logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2023
12m 39s

Rethinking The Lab Rat

NPR
About this episode
For generations, scientists have leaned on seven key species, including rats and mice, for research. They're called model organisms and they've been standardized over the year — removing as much individuality as possible. But as research questions become more complicated, some researchers are turning to more niche critters to study. Host Regina Barber talks to reporter Anil Oza about the shift.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy
Up next
Jul 31
Want to spend a year living in NASA's Mars simulation?
Have you ever wanted to be an astronaut without risking your life in space? If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you. NASA is calling for people with a science background to apply for a simulated mission to the Moon and Mars. Four adults will spend a year isolated in two en ... Show More
12m 7s
Jul 29
Are extreme wildfires the new normal?
With parts of the U.S, Canada, Spain and France all ablaze with wildfires, you might be wondering: Are wildfires on the rise? If so, know that you mind-melded with the entire Short Wave staff. We had the exact same thought – and then went down some reporting rabbit holes and turn ... Show More
13m 21s
Jul 28
A cooler of eggs and a bold plan to save leopard sharks
Leopard sharks have nearly vanished from the waters in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. The country is one of the largest shark fishing nations in the world. Now, a first-of-its-kind conservation project is working to bring Indo-Pacific leopard sharks back from the brink of extinction. Thi ... Show More
13m 40s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2024
Pinky and the (lab-grown) Brain
It’s not great to be a lab rat. And it turns out, lab rats might not be that great for science either. Could the future be little lab-grown brain clumps? Guests: Rachel Nuwer, science journalist; Lisa Genzel, professor of neuroscience at Radboud University This episode has been u ... Show More
20m 52s
Jul 2024
How rat poison endangers wildlife, and using sound to track animal populations
Rodenticides are building up inside unintended targets, including birds, mammals, and insects; and bringing bioacoustics and artificial intelligence together for ecology First up this week, producer Kevin McLean and freelance science journalist Dina Fine Maron discuss the history ... Show More
34m 46s
Feb 2022
The Romantic Temptation of the Monogamous Prairie Vole
The small rodents are one of the few known monogamists in the wild—and their faithfulness was put to the test in a lab. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 
6m 34s
Jan 2021
Counting research rodents, a possible cause for irritable bowel syndrome, and spitting cobras
Online News Editor David Grimm joins host Sarah Crespi to discuss a controversial new paper that estimates how many rodents are used in research in the United States each year. Though there is no official number, the paper suggests there might be more than 100 million rats and mi ... Show More
30m 19s
Jul 2023
Audio long read: Lab mice go wild — making experiments more natural in order to decode the brain
Neuroscientists are creating more naturalistic experiments that they hope will provide a more nuanced understanding of animal — and human — behaviour.These set-ups differ from the classic laboratory experiments that have been used for decades, and may help in the understanding of ... Show More
15m 17s
Sep 2021
During a Rodent Quadrathlon, Researchers Learn That Ground Squirrels Have Personalities
The rodents’ personalities may help them to secure territory and avoid prey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 
6m 14s
Mar 2025
Measles Misinformation, Ozone Recovery and Woolly Mice
With measles cases on the rise, experts are pushing back against misleading claims about vitamin A as a substitute for vaccination. A Supreme Court ruling has reshaped the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority over water pollution, raising concerns about future environmenta ... Show More
10m 4s
Aug 2023
APOPO Rats
<p>This episode may have you reconsidering what you think about rats. That’s because at this training and research center in Tanzania, African Giant Pouched Rats are being raised up to sniff out landmines and disease, proving to be the heroes we all need. </p><p><strong>READ MORE ... Show More
12m 56s
Mar 2021
That Mouse in Your House--It's Smarter, Thanks to You
Scientists studied three varieties of house mice and found that those who had lived alongside humans the longest were also the craftiest at solving food puzzles. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 
3m 23s
Sep 2024
Is animal testing worth the cost?
<p>Did you know rats are very smart and curious creatures? They laugh when they are tickled, they can take care of each other, and they are actually quite clean. Millions of them are also used in painful scientific experiments to test new drugs and medical theories. Researchers d ... Show More
20 m