What really counts as "cheating?"
Are you scared of being cheated on? You're not alone. There are apps and social media groups dedicated to outing a cheater. But is our paranoia about cheating actually hurting our relationships? And on top of that, definitions of "cheating" vary widely. How do you decide for yourself what really counts as cheating? And what's really fueling our fear of being cheated on? Brittany is joined by Kathryn Jezer-Morton, writer of the Brooding column from The Cut, and Shannon Keating, freelance culture journalist, to answer these questions and get to the bottom of why fear of infidelity haunts our culture and our dating lives. For handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub.
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This missing trait could make robots more 'human'
Neurotic, anxious robots like C-3P0 from Star Wars' C-3P0 and Marvin from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy are a staple of science fiction — but they're not as common in the real world. Most of the time, the chatbots and artificial intelligence "robots" we encounter are programmed to be extraverted, confident and cheerful. But what if that changed? NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce dives into the world of robot personality research and talks to a team of researchers that are experimenting with a very different kind of robot temperament. Read more of Nell's reporting on the topic here. Interested in more science news? Let us know at shortwave@npr.org. Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave. Love podcasts? For handpicked recommendations every Friday, subscribe to NPR's Pod Club. -
After her friend's death, TOKiMONSTA's latest record became a loving eulogy
The Grammy-nominated producer and DJ talks about how her latest album, Eternal Reverie, became a tribute to her best friend and tour manager, who died of cancer in 2024. -
A dogged reporter takes on a mysterious cabal in 'The Diary of Lies'
Philip Miller's sinister thriller is set in a Great Britain that's lost its bearings. But even when she's terrified, fictional journalist Shona Sandison will always risk everything to get the story. -
In 1985, famine led to Live Aid and a U.S. alert plan. Trump froze it. Now it's back
It's the 40th anniversary of the superstar concert to raise money for the famine in Ethiopia — and of the creation of a U.S. program called FEWS NET to prevent future famines. -
Critics said 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' would flop. They underestimated Turtle Power
After 35 years, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is back in theaters. The film's director looks back on the obstacles to making it in the first place. -
High prices and health care costs may turn Latino voters away from Republicans in 2026
Latino voters helped deliver the White House to President Trump in the last election. Many of them already say they won't vote for Republicans next year, but they aren't yet turning to Democrats. -
Is Kari Lake a CEO? Her agency said so. The law suggests not
Kari Lake has sought to dismantle Voice of America and its federal parent, the U.S. Agency for Global Media. The agency has recently called her its acting CEO. But the law suggests she's not eligible for the job. -
Why lung cancer is a 'hidden epidemic' in this part of the world
Rates of the world's deadliest cancer appear to be low in sub-Saharan Africa. But that statistic is masking the scope of the disease, doctors say.
