
PNAS Science Sessions
421 episodes — Page 4 of 9
Dynamics of RNA frameshifting
Christine Dunham discusses RNA frameshifting and its potential applications in biotechnology.
Albatross patrol
Henri Weimerskirch describes how albatrosses can help detect illegal fishing boats.

Stardust predating the Solar System
Philipp Heck tells the story of interstellar stardust grains that predate the Solar System.
The Science of Science Communication
Baruch Fischhoff, a decision scientist at Carnegie Mellon University, explains the ingredients necessary for effective science communication.
Impact crater in southern Laos
Kerry Sieh recounts the hunt for a meteorite impact crater in Southeast Asia.
Human–clam cohistory
Dana Lepofsky describes ancient sustainable clam gardening practices.
Artificial intelligence in the laboratory
Theoretical physicists Hans Briegel and Hendrik Poulsen Nautrup describe an artificial intelligence that can design quantum experiments.
Rhetoric of the French Revolution
Simon DeDeo and Alexander Barron discuss the rhetoric that shaped the French Revolution.
Ocean eddies and shark foraging
Cam Braun explains how ocean eddies allow sharks to dive and forage in deep water.
Signs of admixture in fossil record
Shara Bailey explains the significance of a three-rooted lower molar in an archaic jaw.
Nucleic acid liquid crystals
Noel Clark and Tommaso Bellini describe how nucleic acids form double-helical liquid crystals, with implications for the origins of life.
Eye movement and visual perception
Benjamin de Haas explains individual differences in eye movement patterns.
Serotonin, platelets, and immunity
Eric Boilard explains the role of serotonin and platelets in immune responses.
Interfaces and Mixing
A collection of research articles explores developments in interfacial transport and mixing, with wide-ranging practical applications.
Origin of sunflower family
Jennifer Mandel outlines the evolutionary history of the sunflower family.
Nutrients and Chesapeake Bay recovery
Jonathan Lefcheck and Robert Orth discuss nutrient pollution and recovery in the Chesapeake Bay.
Physics of chocolate-making
Daniel Hodgson explains the physics of chocolate-making.
Adapting to climate change
Chris Field discusses misconceptions about climate change and how humans can adapt to a warming planet.

Climate change and global economic inequality
Noah Diffenbaugh and Marshall Burke discuss how global warming impacts economies and income inequality.

Bacterial symbiosis with bobtail squid
Margaret McFall-Ngai describes how a symbiont bacterium affects a host cephalopod.

Aftermath of Chicxulub asteroid
A paleontological site preserves the immediate aftermath of the asteroid impact that may have caused a global mass extinction.

Immigration and economic mobility
Thor Berger and Per Engzell explore connections between European immigration and present-day economic mobility in the US.

Parenting and STEM careers
Erin Cech discusses parenting and gender disparities among STEM professionals.
Tracing the origin of Europe's megaliths
Bettina Schulz Paulsson explains the origin and spread of Europe's megaliths, including Stonehenge.
Pollution across borders
Daven Henze discusses how air pollution spreads across the globe and what policymakers are doing in response.
Unraveling hagfish evolution
Tetsuto Miyashita describes how the hagfish helps define the vertebrate tree of life.
Climate change and forest diversity
Daniel Wieczynski and Van Savage show how climate affects the diversity of forests.
Network theory and climate change
Jingfang Fan explains what network theory can reveal about climate systems.
Quantum computing
Christopher Monroe discusses recent developments in quantum computing.
Fur grooming in cats
Alexis Noel and David Hu describe the unusual properties of a cat's tongue.
Biodiversity loss in Haiti
Blair Hedges discusses the state of Haiti's remaining forests and the consequences to biodiversity.
Mapping the galactic plane in X-rays
Chryssa Kouveliotou describes her efforts to compile a detailed X-ray map of the galactic plane.
Ancient Maya salt industry
Heather McKillop explores the Maya salt industry.
Social mobility across generations
Mike Hout explores the persistence of occupational and socioeconomic standing from parent to child in America.
Paintbrush for butterfly wings
Robert Reed explains genetic controls on butterfly wing colors.
Nondestructive sampling of cell contents
Nick Melosh describes a method for sampling RNA and proteins from cells using nanostraws.
Deep subseafloor microbial life
Victoria Orphan and Elizabeth Trembath-Reichert discuss microbial life in the deep subseafloor.
Origins of bread
Amaia Arranz-Otaegui describes the discovery of bread that far pre-dates agriculture.
Natural selection in sea stars
Lauren Schiebelhut describes natural selection following sea star wasting disease.
Respectfulness in police-community relations
Rob Voigt and Nicholas Camp examine respectfulness in police officers' interactions with community members.
Biodiversity hypothesis
Jenni Lehtimäki and Stefan Reber explore links between animal exposure in upbringing and immune system function.
RNA origin in warm little ponds
Ralph Pudritz and Ben Pearce describe a model of how RNA-based life could have originated on the early Earth.
Manipulation of ant behavior by parasites
David Hughes discusses how a parasitic fungus manipulates ant behavior for reproduction.
Gut microbiota and human health
Rob Knight discusses the role of the human gut microbiota in health and disease.
Wearable health monitors
John Rogers describes soft, wearable electronic devices for health monitoring.
Gene therapy for retinal disease
Karina Guziewicz and Artur Cideciyan explain a potential gene therapy approach for macular degeneration.
Global hydrologic models and water storage
Bridget Scanlon discusses the use of global hydrologic models for studying changes in water storage worldwide.
Project MindScope
Christof Koch describes a large-scale effort to understand how the cerebral cortex functions.
Science and Philanthropy
Robert Tjian discusses the role of philanthropy in funding scientific research.
Gene editing in mosquitoes
Omar Akbari and Kevin Esvelt discuss a gene editing approach for harmful mosquitoes.