Short Wave

Doctors around the world are sharing stories of patients losing their sense of taste or smell — and testing positive for the coronavirus. Is it a real symptom of COVID-19? There isn't scientific evidence for that. But the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery is gathering anecdotal information to find out more. Short Wave's Maddie Sofia and Emily Kwong talk about science during a pandemic.

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Should abortion count as an essential medical service during the coronavirus outbreak? States disagree, prompting court fights. And lawmakers differ on what a fourth round of rescue legislation should look like. This episode: congressional correspondent Susan Davis, White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and national correspondent Sarah McCammon.

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Encore episode. NPR science correspondent Geoff Brumfiel shares the story of Nazi Germany's attempt to build a nuclear reactor — and how evidence of that effort was almost lost to history. It's a tale he heard from Timothy Koeth and Miriam Hiebert at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Maryland in College Park. Read more on their original story in Physics Today.

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Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter @maddie_sofia. Email the show at [email protected].

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President Trump is now asking Americans to stay at home through April, with some hints that the social distancing measures could last even longer. Even with the aggressive measures in place, the White House says 100,000 Americans could die from the outbreak. This episode: congressional correspondent Susan Davis, White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and science correspondent Richard Harris.

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Bedridden with illness, Maine writer Elisabeth Tova Bailey found an unlikely companion — a solitary snail a friend brought her from the woods. Elisabeth spent the following year observing the creature and it was the inspiration for her memoir, "The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating."

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A record number of Americans filed for unemployment benefits for the first time last week as the coronavirus hammered the economy. It's nearly five times the levels seen during the Great Recession.

Plus, President Trump has hit his highest approval rating since becoming president – 47%, according to an average of the polls. That's an increase of nearly 3 points over the last two weeks.

This episode: political correspondent Scott Detrow, political reporter Danielle Kurtzleben, chief economic correspondent Scott Horsley, White House reporter Ayesha Rascoe, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

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President Trump has compared the coronavirus to the seasonal flu. NPR reporter Pien Huang speaks to host Maddie Sofia about why the coronavirus appears deadlier and more transmissible — and why it poses such a risk to our healthcare system.

Here's Pien's story.
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Joe Biden has held a number of web-based campaign events and fundraisers now that the coronavirus outbreak has grounded his campaign. Early efforts were plagued with problems, though there are signs things are improving.

And congressional candidates are also facing challenges, even with the most essential of campaign tasks — like getting enough signatures to appear on the ballot.

This episode: political correspondent Scott Detrow, campaign correspondent Asma Khalid, and demographics and culture reporter Juana Summers.

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The spread of the coronavirus has led many to stay home in recent weeks. During that time, the non-profit Skype A Scientist has seen a surge in demand for its service of virtually connecting students to scientists. Maddie talks to Sarah McAnulty, executive director of the group and a squid biologist, about bringing science to kids and, at the same time, confronting stereotypes about who can be a scientist.

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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell touted a bipartisan deal to provide emergency funds in response to the new coronavirus pandemic and committed to passing the legislation Wednesday, though some in his caucus have raised objections to a key provision. If passed, the bill would provide cash payments to Americans, help to struggling small businesses and more resources to state and local governments, as well as to hospitals. It also includes a number of accountability measures meant to ensure the funds are used responsibly.

This episode: campaign correspondent Asma Khalid, congressional correspondent Kelsey Snell, and chief economics correspondent Scott Horsley.

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