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Short Wave

Short Wave

By: NPR
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Summary
 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.

Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org. You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including sponsor-free listening for Short Wave.Copyright 2019-2026 NPR - For Personal Use Only Politics & Government Science
Episodes
  • Predicting elections is getting harder. What did the midterms teach us?

    Predicting elections is getting harder. What did the midterms teach us?
    5 Nov 2026
    Famously, polls got the 2016 election wrong. And they’d been off for multiple elections since. So, Monday night, political scientist Jack Rametta nervously refreshed his Senate forecasting model for the final time. Would it be right this time? Or would it yet again cast doubt on whether modeling, statistics and forecasting can still help us understand what motivates people to vote? Now that the results are in, so is Jack – to tell us how he did, and what his and other researchers’ predictions tell us about the evolving science of polling and forecasting.

    Interested in more science behind the 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.

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    13 min
  • AI is changing mathematics -- but not how you think

    AI is changing mathematics -- but not how you think
    4 Nov 2026
    Math has created some of humanity's oldest intellectual challenges. And AI is completely changing the game. This year AI solved one of math’s most difficult problems. Since then, OpenAI published hundreds of new math results. So is this the end for the people who’ve dedicated their careers to pushing forward math? We get into it with NPR science correspondent Geoff Brumfel, who weighs the risks and rewards of AI’s math takeover.

    Interested in more technology and AI 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
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    14 min
  • OpenAI whistleblowers on the fight over AI safety | Machine Gods

    OpenAI whistleblowers on the fight over AI safety | Machine Gods
    3 Nov 2026
    Check out NPR’s newest podcast, Machine Gods. It’s the official podcast of the singularity, meaning — the hypothetical future when machines will outpace our own intelligence…and our control. Whether you think that future is coming or not, hosts Kevin Roose and Casey Newton are here to help you understand the people trying to build it… and how their technology works.

    On this episode, listen to their exclusive interview with safety researchers who were fired by OpenAI.

    Interested in more technology and AI 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
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    32 min
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