Two chimpanzees groom each other — a behavior that can involve several gestures. Anup Shah/Getty Images hide caption
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Short Wave
From 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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Most Recent Episodes
A cuttlefish swims on seagrass. Cuttlefish can change the color and texture of their bodies. cinoby/Getty Images hide caption
Dancing yeti crabs, morphing cuttlefish, other stories from the deep sea
Dancing yeti crabs, morphing cuttlefish, other stories from the deep sea
Gemini IV spacewalk, June 3, 1965. NASA astronaut Ed White became the first American to walk in space. NASA hide caption
Outer space changes you, literally. Here's what it does to the human body
Outer space changes you, literally. Here's what it does to the human body
New insights into the brain's waste-removal system could one day help researchers better understand and prevent many brain disorders. Mihaela Rosu/Getty Images hide caption
Once completed, India's National River Linking Project will transfer an estimated 200 billion cubic meters of water around the country each year. STRDEL / Stringer/Getty Images hide caption
India's plan to reroute rivers could have unintended consequences on rainfall
India's plan to reroute rivers could have unintended consequences on rainfall
Synchronous fireflies, known as Photuris frontalis, blink in the woods near the Congaree River on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Columbia, S.C. Sam Wolfe for NPR hide caption
NASA's Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope is set to launch in 2027. This innovative telescope is designed to investigate long-standing astronomical mysteries, such as dark energy, the force behind the universe's expansion. NASA hide caption
This mysterious energy is everywhere. Scientists still don't know what it is
This mysterious energy is everywhere. Scientists still don't know what it is
Launched in 1990, a major goal of the Human Genome Project was to sequence the human genome as fully as possible. In 2003, project scientists unveiled a genome sequence that accounted for over 90% of the human genome — as complete as possible for the technology of the time. Darryl Leja, NHGRI/Flickr hide caption
The dubious consent question at the heart of the Human Genome Project
The dubious consent question at the heart of the Human Genome Project
Teens are following skincare trends on TikTok. Some dermatologists are wary
Teens are following skincare trends on TikTok. Some dermatologists are wary
Some ants, like the Florida carpenter ant, treat the injured legs of comrades, and will even perform medical amputations when necessary. Zen Rial/Getty Images hide caption