PNAS Science Sessions

Indigenous communities and subsistence whale hunting Nov 04, 2024

Indigenous hunting and beluga populations

Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us.

In this episode, Max Friesen, Eline Lorenzen, and Mikkel Skovrind explore beluga population dynamics in relation to subsistence hunting by Indigenous communities in northern Canada.

In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction •[01:01] Archaeologist Max Friesen talks about the role of belugas in Inuvialuit culture. •[01:45] Evolutionary biologist Eline Lorenzen talks about the background of the study. •[02:26] Naturalist Mikkel Skovrind explains the methods of the study, including the sources of beluga samples and the methods of analysis. •[03:58] Skovrind introduces the results of the study, including the changing ratio of males to females harvested. •[06:07] Lorenzen describes the finding that genetic diversity of belugas had not declined over time. •[06:59] Friesen and Lorenzen talk about what the study reveals, and suggests, about past hunting methods. •[08:09] The authors explain the caveats and limitations of the study. •[09:05] Skovrind and Friesen explore the implications of the study for traditional subsistence hunting practices. •[10:19] Conclusion

About Our Guests:

Max Friesen Professor University of Toronto

Eline Lorenzen Professor University of Copenhagen

Mikkel Skovrind Postdoctoral researcher Lund University

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2405993121

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Perceiving musical boundaries Oct 21, 2024

The neuroscience of music perception

Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us.

In this episode, Petri Toiviainen, Ibi Burunat, and Daniel Levitin describe the neuroscience of how musicians and non-musicians perceive boundaries within pieces of music.

In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction •[01:04] Music neuroscientist Petri Toiviainen, music neuroscientist Ibi Burunat, and cognitive neuroscientist Daniel Levitin introduce the concept of musical boundaries. •[02:29] Toiviainen and Burunat tell about the musical pieces used in the experiment, as well as the experimental setup. •[04:05] Levitin explains why musicians and non-musicians were included in the study. •[04:27] Burunat and Levitin talk about the findings generally. •[05:50] Toiviainen and Levitin explain how musicians and non-musicians’ responses to the music differed. •[07:13] Toiviainen and Burunat talk about the caveats and limitations of the study. •[08:59] Levitin and Burunat explore the implications of the work for music neuroscience. •[09:46] Conclusion.

About Our Guests:

Petri Toiviainen Professor University of Jyväskylä

Ibi Burunat Postdoctoral researcher University of Jyväskylä

Daniel Levitin Professor emeritus McGill University

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2319459121

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How python hearts grow and shrink Oct 07, 2024

How python hearts grow and shrink

Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us.

In this episode, Leslie Leinwand, of the University of Colorado in Boulder, and Claudia Crocini, of Charité – Berlin University of Medicine in Germany, describe how the hearts of constricting pythons change size after meals.

In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction •[01:19] What is the natural context for cardiac hypertrophy in constricting pythons? •[02:48] What were the mechanisms involved in this process that you identified? •[05:27] What did you discover about the mechanisms of heart size regression in these snakes? •[07:24] What are the next steps in this line of research? •[08:21] Conclusion.

About Our Guest: Leslie Leinwand Professor University of Colorado

Claudia Crocini Junior Research Group Leader Charité – Berlin University Medicine

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2322726121

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Neighborhood travel and racial segregation Sep 30, 2024

How people travel to racially different neighborhoods

Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us.

In this episode, Mario Small talks about patterns of people's travel to neighborhoods racially different than their home neighborhood.

In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction •[00:59] Sociologist Mario Small describes how everyday travel can temper residential segregation. •[01:57] Small talks about how their study tracked peoples’ movements and defined travel beyond a person’s racial comfort zone. •[03:48] Small explains the study’s results. •[06:08] He explores why some destinations take people to racially similar neighborhoods and some take people to racially different neighborhoods. •[07:15] Small shows how “15-minute cities” might inadvertently reinforce residential segregation. •[08:21] He lists the caveats and limitations of the study. •[10:34] Conclusion.

About Our Guest:

Mario Small Quetelet Professor of Social Science Columbia University

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2401661121

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Ocean voyages and disease spread Sep 16, 2024

How pathogen stowaways traversed the oceans

Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us.

In this episode, Jamie Lloyd-Smith and Elizabeth Blackmore describe how they modeled the epidemiology of pathogens on ocean voyages.

In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction •[01:04] Integrative scientist Jamie Lloyd-Smith and disease ecologist Elizabeth Blackmore describe how they came to study the epidemiology of ocean travel. •[03:21] Blackmore and Lloyd-Smith explain why they focused on three pathogens: influenza, measles, and smallpox. •[04:13] Lloyd-Smith explains the results of the disease model, with pathogen biology, passenger number, and journey length factoring into the duration of shipboard outbreaks. •[05:05] Blackmore details the additional insights provided by newspaper records of ship arrivals in 1850s San Francisco. •[06:57] Lloyd-Smith and Blackmore talk about the caveats and limitations of the study. •[08:02] Blackmore and Lloyd-Smith explore potential next steps. •[09:47] Conclusion.

About Our Guests:

Jamie Lloyd-Smith Professor University of California, Los Angeles

Elizabeth Blackmore Doctoral student Yale University

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2400425121

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Why twisters target the United States Sep 03, 2024

Why “Tornado Alley” is unique to North America

Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us.

In this episode, Funing Li and Dan Chavas explain why North America produces many tornadoes each year and South America does not.

In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction •[01:01] Weather and climate scientist Funing Li talks about the frequency of tornadoes within and outside of the United States. •[01:25] Li explains the geography of severe thunderstorm hotspots in North and South America. •[02:46] Weather and climate scientist Dan Chavas and Li describe how they became interested in the effect of surface geography on tornadoes. •[05:13] Li and Chavas explain their modeling approach. •[07:23] Li and Chavas talk about why surface roughness is important for tornado formation. •[08:14] Chavas and Li describe the implications of the study, including effects of climate change and insights into paleoclimate. •[09:43] Caveats and limitations of the study. •[10:26] Conclusion.

About Our Guests:

Funing Li Postdoctoral associate Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dan Chavas Associate professor Purdue University

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2315425121

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Creating culturally inclusive schools Aug 19, 2024

Creating culturally inclusive school environments

Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us.

In this episode, Stephanie Fryberg, Hazel Markus, and Laura Brady explore how to create culturally inclusive environments in schools.

In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction •[01:00] Social cultural psychologist Stephanie Fryberg introduces the value of culturally inclusive learning environments. •[01:43] Social cultural psychologist Hazel Markus talks about how disparities can arise from a lack of cultural belonging. •[02:25] Markus introduces the predominant cultural model that creates challenges for some students. •[03:18] Social cultural psychologist Laura Brady explains an alternate interdependence model. •[4:01] Brady talks about the school leaders involved in the study. •[4:34] Fryberg outlines the professional development intervention. •[5:44] Fryberg and Markus share examples of teacher responses. •[6:26] Brady talks about how teacher practices and student attitudes changed. •[7:44] Brady lists the caveats and limitations of the study. •[8:31]Markus and Fryberg share takeaways from the study. •[9:43] Conclusion.

About Our Guests:

Stephanie Fryberg Professor of social and cultural psychology, Director of Research for the Indigenous Social Action and Equity Center Northwestern University

Hazel Markus Professor of social and cultural psychology, co-director of Stanford Spark Stanford University

Laura Brady Senior researcher American Institutes for Research

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2322872121

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How redlining affects biodiversity Aug 05, 2024

How redlining affects biodiversity

Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us.

In this episode, Cesar Estien explores the legacy of mid-20th century redlining through the biodiversity of disadvantaged neighborhoods.

In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction •[1:04] Cesar Estien, an urban ecologist at the University of Washington, describes the practice of redlining. •[2:50] He tells how a study of redlining and environmental quality led to a study of animal diversity. •[3:33] Estien describes why the study cities of San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, and San Diego were chosen for the study. •[4:25] He explains the difference between species richness and community composition. •[5:31] He reports the study findings regarding species richness and community composition in redlined and greenlined neighborhoods. •[6:55] Estien talks about the lasting legacy of racial injustice on the ecology of cities. •[7:52] He explains why equitable access to biodiversity matters. •[9:04] Caveats and limitations of the study. •[10:09] Conclusion.

About Our Guest:

Cesar Estien Ph.D. Candidate University of California, Berkeley

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2321441121

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Animal's eye view of the ocean Jul 15, 2024

Animal’s eye view of the ocean

Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us.

In this episode, researchers use animal-borne video cameras to explore foraging behaviors of animals in the open ocean.

In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction •[00:46] Taiki Adachi, an ecologist at the National Institute of Polar Research in Japan, observed how elephant seals use their whiskers to locate prey in the dark depths of the ocean •[02:13] Carey Kuhn, an ecologist at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, Washington, explored how the size of prey affected the foraging behavior of northern fur seals. •[03:43] Ryan Logan, an ecologist at California State University Long Beach, recorded a solitary sailfish hunting in the open ocean and estimated its energy expenditures. •[05:05] Simone Videsen, an ecologist at Aarhus University in Denmark, performed a similar analysis of the energetic efficiency of humpback whales. •[06:12] Takuya Maekawa, an engineer at Osaka University in Japan, designed a device to detect and automatically record rare behaviors performed by streaked shearwaters. •[07:56] Final thoughts and conclusion.

About Our Guests:

Taiki Adachi Assistant Professor National Institute of Polar Research

Carey Kuhn Researcher Alaska Fisheries Science Center

Ryan Logan Postdoctoral Research Fellow California State University Long Beach

Simone Videsen Postdoctoral Researcher Aarhus University

Takuya Maekawa Associate Professor Osaka University

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Inequitable exposure to wildfire smoke Jul 01, 2024

Inequitable wildfire smoke exposure in California

Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us.

In this episode, Joan Casey shows that some California communities are disproportionately exposed to wildfire air pollution.

In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction •[01:04] Joan Casey, an environmental epidemiologist at the University of Washington, describes recent decades of wildfire in California. •[01:34] Casey describes the environmental equity issues of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution. •[02:26] Casey describes why she chose to study the equity of wildfire smoke pollution exposure. •[03:01] She explains the results of the study, showing that by one definition of disadvantaged communities, smoke exposure appeared equitable. Another measure, including racial and ethnic identity data, showed inequitable exposure. •[05:26] Casey explores possible reasons for this inequitable exposure. •[06:21] The benefits of improved air monitoring among marginalized communities. •[07:34] Caveats and limitations of the study. •[08:35] Next steps in this line of research. •[09:27] Hopes for policy impacts. •[10:22] Conclusion.

About Our Guest:

Joan Casey Assistant Professor University of Washington School of Public Health

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2306729121

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Gentrification and biodiversity Jun 17, 2024

Biodiversity and gentrification

Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us.

In this episode, Mason Fidino explores how gentrification changes biodiversity in urban areas.

In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction •[01:02] Mason Fidino, a quantitative ecologist at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, defines gentrification and its social impacts. •[01:53] Fidino explains how gentrification changes neighborhoods. •[03:09] Fidino explains why the research focused on medium to large mammals. •[03:40] A description of camera traps and how they collect data. •[05:09] The results, including links between gentrification and biodiversity. •[06:59] The implications of the study for urban planners and urban residents. •[08:23] Caveats and limitations of the study. •[09:50] Conclusion.

About Our Guest:

Mason Fidino Quantitative Ecologist Lincoln Park Zoo

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2318596121

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School enrollment during the COVID-19 pandemic Jun 03, 2024

School enrollment during COVID-19

Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us.

In this episode, Micah Baum describes how public school enrollments in the US changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this episode, we cover: • [00:00] Introduction • [00:54] Micah Baum, an economist at the University of Michigan, introduces school districts’ three modes of learning in fall 2020: virtual, in-person, and hybrid. • [01:31] Baum explains the reasons for studying public school enrollment changes between the 2019-2020 school year and the 2020-2021 school year. • [02:51] Description of the data sources used in the study. • [03:50] Explanation of the changes in enrollment numbers between the two school years. • [06:00] Explanation of racial differences in enrollment changes. • [06:46] Exploration of what these results suggest about parent choices. • [08:24] Implications for school funding in future years. • [09:18] Caveats and limitations of the study. • [09:51] Conclusion.

About Our Guest:

Micah Baum PhD Student University of Michigan

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2307308120

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Emotional power of live music May 20, 2024

Emotional power of live music

Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us.

In this episode, Sascha Frühholz describes the emotional power of live music compared to recorded music.

In this episode, we cover: • [00:00] Introduction • [00:59] Sascha Frühholz, a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Oslo, reviews the neuroscience of emotional responses to music. • [02:02] Description of the study hypothesis regarding the difference of responses to recorded and live music. • [02:34] Description of the experimental setup. • [03:15] Description of the music played during the experiment, with examples. • [04:30] Recounting of the results of the study. • [05:05] The differences between responses to recorded and live music. • [05:45] What the listeners knew during and after the experiment. • [06:09] Inclusion of unpleasant music in the experiment, with examples. • [06:49] Description of the listeners’ feelings during the experiment. • [07:14] The musicians’ feelings about the experiment. • [07:42] Exploration of generalizing the results to other settings. • [08:19] Caveats and limitations of the study. • [09:11] Conclusion.

About Our Guest:

Sascha Frühholz Professor University of Oslo

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2316306121

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Adapting to poor air quality May 06, 2024

Adapting to poor air quality

Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us.

In this episode, Rebecca Saari explores potential adaptations needed for worsening air quality due to climate change.

In this episode, we cover: • [00:03] Introduction • [00:57] Rebecca Saari, an air quality engineer at the University of Waterloo, describes an air quality alert. • [01:23] Explanation of the hazard of fine particulate matter air pollution. • [02:18] Description of the study’s modeling approach. • [03:14] Description of modeling methods. • [04:05] Explanation of study results and where air quality alerts may rise due to climate change. • [04:34] Exploration of the social impacts of inequitable distribution of worsening air quality. • [05:24] Description of strategies for mitigating the health risk of poor air quality. • [06:27] Discussion of the costs and benefits of increased time spent indoors to mitigate health risk. • [07:22] Discussion of the role of policy in protecting from air quality hazards. • [08:13] Explanation of the study’s caveats and limitations. • [09:30] Potential impacts of the study. • [10:11] Conclusion

About Our Guest:

Rebecca Saari Associate Professor University of Waterloo

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2215685121

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Measuring Poverty Apr 22, 2024

Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us.

In this episode, Christine Pu describes how commonly used measures of poverty don't agree, and why definitions of poverty matter.

In this episode, we cover:

· [00:00] Introduction

· [00:59] Christine Pu, an interdisciplinary scientist from Stanford University, introduces the importance of definitions of poverty.

· [01:40] List of the four commonly used definitions of poverty.

· [02:29] The motivation behind the study.

· [03:21] Study design and methods.

· [04:20] Results of the study and discussion of why poverty measures may not agree.

· [05:50] Discussion of how poverty definitions impact efforts to alleviate poverty.

· [06:57] How policymakers can approach definition of poverty.

· [07:46] Implications and potential impacts of the study.

· [08:25] Study caveats and limitations.

· [08:54] Conclusion.

About Our Guests:

Christine Pu

PhD Candidate

Stanford University

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2316730121

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How a small fish makes big sounds Apr 08, 2024

How a small fish makes big sounds

Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us.

In this episode, Verity Cook from Charité – Berlin University of Medicine explains how a fish 12 millimeters in length produces sounds exceeding 140 decibels.

In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction •[01:37] Can you tell us more about the fish you studied? •[02:26] What are some of the methods you used to characterize the fish’s sound production mechanism? •[03:49] Can you walk us through the process of how these fish produce sound? •[05:02] What are the broader implications of your findings? •[05:53] Conclusion.

About Our Guest: Verity Cook PhD Student Charité – Berlin University of Medicine

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2314017121

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History of flight in dinosaurs Mar 25, 2024

Dinosaur feathers hint at flight history

Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us.

In this episode, Jingmai O’Connor and Yosef Kiat share insights gleaned from modern birds’ feathers that help understand the evolutionary history of flight in dinosaurs.

In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction •[01:02] Jingmai O’Connor, a vertebrate paleontologist at the Field Museum of Natural History, describes the characteristics of feathers associated with flight. •[02:11] O’Connor gives context and background for previous knowledge of the evolution of flight feathers in dinosaurs. •[03:25] O’Connor describes the sources of fossil specimens for analysis of feather evolution. •[04:29] Yosef Kiat, an ornithologist at the Field Museum of Natural History, tells what he learned about the consistent number of primary feathers in modern birds. He also tells how that number applies to dinosaurs. •[05:54] O’Connor explains what the symmetry of feathers reveals about a species’ flight ability and history. •[06:29] Kiat applies feather symmetry to explain the flight evolutionary history of Caudipteryx. •[07:05] Kiat summarizes the findings of the study, using feather number and shape to assess the flight abilities of four genera of dinosaurs. •[07:47] Kiat and O’Connor describe the type of potential fossil evidence that could fill in holes in the history of flight evolution in dinosaurs. •[08:42] Kiat and O’Connor explain the study’s caveats and limitations. •[09:44] Conclusion.

About Our Guests:

Jingmai O’Connor Associate Curator of Fossil Reptiles Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL

Yosef Kiat Postdoctoral Research Fellow Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2306639121

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Bee communication in a changing world Mar 04, 2024

Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us.

In this episode, researchers describe the potential impact of anthropogenic disturbances on bee communication.

In this episode, we cover:

[00:00] Introduction
[00:45] Description of the waggle dance of honeybees.
[01:59] Maggie Couvillon, an entomologist at Virginia Tech, explains what information researchers can glean from the waggle dance.
[03:24] Christoph Grüter, a behavioral ecologist at the University of Bristol, describes what impact climatic changes may have on bee communication.
[05:13] Michael Hrncir, a behavioral ecologist at the University of Sao Paulo, recorded the impact of rising air temperatures on foraging in stingless bees.
[06:48] Grüter explains how landscape changes and habitat fragmentation might affect bee communication.
[08:23] Elli Leadbeater, an ecologist at Royal Holloway University of London, found that dancing honeybees found the foraging environment of central London superior to agricultural land.
[09:49] Kris Braman, an entomologist at the University of Georgia, studied how the distribution of land cover at different scales influences bee diversity in Georgia.
[11:24] Grüter explains how insecticides may alter bee communication strategies.
[12:41] Denise Alves, a behavioral ecologist at the University of Sao Paulo, describes how a fungal pesticide can affect nestmate recognition in stingless bees.
[14:23] Adam Dolezal, an entomologist at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, describes how a bee pathogen affects nestmate recognition in honeybees.
[15:17] Final thoughts and conclusion.

About Our Guests:

Maggie CouvillonAssistant ProfessorVirginia Tech

Christoph GrüterSenior LecturerUniversity of Bristol

Michael HrncirProfessorUniversity of Sao Paulo

Elli LeadbeaterProfessorRoyal Holloway University of London

Kris BramanDepartment Head and ProfessorUniversity of Georgia

Denise AlvesPost-doctoral ResearcherUniversity of Sao Paulo

Adam DolezalAssistant ProfessorUniversity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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Lonnie Thompson discusses clues to Earth's ancient climate history that are stored in tropical glacial ice.

Gatekeeping in scientific publishing Jun 11, 2019

Kyle Siler discusses the role of editors as gatekeepers at scientific journals.

Designing theoretical molecules Jun 11, 2019

Alán Aspuru-Guzik discusses how he uses supercomputing as a "molecular spaceship" to explore chemical space and discover potentially useful new molecules.

Genome editing Jun 11, 2019

Keith Joung and Feng Zhang explain methods for editing sequences of DNA in living cells.

An overdependence on p-values Jun 11, 2019

Veronica Vieland discusses a common disconnect between scientists and statisticians in evaluating scientific evidence.

Retina cell transplantation Jun 11, 2019

Robin Ali describes efforts to transplant healthy rod and cone cells into afflicted retinas.

Heart regeneration Jun 11, 2019

Hesham Sadek explains the regenerative capability of newborn mouse hearts.

Global collaboration against HIV Jun 11, 2019

Ambassador Deborah Birx discusses international efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Molecular profiling of cancer Jun 11, 2019

Elaine Mardis discusses how next generation sequencing technology is helping the Pan-Cancer Initiative gain a molecular understanding of cancer.

Growing stem cells in 3D Jun 10, 2019

David Schaffer describes how to culture human stem cells in a fully-defined, scalable 3D medium.

Astrocytes and ALS Jun 10, 2019

Brian Kaspar discusses the role of astrocyte cells in the motor neuron disease ALS.

Taming an unwieldy cancer target Jun 10, 2019

Frank McCormick discusses a National Cancer Institute-led effort to turn a well-known cancer-causing protein into a viable drug target.

Genetic switchboards Jun 10, 2019

James Collins explains how researchers can rewire bacterial cells and control multiple genes simultaneously within a single cell.

Interview with 2013 Cozzarelli Prize Winner Francesco Pennacchio Jun 10, 2019

Francesco Pennacchio explains how neonicotinoid insecticides can influence the immune response of honey bees.

Interview with 2013 Cozzarelli Prize Winner Caroline Roullier Jun 10, 2019

Caroline Roullier and colleagues won the 2013 Cozzarelli Prize in Behavioral and Social Sciences for their work on the distribution of sweet potatoes in Oceania.

Interview with 2013 Cozzarelli Prize Winners Yoel Sadovsky and Carolyn Coyne Jun 10, 2019

Yoel Sadovsky and Carolyn Coyne describe the placenta's role in protecting the fetus from infection by viruses.

Interview with 2013 Cozzarelli Prize Winner Tad Patzek Jun 10, 2019

Tad Patzek explains how natural gas production declines over time in hydrofractured wells.

Interview with 2013 Cozzarelli Prize Winners Mimi Kao and Allison Doupe Jun 10, 2019

Mimi Kao and Allison Doupe explore song learning in the male zebra finch.

Interview with 2013 Cozzarelli Prize Winners Erik Petigura and Geoffrey Marcy Jun 10, 2019

Erik Petigura and Geoffrey Marcy discuss the number of Earth-like planets that may exist in our galaxy.

Modeling human cognition Jun 10, 2019

James "Jay" McClelland describes a parallel distributed processing approach to understanding human cognition.

Exchanging kidneys Jun 10, 2019

Alvin Roth discusses how principles of economics can benefit people who need kidney transplants.

Nicotine addiction and relapse Jun 10, 2019

Inés Ibañez-Tallon discusses how nicotine and neurons conspire to hamper efforts to quit smoking.

Where breast cancer meets brain size Jun 10, 2019

Inder Verma and colleagues describe how a breast cancer-associated gene might be implicated in brain size control in mammals.

Supernova chemistry Jun 10, 2019

Paul Dunk discusses the chemistry of carbon in space following a supernova.

The postdoctoral problem Jun 10, 2019

NAS member Gregory Petsko discusses efforts to assess the US postdoctoral workforce.

Understanding citrus greening Jun 10, 2019

Ariena van Bruggen and J. Glenn Morris, Jr. discuss their work on citrus greening, a disease that is threatening the global citrus industry.

Genetic screening for adults Jun 10, 2019

C. Thomas Caskey and Amy McGuire discuss whole-genome genetic screening for adult-onset diseases.

Synthesizing fuels and chemicals from CO2 Jun 10, 2019

James Liao talks about engineering microorganisms to synthesize fuels and chemicals from CO2.

Speech perception and language acquisition in infants Jun 10, 2019

Janet Werker describes how exposure to speech and environmental factors can affect language acquisition by infants.

Menopause, mitochondria, and memory Jun 10, 2019

Neuroscientists John Morrison and Yuko Hara talk about the links between estrogen, mitochondria, and age-related cognitive decline.

A microbial map for wine Jun 10, 2019

David Mills discusses regional differences in microbes found in grape must.

Building better batteries Jun 10, 2019

Yi Cui discusses how nanometerials are improving the energy storage capacity of batteries.

History of alcohol in human diet Jun 10, 2019

Steven Benner discusses the interaction between early humans and alcohol.

Tracing development in color Jun 10, 2019

Scott Fraser discusses tools to glean a multicolored view of embryonic development.

Changing the way we think about antibiotics Jun 10, 2019

Deborah Hung talks about identifying new approaches for treating and diagnosing infectious diseases.

How humans may have evolved intelligence Jun 10, 2019

Steven Pinker explains the idea of a cognitive niche, which may have facilitated the evolution of human intelligence.

Incentivizing positive behaviors Jun 10, 2019

David Laibson describes how behavioral economics can help incentivize positive behaviors.

Making commercial tomatoes taste better Jun 10, 2019

Harry Klee explains how he is trying to make commercial tomatoes more flavorful.

Health risks from eating Fukushima-contaminated seafood Jun 10, 2019

Nicholas Fisher discusses his recent study investigating the health risks associated with eating seafood contaminated with Fukushima-derived radioactivity.

Curbing dishonest form-filling Jun 10, 2019

Nina Mazar discusses her recent study showing that where people sign a form affects how honestly they complete it.

Mapping the mouse connectome Jun 10, 2019

Jeff Lichtman explains the promise and challenges tied to building a mouse connectome.

The diets of ancient hominins Jun 10, 2019

Matt Sponheimer discusses what our ancient evolutionary ancestors may have eaten.

Interview with 2012 Cozzarelli Prize Winners Andrew Zammit-Mangion, Michael Dewar,Visakan Kadirkamanathan, and Guido Sanguinetti Jun 10, 2019

Andrew Zammit-Mangion, Michael Dewar,Visakan Kadirkamanathan, and Guido Sanguinetti describe their statistical model of conflict dynamics and how they tested it using the WikiLeaks Afghan War Diary.

Interview with 2012 Cozzarelli Prize Winners Janet Braam and E. Wassim Chehab Jun 10, 2019

Janet Braam and E. Wassim Chehab discuss how plants anticipate and defend against insect attacks.

Interview with 2012 Cozzarelli Prize Winners Paloma Gonzalez-Bellido, Hanchuan Peng, and Apostolos Georgopoulos Jun 10, 2019

Paloma Gonzalez-Bellido, Hanchuan Peng, and Apostolos Georgopoulos describe their research on how dragonflies catch their prey.

Interview with 2012 Cozzarelli Prize Winners Sean Palecek and Xiaojun Lian Jun 10, 2019

Sean Palecek and Xiaojun Lian describe their efficient method for converting stem cells into heart muscle cells.

Interview with 2012 Cozzarelli Prize Winners Clayton R. Magill and Katherine H. Freeman Jun 10, 2019

Clayton R. Magill and Katherine H. Freeman discuss how water availability and ecosystem changes influenced early human habitats.

Interview with 2012 Cozzarelli Prize Winner Bob MacCallum Jun 10, 2019

Bob MacCallum explores how music can evolve from noise based on listeners' preferences.

The life beneath our feet Jun 10, 2019

Diana Wall discusses how life in the soil may change in a warming world.

Engineering bacteria to curb malaria transmission Jun 10, 2019

Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena describes how he engineered a symbiotic bacterium found in mosquito guts to block the transmission of the malaria parasite.

The science of microbes Jun 10, 2019

Julie Segre and Liliana Losada discuss human-microbe interactions in a recording of a PNAS Science Cafe event held in Washington, DC on February 27, 2013.

Taking science to the streets Jun 10, 2019

John Durant talks about the role of science festivals in science literacy.

Microbial cell factories Jun 10, 2019

Bernhard Palsson explains how bacteria can be used as factories to produce sustainable products.

Fly social networks Jun 10, 2019

Joel Levine discusses his research on social interaction networks in fruit flies.

What makes us human Jun 10, 2019

Chet Sherwood explores the unique aspects of the human brain's anatomy and function

Why music moves us Jun 10, 2019

Thalia Wheatley and Beau Sievers discuss the structural similarities between music and movement.

Social bacteria Jun 10, 2019

E. Peter Greenberg explains how antisense RNA help regulate bacterial social interactions.

How mosquitos survive raindrops Jun 10, 2019

David Hu describes his research on how mosquitos survive collisions with raindrops, which could help design better flying robots.

The evolution of music from noise Jun 10, 2019

Bob MacCallum explores how music can evolve from noise based on listeners' preferences.

The science of biodiversity - Part 2 Jun 10, 2019

Merlin Hanauer and Chase Mendenhall discuss the science of biodiversity, in the second of two recordings of a PNAS Science Cafe event held in Washington, DC on October 17, 2012.

The science of biodiversity - Part 1 Jun 10, 2019

Merlin Hanauer and Chase Mendenhall discuss the science of biodiversity, in the first of two recordings of a PNAS Science Cafe event held in Washington, DC on October 17, 2012.

Reshuffling in the human genome Jun 10, 2019

Fred Alt discusses methods to map human chromosomal reshuffling.

Widespread lead poisoning in condors Jun 10, 2019

Myra Finkelstein discusses her research showing that California condors are significantly threatened by lead from lead-based ammunition.

Cancer nanomedicines Jun 10, 2019

Chemical engineer Mark Davis discusses his research on nano-sized cancer therapeutics.

How caffeine can help prevent cancer Jun 10, 2019

Chemical biologist Allan Conney discusses his research on caffeine's anticancer properties.

Understanding the brain's architecture Jun 10, 2019

Neuroscientist Charles F. Stevens discusses his research on finding the brain's underlying design principles.

A systems approach to drug development Jun 10, 2019

Marc Kirschner discusses the goals of systems pharmacology.

Building new biological objects Jun 10, 2019

Frances Arnold explains how she harnesses the power of evolution to create proteins and organisms with applications in medicine and in alternative energy.

Virus-fighting bacteria Jun 10, 2019

Akiko Iwasaki explains how gut bacteria boost immunity to influenza virus.

Bugging the immune system Jun 10, 2019

Sarkis Mazmanian talks about how gut bacteria interact with the immune system to influence health and disease.

Bacterial invisible ink Jun 10, 2019

David Walt discusses his research on using fluorescent bacteria to send secret messages.

Gatekeepers of our immune system Jun 10, 2019

2011 Nobel Prize winner Bruce Beutler talks about his discovery of the first mammalian innate immune receptors, our first line of defense against the threat of microorganisms.

Thwarting dengue transmission Jun 10, 2019

Medical entomologist Scott O'Neill explains how an intracellular bacterium could help curb the spread of dengue virus.

Cancer immunotherapy comes of age Jun 10, 2019

Cell biologist Ira Mellman discusses cancer immunotherapy at Genentech.

Revolutionizing microscopy Jun 10, 2019

Changhuei Yang and Guoan Zheng talk about their inexpensive, lens-free biomedical imaging device, which could change the way we do microscopy.

Making physics palatable Jun 10, 2019

Spanish chef Ferran Adrià and physicist David Weitz discuss the science of cooking.

The benefits of gut bacteria Jun 10, 2019

Lora Hooper talks about the complex bacterial ecosystem in our gut and its important role in metabolism and immunity.

Sackler Colloquium on the science of science communication Jun 10, 2019

Baruch Fischhoff and Dietram Scheufele discuss the need for a scientific approach to the communication of science.

Making improved antibodies against HIV Jun 10, 2019

Structural biologist Pamela Björkman explains how engineering improved versions of naturally occurring antibodies against HIV might make them promising therapeutic agents.

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize winner Roland Kanaar Jun 10, 2019

Roland Kanaar explains how elevated temperature augments cancer treatment.

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize winner Merlin Hanauer Jun 10, 2019

Merlin Hanauer discusses the benefits of protected areas.

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize winner Jacob Waldbauer Jun 10, 2019

Cozzarelli Prize winner Jacob Waldbauer reconstructs the history of oxygen on Earth.

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize winners Robert Saye and James Sethian Jun 10, 2019

Cozzarelli Prize winners Robert Saye and James Sethian introduce a numerical method to track complex motions.

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize winner James Smith Jun 10, 2019

Economist James Smith discusses the effect of childhood mental problems on adult life.

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize winners Erica Machlin Cox and Selena Sagan Jun 10, 2019

Erica Machlin Cox and Selena Sagan discuss an unusual interaction that protects the hepatitis C virus from our body's defenses.

Life's building blocks Jun 10, 2019

George Church discusses the potential of synthetic biology.

The science of sleep Jun 10, 2019

Erin Hanlon and Jeanne Duffy introduce their research on sleep, in a recording of the PNAS "Science of Sleep" event held in Washington, DC on March 14, 2012.

Rebooting damaged vocal cords Jun 10, 2019

Robert Langer and Steven Zeitels describe a polymer gel that could help patients regain lost voice.

Drivers of embryonic development Jun 10, 2019

Developmental biologist Cliff Tabin explains how genes shape the formation of organs.

Stem cells and diabetes Jun 10, 2019

Can stem cells help cure Type 1 diabetes? Douglas Melton hopes to find out.

Sex-specific scientific reporting Jun 10, 2019

Nancy Adler discusses the need for sex-specific scientific reporting and the role it has played in women's health over the last 20 years.

The science of fear - Part 2 Jun 10, 2019

Psychology experts Daniel Pine and Mark Wiederhold answer fear-related questions from the audience, in second of two recordings from PNAS's "The Science of Fear!" event held in Washington, DC on October 12, 2011.

The science of fear - Part 1 Jun 10, 2019

Psychology experts Daniel Pine and Mark Wiederhold introduce their research on fear, in the first of two recordings from PNAS' "The Science of Fear!" event held in Washington, DC on October 12, 2011.

Catalysts for energy storage Jun 10, 2019

Daniel Nocera discusses how efficient catalysts can help us store solar energy in the same way plants do.

Scent of a predator Jun 10, 2019

Molecular biologist Stephen Liberles discusses how prey learn to recognize the scent of a predator.

Human lung on a chip Jun 10, 2019

Donald Ingber discusses the "microfabrication" of human biological systems as a means to replace animal testing during drug development.

New Editor-in-Chief of PNAS Jun 07, 2019

Inder Verma discusses his new role at PNAS and his future plans for the journal.

Social computing, mobile phones, and the developing world Jun 07, 2019

Wendy Kellogg discusses her research into social computing and her boots-on-the-ground observations of how mobile phones can impact the developing world.

Applications of rapid genome sequencing Jun 07, 2019

Stephen Quake discusses rapid DNA sequencing and treating medical patients based on their genomes.

Imaging, information technology, and autism spectrum disorder Jun 07, 2019

Gregory Abowd discusses the clinical applications of capturing and recording the every day experiences of children with autism spectrum disorder.

Paper devices for medical diagnoses Jun 07, 2019

George Whitesides discusses an inexpensive and easy-to-use medical diagnostic device that can be used in the developing world.

Social networking and predicting personality Jun 07, 2019

Jennifer Golbeck discusses the intersection of computer science, sociology, and social networking.

The science of chocolate Jun 07, 2019

Physicist David Weitz discusses the material properties that make chocolate to-die-for.

Ubiquitous computing and smart environments Jun 07, 2019

Bo Begole discusses ubiquitous computing, behavioral modeling, and smart environments that can anticipate people's information needs.

Changing public perception of the Smithsonian Jun 07, 2019

Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution Wayne Clough discusses his goal to educate the public about the Smithsonian's groundbreaking scientific research projects.

Genetically modified crops and agricultural productivity Jun 07, 2019

Roger Beachy discusses the role of genetically modified crops in feeding the world's growing population.

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize Winner Zvonimir Dogic Jun 07, 2019

Zvonimir Dogic discusses how viruses can be coaxed into forming self-assembling, polymer membranes.

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize Winners Won-Yong Song and Jiyoung Park Jun 07, 2019

Won-Yong Song and Jiyoung Park discuss the urgent problem of arsenic-tainted rice in Southeast Asia, and genetically engineered rice plants that would be safe to consume and could help remediate arsenic-contaminated groundwater.

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize Winner Liza Moscovice Jun 07, 2019

Liza Moscovice discusses what her study on baboon behavior reveals about the evolution of cooperation in humans.

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize Winners Robina Shaheen and Mark Thiemens Jun 07, 2019

Robina Shaheen and Mark Thiemens discuss an oxygen isotope signature that reveals how carbonates on Mars form in the absence of life.

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize Winner Cheryl Lyn Walker Jun 07, 2019

Cheryl Lyn Walker discusses the role of a cellular protein, called ATM, in offsetting oxidative damage.

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize Winner Benjamin tenOever Jun 07, 2019

Benjamin tenOever discusses his team's prize winning discovery that could be the key to developing a universal influenza A vaccine.

The personalized medicine revolution Jun 07, 2019

NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins discusses "personalized medicine," a novel approach in which doctors diagnose and treat patients using detailed information about each individual.

Aircraft and Iceland's volcanic ash cloud Jun 07, 2019

Susan Stipp discusses her PNAS research article that reveals whether the ash cloud from the 2010 eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano posed a threat to aircraft, and if the widespread airport closures in Europe were warranted.

Keeping Congress up-to-date on the latest scientific research Jun 07, 2019

Jim Jensen, Executive Director of the Office of Congressional and Government Affairs, a branch of the National Research Council, discusses how scientific research shapes public policy.

Clean energy funding in the 2012 research budget Jun 07, 2019

Kei Koizumi, Assistant Director for Federal Research and Development at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, discusses some aspects of the President's 2012 research budget.

Electronic artificial noses Jun 07, 2019

Nate Lewis dicusses the design principles and applications of electronic artificial noses.

Visual prosthetic devices for the blind Jun 07, 2019

Peter Schiller discusses a device that could one day restore sight to the blind by directly stimulating the visual cortex.

Call for papers: PNAS Plus Jun 07, 2019

PNAS Editor-in-Chief Randy Schekman discusses the journal's new option to publish online-only research articles.

Nano-healing and the future of surgery Jun 07, 2019

Rutledge Ellis-Behnke discusses his research in nano-healing, a technology that halts bleeding and helps the brain and body to recover from injury and disease.

Identifying the source of HIV infections in criminal cases Jun 07, 2019

David Hillis explains how phylogenetics can be used to solve criminal cases involving the intentional transmission of HIV via unprotected sex.

Microexpressions and the science behind "Lie to Me" Jun 07, 2019

Paul Ekman, the scientist whose research inspired the Fox television drama "Lie to Me," explains that almost everyone can learn to read the facial microexpressions that reveal concealed emotions, but that the technique is no "Pinocchio's nose."

The "missing link" between fish and land animals Jun 07, 2019

Neil Shubin researches the evolutionary origin of anatomical features. Dr. Shubin's most recent discovery, Tiktaalik roseae, has been dubbed the "missing link" between fish and land animals. Dr. Shubin discusses Tiktaalik and the evolutionary shift from life in water to life on land.

Tracking the spread of flu-like diseases in schools Jun 07, 2019

Marcel Salathé researches disease transmission and prevention, at the Penn State University Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics. To investigate how flu-like diseases spread through schools, Dr. Salathé used wireless sensors to measure the number of close-proximity, person-to-person interactions during a typical day at a local high school.

Pollution in indoor environments Jun 07, 2019

Charles J. Weschler studies the chemistry of indoor pollutants, including airborne particles, volatile organic compounds, and inorganic gases such as ozone. Listen as Dr. Weschler discusses the consequences of indoor pollution at home and in the workplace.

Dark matter, dark energy, and the Chandra X-ray Observatory Jun 07, 2019

Neil deGrasse Tyson is an astrophysicist, author, host of "NOVA ScienceNOW," and the Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium. Listen as Dr. Tyson discusses the extraordinary capabilities of the Chandra X-ray Observatory, and the nature of dark matter and dark energy.

Scientific credibility, public exposure, and irate third-graders Jun 07, 2019

Neil deGrasse Tyson is an astrophysicist, author, host of "NOVA ScienceNOW," and the Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium. Listen as Dr. Tyson discusses the balance between scientific credibility and public exposure, and the pitfalls of challenging Pluto's status as a planet.

Public science literacy, and race and gender bias in science education Jun 07, 2019

Dr. Mae Jemison is a physician and scientist, who on September 12, 1992 aboard the space shuttle Endeavour, became the world's first woman of color to travel into space. Listen as Dr. Jemison discusses race and gender bias in science education, and the importance of public science literacy.

The origin of malignant malaria Jun 07, 2019

Dr. Nathan Wolfe is the Lorry I. Lokey Visiting Professor in Human Biology at Stanford University and Director of the Global Viral Forecasting Initiative. Listen as Dr. Wolfe discusses malaria and the parasites that cause it, and his research that determined the origin of malignant malaria in humans.

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize Winner Lennart Balk Jun 07, 2019

Dr. Lennart Balk discusses the thiamine deficiency syndrome killing European wild birds.

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize Winner Mary Immordino-Yang Jun 07, 2019

Dr. Mary Immordino-Yang discusses her fMRI study of admiration and compassion.

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize Winner Vera Gorbunova Jun 07, 2019

Dr. Vera Gorbunova discusses the innate cancer immunity of the naked mole rat.

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize Winner Daniel Rugar Jun 07, 2019

Listen as Dr. Daniel Rugar discusses his 100 million-fold improvement in resolution to conventional magnetic resonance imaging.

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize Winners Michael Köttgen and Owen Woodward Jun 07, 2019

Michael Köttgen and Owen Woodward discuss identifying a key gene associated with gout, and the possible therapeutic implications.

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize Winner John Dore Jun 07, 2019

John Dore discusses the connection between rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and the increasing acidity of Earth's oceans.

Adaptation and Evolution: The Life of an RNA Virus Jun 07, 2019

Edward C. Holmes is a professor of biology and a Distinguished Senior Scholar in the Eberly College of Science at the Pennsylvania State University. Listen as Dr. Holmes discusses his research on using comparative genomics to study the genetic evolution of RNA viruses.

Privacy and Social Security numbers Jun 07, 2019

Alessandro Acquisti is an Associate Professor of Information Technology and Public Policy at the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. Listen as Dr. Acquisti discusses his research in the economics of privacy and his 2009 PNAS research article on predicting Social Security numbers.

Fundamentals of environmental economics Jun 07, 2019

Maureen Cropper is an economics professor at the University of Maryland and a former lead economist at the World Bank. Listen as Dr. Cropper discusses her research in environmental economics and her 2008 election into the National Academy of Sciences.

The future and stem cells Jun 07, 2019

James Thomson is best known for his pioneering work that isolated and cultured non-human primate and human embryonic stem cells. Listen as Dr. Thomson discusses his research and the future of stem cells in medical uses ranging from drug discovery, transplantation, and as a basic research tool.

Simulating material behavior Jun 07, 2019

Emily Carter's work merges quantum mechanics, applied mathematics, and solid state physics to create simulations of various molecules and materials. Listen as Dr. Carter discusses her research and her 2008 election to the National Academy of Sciences.

Human expansion out of Africa Jun 07, 2019

Richard Klein served as editor for the PNAS Special Feature titled "Out of Africa". This collection of articles explores the historical expansion of Homo sapiens from Africa to Eurasia. The Special Feature, along with an editorial by Dr. Klein, will publish in the September 22 issue of PNAS.

Seeing inside cells Jun 07, 2019

Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz's laboratory at the National Institutes of Health works to characterize the fundamental principles governing protein geography and movement within cells. Dr. Lippincott-Schwartz talks about her work and her recent election to the National Academy of Sciences.

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize Winner Yoshiro Nagao Jun 07, 2019

"Decreases in dengue transmission may act to increase the incidence of dengue hemorrhagic fever"

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize Winner Karen McComb Jun 07, 2019

"Cross-modal individual recognition in domestic horses (Equus caballus)."

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize Winner Marius Wernig Jun 07, 2019

"Neurons derived from reprogrammed fibroblasts functionally integrate into the fetal brain and improve symptoms of rats with Parkinson's disease"

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize Winner Albert-Laszlo Barabási Jun 07, 2019

"The implications of human metabolic network topology for disease comorbidity"

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize Winner John Rossi Jun 07, 2019

"MicroRNA-directed transcriptional gene silencing in mammalian cells"

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize Winner Raymond Jeanloz Jun 07, 2019

"Fluid helium at conditions of giant planetary interiors"

Interview with Randy Schekman Jun 07, 2019

Randy Schekman, the PNAS Editor-in-Chief, discusses the selection process and history of the Cozzarelli Prize. The Cozzarelli Prize is given annually to six outstanding PNAS articles, each representing one of the major disciplines of the National Academy of Sciences.

Stem cells in neuromedicine Jun 07, 2019

Fred Gage is a professor in the Laboratory of Genetics at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, CA. In this podcast, Dr. Gage talks about the subtleties involved as researchers explore how to use stem cells to treat conditions such as Parkinson's disease.

Malaria and vector research Jun 07, 2019

Thomas Wellems is the head of the Malaria and Vector Research Unit at the National Institutes of Health. In this episode, he discusses the advances made in the fight against malaria and the problems that still remain.

Inside Science Jun 07, 2019

Bruce Alberts is the former President of the National Academy of Sciences and the current editor-in-chief of Science. In this podcast, Dr. Alberts talks about how he generates ideas for editorials, how Science approaches issues of scientific misconduct, and his opinion on the proliferation of journals worldwide.

Examining Proceedings Jun 07, 2019

PNAS is one of the world's most-cited multidisciplinary scientific journals and has been published by the National Academies since 1915. This podcast, part of the Sounds of Science produced by the National Academies, looks at the history and future of this publication with Ken Fulton, publisher of PNAS.

Interview with Pamela J. Fraker Jun 07, 2019

Pamela J. Fraker was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2007. She is known for her investigations of the impact of nutritional deficiencies, particularly of zinc, on immune defense. Her work provided evidence that deficiency in protein--calories causes a decline in antibody and cell mediated responses, which leads to higher rates of infection, poor wound healing, and other adverse impacts in the malnourished and those with chronic disease.

Interview with Ran Nathan Jun 07, 2019

Ran Nathan organized the Movement Ecology Special Feature for PNAS. He is an associate professor and the chair of the department of Evolution, Systematics, and Ecology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in Jerusalem, Israel.

Interview with Nina Fedoroff Jun 07, 2019

Elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1990 for her work in the field of Plant Biology, Nina Fedoroff is a pioneer in the molecular aspects of plant transposable elements. Building upon the work of Barbara McClintock, she elucidated the sequence of some of these elements, demonstrated their utility for gene cloning and was instrumental in converting the study of plant transposable elements into one accessible by molecular techniques.

Interview with Richard T. Durrett Jun 06, 2019

Richard T. Durrett was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2007 for his work in applied mathematical sciences. Durrett's research in probability theory concerns problems that arise from ecology and genetics. He has developed mathematical models to study the evolution of microsatellites, impacts of selective sweeps on genetic variation, genome rearrangement, gene duplication, and gene regulation.

Interview with C. Owen Lovejoy Jun 06, 2019

C. Owen Lovejoy was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2007 for his work in the field of anthropology. Lovejoy overturned traditional models of human origins by integrating biomechanics into biological anthropology, demonstrating that the earliest hominids walked on two legs. He developed novel methods for quantifying sexual dimorphism and revealing the demographics of prehistoric humans.

Interview with Albert Libchaber Jun 06, 2019

Albert Libchaber was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2007 for his work in physics. Libchaber has made lasting and fundamental contributions to experimental chaos dynamics and its application to biological physics, from elucidating the forces at work when a fish swims through water to defining the minimal conditions necessary for artificial life.

Interview with John G. Hildebrand Jun 06, 2019

John G. Hildebrand was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2007. His work on the functional organization, physiology, and development of the central olfactory system of insects has made him a pioneer in analyzing neural mechanisms underlying chemosensory control of mating behavior and insect--plant interactions. This work has application in disruption of insect mating behavior and herbivory, with practical benefit to human health and welfare.

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize Winner Kenneth A. Dawson Jun 06, 2019

Understanding the nanoparticle-protein corona using methods to quantify exchange rates and affinities of proteins for nanoparticles.

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize Winner Brian Spencer Jun 06, 2019

Targeted delivery of proteins across the blood--brain barrier.

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize Winner Andreas Reichenbach Jun 06, 2019

Müller cells are living optical fibers in the vertebrate retina.

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize Winner R. Adriana Hernandez-Aguilar Jun 06, 2019

Savanna chimpanzees use tools to harvest the underground storage organs of plants.

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize Winner Monica Olvera de la Cruz Jun 06, 2019

Faceting ionic shells into icosahedra via electrostatics.

Interview with Cozzarelli Prize Winner Sandra Díaz Jun 06, 2019

Incorporating plant functional diversity effects in ecosystem service assessments

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