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Rachel Carlson Rachel Carlson is a production assistant at Short Wave.
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Rachel Carlson

Rachel Carlson

Production Assistant, Short Wave

Rachel Carlson (she/her) is a production assistant at Short Wave, NPR's science podcast. She gets to do a bit of everything: researching, sourcing, writing, fact-checking and cutting episodes.

Carlson has also worked as a live event producer, production assistant and web producer at shows like Truth Be Told with Tonya Mosley, WBUR's Endless Thread and The Mortified Podcast.

As a double major in Cognitive Neuroscience and English at Brown University, she studied the intersections between storytelling and the human brain. She's fascinated by all the ways stories shape our minds and inner lives, and how these inner lives shape the stories we tell.

When she takes off her headphones, you can find her rock climbing, reading and hiking. She also harbors a love for reality TV and some of the worst best horror and science fiction films ever made.

Story Archive

Monday

Mushroom lovers, there's a board game for you

Undergrove is a board game about the mycorrhizal relationships between fungi and trees. The co-designer is Elizabeth Hargrave, who also created Wingspan about birds. AEG hide caption

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AEG

Short Wave

Mushroom lovers, there's a board game for you

Calling all foragers! The new board game Undergrove, co-designed by Elizabeth Hargrave and Mark Wootton, is all about the symbiotic relationships between trees and fungi. Players assume the role of mature Douglas fir trees and partner with mushrooms, which represent the mycorrhizal network.

Mushroom lovers, there's a board game for you

Listen · 13:07
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Friday

Meet 7 newly described frog species, all named after Star Trek characters

Boophis siskoi is one of seven newly described species of frog found in Madagascar. Mark D. Scherz hide caption

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Mark D. Scherz

Short Wave

Meet 7 newly described frog species, all named after Star Trek characters

In the humid rainforests of northern and eastern Madagascar reside seven newly described frog species. They often hang out near fast, flowing rivers. These treefrogs' high-pitched, "futuristic" sounds may help male frogs attract females over the sound of nearby rushing water. They also are what inspired their Star Trek-themed names.

Meet 7 newly described frog species, all named after Star Trek characters

Listen · 8:17
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Tuesday

It's Short Wave's 5th birthday! Here are science questions 5-year-olds asked us

It's Short Wave's 5th birthday! To celebrate, we answer our 5-year-old listeners' science questions. NickS/Getty Images hide caption

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NickS/Getty Images

Short Wave

It's Short Wave's 5th birthday! Here are science questions 5-year-olds asked us

In honor of our show turning 5 (!!) today...

It's Short Wave's 5th birthday! Here are science questions 5-year-olds asked us

Listen · 17:55
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Wednesday

Why some people love scary movies

Some people with anxiety find horror movies helpful. The films can focus their minds in a controlled environment that they can overcome. Crazytang/Getty Images hide caption

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Crazytang/Getty Images

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Why some people love scary movies

In human history, fear kept us safe when running from predators and anxiety kept us from going back to that lion-infested area. But what happens when these feelings get out of hand in humans today? And why do some of us crave that feeling from scary movies or haunted houses? For answers, we turn to Arash Javanbakht, a psychiatrist from Wayne State University. He likes studying fear so much, he wrote a whole book called Afraid. This episode, he gets into the difference between fear and anxiety, many of the reasons people feel afraid and why things like scary movies could even be therapeutic.

Why some people love scary movies

Listen · 13:45
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Monday

Fruit flies are hard to swat. Mapping their brain might tell us why

The fruit fly connectome contains a wide range of information, from cell types and synapses to neurotransmitters and network properties. Here, cells are color-coded by their defining chemical messenger. Amy Sterling for FlyWire, Princeton University, (Dorkenwald et al., Nature, 2024) hide caption

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Amy Sterling for FlyWire, Princeton University, (Dorkenwald et al., Nature, 2024)

Short Wave

Fruit flies are hard to swat. Mapping their brain might tell us why

Fruit fly brains are smaller than a poppy seed, but that doesn't mean they aren't complex. For the first time, researchers have published a complete diagram of 50 million connections in an adult fruit flies brain. The journal Nature simultaneously published nine papers related to this new brain map. Until now, only a roundworm and a fruit fly larva had been mapped in this way.

Fruit flies are hard to swat. Mapping their brain might tell us why

Listen · 12:23
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Monday

Here are the high schoolers tracking the bird flu virus in New York City

Student researchers Mayisha Alam (L) and Swazi Tshabalala (R) collect samples as part of their work with the nonprofit BioBus. Christine Marizzi/BioBus hide caption

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Christine Marizzi/BioBus

Short Wave

Here are the high schoolers tracking the bird flu virus in New York City

Most viruses that become epidemics in humans begin in other animals. It's how scientists suspect COVID-19 emerged. And now, less than five years after the start of the pandemic, some scientists are concerned about another disease that could do something similar: bird flu, or H5N1. Over the past year, the virus has spilled into cows and other animals — even infecting some people working closely with the animals. Some scientists hope to build a more resilient public health system by finding ways to detect and to track viruses as they spread in animals.

Here are the high schoolers tracking the bird flu virus in New York City

Listen · 10:56
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Wednesday

This researcher wants to expand treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder
Kudryavtsev Pavel/Getty Images

Short Wave

This researcher wants to expand treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder

Around 2% of the global population struggles with obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD. That's roughly 163 million people who go through cycles of obsessions – unwanted intrusive thoughts, images or urges – and compulsions, or behaviors to decrease the distress caused by these thoughts. In movies and TV, characters with OCD are often depicted washing their hands or obsessing about symmetry. Dr. Carolyn Rodriguez says these are often symptoms of OCD, but they're not the only ways it manifests – and there's still a lot of basics we have yet to understand. That's why Carolyn looks to include more populations in research and find new ways to treat OCD.

This researcher wants to expand treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder

Listen · 14:25
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Friday

Meet the scuba diving lizards breathing by bubble

This semi-aquatic lizard produces a bubble over its nostrils to continue breathing underwater. Lindsey Swierk hide caption

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Lindsey Swierk

Short Wave

Meet the scuba diving lizards breathing by bubble

What's scaly, striped and breathes underwater like a scuba diver? Water anoles! These lizards can form a bubble over their head to support breathing underwater. They're found in the tropical forests of southern Costa Rica.

Meet the scuba diving lizards breathing by bubble

Listen · 8:42
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Monday

Climate change is one reason for hotter oceans. But there are others

Hurricane Francine hit Louisiana last week, dumping rain across the South. Forecasters are expecting a lot of hurricanes and tropical storms in the next few weeks. Jack Brook/AP hide caption

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Jack Brook/AP

Short Wave

Climate change is one reason for hotter oceans. But there are others

Hurricane season is heating up: Hurricane Francine hit Louisiana last week and dumped rain across the South, and forecasters expect more stormy activity in the Atlantic in the next few weeks.

Climate change is one reason for hotter oceans. But there are others

Listen · 12:55
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Friday

This restaurant is reducing food waste with "trash pie"

Shuggie's co-owners David Murphy and Kayla Abe aim to reduce food waste by using upcycled ingredients. Ryan Kellman/NPR hide caption

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Ryan Kellman/NPR

Short Wave

This restaurant is reducing food waste with "trash pie"

We close out Climate Solutions Week with a look at the final step in the food system: waste. Roughly 30-40% of all food produced globally gets thrown out — a huge problem when it comes to climate change. Shuggie's Trash Pie and Natural Wine has answers for what to do with all that waste – be it bruised fruit and wilted greens salad or meatballs made out of beef hearts. The San Francisco restaurant describes itself as a "climate-solutions restaurant" — and they're hoping you find these dishes appealing. Or at least, that you're willing to give them a try. Shuggie's is one of a growing number of eateries trying to address this problem.

This restaurant is reducing food waste with "trash pie"

Listen · 14:13
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Wednesday

A hotter climate threatens chocolate. This German company invented a substitute
Sandra Singh for NPR

Short Wave

A hotter climate threatens chocolate. This German company invented a substitute

Climate change is contributing to erratic weather where cocoa beans are grown and threatening the global chocolate supply. Record rainfall last year led to fungal infections among cacao trees and dwindled supply of cocoa beans. Heat is also making it more difficult for cocoa beans to thrive. So, for day three of Climate Solutions Week, we look at one innovation in the food industry: chocolate substitutes.

A hotter climate threatens chocolate. This German company invented a substitute

Listen · 14:39
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Friday

Can dogs understand the meaning of words? Scientists are trying to figure it out
Courtesy of Patrick Wood

Short Wave

Can dogs understand the meaning of words? Scientists are trying to figure it out

Last year, a dog named Bunny went viral on TikTok for pressing buttons with words on them to "communicate" with her owner. But can dogs even understand those words on a soundboard in the first place? A new study in the journal PLOS One seeks answers. Host Regina G. Barber and producer Rachel Carlson break down that story and more of the week's news with the help of All Things Considered's Ari Shapiro.

Can dogs understand the meaning of words? Scientists are trying to figure it out

Listen · 9:06
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Thursday

Science

This week in science: a newly-discovered species, 'talking' dogs and a beluga's death

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Regina Barber and Rachel Carlson of Short Wave about a newly discovered species in California's Mono Lake, dogs understanding words, and the death of a beloved beluga whale.

This week in science: a newly-discovered species, 'talking' dogs and a beluga's death

Listen · 8:01
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Wednesday

Feeling itchy? Air pollution might be making it worse

On Sept. 9, 2020, smoke from multiple wildfires turned the sky above the San Francisco Bay area orange. But it wasn't just colorful... it was harmful to Bay area residents' skin. Brittany Hosea-Small/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Brittany Hosea-Small/AFP via Getty Images

Short Wave

Feeling itchy? Air pollution might be making it worse

Short Wave producer Hannah Chinn has adult-onset eczema. They're not the only one. Up to ten percent of people in the United States have it, according to the National Eczema Association — and its prevalence is increasing. Despite its ubiquity, a lot about this skin condition remains a mystery.

Feeling itchy? Air pollution might be making it worse

Listen · 13:11
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Tuesday

Preserving humanity in the age of robots
CreativeDesignArt/Getty Images

Short Wave

Preserving humanity in the age of robots

Human beings are hardwired for social connection – so much so that we think of even the most basic objects as having feelings or experiences. (Yup, we're talking to you, Roomba owners!) Social robots add a layer to this. They're designed to make us feel like they're our friends. They can do things like care for children, the elderly or act as partners. But there's a darker side to them, too. They may encourage us to opt out of authentic, real-life connections, making us feel more isolated. Today on the show, host Regina G. Barber explores the duality of social robots with Eve Herold, author of the book Robots and the People Who Love Them.

Preserving humanity in the age of robots

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Monday

These ants quietly took over Manhattan — and they're not stopping there

The central European bicolored ant, L. emarginatus, wanders around a rock in New York City. Researchers hope that people will continue uploading sightings of the so-called ManhattAnt to sites like iNaturalist so they can track the ants' movement and learn more about their behaviors. Julian F./iNaturalist hide caption

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Julian F./iNaturalist

Short Wave

These ants quietly took over Manhattan — and they're not stopping there

New York: The city that never sleeps, the concrete jungle where dreams are made of and more recently ... home to a mysterious ant spreading across the city — before continuing across metropolitan and even state lines. NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce joins host Regina G. Barber to trace the MahattAnts' takeover, explain why they're an interesting invasive species case study. Plus, how everyday people can get involved in research efforts to learn more about these critters.

These ants quietly took over Manhattan — and they're not stopping there

Listen · 13:52
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Wednesday

The CDC says COVID is endemic. That doesn't mean the danger is past

At this point, public health officials generally agree that COVID is endemic, meaning it is here to stay in predictable ways. Peter Zelei Images/Getty Images hide caption

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Peter Zelei Images/Getty Images

Short Wave

The CDC says COVID is endemic. That doesn't mean the danger is past

U.S. health officials now say COVID-19 is an endemic disease. That means it's here to stay – circulating fairly regularly like the flu. Even though that changes how public health officials think about managing the virus, they say it doesn't mean being less cautious or vigilant during surges, like the current one this summer. COVID still poses significant risks for older individuals and those with underlying conditions — and anyone who gets COVID is at risk of developing long COVID.

The CDC says COVID is endemic. That doesn't mean the danger is past

Listen · 12:34
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Monday

Transforming braille education could help millions of visually impaired Americans

Braille literacy is directly linked to higher rates of academic success and better employment outcomes for blind and low vision adults. Hill Street Studios/Getty Images hide caption

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Hill Street Studios/Getty Images

Short Wave

Transforming braille education could help millions of visually impaired Americans

For blind and low vision adults, the ability to read braille can be life-changing. Braille literacy is directly linked to higher rates of academic success and better employment outcomes for them. But there's a problem. The U.S. is facing a national shortage of qualified braille teachers and there's a lack of scientific research around braille overall. An interdisciplinary team led by linguist Robert Englebretson wants to change that.

Transforming braille education could help millions of visually impaired Americans

Listen · 12:55
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Friday

Here's how firing a weapon might hurt your brain — literally

During the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, many U.S. military personnel were exposed to blast waves from nearby explosions. Over time, the military realized that soldiers' brains had been injured by these blast waves — and that being exposed to many smaller blast waves could cause some of the same problems as getting hit by one big one. Stocktrek Images/Getty Images hide caption

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Stocktrek Images/Getty Images

Short Wave

Here's how firing a weapon might hurt your brain — literally

Some weapons used by the United States military are so powerful, they can pose a threat to the people who fire them — even in training. When weapons are fired, an invisible blast wave travels through the brains of anyone nearby. Exposure to lots of these blasts over time — even low level ones — has been shown to cause brain health problems for service members.

Here's how firing a weapon might hurt your brain — literally

Listen · 13:03
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Wednesday

Cool off like an Olympian: Here's how athletes cope with intense heat

Ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, the International Olympic Committee advised athletes to acclimatize to hot weather with a technique called heat training. Natacha Pisarenko/AP hide caption

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Natacha Pisarenko/AP

Short Wave

Cool off like an Olympian: Here's how athletes cope with intense heat

Over the next week, forecasts project extreme heat across much of the South, Midwest and parts of the West. So, this episode, health correspondent Pien Huang helps us take heat training cues from Olympians, many of whom spent weeks preparing for a sweltering Paris Olympics, by training in the heat to get their bodies used to hot, humid weather. But heat training is not just for competitive athletes. It's recommended for people in the military and those who work outdoors in hot weather — and it could even be useful for generally healthy members of the public. Plus, we get into some important caveats about who is best positioned to heat train — and why doing so doesn't minimize the problems of a warming climate.

Cool off like an Olympian: Here's how athletes cope with intense heat

Listen · 12:19
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Monday

To save the grizzlies, scientists are thinking like bears
Jack Vanden Heuvel/Getty Images

Short Wave

To save the grizzlies, scientists are thinking like bears

Grizzly bears in the contiguous United States have been taken off — then put back on — the endangered species list twice since they were first labeled as threatened almost 50 years ago. Now, the issue is on the table again. Today, we get into the complicated science behind grizzly recovery, how humans have sliced up their habitat and what it will take to stitch that habitat back together again.

To save the grizzlies, scientists are thinking like bears

Listen · 13:12
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Wednesday

Can Olympic swimmers blame the pool for fewer records this year?

United States' Katie Ledecky competes in the women's 800-meter freestyle final at the Summer Olympics. Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi hide caption

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Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi

Short Wave

Can Olympic swimmers blame the pool for fewer records this year?

In the last week, we've seen swimmers diving headfirst into the 2024 Paris Olympics pool, limbs gracefully slicing through the water. And yet, world and Olympic records weren't broken at quite the rate some expected, leading many on social media to speculate: Was the pool the culprit? With the help of NPR correspondents Bill Chappell and Brian Mann, we investigate.

Can Olympic swimmers blame the pool for fewer records this year?

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Friday

From floor routine to vault, here's the science behind Simone Biles' Olympic gold

Simone Biles, widely considered one of the best athletes, competes on the uneven bars during a women's artistic gymnastics qualification round at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Abbie Parr/AP hide caption

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Abbie Parr/AP

Short Wave

From floor routine to vault, here's the science behind Simone Biles' Olympic gold

Another Olympics, another set of stellar performances by the U.S. women's artistic gymnastics team. Thursday, the team won two medals in the women's all-around final: a gold for Simone Biles and a bronze for Sunisa Lee. The medals add to the team's overall count, which also includes a gold for the women's team final. Simone and Suni are expected to lead the team to more medals in the coming days. Each day the gymnasts compete, we are left to pick our jaws off the floor and wonder: How do they do that? So we called up one of our favorite science communicators, Frederic Bertley, to explain just that. He's the CEO of the Center of Science and Industry and our gymnastics physics guide for the day.

From floor routine to vault, here's the science behind Simone Biles' Olympic gold

Listen · 12:54
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Tuesday

The curious case of the supermassive black hole

This illustration depicts a supermassive black hole consuming the matter around it. NASA/Aurore Simonnet (Sonoma State Univ.) hide caption

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NASA/Aurore Simonnet (Sonoma State Univ.)

Short Wave

The curious case of the supermassive black hole

Black holes are one of the most mysterious cosmological phenomena out there. Astrophysicist Priya Natarajan calls them "the point where all known laws of physics break down."

The curious case of the supermassive black hole

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