PNAS Science Sessions

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 Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs! Visit Science Sessions on PNAS.org: https://www.pnas.org/about/science-sessions-podcast Follow PNAS: Twitter/X Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Sign up for the PNAS Highlights newsletter

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 View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2119502119 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.1015594/full https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-28748-0 https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.ade3889 https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/article/3/1/pgad447/7517476 Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs! Visit Science Sessions on PNAS.org: https://www.pnas.org/about/science-sessions-podcast Follow PNAS: Twitter/X Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Sign up for the PNAS Highlights newsletter

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 Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs! Visit Science Sessions on PNAS.org: https://www.pnas.org/about/science-sessions-podcast Follow PNAS: Twitter/X Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Sign up for the PNAS Highlights newsletter

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 Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs! Visit Science Sessions on PNAS.org: https://www.pnas.org/about/science-sessions-podcast Follow PNAS: Twitter/X Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Sign up for PNAS Highlights newsletter

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 Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs! Visit Science Sessions on PNAS.org: https://www.pnas.org/about/science-sessions-podcast Follow PNAS: Twitter/X Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Sign up for the PNAS Highlights newsletter

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 Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs! Visit Science Sessions on PNAS.org: https://www.pnas.org/about/science-sessions-podcast Follow PNAS: Twitter/X Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Sign up for the PNAS Highlights newsletter

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 Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs! Visit Science Sessions on PNAS.org: https://www.pnas.org/about/science-sessions-podcast Follow PNAS: Twitter/X Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Sign up the PNAS Highlights newsletter

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 Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs! Visit Science Sessions on PNAS.org: https://www.pnas.org/about/science-sessions-podcast Follow PNAS: Twitter/X Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Sign up for the Highlights newsletter

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 Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs! Visit Science Sessions on PNAS.org: https://www.pnas.org/about/science-sessions-podcast Follow PNAS: Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/PNASNews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PNASNews/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pnas-news/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/pnas-news Sign up the Highlights newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/nas/podcast-highlights

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 Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs! Visit Science Sessions on PNAS.org: https://www.pnas.org/about/science-sessions-podcast Follow PNAS: Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/PNASNews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PNASNews/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pnas-news/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/pnas-news Sign up the Highlights newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/nas/podcast-highlights

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 View related content here: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2022.0155 https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2219031120 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022191020300512 https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.14011 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10841-022-00402-6 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653521026199 https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2002268117 Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs! Visit Science Sessions on PNAS.org: https://www.pnas.org/about/science-sessions-podcast Follow PNAS: Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/PNASNews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PNASNews/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pnas-news/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/pnas-news Sign up the Highlights newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/nas/podcast-highlights

Alex Cristia and Elika Bergelson explain the factors influencing speech in children.

Chris Thorogood and Derek Moulton explain how mathematical modeling of carnivorous pitcher plants can lend insights into their evolution.

Allegra Midgette and Nadia Chernyak describe when young children begin to perceive and accept unequal and gendered division of household labor.

Karen Steel explains a proof of concept for restoring hearing loss in mice.

Stanley Cohen reflects on the 50-year legacy of a classic PNAS paper on recombinant DNA.

Longqi Yang and Fengqi You discuss the potential reductions in carbon emissions of switching from in person to remote work.

Jeremy Siow, Taylor Damann, and Margit Tavits discuss both historical and modern gender inequality in Europe.

Emmanuel Mignot explains how a variant of an immune system gene might protect some people against neurodegenerative disease.

Cecilia Machado and Douglas Almond discuss the impact of a first child on the career trajectory of mothers.

Laela Sayigh asks whether dolphins use "motherese" when communicating with their calves.

Pascal Polonik and Kate Ricke explain why reducing greenhouse gas emissions does not always improve environmental equity.

Ian Phillips, Rui Zhe Goh, and Chaz Firestone use auditory illusions to explore how people perceive silence.

Cameron Hecht discusses an intervention targeting high school teachers to improve student retention and diversity in STEM fields.

Vanessa Duthé explains how dehorning affects the behavior of black rhinoceroses.

Eric Martínez explains why legal documents are written in hard-to-read language.

Researchers explore trends in the gender gap among internationally mobile scholars.

Mattia Tagliavento talks about the evolutionary transition from dinosaurs to birds using isotopes in Troodon eggshells.

Pengfei Liu shares findings on racial disparities in exposure to the air pollutant nitrogen dioxide.

Chinmay Kalluraya and Matthew Daugherty explain how vertebrates acquired a gene critical for vision from bacteria.

Blair P. Bentley, Lisa Komoroske, and Camila Mazzoni discuss the role genomic elements play in the evolution of sea turtles.

A special edition of Science Sessions delves into the capabilities of robots inspired by plants and animals.

Stanislas Dehaene and Marie Amalric investigate whether short online videos are sufficient to teach mathematics concepts.

Anna Lea Albright and Peter Huybers describe how optical effects consistent with air pollution appear in the paintings of Claude Monet and J.M.W. Turner.

Kristin Winchell explains the genetic basis of anole adaptation to urban environments.

Researchers document animal extinctions in the Ediacaran Period that may have preceded the earliest known mass extinction.

Bo Wang and Chunpeng Xu describe how fossilized katydids provide insight into the role of insect sounds in the Mesozoic.

Tom McGrath describes how the neural network AlphaZero taught itself how to play chess without observing a human game.

Orit Peleg, Golnar Fard and Francisco López Jiménez explain how honeybees overcome geometric constraints to construct honeycombs.

Taylor Hersh explores how patterns of clicks produced by sperm whales suggest the exchange of cultural information between the whales.

Researchers discuss what animal soundscapes can tell us about the health of ecosystems.

Daniel Cusworth discusses combining aircraft-based and satellite-based measurement to identify methane emission point sources.

Syee Weldeab describes what researchers can learn from ancient global warming about the risks posed by ocean floor methane hydrates.

Ling Zhu and David B. Grusky explore intergenerational factors influencing occupational gender segregation in the United States.

Izzy Gainsburg and Veronica Derricks discuss how patient activation can disrupt implicit bias in physician-patient interactions.

Matilda Gibbons, Lars Chittka and Jonathan Birch discuss the possibility that bumblebees may feel pain.

Researchers explore how misinformation spreads and what can be done to stop it.

Lauren Howe and Alia Crum explore the interactions of societal biases with the placebo effect.

Steve Horvath and Elaine Ostrander explain the usefulness of epigenetic clocks in humans and dogs.

Researchers explore how and when humans first arrived in the Americas.