PNAS Science Sessions
Welcome to Science Sessions, the PNAS podcast program. Listen to brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in PNAS, plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us.
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Animal's eye view of the ocean
07/15/2024
Animal's eye view of the ocean
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: Follow us on , , , or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs! Visit Science Sessions on PNAS.org: Follow PNAS:
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Inequitable exposure to wildfire smoke
07/01/2024
Inequitable exposure to wildfire smoke
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: Follow us on , , , or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs! Visit Science Sessions on PNAS.org: Follow PNAS:
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Gentrification and biodiversity
06/17/2024
Gentrification and biodiversity
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: Follow us on , , , or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs! Visit Science Sessions on PNAS.org: Follow PNAS:
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School enrollment during the COVID-19 pandemic
06/03/2024
School enrollment during the COVID-19 pandemic
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: Follow us on , , , or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs! Visit Science Sessions on PNAS.org: Follow PNAS:
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Emotional power of live music
05/20/2024
Emotional power of live music
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: 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: Follow PNAS: Sign up for the
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Adapting to poor air quality
05/06/2024
Adapting to poor air quality
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: 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: Follow PNAS:
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Measuring Poverty
04/22/2024
Measuring Poverty
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: Follow us on , , , or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs! Visit Science Sessions on PNAS.org: Follow PNAS:
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How a small fish makes big sounds
04/08/2024
How a small fish makes big sounds
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: 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: Follow PNAS: Twitter/X: Facebook: LinkedIn: YouTube: Sign up the Highlights newsletter:
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History of flight in dinosaurs
03/25/2024
History of flight in dinosaurs
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
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Bee communication in a changing world
03/04/2024
Bee communication in a changing world
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: Follow us on , , , or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs! Visit Science Sessions on PNAS.org: Follow PNAS: Twitter/X: Facebook: LinkedIn: YouTube: Sign up the Highlights newsletter:
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Adult talk and children’s speech
02/12/2024
Adult talk and children’s speech
Alex Cristia and Elika Bergelson explain the factors influencing speech in children.
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Modeling illuminates pitcher plant evolution
01/29/2024
Modeling illuminates pitcher plant evolution
Chris Thorogood and Derek Moulton explain how mathematical modeling of carnivorous pitcher plants can lend insights into their evolution.
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How children perceive gendered division of household work
01/15/2024
How children perceive gendered division of household work
Allegra Midgette and Nadia Chernyak describe when young children begin to perceive and accept unequal and gendered division of household labor.
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Reversing hearing loss in mice
01/02/2024
Reversing hearing loss in mice
Karen Steel explains a proof of concept for restoring hearing loss in mice.
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50 years of DNA cloning
12/18/2023
50 years of DNA cloning
Stanley Cohen reflects on the 50-year legacy of a classic PNAS paper on recombinant DNA.
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Carbon emission benefits of remote work
12/05/2023
Carbon emission benefits of remote work
Longqi Yang and Fengqi You discuss the potential reductions in carbon emissions of switching from in person to remote work.
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Skeletal records and gender bias
11/20/2023
Skeletal records and gender bias
Jeremy Siow, Taylor Damann, and Margit Tavits discuss both historical and modern gender inequality in Europe.
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Genetic shield against neurodegeneration
11/06/2023
Genetic shield against neurodegeneration
Emmanuel Mignot explains how a variant of an immune system gene might protect some people against neurodegenerative disease.
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Penalties tied to motherhood
10/09/2023
Penalties tied to motherhood
Cecilia Machado and Douglas Almond discuss the impact of a first child on the career trajectory of mothers.
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Motherese in bottlenose dolphins
09/25/2023
Motherese in bottlenose dolphins
Laela Sayigh asks whether dolphins use "motherese" when communicating with their calves.
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Racial disparities and climate policy
09/11/2023
Racial disparities and climate policy
Pascal Polonik and Kate Ricke explain why reducing greenhouse gas emissions does not always improve environmental equity.
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What illusions tell us about silence
08/28/2023
What illusions tell us about silence
Ian Phillips, Rui Zhe Goh, and Chaz Firestone use auditory illusions to explore how people perceive silence.
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Growth mindset and educational outcomes
08/14/2023
Growth mindset and educational outcomes
Cameron Hecht discusses an intervention targeting high school teachers to improve student retention and diversity in STEM fields.
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How dehorning affects rhino behavior
07/31/2023
How dehorning affects rhino behavior
Vanessa Duthé explains how dehorning affects the behavior of black rhinoceroses.
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Why legalese persists
07/17/2023
Why legalese persists
Eric Martínez explains why legal documents are written in hard-to-read language.
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Gender gap among migrant scientists
07/03/2023
Gender gap among migrant scientists
Researchers explore trends in the gender gap among internationally mobile scholars.
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Communal nesting in bird-like dinosaur
06/19/2023
Communal nesting in bird-like dinosaur
Mattia Tagliavento talks about the evolutionary transition from dinosaurs to birds using isotopes in Troodon eggshells.
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Racial disparities in air pollution exposure
06/05/2023
Racial disparities in air pollution exposure
Pengfei Liu shares findings on racial disparities in exposure to the air pollutant nitrogen dioxide.
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How vertebrates acquired a gene for vision
05/22/2023
How vertebrates acquired a gene for vision
Chinmay Kalluraya and Matthew Daugherty explain how vertebrates acquired a gene critical for vision from bacteria.
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Genomic insights for sea turtle conservation
04/24/2023
Genomic insights for sea turtle conservation
Blair P. Bentley, Lisa Komoroske, and Camila Mazzoni discuss the role genomic elements play in the evolution of sea turtles.
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