Probing the die-off of Pacific oysters
PNAS Science Sessions
A giant virus associated with oyster aquaculture mortality 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, Curtis Suttle and Kevin Xu Zhong explain how a previously unidentified virus may be connected to mass die-offs of farmed Pacific oysters. In...
info_outline
Swamp lights and bat sight
PNAS Science Sessions
Swamp lights and bat sight 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 explore two spooky mysteries: the source of will-o’-the-wisps and how bats integrate vision with echolocation. In this episode, we cover: •[00:00]...
info_outline
Enzyme linked with brain evolution
PNAS Science Sessions
Implications of a mutation in modern humans 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, Xiangchun Ju and Svante Pääbo explore the evolutionary implications of a mutation that separates modern humans from ancestral hominins. In this episode,...
info_outline
Where primates evolved
PNAS Science Sessions
Where primates evolved 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, Jorge Avaria-Llautureo and Chris Venditti explain why the evolution of primates likely occurred in cold, dry climates rather than in tropical forests. In this episode, we...
info_outline
How climate change alters lake oxygen levels
PNAS Science Sessions
Climate change and lake oxygenation 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, Joachim Jansen explains how climate change altered cycles of oxygenation in lakes. In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction. •[00:56] Limnologist...
info_outline
Unpacking the unreturnable squash nick shot
PNAS Science Sessions
The physics of the squash nick shot 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, Roberto Zenit explains the physics behind the unanswerable nick shot in the game of squash. In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction. •[00:56] Engineer...
info_outline
North America's oldest pterosaur fossil
PNAS Science Sessions
A pterosaur and its ecosystem at the end of the Triassic 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, Kay Behrensmeyer and Ben Kligman describe what a fossil bone bed in Arizona reveals about a 209-million-year-old pterosaur and its ecosystem....
info_outline
Exploring the origins of a glacial relict seal
PNAS Science Sessions
The postglacial history of the Saimaa ringed seal 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, Jaakko Pohjoismäki, Jukka Jernvall, and Ari Löytynoja discuss the evolutionary history of the Saimaa ringed seal. In this episode, we cover:...
info_outline
Conservation of the Eastern Black Rhinoceros
PNAS Science Sessions
Managing eastern black rhinoceros populations with genetic studies 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, Barbara Mable and Ronald Mellya show how allowing endangered rhinos to move between populations enhances genetic diversity. In this...
info_outline
Rescuing the northern white rhino
PNAS Science Sessions
A reference genome aids efforts to rescue the northern white rhinoceros 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, Franz-Josef Müller explains genomic tools to aid the functionally extinct northern white rhinoceros. In this episode, we...
info_outlineSustainability of plant-based meat alternatives
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 discuss the environmental, health, and economic tradeoffs that limit the potential benefits of plant-based meat alternatives.
In this episode, we cover:
•[00:00] Introduction
•[01:19] Rodolphe Barrangou explains the potential opportunities and challenges for plant-based meat alternatives to help mitigate the environmental impact of meat.
•[03:18] Marco Springmann compares plant-based meat and milk alternatives with both animal-sourced foods and unprocessed plant-based foods across multiple metrics.
•[05:16] Bill Aimutis highlights the potential environmental impact of producing plant-based proteins.
•[07:04] Ute Weisz finds significant variability in the amino acid scores and functional properties of commercially available plant protein ingredients.
•[08:51] Zachary Neuhofer analyzes trends in plant-based meat alternative consumption, based on two years of grocery store scanning data.
•[10:16] Evelyne Selberherr analyzes the microbial communities found in plant-based meat alternative products.
•[11:56] Matin Qaim analyzes the impact of animal-sourced foods on child nutrition in five Sub-Saharan African countries.
•[13:59] Final thoughts and conclusion.
About Our Guests:
Rodolphe Barrangou
Todd R. Klaenhammer Distinguished Professor
North Carolina State University
Marco Springmann
Senior Researcher | Professorial Research Fellow
University of Oxford | University College London
Bill Aimutis
Executive Director
North Carolina Food Innovation Lab
Ute Weisz
Professor
Technical University of Munich
Zachary Neuhofer
PhD Candidate
Purdue University
Evelyne Selberherr
Assistant Professor
University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
Matin Qaim
Schlegel Professor of Agricultural Economics
University of Bonn
View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2400495121
https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2319010121
https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2319003121
https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2319019121
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-16996-5
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41538-024-00269-8
https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2319009121
Follow us on Spotify, Apple 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 PNAS Highlights newsletter