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You're listening to Shortwave from NPR.

Hey, shortwaivers, Regina Barber here.

And Emily Kwong.

With our biweekly science news roundup this time featuring, and this is what I always say, because it's true, the legendary. Mary Louise Kelly, of all things considered, welcome to the show again. I'm delighted to be here. I will try to live up to that billing. Okay, I hear we're going to be talking about why quitting smoking at any age is good for you. That's right. You hear that, Dad? That's important. Did you hear that? Okay.

And we're also going to talk about a new way to support the language development of preterm babies.

Plus an urban animal mystery.

Animal who'd done it.

Yes. You're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR.

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Okay, let's start with smoking and memory.

I didn't know there was a link. Gina kicks off. Yeah. So the rate of smoking

cigarettes has declined since the 1960s. That's when Congress required warnings on cigarette boxes.

And researchers have found that people are more likely to try to quit smoking when they're under 40.

However, a new study in the Lancet Health Longevity Journal shows quitting later in life can still be beneficial.

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