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  • A fall mystery: why do only certain leaves turn red?

    A fall mystery: why do only certain leaves turn red?
    Sep 28 2026
    Leaves turn yellow in the fall because Chlorophyll breaks down, revealing the yellow pigment that was there all along. But why red? Red is a different story altogether. Leaves have to make a new pigment to turn red. Why would a dying leaf go an extra mile to do that? Scientists don’t really know. NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce reports on the leading hypotheses out there.

    Read more of Nell's reporting on this topic.

    Interested in more seasonal science? Email us your ideas at shortwave@npr.org.

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    14 Min.
  • 'Super' El Niño is coming. What should you expect?

    'Super' El Niño is coming. What should you expect?
    Sep 25 2026
    The world is bracing for the worst effects of a Super El Niño. Or a Godzilla El Niño. But what does that really even mean?

    For millennia El Niño has shaped weather across the globe, fueling flooding in parts of the U.S., droughts and wildfires in Australia and Indonesia, and disrupting fisheries across the Pacific.

    Scientists have long wondered if human activities — chiefly the burning of fossil fuels — are making El Niños stronger. Now, on the eve of the strongest El Niño on record, a team of researchers think they have an answer.

    Interested in more science behind the weather? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.

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    13 Min.
  • Vaccinated or not, we’re on the brink of a measles epidemic

    Vaccinated or not, we’re on the brink of a measles epidemic
    Sep 23 2026
    Measles is making a comeback. Ongoing outbreaks in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah have documented hundreds of cases, mostly among unvaccinated people. And while local and federal politicians debate the definitions and impact of those measles-associated deaths, health experts worry that we’re overlooking the real problem: the threat of a full-scale epidemic. Today, we talk to one of those experts – epidemiologist Michael Mina – to figure out who’s most at risk and whether there’s any way for us to turn this epidemic around.

    Interested in more health and medical news? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.

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    14 Min.
  • The science of self-worth (and how to boost yours)

    The science of self-worth (and how to boost yours)
    Sep 22 2026
    Your self-worth today can be affected by your memories. But you have power over those memories – when you re-experience them. By doing that, you can reshape your self-esteem for the better and change your perspective. That idea and the broader science of self-worth are at the heart of Marisa Franco’s new book Worth. It’s so intriguing to us, we couldn’t pass up the chance to share it with you. That’s why today’s episode is a peek at a conversation Marisa had about self-worth on NPR’s self-help podcast Life Kit.

    Interested in more psychology episodes? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org – it may become a future episode!

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    13 Min.
  • Why we should all be 'bookmaxxing'

    Why we should all be 'bookmaxxing'
    Sep 19 2026
    Remember your mom, dad and teachers telling you to read because it’s good for you? Well, a compilation of the latest research shows they were right. “Reading is one of the simplest and most accessible activities for actually supporting cognitive performance, brain health, mental health, but also overall wellbeing throughout our lives,” said Christelle Langley, a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Cambridge and co-author of review, published in the journal Psychological Medicine. The review looked specifically at recreational reading — reading for fun — and found broad benefits for children, adolescents and older adults. This episode, we dive deep into the joys and health benefits of bookmaxxing.

    Interested in the science of reading? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.

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    11 Min.
  • The latest on AI panic — and whether it's justified

    The latest on AI panic — and whether it's justified
    Sep 18 2026
    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.

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    15 Min.
  • When batteries get a facelift, so does renewable energy

    When batteries get a facelift, so does renewable energy
    Sep 16 2026
    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.


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    13 Min.
  • Why you'll probably be misdiagnosed in your lifetime

    Why you'll probably be misdiagnosed in your lifetime
    Sep 15 2026
    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 OCD

    Interested in more medical science? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.

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    13 Min.