This week in science: Prehistoric cooking, earthquakes in the PNW, and teens' sleep

NPR | By Katia Riddle,

Regina G. Barber

Published March 5, 2026 at 5:18 PM EST

Regina Barber and Katia Riddle of NPR's Short Wave podcast talk about prehistoric cooking, earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest and how teens are sleeping less than before.

Katia Riddle

Regina G. Barber

Regina G. Barber is Short Wave's Scientist in Residence. She contributes original reporting on STEM and guest hosts the show.

Support nonprofit, fact-based public service journalism

WEKU depends on support from those who view and listen to our content. There's no paywall here. Please support WEKU with your donation.

Contribute now

Related Content

NPR News

Pregnant women in ERs took less Tylenol after Trump autism warning

Sydney Lupkin

A study in The Lancet finds that pregnant women in emergency rooms used less Tylenol after President Trump said it could raise their babies' risk of autism. Scientists say there is no proven link.
NPR News

After 80 years, the U.S.-U.K. 'special relationship' has changed under Trump

Lauren Frayer

Winston Churchill coined the phrase "special relationship" 80 years ago. Now, his grandson says Trump is damaging U.S.-U.K. ties, and diplomats warn a divorce may be in the works.
Northern communities are losing lake ice as winter get warmer — and weirder

Berly McCoy

More than a thousand people recently gathered on frozen Lake Mendota in Madison, Wisc., for a celebration of winter. But a changing climate is affecting life above the ice.
Young country and pop stars rule the charts this week

Stephen Thompson

A pair of country singers made history on the Billboard charts this week. It's also a big week for young pop stars, with an Olympic boost.
The first appearance of a robot on film has made its way to the Library of Congress

Bob Mondello

A long-lost 1897 George Melies film, arguably the first robot science fiction story committed to film, has made its way to the Library of Congress.