Each year, the United States has about 1,200 tornadoes. Many of them happen in tornado alley, a very broad swath of the U.S. that shifts seasonally. This area gets at least ten times more tornadoes than the rest of the world. Science writer Sushmita Pathak says that huge difference can be chalked up to one word: geography. But there's a slice of South America with similar geographical features that gets comparatively fewer tornadoes, so what gives? Sushmita wades into the research weeds with guest host Berly McCoy, one of Short Wave's producers.

Read Sushmita's full article on tornadoes that she wrote for the publication Eos.

Have other science weather stories you think we should cover on the show? Let us know by emailing 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.

(Image credit: Connect Images/Jason Persoff Stormdoctor)

Leaders from rural communities in eight states travelled to Washington, D.C., last week to urge lawmakers to preserve federal funding that's threatened by the Trump administration.

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You don't need to visit Japan or Washington, D.C. to see cherry blossom trees. Here are three places around the U.S. where you can see the blooms — weather permitting.

NPR's Brian Mann and North Country Public Radio's David Sommerstein head into the high country for a spring picnic surrounded by sun — and snow.

NPR's Scott Detrow talks with Robert Scheller, landscape ecology professor at North Carolina State University, about the increasing risk for wildfires in southeast and southern Appalachian regions.

Springtime means cherry blossoms in the nation's capital. On a recent breezy morning, with peak bloom still two days away, the Tidal Basin was packed with both blossoms and visitors.

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Countries have debated for decades whether to allow mining on the ocean floor, a potential trove of critical minerals. Now, a Canadian startup says it will move ahead, whether or not rules are in place.

(Image credit: NOAA Ocean Exploration)

Some car owners couldn't claim the EV tax credit for vehicles purchased in 2024 because dealers skipped a key sales reporting step. The IRS is now offering a fix.

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Soil blocking is an environmentally friendly method to prep seedlings. The technique has captured the attention of serious gardeners who'd like to make their growing more sustainable.

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More than three-quarters of U.S. wells make just 6% of the country's oil. They're called marginal wells because of their small output. But they're a big deal to oil producers and environmentalists.

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Fighting growing wildfires in western North Carolina is hampered by debris left over from Hurricane Helene-related flooding, which was 6 months ago this week.

A retired park ranger "battled" an invasive shrub taking over tributaries of the Colorado River. Now, 85 miles of the Escalante River have been restored.

The Trump administration's efforts to end DEI programs is hitting some unexpected targets, including a nationwide effort planting shade trees in neighborhoods to reduce extreme heat.

A jury in North Dakota has found Greenpeace owes hundreds of millions of dollars to Energy Transfer, the company that built the Dakota Access oil pipeline.

Experts say the verdict has relevance for free speech issues nationwide.

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Last week, officials announced that a volcano 80 miles west of Anchorage is "likely" to erupt within the next few weeks or months. That could send ash into the air for hundreds of miles.

Exposure to heat can alter the way your DNA works, according to a new study. The effects could lead to long-term health outcomes.

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Simple activities to help you better appreciate the birds, bees and flowers — and spend more time outside.

Move over, TikTokers. It's time to shine a spotlight on some of the earliest influencers around: dinosaurs. When these ecosystem engineers were in their heyday, forest canopies were open and seeds were small. But around the time most dinosaurs were wiped out, paleontologists noticed an interesting shift in the fossil record: Seeds got bigger — much bigger. There was a fruit boom. Did the death of these dinosaurs have something to do with it? And who are the modern day equivalent of dinosaur influencers? To find out, host Emily Kwong talks to Chris Doughty, an ecologist at Northern Arizona University.

Tell us what other tales of dino past you want us to regale you with by emailing us 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.

Some 400 to 600 Asian elephants are believed to remain living in the wild in Cambodia. Researchers said the study's findings underscore the potential of a "national stronghold" for the species.

(Image credit: The Flora & Fauna conservation/AP)