Regina G. Barber

Stories

• 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.

  Nov 27, 2025 at 1:02 pm

• 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.

  Nov 13, 2025 at 2:24 pm

• 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.

  Oct 30, 2025 at 1:16 pm

• Scientists make yogurt using ants. The result: tangy and herby

  Scientists test a traditional method for fermenting yogurt... using ants.

  Oct 22, 2025 at 2:28 pm

• 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.

  Oct 03, 2025 at 1:52 pm

• 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.

  Sep 18, 2025 at 2:32 pm

• 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.

  Sep 04, 2025 at 2:50 pm

• 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.

  Aug 10, 2025 at 5:41 am

• This week in science: Eagles in Japan, the lives of deep-sea animals and 'SuperAgers'

  Regina Barber and Rachel Carlson of Short Wave talk about endangered eagles in Japan, the lifestyles of deep-living ocean creatures and the longevity secrets of human 'SuperAgers,' aged 80 and older.

  Aug 07, 2025 at 1:05 pm

• What does it take to get time travel right in movies?

  To mark the 40th anniversary of Back to the Future, NPR looks at what it takes to get time travel right on the big screen

  Jul 27, 2025 at 2:43 pm