolyn looks to include more populations in research and find new ways to treat OCD. If you're interested in potentially participating in Dr. Rodriguez's OCD studies, you can email ocdresearch@stanford.edu or call 650-723-4095._Questions about the brain? Email us at shortwave@npr.org – we'd love to hear your ideas for a future episode!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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Dog Aging Project is a long-term nationwide survey on the health and lifestyles of U.S. dogs that launched in 2019. Today, the project has more than 50,000 canines and counting. Today, hear what researchers have learned from one of the largest dog health data sets and what it could tell us both about increasing the lifespan of our furry friends and us.For more information about signing your pup up for the Dog Aging Project, visit their website.Have more questions about animals? Let us know at shortwave@npr.org. 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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

For hundreds of years sailors have told stories about miles of glowing ocean during moonless nights. This phenomenon is known as "milky seas," but the only scientific sample was collected in 1985. So atmospheric scientist Justin Hudson, a PhD candidate at University of Colorado, used accounts spanning 400 years to create a database of milky seas. By also using satellite images to visually confirm the tales, Justin hopes his research brings us one step closer to unraveling this maritime mystery. 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.Got a question about a scientific mystery? Let us know at shortwave@npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Every year, America celebrates its independence with millions of dollars worth of explosives imported from China. Zachary Crockett lights a fuse and backs away quickly. SOURCES:JJ Brau, fireworks coordinator for J&M Displays.Mark Johnson, vice president of J&M Displays. RESOURCES:"The explosive history of fireworks, from ancient China to Revolutionary America," by Joe Hernandez (NPR, 2024)."July 4 fireworks fiasco solved – technically," by Jonathan Horn (The San Diego Union-Tribune, 2016)."The Fireworks King," by Damian Paletta and Emily Rauhala (The Washington Post, 2018)."Exploding The Mystery Of Blue Fireworks," by Short Wave (2013)."How Do Fireworks Make Shapes?" by Natalie Wolchover (Live Science, 2011). EXTRAS:"Agreement Between The City of Rapid City and J&M Displays, Inc. for Annual Fireworks Displays" (2023).

On Tuesday, NPR and three Colorado public radio stations sued the Trump administration for violating the First Amendment. On this week's On the Media, the soon-to-be lone Democratic commissioner at the FCC speaks out against what she calls the weaponization of her agency. Plus, the final episode of The Divided Dial introduces the unlikely group trying to take over shortwave radio.[01:37] Host Micah Loewinger speaks with Anna Gomez, soon to be the lone Democratic commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission, about her makeshift media tour–where Gomez is speaking out about what she sees as the weaponization of her agency. [12:47] Episode 4 of The Divided Dial, Season 2: Wall St. Wants Your Airwaves. In recent years, creative, often music-focused pirate broadcasting has been thriving on shortwave. Reporter Katie Thornton reveals how these surreptitious broadcasters are up against a surprising enemy: not the FCC, but a deep-pocketed group of finance bros that is trying to wrestle the airwaves away from the public, and use them for a money-making scheme completely antithetical to broadcasting. What do we lose when we give up our public airwaves?Further reading:Remarks of FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez at the 2025 Media Institute Communications Forum, May 15, 2025 On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

Depending on what time it is, your body responds differently to an injury or infection. During the day, you're likely to heal faster and fight infection better than at night. And historically, scientists weren't entirely sure why. That picture is starting to clear up thanks to a new study published last week in the journal Science Immunology. The research finds a missing piece of the puzzle in neutrophils, powerful immune cells that — despite living less than 24 hours — know the difference between day and night.Got a question about how the body works? Let us know at shortwave@npr.org. 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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Around 40 million people around the world have bipolar disorder, which involves cyclical swings between moods: from depression to mania. Kay Redfield Jamison is one of those people. She's also a professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and has written extensively about the topic, from medical textbooks to personal memoirs. Today on Short Wave, she joins us to talk about the diagnosis process, treating and managing bipolar disorder. 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.Got a question about mental health? Let us know at shortwave@npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Gen Z and younger millennials are the most climate literate generations the world has ever seen. They learned about climate change in school; now, it's part of how they plan for the future, including for jobs, housing ... and kids.So, what do experts say about how to navigate the kid question? In this installment of Nature Quest, Short Wave speaks to climate journalist Alessandra Ram about the future she sees for her newborn daughter. Plus, how do we raise the next generation in a way that's good for the planet? Resources discussed in this episode include:Jade Sasser's book, Climate Anxiety and the Kid QuestionKimberly Nicholas's High Impact Climate Action GuideElizabeth Bechard's book, Parenting in a Changing ClimateThe Climate Mental Health Network's Climate Emotions WheelGot a question about changes in your local environment? Send a voice memo to shortwave@npr.org with your name, where you live and your question. You might make it into our next Nature Quest episode!Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

As our centennial series continues, Katie Thornton, host of The Divided Dial, a series on WNYC's On the Media, independent journalist, public historian, and Fulbright fellow, talks about the new season of her 4-part series, about the history of shortwave radio.

It's Memorial Day, Short Wavers. This holiday, we bring you a meditation on time ... and clocks. There are hundreds of atomic clocks in orbit right now, perched on satellites all over Earth. We depend on them for GPS location, Internet timing, stock trading and even space navigation. In today's encore episode, hosts Emily Kwong and Regina G. Barber learn how to build a better clock. In order to do that, they ask: How do atomic clocks really work, anyway? What makes a clock precise? And how could that process be improved for even greater accuracy?- For more about Holly's Optical Atomic Strontium Ion Clock, check out the OASIC project on NASA's website.- For more about the Longitude Problem, check out Dava Sobel's book, Longitude. 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.Have questions or story ideas? Let us know by emailing shortwave@npr.org!Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Before they were appointed, the leaders of the F.B.I. boosted misinformation about a ‘deep state.' Now they're in power, they've become the focus of conspiracy theories. On this week's On the Media, how MAGA infighting about Jeffrey Epstein reveals a greater problem for the Republican Party. Plus, the story of one of the world's farthest-reaching radio stations: a haven for extremists based in small-town Maine.[01:00] Host Micah Loewinger talks with Will Sommer, senior reporter at The Bulwark, about why the Trump White House's allegiance with conspiracy theorists is souring, and how Jeffrey Epstein is dividing the MAGA base. [09:04] Episode 3 of The Divided Dial, Season 2: World's Last Chance Radio. In the internet era, much of the shortwaves have been left to the most extreme voices — including a conspiratorial flat earth ministry, and an ultra-conservative cult complete with everything from sexual abuse to dead infants and illegal burials. In the 737-person northern Maine town of Monticello, reporter Katie Thornton explores one of the world's farthest-reaching radio stations that has given them a home, pumping out extremism and conspiracy theories to the world as the voice of American broadcasting.Further reading:“The Real Reason Trump World Just Can't Quit Conspiracy Theories,” Will Sommer On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

Riddle us this: Which animal is pink, curved beaked and a master of the physics required to create water tornadoes? If you guessed flamingos, you're right. New research out this month in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that across a range of harsh environments, flamingos have become masters — of physics, fluid dynamics and so much more — all in pursuit of their filter-fed prey. Short Wave host Regina G. Barber sits down with biomechanics researcher Victor Ortega Jiménez to hear all of the incredibly involved lengths these birds go through to get their prey. Want to hear about more physics or animal discoveries? Email us at shortwave@nprg.org to tell us what areas of science you'd be interested in.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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

What's it like to get bit by a venomous snake? "It's like a bee sting times a thousand," Tim Friede says. Tim would know. Over the past few decades, he's let himself be bitten over 200 times by all kinds of venomous snakes — black mambas, taipans, cobras, kraits and more. With time, he's gradually built immunity to multiple types of venom. Could scientists help him share that immunity with others? Science reporter Ari Daniel joins Short Wave to explain how antivenom works, what scientists discovered and where the research may lead. Plus, what does Tim Friede have in common with Princess Bride?Want to hear about more medical discoveries? Email us at shortwave@nprg.org to tell us what areas of science you'd be interested in.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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Trump administration is rewriting policies and reducing funding for multiple agencies that handle climate change, including NOAA, EPA and FEMA. We asked NPR reporters Lauren Sommer and Alejandra Borunda what that the implications of that are — and who the changes will affect.Want to hear more ways research is being impacted by the new administration? Email us at shortwave@nprg.org to let us know — and we may cover your idea in a future episode!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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In science fiction, wormholes are hyperspace subway tubes linking one part of a galaxy directly to another, distant point. But could they actually exist? To find out, we talk to theoretical physicist Ron Gamble, who says wormholes aren't just a matter of science fiction — and they have big implications about the shape of space itself.Want to hear about more hypotheticals physicists have to confront in their work? Email us at shortwave@nprg.org — we might turn your idea into a whole episode!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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Psychologist Zorana Ivcevic Pringle says creativity isn't a trait. It's a choice, something you can foster and prioritize. In this episode of Life Kit, in collaboration with NPR's science podcast, Short Wave, Ivcevic Pringle explains how to bring creativity into your everyday life, overcome creative blocks and stick with creative ideas and projects.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

On Monday, dozens of Afrikaners arrived in the US as refugees. On this week's On the Media, how a fringe group of white South Africans have been lobbying for Donald Trump's attention for almost a decade — but refugee status was never on their wish list. Plus, the second episode of The Divided Dial, all about how rightwing extremists took over shortwave radio.[01:00] Host Micah Loewinger talks with Carolyn Holmes, a professor of political science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, about the arrival of white South African refugees in the US, why Afrikaner white rights groups are objecting to the policy, and the long-standing exchange of ideas between white nationalist elites in the US and South Africa.[16:42] Episode 2 of The Divided Dial, Season 2: You Must Form Your Militia Movements. Many governments eased off the shortwaves after the Cold War, and homegrown US-based rightwing extremists edged out shortwave peaceniks to fill the void. Reporter Katie Thornton explores how in the 1990s, US shortwave radio stations became a key organizing and recruiting ground for white supremacists and the burgeoning anti-government militia movement. On this instantaneous, international medium, they honed a strategy and a rhetoric that they would take to the early internet and beyond.Further reading:“Tucker Carlson, those South African white rights activists aren't telling you the whole truth,” by Carolyn Holmes (2019)“‘Kill the Boer': The anti-apartheid song Musk ties to ‘white genocide'” by Nick Dall On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

Approximately 80% of orange cats are males, including the four orange cats owned by the Short Wave team. Scientists have long suspected that orange color was a sex-linked trait — hiding somewhere on the X chromosome. Now, scientists at Stanford University and Kyushu University in Japan have characterized the mutation responsible for orange cat coloration. Both groups published their results in the journal Cell Biology this week. Have a question about the animals all around us? Email us at shortwave@npr.org — we'd love to hear from you!Listen to Short Wave on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Most bats use echolocation to navigate and hunt, but some use their ears for another trick: eavesdropping. "And then these frog-eating bats, for example, they are actually listening in on the mating calls of frogs that are much, much lower in frequency," says behavioral ecologist Rachel Page. But how the bats knew this eavesdropping trick was a mystery. So she set up and experiment with baby bats and a speaker. Have a question about the animals all around us? Email us at shortwave@npr.org — we'd love to hear from you!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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Shortwave radio opened a portal to the world—then became a weapon in a high-stakes war of propaganda and power.The Divided Dial is a podcast series about the history of radio from WNYC's On the Media and longtime 99PI contributor, Katie Thornton.Fishing in the Night Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

Becoming fluent in a second language is difficult. But for adults, is it impossible? Science says no. In this encore episode, Short Wave host Emily Kwong dissects the "critical period hypothesis," a theory which linguists have been debating for decades — with the help of Sarah Frances Phillips, a Ph.D. student in the linguistics department at New York University. Together, Emily and former Short Wave host Maddie Sofia explore where the theory comes from, how it applies to second-language acquisition and what it means for Emily's efforts to learn Mandarin Chinese as an adult.Have a linguistics or neuroscience question? Email us at shortwave@npr.org — we'd love to hear from you!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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Robots have been a thing for a long time, but they've never quite met expectations. While AI has changed the game for chatbots, it's not quite so clear for robots. NPR science desk correspondent Geoff Brumfiel spoke to our colleagues over on our science podcast Short Wave on how humanoid robots are actually developing with the help of artificial intelligence. It was a fascinating discussion and so we are sharing that conversation with you today on the Indicator. Related episodes: Is AI underrated? (Apple / Spotify) Is AI overrated? (Apple / Spotify) Dial M for Mechanization (Apple / Spotify) For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy