Podcast Summary: Short Wave – "The Plight of Penguins in Antarctica"
Date: January 23, 2026
Hosts: Emily Kwong, Regina Barber
Guest: Elsa Chang (All Things Considered)
Episode Overview
In this dynamic and engaging episode of Short Wave, hosts Emily Kwong and Regina Barber, along with guest Elsa Chang, explore the surprising ways Antarctic penguins are responding to rapid climate change, dive into a longstanding scientific debate on why ice is slippery, and investigate the science behind how parents become desensitized to gross things like dirty diapers. The episode is fast-paced, creative, and packed with accessible science – all delivered with Short Wave’s trademark curiosity and humor.
1. Penguin Breeding Shifts in Antarctica
Segment start: [02:44]
-
Main Discovery:
A new study in the Journal of Animal Ecology reveals that Antarctic penguins are breeding much earlier than in past decades.- Adelie and Chinstrap penguins now breed about 10 days earlier
- Gentoo penguins breed almost two weeks earlier than before
Quote:
"A new study in the Journal of Animal Ecology found that they're breeding earlier than ever in the Antarctic spring."
— Emily Kwong [02:49] -
Why the Shift?
Penguins time breeding to environmental cues like temperature, sea ice, and food availability. The Antarctic Peninsula is heating rapidly due to climate change, likely sparking this earlier breeding.Quote:
"With climate change, the Antarctic Peninsula is one of the fastest warming areas of the world, and that could be a driver."
— Emily Kwong [03:14] -
How Was The Data Collected?
Tom Hart and his team set up 77 cameras across 37 penguin colonies, snapping hourly photos over a decade. This approach allowed long-term tracking otherwise impossible in the extreme Antarctic.Quote:
"It was a very clever methodology... this camera method is a great way to get long term data in Antarctica."
— Regina Barber [03:50] -
Future for Penguins?
Gentoo penguins, adapted to warmer climates and a broader diet, seem resilient. Adelie and Chinstrap penguins may face tougher times as warming continues.Quote:
"Some penguins might thrive. For example, the Gentoo penguins are suited for warmer climates and eat a wider variety of fish."
— Emily Kwong [04:10]
2. The Science of Slippery Ice
Segment start: [04:32]
-
Historic Debate:
Since Victorian times, physicists have debated whether a thin water layer makes ice slippery, even below freezing. Is it always there? How thin is it?Quote:
"There's been this idea that ice has a thin layer of water on top which makes it slippery. And physicists have been arguing about it ever since."
— Regina Barber [04:41] -
Breakthrough Study:
New research published in the Journal of Chemical Physics by Luis Gonzalez McDowell combines historical studies and advanced computer simulations:- Confirms a permanent, ultra-thin water layer (about 1 nanometer – 100,000 times thinner than paper) exists on ice surfaces.
- Present down to -10°C.
Quotes:
"There is a very, very thin layer of water on the ice, even though the ice itself is frozen."
— Regina Barber [05:20]
"The surface of ice, which is solid, is always lubricated."
— Luis Gonzalez McDowell (via Emily Kwong) [05:41] -
Implications for Winter Sports:
- Ice skates and hockey blades increase pressure, causing frictional melting, which thickens the slippery layer.
- Humidity can change the thickness/thinness of this water film, impacting how ice feels at major events like the Winter Olympics.
Quotes:
"When that happens, the water layer actually gets thicker, because the friction of the skate blades causes more melting."
— Regina Barber [06:09]
"If the humidity isn't quite right, that could also affect the slipperiness."
— Emily Kwong [06:19]
3. Habituation to Disgust: The Dirty Diaper Study
Segment start: [06:41]
-
Background:
Disgust is a basic survival emotion, but some things (like dirty diapers) people get used to. Scientists call this habituation.Quote:
"Disgust is really important to our survival as humans because it helps us avoid all kinds of substances that would otherwise make us, like, sick."
— Emily Kwong [06:53] -
The Study:
Researchers at University of Bristol and Whitman College tested 99 parents and 50 non-parents by tracking eye movements as they viewed pairs of images: one neutral (e.g., towels), one disgusting (e.g., vomit, soiled diapers).Quote:
"They showed them two photos at once... a photo of something neutral... and the other side, photos of gross things, like vomit on a sidewalk and... dirty diapers."
— Regina Barber [08:06] -
Key Findings:
- Non-parents: Tended to avoid looking at the disgusting images
- Parents: Showed little to no avoidance—even parents who hadn’t changed a diaper in years.
Quote:
"Parents showed little to no avoidance. They would look at those pictures of soiled diapers with little aversion, including parents who hadn't changed a dirty diaper in decades, which is like, similar to me. I am not bothered."
— Emily Kwong [08:37] -
Why It Matters:
This lasting desensitization has practical benefits in jobs exposed to unpleasant sights and smells—nursing, daycares, surgery. It could help reassure trainees.Quote (author):
"Even if we can reassure people, hey, it feels a bit gross now, but you'll get used to it over time. Hopefully that ultimately either helps or can lead to things that do help."
— Edwin Dallmeier, lead author [09:25]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On penguins adapting:
"It seems that Gentoos are doing better than the other species, which could struggle with warmer temperatures."
— Emily Kwong [04:10] -
On lifelong parent superpowers:
"You're like habituated for life once you have a child."
— Elsa Chang [08:58] -
On what superpower to have:
"If I had to pick my superpower, this is probably not the one I would pick."
— Elsa Chang [09:06] -
On managing annoyance:
"I wonder if it applies to people who are annoying. You just get used to them over time and they stop bothering you."
— Elsa Chang [09:37] -
On Elsa's welcome on the show:
"But you, Elsa, are always welcome and not annoying us."
— Emily Kwong [09:43]
Key Segment Timestamps
- [02:44] — Penguin breeding changes and climate adaptation
- [03:37] — Methodology: Camera study in Antarctica
- [04:32] — Why is ice slippery?
- [05:20] — New chemistry findings: Nanolayer on ice confirmed
- [06:41] — The science of disgust and parental habituation
- [08:06] — The dirty diaper study and long-term effects
Tone & Takeaway:
Short Wave delivers complex science—from the crisis facing Antarctic penguins to the physics behind ice skating and the quirks of human psychology—in a lively, relatable style. With firsthand research, fun exchanges, and practical implications, this episode captures listeners’ curiosity about how both wildlife and humans adapt to a changing world.