Short Wave

A new robot is designed to sink sargassum before the stinky seaweed comes ashore. Blooms of sargassum, a leafy brown seaweed, have increased in size and number over the past decade. As the blooms have grown, so too has their impact on coastal communities. The stinky seaweed can wreck local economies and ecosystems — and even threaten human health, some research suggests. But the creators of the AlgaRay say that their robot might do more than halt this damage. It could also fight climate change.

This week NPR is doing something new — dedicating an entire week to stories and conversations about the search for climate solutions. Head to npr.org/climateweek for more stories of solutions.

Have a science query? Email us at [email protected] — we'd love to know!

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Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, is dead at 90. The government is about to shutdown over intra-GOP disagreements. And Biden gave a speech warning about the continuing threats to American Democracy.

This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, White House reporter Deepa Shivaram, congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales, and national political correspondent Mara Liasson.

The podcast is produced by Casey Morell and Elena Moore. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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A tiny worm that regenerates entire organs. A South American snail that can regrow its eyes. A killifish that suspends animation in dry weather and reanimates in water. These are the organisms at the heart of regeneration science. But exactly how they do these things is still a mystery to scientists. Today on the show, Regina G. Barber talks to microbiologist Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado about this mystery. They get into what regeneration looks like, why humans can't do it (yet) and where the science may lead us in the decades to come.

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The hearing focused on the business practices of his son's efforts and insinuations that, while serving as vice president, Biden used his office to enrich himself or his family. So far, the Republicans have no substantive evidence to support that claim.

This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and political correspondent Susan Davis.

The podcast is was produced by Casey Morell and Elena Moore. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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Seven Republican primary candidates not named Donald Trump debated Wednesday night in the Reagan Library in California. There were some interesting policy questions, plenty of infighting and basically no signs that any of these folks can surge to overtake the former president and win the primary.

This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, national political correspondent Mara Liasson, and national political correspondent Don Gonyea.

The podcast is was produced by Casey Morell and Elena Moore. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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In 2016, NASA launched a spacecraft to do something rarely attempted before: Collect space rocks from a potentially dangerous asteroid. The mission, named OSIRIS-REx, was successful. Tuesday, scientists opened a sealed canister containing the samples from the asteroid Bennu. Science correspondent Nell Greenfieledboyce talks to host Regina G. Barber about the mission's close calls and what NASA might learn from these space rocks that are older than our planet.

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In what is likely a first, the sitting president of the United States joined a picket line. Biden made a brief stop in Michigan wearing a ball cap and quarter-zip to address picketing auto workers through a megaphone. Trump will campaign with auto workers tomorrow.

This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, White House correspondent Asma Khalid, and national political correspondent Don Gonyea.

The podcast is was produced by Casey Morell and Elena Moore. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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Senator Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, is facing federal bribery charges. Federal agents found hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and gold at his home.

Menendez is remaining defiant and says he will not resign. The senator has faced previous corruption charges — the case ended in a hung jury.

We discuss why these types of cases can be so challenging for prosecutors to win.

This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, justice correspondent Ryan Lucas, and political correspondent Susan Davis.

The podcast is was produced by Casey Morell and Elena Moore. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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Ever had an itch you can't scratch? It can be maddening. And even though itch has a purpose — it's one of our bodies' alert systems — it can also go very wrong. Dermatologist Dr. Shawn Kwatra talks to host Regina G. Barber about the science of why and how we get itchy, the mysteries behind chronic itch and how his own experience with eczema, hives and seasonal allergies helps him connect with his patients.

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Congress has left town as House Republicans infighting appears doomed to shutdown the government next week. And both Donald Trump and President Biden appear to have turned their attention toward the general election race — even though the first primary vote has yet to be cast.

This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, campaign correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, and White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez.

The podcast is was produced by Casey Morell and Elena Moore. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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