Short Wave — Podcast Ad Analysis
12 episodes analyzed
1 min ads · 5% of episode is ads
1.8 ads/episode
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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. If you're hooked, try Short Wave Plus. Your subscription supports the show and unlocks a sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/ shortwave
PodSkip has analyzed 12 episodes of Short Wave, averaging 1.8 ads per episode (5% of runtime).
Why renaming this common hormonal disorder is a huge deal
May 20, 2026
You probably know someone who has a condition that, until last week, was known as PCOS, or polycystic ovary syndrome. It affects one in eight reproductive-aged women. But despite it being such a…
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A solution for California's water woes
May 19, 2026
For years, farmers in California have been pumping huge amounts of water from their wells to irrigate their crops. The state’s Central Valley is the nation’s single biggest source for many different…
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What's up with your nightmares?
May 18, 2026
Dreams of flying? Nightmares of teeth falling out? Falling off a cliff? As a sleep scientist at the University of Montreal, Michelle Carr has pretty much heard it all. In Michelle’s new book…
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A chemical found in fish could help reinvent your sunscreen
May 15, 2026
It’s been over 25 years since the FDA approved a new ingredient for sunscreen in the United States. But a molecule called gadusol found in fish and coral reefs is a promising candidate. It absorbs…
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Should you be fibermaxxing? Here's what the science says
May 13, 2026
The average person eats 10-15 grams of fiber per day, according to the USDA. The problem? That’s WAY under the recommended daily amount. Fiber – a type of carb that our bodies are unable to digest –…
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Why Swedish scientists gave salmon cocaine
May 12, 2026
A recent study caught our eye: salmon on cocaine. Or really, researchers giving salmon cocaine…for science. See, scientists know human drugs pollute aquatic environments – past studies have shown…
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Without this pill, lots of people would be dead
May 11, 2026
25 years ago, the FDA approved a pill that would change the way scientists treat cancer … for good. The pill was called Gleevec; it was designed specifically to treat CML, chronic myeloid leukemia…
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Hantavirus: the risks, the science and what you need to know
May 08, 2026
On May 2, the World Health Organization got an alarming report: People aboard a ship in the Atlantic Ocean were falling ill. The culprit is now confirmed as hantavirus, a pathogen that some rodents…
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How science is taking tripping mainstream
May 06, 2026
President Trump recently signed an order to speed up the evaluation of psychedelics to treat the brain. That’s coming after decades of strict prohibition on psychedelic drug use dating back to…
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This medical condition stumped doctors for years
May 05, 2026
One morning, Kyla Madonna Kenney woke up and her world was turned upside down: The room was spinning, she had a splitting migraine and one side of her body was shaking. Her tremors and migraine…
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The secret behind clownfish stripes and more fishy fascinations
May 04, 2026
We reeled in science reporter Ari Daniel for this episode who grants us three wishes in the form of three fishes. He takes us on a trip around the world to learn about how a clownfish in the western…
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Coffee is complex. Can science standardize it for the better?
May 01, 2026
Ask any coffee aficionado, and they’ll tell you: A good cup is about more than the beans. The flavor is affected by lots of things – the roast and fermentation of the beans, the coarseness of the…
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NASA is practicing moonwalks. When are we going back?
Apr 29, 2026
After the success of Artemis II, we at Short Wave definitely have moon fever. So, we brought NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce onto the show to talk about where we’re headed. What will…
Set up solar, or save a tree? It’s complicated
Apr 28, 2026
To solar or not to solar? That is the question for this latest episode of our monthly series Nature Quest. For listener Darcey Hughes, installing solar panels isn’t just about keeping her utilities…
The mystery that led this family to get their stomachs removed
Apr 27, 2026
When Karyn Paringatai learned about a pattern among her family members, it changed the course of her life: A lot of people died young. As Karyn dug into her family history, she learned many Maori…
Why a chimp 'civil war' shows how societies collapse
Apr 24, 2026
In the mid-1970s, primatologist Jane Goodall witnessed something that changed her opinion of chimpanzees forever: A four-year conflict amongst the chimpanzees she was studying in Tanzania…
Where did our moon come from?
Apr 22, 2026
Earth didn’t always have a moon. In the beginning of the solar system, when the planets were still forming, something happened that would change Earth’s night sky forever: The Moon was created! How…
Eating disorder recovery in a diet culture world
Apr 21, 2026
Eating disorders are complicated illnesses that skyrocketed among teenagers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pediatrician Eva Trujillo says they "literally rewire the brain," decrease brain size, and…
These voicemails save lives
Apr 20, 2026
For residents of Prek Touch, Cambodia — right on the banks of the Mekong River — flooding is a regular part of life. But as those floods worsen due to climate change, it’s getting harder to adapt…
The psychology behind why you dread small talk
Apr 17, 2026
Do you avoid small talk in the office, or with your neighbor in the elevator? If so, you might want to give it a chance. According to a study just published in the Journal of Personality and Social…
A new approach to brain health, one neuron at a time
Apr 15, 2026
Neuroscientist Paul Nuyujukian likens the brain to a stadium full of people. To eavesdrop on the crowd you could put a microphone in the middle of the stadium. But to understand the conversations you…
Is there still a gender gap in medical research?
Apr 14, 2026
When you go to the doctor’s office, your doctor has to figure out which treatment is best for you. Physicians rely on medical research and clinical trials to make sure those treatments are safe and…
Are you pooping all wrong?
Apr 13, 2026
Talking about poop can be taboo, and this social norm may be hurting our health. Dr. Trisha Pasricha says around 40% of people in the U.S. have bathroom issues so bad it affects their daily lives…
Who's to blame for all this plastic?
Apr 10, 2026
How did plastic become so ubiquitous? The answer lies deep beneath the surface of the earth. In her new book Plastic Inc. , environmental journalist Beth Gardiner lays bare the key connection between…
Quantum physics is for everybody
Apr 08, 2026
Subatomic particles, gravity wells and the beginning of the universe – these are difficult and mysterious concepts that are better understood with storytelling and metaphor. That’s exactly…
Why are bees special? We get inside a hive to find out
Apr 07, 2026
In a new National Geographic docuseries, viewers get a look inside a bee hive. The series is called Secrets of the Bees — and since there’s nobody we know who loves bees more than entomologist Sammy…
The world is running out of helium — again
Apr 06, 2026
Lots of people count on helium. From MRI machines and semiconductor manufacturing to pressurizing rockets and detecting leaks, helium is used globally for much more than party balloons. So when…
Never had the flu? Scientists may know why
Apr 03, 2026
Scientists estimate somewhere between 5%-35% of people do not get sick from the flu despite being exposed to the virus that causes it. Now, researchers may have figured out why. The team looked at…
Why is NASA going to the moon again?
Apr 01, 2026
NASA’s Artemis II mission is set to launch this week, which could bring humanity close to the moon for the first time since 1972. It’s a mission that’s over twenty years in the making – and even…
Predicting spring bloom is an art and a science
Mar 31, 2026
Do you ever wish you could predict the future? The National Park Service in Washington D.C. does it every year when they forecast when the Capitol’s cherry blossoms will reach peak bloom. People…