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Brit Hanson Brit Hanson is a producer for NPR's science podcast, Short Wave.
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Brit Hanson

Brit Hanson

Producer, Short Wave

Brit Hanson (she/her) is a producer for NPR's science podcast, Short Wave. The podcast explores new discoveries, everyday mysteries and the science behind the headlines — all in about 10 minutes. She's produced episodes ranging from why some fruit ripens faster in paper bag to the dangers of tear gas during a respiratory pandemic and the evolution of HIV treatment.

Prior to working at NPR, Hanson was a freelancer reporter and producer, an editor at St. Louis Public Radio and a reporter and producer at North Country Public Radio. Her work has earned multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards, awards from the Associated Press and Public Media Journalists Association and the Public Service Journalism Award from The Society for Professional Journalists. Hanson is a proud alumnus of the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies.

Story Archive

Doctor Finds Hope In Helping Inform And Vaccinate Her Community

Dr. Jasmine Marcelin has been involved with free community events in North Omaha to provide and address concerns about the COVID-19 vaccines. Taylor Wilson / Nebraska Medical Center hide caption

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Taylor Wilson / Nebraska Medical Center

Short Wave

Doctor Finds Hope In Helping Inform And Vaccinate Her Community

On today's show, Emily Kwong checks in with infectious disease physician Dr. Jasmine Marcelin at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Jasmine spoke to Short Wave last year about how COVID-19 affected her as a doctor. In part one of a two part episode, Emily talks with her about how she's feeling a year in and how getting involved in community vaccination clinics has made a difference in her life.

Doctor Finds Hope In Helping Inform And Vaccinate Her Community

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Sci-Fi Movie Club: 'Contact'

Much of the movie 'Contact' was filmed at the Very Large Array in New Mexico. Erin Slonaker/Moment Editorial/Getty Images hide caption

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Erin Slonaker/Moment Editorial/Getty Images

Short Wave

Sci-Fi Movie Club: 'Contact'

Today we're throwing back to one of our favorite Science Movie Club episodes: 'Contact' featuring Jodie Foster. It was a real crowd pleaser, especially among extraterrestrials and Carl Sagan fans, and features the work of beloved Short Wave alumni and sci-fi aficionados Maddie Sofia and Viet Le.

Sci-Fi Movie Club: 'Contact'

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Why Puerto Rico Is A Leader In Vaccinating Against COVID-19

A healthcare worker inoculates 59 year-old Raymon Diaz with a dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination campaign as part of the "Noche de San Juan" festivities in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Carlos Giusti/AP hide caption

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Carlos Giusti/AP

Short Wave

Why Puerto Rico Is A Leader In Vaccinating Against COVID-19

Puerto Rico was still recovering from Hurricane Maria and a string of earthquakes when the pandemic started. The island was initially hit hard by COVID-19, but is now is a leader in vaccination rates across the United States. Ciencia Puerto Rico's Mónica Feliú-Mójer explains the cultural factors that may have contributed to the success of Puerto Rico's COVID-19 vaccination efforts.

Why Puerto Rico Is A Leader In Vaccinating Against COVID-19

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Parents, We're Here To Help! Answers To Your COVID Vaccine Questions

A nurse administers a COVID-19 vaccine to a nine-year-old child in Tustin, CA. Mark Rightmire/MediaNews Group via Getty Images hide caption

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Mark Rightmire/MediaNews Group via Getty Images

Short Wave

Parents, We're Here To Help! Answers To Your COVID Vaccine Questions

Now that the Pfizer COVID vaccine is authorized for children five to eleven years old, a lot of parents are deliberating about what to do next. NPR health policy correspondent Selena Simmons-Duffin answers your questions about vaccine safety for kids, shedding masks at school and how soon you can schedule that long awaited indoor playdate.

Parents, We're Here To Help! Answers To Your COVID Vaccine Questions

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Who pays for climate change?

Machakos, Kenya- Oct 28, 2021. D.Light Territory Sales Executive Stanlas Kisilu installs a solar light outside Winifred Muisyo's home. Khadija Farah for NPR hide caption

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Khadija Farah for NPR

Short Wave

Who pays for climate change?

A coalition of wealthier countries have promised that they'll provide $100 billion each year to help developing countries tackle climate change. So far, most haven't delivered on their promises, and it's a huge point of contention in the talks in Glasgow right now.

Who pays for climate change?

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A new step toward ending 'the wrath of malaria'

A Kenyan mother and her two children sit on their bed under a mosquito net used to prevent malaria. Wendy Stone/Corbis via Getty Images hide caption

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Wendy Stone/Corbis via Getty Images

Short Wave

A new step toward ending 'the wrath of malaria'

Scientists have been trying to figure out how to eradicate malaria for decades. Globally, a child under the age of five dies from the disease every two minutes, and even for kids who do survive there can be long term complications. A big breakthrough finally came in October when the World Health Organization endorsed MoSQUIRIX, the first malaria vaccine. It has relatively low efficacy, just about 30%, but malaria researcher Winter Okoth explains how the new vaccine could still make a big difference.

A new step toward ending 'the wrath of malaria'

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A biodiesel boom (and conundrum)
VW Pics/VW PICS/Universal Images Group

Short Wave

A biodiesel boom (and conundrum)

There's a biodiesel boom happening! It's fueled by incentives and policies intended to cut greenhouse emissions, and is motivating some oil companies like World Energy in Paramount, California to convert their refineries to process soybean oil instead of crude. NPR's food and agriculture correspondent Dan Charles explains why farmers are happy, bakers are frustrated and people who want to preserve the world's natural forests are worried. Email the show at shortwave@npr.org.

A biodiesel boom (and conundrum)

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Bonobos and the evolution of nice

Sake, a three year old Bonobo at the Lola's Sanctuary. Ley Uwera for NPR hide caption

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Ley Uwera for NPR

Short Wave

Bonobos and the evolution of nice

How did humans evolve some key cooperative behaviors like sharing? NPR Science Correspondent Jon Hamilton reports back from a bonobo sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where scientists are trying to answer that very question. (Encore episode)

Bonobos and the evolution of nice

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Why music sticks in our brains
MirageC/Getty Images

Short Wave

Why music sticks in our brains

Why do some songs can stick with us for a long time, even when other memories start to fade? Science reporter (and former Short Wave intern) Rasha Aridi explains the neuroscience behind that surprising moment of, "Wow, how do I still remember that song?!"

Why music sticks in our brains

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The Surf's Always Up — In Waco, Texas

Ben Elliott gets barreled at the BSR Surf Resort, where artificial waves are attracting world-class talent. Rob Henson/BSR Surf Resort hide caption

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Rob Henson/BSR Surf Resort

Short Wave

The Surf's Always Up — In Waco, Texas

Some of the world's best artificial waves are happening hundreds of miles from the ocean—in Waco, Texas. They're so good, they're attracting top professionals, casual riders and a science correspondent named Jon Hamilton. Jon's been following the wave technology for years and says the progress is huge. These days, pro surfers are coming from all over to try out Waco's "Freak Peak."

The Surf's Always Up — In Waco, Texas

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The Pervasiveness Of Transgender Health Care Discrimination
Mint Images/Getty Images

Short Wave

The Pervasiveness Of Transgender Health Care Discrimination

A new report from the Center for American Progress finds that nearly half of transgender people have experienced mistreatment at the hands of a medical provider. NBC OUT reporter Jo Yurcaba explains the long-term impacts of this discrimination, plus a few potential solutions.

The Pervasiveness Of Transgender Health Care Discrimination

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How To Start Hormone Replacement Therapy
Claudio Reyes/AFP via Getty Images

Life Kit

How To Start Hormone Replacement Therapy

Medical transition-related treatments like hormone replacement therapy are associated with overwhelmingly positive outcomes in terms of both physical and mental health for transgender people. But, it can be hard to know exactly how to get started.

How To Start Hormone Replacement Therapy

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Fewer COVID Vaccine Doses Materialized Last Fall Than The U.S. Government Hoped

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, second from right, speaks during a news conference on Operation Warp Speed in January, 2021. With Azar from left are Dr. Moncef Slaoui, chief science adviser to Operation Warp Speed, Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and U.S. Army Gen. Gustave Perna, chief operating officer of Operation Warp Speed. Patrick Semansky/AP hide caption

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Patrick Semansky/AP

Short Wave

Fewer COVID Vaccine Doses Materialized Last Fall Than The U.S. Government Hoped

Manufacturers can expect to face unforeseen hurdles when they begin to mass-produce a brand new pharmaceutical product, and in a pandemic, there are bound to be supply chain problems as well. But in late 2020, Pfizer was delivering fewer doses than the government expected and then-federal officials told NPR they did not know why.

Fewer COVID Vaccine Doses Materialized Last Fall Than The U.S. Government Hoped

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Nudibranchs Do It Better
Prisma Bildagentur/Universal Images Group via Getty

Short Wave

Nudibranchs Do It Better

Maddie and Emily get super nerdy one last time as they dive into the incredible world of nudibranchs. Not only are these sea slugs eye-catching for their colors, some of them have evolved to "steal" abilities from other organisms — from the power of photosynthesis to the stinging cells of their venomous predators. These sea slugs are going to blow your mind!

Nudibranchs Do It Better

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