Nathan Rott
Stories
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This week's Short Wave news roundup
NPR's Short Wave team talks about a wildflower's ability to adapt to climate change, the grooming habits of birds, and the social lives of sharks.
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Bringing marine life back to South Florida's 'forgotten edge'
Seawalls are great at protecting property and people. A new nature-inspired seawall add-on is trying to make them better at protecting marine wildlife too.
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How a handful of koalas are changing scientists understanding of genetic risk
It's long been assumed that koalas in southern Australia are genetically unhealthy. A new study finds they're actually recovering, changing how scientists look at genetic risks.
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What elephant whiskers can teach us about touch
Elephants use their trunks much like a human uses their hands: to pick up food and manipulate objects. A new study finds that tiny, specialized whiskers on elephant trunks help them do it.
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An ape, a tea party — and the ability to imagine
The ability to imagine — to play pretend — has long been thought to be unique to humans. A new study suggests one of our closest living relatives can do it too.
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A study of a remarkable bonobo named Kanzi shows apes may play make believe
The ability to imagine -- to play pretend -- has long been thought to be unique to humans. A new study suggests certain apes may be able to as well.
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Humpback whales cast bubble nets to catch prey. They may be learning from each other
Humpback whales will sometimes use an intricate strategy to catch food called bubble-net feeding. A new study suggests they're spreading the knowledge of how to do it to each other.
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Cows use tools too
Austrian researchers say they've found the first known example of tool use by cattle, courtesy of a Swiss-Brown cow named Veronika.
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A new study reveals an unprecedented discovery of new species
There are roughly 2.5 million known species on the planet, but scientists estimate that's only a fraction of the biodiversity on Earth. A new study shows we're finding new species like never before.
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Fire-making materials at 400,000-year-old site are the oldest evidence of humans making fire
Archaeologists in Britain say they've found the earliest evidence of humans making fires anywhere in the world. The discovery moves our understanding of when humans started making fire back by 350,000 years.
