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Short Wave

Podcasts · Science

Short Wave

1,117 episodes · 20 with AI analysis

AI Intelligence · across all analyzed episodes

Topics · top 10

US Mint penny production economicsCurrency production costs vs. face valueSeigniorage and government revenue from coin productionBase metal price inflation impact on manufacturingCash usage decline and digital payment adoptionPenny cultural significance and symbolismCoin production efficiency and sustainabilityCongressional authority over currency regulationPenny art and collectibilityLow-denomination currency policy

Analyzed Episodes

Dec 18, 2025

The Indicator: Take A Penny, Leave A Penny, Get Rid Of The Penny

US Mint penny production economicsCurrency production costs vs. face valueSeigniorage and government revenue from coin production
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Dec 19, 2025

GLP-1 Pills Are On The Way. Here's What To Know

GLP-1 receptor agonist medications and mechanism of actionSemaglutide pill formulation and SNAC absorption technologyOrforglipron (Eli Lilly) non-peptide GLP-1 pill development
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Dec 22, 2025

No, Raccoons Aren’t Pet-Ready (Yet)

Domestication SyndromeUrban Wildlife AdaptationRaccoon Behavior and Evolution
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Dec 23, 2025

Why Suicide Prevention is 'Everyone's Business'

Suicide Prevention TrainingCaregiver Support and Emotional LaborSuicidal Crisis De-escalation Techniques
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Dec 24, 2025

Drinking Turns Some Red With Asian Glow—And May Fight Tuberculosis

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) Gene MutationAsian Flush/Asian Glow Genetic ConditionAlcohol Metabolism and Toxin Buildup
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Dec 26, 2025

Why Drones Are Catching Whale Breaths

Drone-based whale breath sampling for disease detectionCetacean morbillivirus surveillance in Arctic watersNon-invasive wildlife health monitoring technology
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Dec 29, 2025

Why Kratom Is At The Heart Of A Big Public Health Debate

Kratom and 7-hydroxymitragyinine (7-OH) regulation and schedulingOpioid crisis alternatives and harm reduction strategiesFDA and DEA drug scheduling processes and public advocacy
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Dec 30, 2025

Climate Anxiety Is Altering Family Planning

Climate Anxiety and Mental HealthReproductive Decision-Making Under Climate UncertaintyPopulation Growth vs. Fossil Fuel Consumption
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Dec 31, 2025

Science In 2025 Took A Hit. What Does It Mean?

Federal science funding cuts and budget disruptionsNIH grant cancellations and research terminationDEI-related research funding elimination
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Jan 2, 2026

The trouble of zero

Neuroscience of numerical cognitionNumber neurons and brain specializationAbstract mathematical thinking in the brain
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Jan 5, 2026

Did Earth’s Water Come From Space?

Water origin on EarthProtoplanetary disc formationSnow line in solar system
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Jan 6, 2026

Behold a T-Rex holotype, paleontology's "gold standard"

Paleontology research methods and specimen classificationMuseum collection management and curationFossil preservation and conservation techniques
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Jan 7, 2026

Micro forests: an emerging climate hero?

Micro forest design and implementationUrban biodiversity restorationCarbon sequestration in cities
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Jan 9, 2026

Hot galaxies alert!

Galaxy cluster formation and early universe evolutionSupermassive black holes in young galaxy clustersElephant olfactory capabilities and food detection
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Jan 12, 2026

These little microbes may help solve our big problems

Microbial carbon capture technologyExtremophile microorganismsBioremediation and hazardous waste cleanup
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Jan 13, 2026

The ozone layer is still healing…thanks to science

Ozone Layer RecoveryMontreal Protocol ImplementationChlorofluorocarbon (CFC) Phase-Out
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Jan 14, 2026

When is your brain actually an "adult"?

Brain development stages and turning pointsFrontal lobe maturation and executive functionMyelination and neural connectivity optimization
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Jan 16, 2026

10 breakthrough technologies to expect in 2026

Sodium-ion battery technology and EV supply chainPrivate space stations and commercial space infrastructurePersonalized gene editing and CRISPR base editing
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Jan 19, 2026

Come critter spotting with us on a cold winter's night

Bioluminescent fungi and fox fire phenomenonLichen fluorescence and UV light adaptationWinter wildlife adaptations and energy conservation
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Jan 20, 2026

Is ‘The Pitt’ accurate? Medical experts weigh in

Medical Drama Accuracy and Clinical RealismHealthcare Worker Violence and SafetyAI Integration in Clinical Documentation
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