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Short Wave: Daily Summaries Delivered
by NPR
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.
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- 2 days ago14 min
The latest on AI panic — and whether it's justified
AI is in the news again – for its potential to end civilization. A researcher at Anthropic resigned very publicly last week, citing concerns about the accelerating capabilities of AI and what he called “irresponsible” behavior from major AI companies Anthropic and OpenAI. Following his resignation, the leaders of both companies called for an internationally cooperative, industry-wide slowdown on advanced AI development. And Wednesday, OpenAI disclosed six more incidents of “unexpected or concerning model behavior” and debuted a new framework for reporting misalignments. So, given all these events, how worried should we be about the future of AI? And what safety measures are – or could be – set in place to safeguard humanity? NPR’s power and policy reporter Huo Jingnan reports.Interested in more science and technology news? 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. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy
- 4 days ago13 min
When batteries get a facelift, so does renewable energy
For years, renewable energy companies have faced a problem: How to store the mass amounts of energy they produce for later use. Batteries may be just the solution. In California, there's now enough grid-scale battery storage to power millions of homes for a few hours. Battery power is often the second largest source of energy on a given day in the state. So, we're revisiting the fast-growing technology with Cooper Katz McKim, a producer on The Indicator from Planet Money.Listen to the three-part battery series.Have questions about the future of energy? Contact us 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.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy
- 5 days ago13 min
Why you'll probably be misdiagnosed in your lifetime
Nearly every person will experience at least one diagnostic error in their lifetime. That means either a delayed diagnosis, a wrong diagnosis – or no diagnosis at all. That’s according to a report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine from 2015 on diagnostic error. Today on the show we talk to a physician who was personally affected by the crisis, and New York Times editor and author of the book The Elusive Body: Patients, Doctors and the Diagnosis Crisis.If you liked this episode, check out these other episodes:- How science is taking tripping mainstream- What If You Took The "Trip" Out Of Ketamine?- Could Psychedelics Become Tripless?- The Reality Of OCDInterested in more medical 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.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy
- 6 days agonarrative13 min3-min read
Should race affect BMI guidelines? Doctors are split
BMI, a 200-year-old metric never intended for medical use, remains a cornerstone of health assessments despite growing criticism for its oversimplification and racial inequities. The episode explores why doctors are reconsidering race-specific BMI cutoffs and whether any alternative can truly capture individual health.
- 1 weeks agonarrative13 min4-min read
How scientists discovered that animals are doctors, too
This episode of NPR's Shortwave explores the growing scientific field of animal self-medication, revealing how creatures from chimps to butterflies use natural remedies to treat illness — knowledge that could inform human medicine and conservation. It challenges the long-held belief that only humans use medicine, showing instead a deeply interconnected web of health across species.
- 1 weeks agoconversational14 min4-min read
Lindsay Clancy and postpartum psychosis
The podcast episode from NPR's Shortwave explores the tragic case of Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts mother on trial for the murder of her three children, which has reignited public conversation about postpartum psychosis—a rare but severe mental health condition. The discussion centers on what postpartum psychosis is, how it differs from more common conditions like postpartum depression, and why it remains under-researched and misunderstood despite affecting 1–2 in every 1,000 births.
- 1 weeks agoroundtable11 min3-min read
How hurricanes triggered lizard evolution
Hurricanes are driving rapid evolution in Caribbean lizards, a new magnetic method can detect forged ancient pottery, and extreme heat is linked to a wide range of health issues beyond heat stroke, including mental health crises and kidney failure. These findings highlight how environmental forces shape biology, culture, and human health in unexpected ways.
- 1 weeks agonarrative13 min4-min read
When is your brain actually 'adult'?
A new neuroscience study challenges the long-held belief that the human brain finishes developing by age 25, revealing instead that adolescence may last until age 32, with major implications for how we understand mental health, maturity, and human evolution. The episode unpacks this paradigm shift using MRI data and expert insight from neuroscientist Duncan Astle.
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About Short Wave
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's Short Wave daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of Short Wave as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the Short Wave podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official Short Wave product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by NPR.
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How often does Short Wave release new episodes?
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Short Wave covers topics including Science, News, Daily News. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
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