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This week in science: sea monsters, long COVID patients' microbiome, elephant carcasses

NPR | By Nathan Rott,

Regina G. Barber

Published October 15, 2026 at 4:33 PM CDT

NPR's science podcast Short Wave brings us stories about the hunting habits of ancient sea monsters, the microbiome of long COVID patients, and how elephant carcasses replenish the savannah.

Nathan Rott

Nathan (Nate) Rott is a correspondent on NPR’s Science Desk, where he reports on the natural world and humanity’s relationship to it.

Regina G. Barber

Regina G. Barber is a co-host of Short Wave.