What's it like to get bit by a venomous snake? "It's like a bee sting times a thousand," Tim Friede says. Tim would know. Over the past few decades, he's let himself be bitten over 200 times by all kinds of venomous snakes — black mambas, taipans, cobras, kraits and more. With time, he's gradually built immunity to multiple types of venom. Could scientists help him share that immunity with others?
Science reporter Ari Daniel joins Short Wave to explain how antivenom works, what scientists discovered and where the research may lead. Plus, what does Tim Friede have in common with Princess Bride?
Want to hear about more medical discoveries? Email us at shortwave@nprg.org to tell us what areas of science you'd be interested in.
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NPR's Book of the Day - A new biography of Rafael Nadal focuses on the tennis star’s domination on clay
Tennis legend Rafael Nadal retired last year after a record-breaking career, one that included winning every major championship. In a new biography, Christopher Clarey – former tennis correspondent for The New York Times – considers the player's life and career, with particular focus on Nadal's domination on clay courts. In today's episode, Clarey joins Here & Now's Scott Tong for a conversation about the emotional side of Nadal's game, including the player's rituals and tics, his rivalries with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, and his early mentor in the sport.
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The Indicator from Planet Money - The old trade war that brought foreign carmakers to the U.S.
President Donald Trump wants more products made in America, and he's not afraid of a few trade wars to make it happen. Back in the 80s, a different trade dispute brought new manufacturing to the U.S. Today on the show, how former President Ronald Reagan used the threat of trade protectionism to bring car-making stateside, and why the same strategy might not work today.
Related episodes:
The tensions behind the sale of U.S. Steel (Apple / Spotify)
Tariffs: What are they good for? (Apple / Spotify)
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Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.
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Related episodes:
The tensions behind the sale of U.S. Steel (Apple / Spotify)
Tariffs: What are they good for? (Apple / Spotify)
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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What Next | Daily News and Analysis - If Trump Guts FEMA, Are Tornado Victims On Their Own?
One of the more surprising targets of Project 2025—and now, therefore, the Trump administration—is FEMA. How will proposed changes affect what FEMA can do, as hurricane season begins, and as a changing climate makes weather more unpredictable?
Guest: Thomas Frank, editor for E&E News’ climate finance team.
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Podcast production by Ethan Oberman, Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, Isabel Angell, and Rob Gunther.
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What Could Go Right? - The View from Canada with David Frum
What does Canada think about Donald Trump’s America? Zachary and Emma speak with David Frum, author, staff writer at The Atlantic, political commentator, and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush. A Canadian American, David elaborates on Canada’s strategic integration with the U.S., the implications of recent shifts including Trump’s tariffs and newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and what the future of American democracy looks like from his stance as both a Canadian and a former White House employee. David also suggests what ordinary Americans can do on top of voting.
What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate.
For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.org
Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theprogressnetwork
And follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrk
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Engines of Our Ingenuity - The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3314: The Navier Stokes Equations
Episode: 3314 The Navier Stokes Equations in Movies, Video Games and Hurricane Forecasts. Today, the Navier Stokes equations.
Amarica's Constitution - The Merits of The Merits
The Trump executive order on birthright citizenship has been banging around the lower federal courts for months now, with court after court opining on its unconstitutionality and issuing injunctions against it that span the nation. The Supreme Court took cert on the question of whether such national injunctions are appropriate, and if not, how the relief that appears indicated can be offered. Along the way questions of the merits poked their way through, with interesting results. In this episode you will hear from the justices and the attorneys, and you will hear Professor Amar doing his Howard Cosell halftime highlights imitation, opining on their arguments, responses, and questions, and offering a holistic approach to the case as well as some new theories on how to think about citizenship in this context. A “clip episode” as only Amarica’s Constitution does it. CLE credit is available for lawyers and judges from podcast.njsba.com.
Risky Business with Nate Silver and Maria Konnikova - Motivated Reasoning in the Biden Campaign, Silicon Valley, and Beyond
We tend to use logic to reach conclusions that agree with our biases. Psychologists call this motivated reasoning. Today, Nate and Maria talk about motivated reasoning in the Biden campaign and Silicon Valley. Also: Conspiracy theories and the NBA draft.
Further Reading:
Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House
Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again
Elizabeth Holmes’ Partner Has a New Blood-Testing Startup
The Mavs’ Cooper Flagg lottery miracle fuels conspiracy theories – and hope
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The Leap from Maria Konnikova
Silver Bulletin from Nate Silver
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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
array(3) { [0]=> string(184) "https://www.omnycontent.com/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/951120d9-cf6e-4224-93d7-b15c014dcea5/f70e9128-1b0e-4718-b629-b2e3016d31da/image.jpg?t=1747779831&size=Large" [1]=> string(10) "image/jpeg" [2]=> int(0) }The World in Brief from The Economist - Britain halts Israel trade talks; Europe tightens sanctions on Russia, and more
The UN said that no aid had yet been distributed in Gaza because of restrictions imposed by Israel’s army, two days after Israel began allowing supplies to enter the enclave after an 11-week blockade.
It Could Happen Here - War Update
Robert, Mia, and James Discuss developments in conflicts in Kashmir, Yemen, and Kurdistan.
Sources:
https://anfenglishmobile.com/features/new-message-from-abdullah-Ocalan-79417
https://jacobin.com/2025/05/kashmir-india-pakistan-cease-fire-democracy
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgvr4r5d2qo
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyn617xv4no
https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/conflict-between-india-and-pakistan
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/lessons-for-the-next-india-pakistan-war/
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/world/asia/india-pakistan-conflict.html
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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