Regina G. Barber
Stories
-
The physics of the spiral pass have long been a mystery. Not anymore
The physics of the spiral pass have baffled physicists and football fans for decades.
-
Can't solve a puzzle? Sleep on it, a new study suggests
NPR's Short Wave talks about babies' perceptions of rhythm, how sleep may help us solve puzzles and why snakes may be able to fast so long.
-
The week in science: Ice, parents' disgust and penguins adapting to climate change
Emily Kwong and Regina Barber of NPR's Short Wave podcast talk about the mysterious structure of ice, parents' heightened tolerance for disgust, and how penguins are adapting to climate change.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Scientists make yogurt using ants. The result: tangy and herby
Scientists test a traditional method for fermenting yogurt... using ants.
-
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.
