Short Wave

What’s In A Kiss? 21 Million Years Of Evolution

How far back in evolutionary history does kissing go? Through phylogenetic analysis, an international team of scientists found that kissing was likely present in the ancestor of all apes – which lived 21 million years ago. Not only that: They were definitely kissing Neanderthals. The study was published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior [http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1090513825001370]. In this news roundup, we also talk about new clues about the collision that created our moon and a moss surviving the hardships of space. Interested in stories about human evolution? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org [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 [http://plus.npr.org/shortwave]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices] NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

How To Disagree Better

Many people are gearing up for holiday conversation with loved ones who may disagree with them -- on everything from politics to religion and lifestyle choices. These conversations can get personal and come to a halt quickly. But today on the show, we get into neuroscience and psychological research showing that as much as we disagree, there are ways to bridge these divides -- and people who are actively using these strategies well in their daily lives. (encore) Want to hear more neuroscience and psychology? Email us your ideas to shortwave@npr.org — we'd love to hear from you! 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 [http://plus.npr.org/shortwave]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices] NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

Nature Quest: The Earthquake Prediction Problem

Their whole life, producer Hannah Chinn [https://www.npr.org/people/1255819925/hannah-chinn] has known about the Big One: a massive earthquake forecasted to hit the West Coast. Scientists say it’ll destroy buildings, collapse bridges, flood coastal towns and permanently shift the landscape. But how exactly do scientists know this much about the scope of earthquakes if they can’t even predict when those earthquakes are going to happen? Together with host Emily Kwong [https://www.npr.org/people/767284140/emily-kwong], Hannah goes on a quest for answers. Plus, they get into what a Cascadia earthquake has in common with a Thanksgiving turkey. This story is part of Nature Quest, our monthly segment that brings you a question from a Short Waver who is noticing a change in the world around them. Have an environment-based question you want us to investigate on the next Nature Quest? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org [shortwave@npr.org]. Check out our previous episode on earthquake prediction [https://www.npr.org/2021/07/22/1019335731/can-we-predict-earthquakes-hint-no]. 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 [http://plus.npr.org/shortwave]. Listen to Short Wave on Spotify [https://n.pr/3HOQKeK] and Apple Podcasts [https://n.pr/3WA9vqh]. This episode was produced by Hannah Chinn and Rachel Carlson. It was edited by Rebecca Ramirez. Tyler Jones checked the facts. The audio engineer was Kwesi Lee. Special thanks to scientists Paul Lundgren and Suzanne Carbotte. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices] NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

SNAP Delays: The Science Of Hunger And Food Insecurity

One in every eight households in the U.S. isn’t always sure where the next meal will come from. Limited food access can spell hunger – and that can affect the body and mind. So can cheaper, less nutritious foods. Hunger has a huge impact on individuals – and whole societies. It can mean shorter term issues like trouble focusing, as well as longer term mental health and physical struggles like chronic disease and social isolation. Host Regina G Barber [https://www.npr.org/people/1082526815/regina-g-barber]speaks with experts looking at the impacts of food insecurity – from the known tolls and misconceptions to ways to bridge the gap. If you liked this show, check out our episode on loneliness and the brain [https://www.npr.org/2023/12/08/1198908816/lonely-brain-neuroscience-of-loneliness]. To learn about ways you can find free or low-cost food, check out NPR’s Life Kit episode on the topic [https://www.npr.org/2025/11/11/nx-s1-5599147/9-strategies-to-find-free-or-low-cost-food-when-money-is-tight]. Interested in more public health or human biology stories? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org [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 [http://plus.npr.org/shortwave]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices] NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

What's Up With Nightmares?

Dreams of flying? Nightmares of teeth falling out? Falling off a cliff? As a sleep scientist at the University of Montreal, Michelle Carr [https://recherche.umontreal.ca/chercheur/is/in35846/] has pretty much heard it all. In Michelle’s new book Nightmare Obscura [https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250342720/nightmareobscura/], she explores the science of dreams, nightmares – and even something called dream engineering, where people influence their own dreams while they sleep. Today on Short Wave, co-host Regina G. Barber [https://www.npr.org/people/1082526815/regina-g-barber] dives into the science of our sleeping life with Michelle Carr. Interested in any upcoming science books? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org [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 [http://plus.npr.org/shortwave]. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices] NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]