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PNAS Science Sessions

PNAS Science Sessions

421 episodes — Page 4 of 9

Dynamics of RNA frameshifting

Christine Dunham discusses RNA frameshifting and its potential applications in biotechnology.

Mar 23, 20205 min

Albatross patrol

Henri Weimerskirch describes how albatrosses can help detect illegal fishing boats.

Mar 9, 20206 min

Stardust predating the Solar System

Philipp Heck tells the story of interstellar stardust grains that predate the Solar System.

Feb 24, 20206 min

The Science of Science Communication

Baruch Fischhoff, a decision scientist at Carnegie Mellon University, explains the ingredients necessary for effective science communication.

Feb 10, 20206 min

Impact crater in southern Laos

Kerry Sieh recounts the hunt for a meteorite impact crater in Southeast Asia.

Jan 21, 20206 min

Human–clam cohistory

Dana Lepofsky describes ancient sustainable clam gardening practices.

Dec 30, 20196 min

Artificial intelligence in the laboratory

Theoretical physicists Hans Briegel and Hendrik Poulsen Nautrup describe an artificial intelligence that can design quantum experiments.

Dec 16, 20197 min

Rhetoric of the French Revolution

Simon DeDeo and Alexander Barron discuss the rhetoric that shaped the French Revolution.

Dec 2, 20198 min

Ocean eddies and shark foraging

Cam Braun explains how ocean eddies allow sharks to dive and forage in deep water.

Oct 28, 20197 min

Signs of admixture in fossil record

Shara Bailey explains the significance of a three-rooted lower molar in an archaic jaw.

Oct 15, 20196 min

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.

Sep 30, 20197 min

Eye movement and visual perception

Benjamin de Haas explains individual differences in eye movement patterns.

Sep 16, 20196 min

Serotonin, platelets, and immunity

Eric Boilard explains the role of serotonin and platelets in immune responses.

Sep 4, 20197 min

Interfaces and Mixing

A collection of research articles explores developments in interfacial transport and mixing, with wide-ranging practical applications.

Aug 19, 201913 min

Origin of sunflower family

Jennifer Mandel outlines the evolutionary history of the sunflower family.

Aug 5, 20196 min

Nutrients and Chesapeake Bay recovery

Jonathan Lefcheck and Robert Orth discuss nutrient pollution and recovery in the Chesapeake Bay.

Jul 22, 20198 min

Physics of chocolate-making

Daniel Hodgson explains the physics of chocolate-making.

Jul 8, 20196 min

Adapting to climate change

Chris Field discusses misconceptions about climate change and how humans can adapt to a warming planet.

Jun 24, 20196 min

Climate change and global economic inequality

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

Jun 11, 20195 min

Bacterial symbiosis with bobtail squid

Margaret McFall-Ngai describes how a symbiont bacterium affects a host cephalopod.

Jun 11, 20196 min

Aftermath of Chicxulub asteroid

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

Jun 11, 201913 min

Immigration and economic mobility

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

Jun 11, 20196 min

Parenting and STEM careers

Erin Cech discusses parenting and gender disparities among STEM professionals.

Jun 11, 20199 min

Tracing the origin of Europe's megaliths

Bettina Schulz Paulsson explains the origin and spread of Europe's megaliths, including Stonehenge.

Jun 11, 20196 min

Pollution across borders

Daven Henze discusses how air pollution spreads across the globe and what policymakers are doing in response.

Jun 11, 20195 min

Unraveling hagfish evolution

Tetsuto Miyashita describes how the hagfish helps define the vertebrate tree of life.

Jun 11, 20197 min

Climate change and forest diversity

Daniel Wieczynski and Van Savage show how climate affects the diversity of forests.

Jun 11, 20196 min

Network theory and climate change

Jingfang Fan explains what network theory can reveal about climate systems.

Jun 11, 20195 min

Quantum computing

Christopher Monroe discusses recent developments in quantum computing.

Jun 11, 20196 min

Fur grooming in cats

Alexis Noel and David Hu describe the unusual properties of a cat's tongue.

Jun 11, 20195 min

Biodiversity loss in Haiti

Blair Hedges discusses the state of Haiti's remaining forests and the consequences to biodiversity.

Jun 11, 20195 min

Mapping the galactic plane in X-rays

Chryssa Kouveliotou describes her efforts to compile a detailed X-ray map of the galactic plane.

Jun 11, 20197 min

Ancient Maya salt industry

Heather McKillop explores the Maya salt industry.

Jun 11, 20196 min

Social mobility across generations

Mike Hout explores the persistence of occupational and socioeconomic standing from parent to child in America.

Jun 11, 20196 min

Paintbrush for butterfly wings

Robert Reed explains genetic controls on butterfly wing colors.

Jun 11, 20197 min

Nondestructive sampling of cell contents

Nick Melosh describes a method for sampling RNA and proteins from cells using nanostraws.

Jun 11, 20196 min

Deep subseafloor microbial life

Victoria Orphan and Elizabeth Trembath-Reichert discuss microbial life in the deep subseafloor.

Jun 11, 20196 min

Origins of bread

Amaia Arranz-Otaegui describes the discovery of bread that far pre-dates agriculture.

Jun 11, 20195 min

Natural selection in sea stars

Lauren Schiebelhut describes natural selection following sea star wasting disease.

Jun 11, 20195 min

Respectfulness in police-community relations

Rob Voigt and Nicholas Camp examine respectfulness in police officers' interactions with community members.

Jun 11, 20197 min

Biodiversity hypothesis

Jenni Lehtimäki and Stefan Reber explore links between animal exposure in upbringing and immune system function.

Jun 11, 20197 min

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.

Jun 11, 20196 min

Manipulation of ant behavior by parasites

David Hughes discusses how a parasitic fungus manipulates ant behavior for reproduction.

Jun 11, 20195 min

Gut microbiota and human health

Rob Knight discusses the role of the human gut microbiota in health and disease.

Jun 11, 20195 min

Wearable health monitors

John Rogers describes soft, wearable electronic devices for health monitoring.

Jun 11, 20197 min

Gene therapy for retinal disease

Karina Guziewicz and Artur Cideciyan explain a potential gene therapy approach for macular degeneration.

Jun 11, 20197 min

Global hydrologic models and water storage

Bridget Scanlon discusses the use of global hydrologic models for studying changes in water storage worldwide.

Jun 11, 20195 min

Project MindScope

Christof Koch describes a large-scale effort to understand how the cerebral cortex functions.

Jun 11, 20195 min

Science and Philanthropy

Robert Tjian discusses the role of philanthropy in funding scientific research.

Jun 11, 20196 min

Gene editing in mosquitoes

Omar Akbari and Kevin Esvelt discuss a gene editing approach for harmful mosquitoes.

Jun 11, 20196 min