Regina G. Barber
Stories
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If not pet, why pet shape? Science says raccoons aren't quite there
Dogs are man’s best friend. And it’s no secret that we at Short Wave love cats (Regina has four)! Both of these iconic pets have been domesticated – evolved and adapted to live alongside humans – for millennia. And a recent study suggests that the common raccoon may be on its first steps towards joining them. So how do scientists look for signs of domestication and what do those signs mean? And could you have a litter box trained raccoon in your lifetime? We talk to the study’s lead author, Raffaela Lesch, to find out.Interested in more animal science stories? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.
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An exoplanet, how ant colonies deal with disease and a volcanoes-Black Death link
Regina Barber and Emily Kwong of NPR's Short Wave discuss an Earth-sized exoplanet, how ant colonies deal with disease and a possible link between volcanoes and the Black Death.
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The evolutionary history of kissing, moss in space, and the origins of the moon
Emily Kwong and Regina Barber of NPR's Short Wave podcast talk about the evolutionary history of kissing, how moss spores fare in space, and new clues about the collision that created the moon.
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This week in science: A Saturn moon's ocean, chameleon eyes and energy used for AI
Emily Kwong and Regina Barber of NPR's Short Wave discuss new findings about the ocean of Saturn's moon Enceladus, the secrets behind chameleons' eye movements and the energy use behind AI computing.
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This week's Short Wave news roundup
Regina Barber and Emily Kwong of Short Wave talk about spider web architecture, storytelling and memory, and why more TV pixels may not translate to a better viewing experience.
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Scientists make yogurt using ants. The result: tangy and herby
Scientists test a traditional method for fermenting yogurt... using ants.
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This week in science: Fly migration, a surprise in the Amazon and fish noises
Hosts of NPR's science podcast discuss new findings about long-distance fly migration, an unexpected impact of emissions in the Amazon, and fish noises.
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This week in science: Mystery dots in space, optical illusions and octopus arms
The regular Short Wave science roundup covers mysterious red dots in space, the neurons behind optical illusions and a study of octopus arms.
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This week in science: Recycling innovation, scrolling dangers and the inside of Mars
NPR's Emily Kwong and Regina Barber of Short Wave talk about an innovation in plastic recycling, the link between smartphones and hemorrhoids and what Mars' structure and ice cream have in common.
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Why some species in the deep sea get bigger, while some species get smaller
Thousands of meters below the ocean's surface lurk some gigantic creatures, much larger than their shallow-water brethren. Scientists have a few hunches for why this happens, but the debate continues.
