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Short Wave - Why U.S. Sunscreens Don’t Measure Up

The United Nations estimates that there were over 1.5 million new cases of skin cancer in 2022. That number might have you reaching for the nearest tube of sunscreen. And it might also have you wondering what truth there is to the hype around Korean and European sunscreens. Click around online and you’ll see lots of claims about the superiority of their protection against UV radiation compared to products made in the United States. But are sunscreens sold in the U.S. really so subpar? With the help of chemist and science communicator Michelle Wong, we wade into the research of UVA and UVB rays, the complexities of regulating cosmetics and drugs, and how to maximize your protection against the sun no matter which sunscreens you have access to.

Interested in more science behind skincare products? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.

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NPR's Book of the Day - ‘Your Favorite Scary Movie’ and ‘Ready for My Close-Up’ are histories of iconic films

Ashley Cullins and David Lubin are out with new books that delve into the histories of iconic films. First, in 1996, the character Ghostface was introduced to audiences in the first Scream movie. Cullins has written a history of these films–which are still being made–called Your Favorite Scary Movie. In today’s episode, she joins NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe to talk about the franchise. Then, this year marks the 75th anniversary of Sunset Boulevard – and Lubin has written an anatomy of the film called Ready for My Close-Up. In today’s episode, he speaks with NPR’s Ailsa Chang about genre-jumping, comeback narratives, and elements of the film that still feel current.


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The Indicator from Planet Money - AI creeps in, KATSEYE milkshakes, and China says “Zaijian!” to US soybeans

It’s … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news. 

On today’s episode: AI shuts out youth from the grind, China leaves U.S. soybeans behind, Gap has the then-and-now in marketing mind. 

Related episodes: 
AI creates, transforms and destroys... jobs 
What do farmers do in a trade war? 

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 and Julia Ritchey. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.  

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1A - New Orleans And Katrina, 20 Years Later

It’s been two decades since Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans, making landfall in the city as a Category 3 storm. The massive storm surge broke through levees and the flood walls.

Some 80 percent of New Orleans flooded. Entire neighborhoods were wiped out. The official death toll totaled nearly 1,400 people. And what happened in the storm’s wake changed the face of emergency response in this country forever.

We mark 20 years since Hurricane Katrina hit. We take you back to that time, look at what rebuilding has meant for New Orleans, and what lessons were learned.

Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. 

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Consider This from NPR - Gazans are starving. How did it get this bad?

The war in Gaza is approaching the 2 year mark. As it does, Israel continues to launch new attacks on a territory that is already in ruins. And the humanitarian situation for Gaza’s Palestinian residents continues to worsen.

A team of NPR reporters has been focusing on one question: how did we get here? For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

This episode was produced by Mia Venkat and Daniel Ofman.

It was edited by Andrew Sussman, Courtney Dorning and William Troop.

Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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State of the World from NPR - How did a Major Chinese Investment in Afghanistan Collapse?

When the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan and the Taliban took control, China stepped in with a sizable investment to develop oil fields. But now the Afghan Government has cut the contract and the Chinese firm says the Taliban took some of its workers hostage.

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Up First from NPR - Minneapolis Mass Shooting, CDC Director Fired, Biden Admin and Gaza Aid

Investigators in Minneapolis are working to determine why a heavily armed 23-year-old opened fire at a Catholic school on Wednesday morning. The new Director of the Center for Disease Control has been fired less than a month after being sworn into the job. And, NPR reporters spoke with more than two dozen former senior Biden administration officials for a behind the scenes look at the discussions that shaped U.S. policy towards Israel’s war in Gaza.

Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.

Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Cheryl Corley, Jane Greenhalgh, Andrew Sussman, Lisa Thomson, and Adam Bearne. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Chris Thomas. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

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NPR's Book of the Day - Eighty years after Hiroshima, a new book narrates the history of the atomic bomb

It’s been 80 years since the United States detonated atomic bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, resulting in more than 200,000 deaths. Garrett Graff’s new book The Devil Reached Toward the Sky is an oral history from scientists, politicians, pilots, soldiers and survivors of these weapons. In today’s episode, he speaks with NPR’s Scott Simon about the development of the atomic bomb, the lived experience of those who survived the attacks, and the threat of nuclear war today.

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The Indicator from Planet Money - What olive oil tells us about Trump’s tariffs

Trump's tariffs are making business harder for international olive oil producers and it turns out those tariffs are even complicating other parts of the Trump administration's agenda, too.

Today on the show: Olive oil and the unintended consequences of Trump's tariffs.

Related episodes: 

Three ways companies are getting around tariffs

The legal case for — and against — Trump's tariffs


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.


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Consider This from NPR - Should the government be in the business of business?

What happens when the federal government owns part of a company?

That’s one of MANY questions about federal policy right now, as the Trump Administration aggressively pushes for stakes — and oversight — of major private companies.


This week, the White House announced it was taking a ten percent stake in the struggling technology giant Intel.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says the administration is considering similar moves with other companies tied to the defense industry, too. 

Trump looks ready to turn the U.S. into a corporate stockholder. Should the government be in the business of … business?

For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

This episode was produced by Connor Donevan and Henry Larson. It was edited by John Ketchum. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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