PNAS Science Sessions - PNAS

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Climate effects and shifting Arctic coastlines

Monday, February 17, 2025 • Duration 10:56

Erosion, subsidence, and sea level rise on Arctic coastlines

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, Roger Creel describes how compounding forces could reshape a thawing Arctic coastline.

In this episode, we cover:
•[00:00] Introduction
•[00:57] Sea level geophysicist Roger Creel introduces the importance of subsidence in Arctic coastline erosion.
•[02:04] Creel describes his firsthand experiences seeing how erosion, subsidence, and sea level rise are impacting Alaskan communities.
•[03:43] He explains how his model of coastline impacts was constructed.
•[05:49] He describes the results of the study.
•[06:43] Creel talks about the risks to coastal infrastructure.
•[08:10] He lists the caveats and limitations of the study.
•[08:54] Creel says that the coastline impacts may differ in different parts of the Arctic, depending on glacial history.
•[09:25] He explains the takeaways from the study.
•[10:39] Conclusion.

About Our Guests:

Roger Creel
Postdoctoral scholar
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2409411121

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Visit Science Sessions on PNAS.org: https://www.pnas.org/about/science-sessions-podcast

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Movies, neurons, and AI

Monday, February 3, 2025 • Duration 10:39

How brains and AI systems process moving images

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, Hollis Cline describes how neuroscience informed development of an artificial intelligence movie recognition system.

In this episode, we cover:
•[00:00] Introduction
•[00:55] Neuroscientist Hollis Cline introduces the background of the study.
•[01:49] Cline talks about the current limitations of artificial intelligence movie recognition.
•[02:58] She explains why Xenopus tadpoles were used as subjects in this study.
•[03:29] Cline talks about the experimental setup and procedure.
•[05:53] She explains the results of tadpole neurological monitoring.
•[06:32] Cline adds findings about neural plasticity and learning.
•[07:53] She describes how the findings led to an artificial intelligence system and the system’s capabilities.
•[09:53] Caveats and limitations of the study.
•[10:22] Conclusion.

About Our Guests:

Hollis Cline
Professor
Scripps Research Institute

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2412260121

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

Sustainability of plant-based meat alternatives

Monday, January 6, 2025 • Duration 14:53

Sustainability 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

Plumeworld ocean and snowball Earth

Monday, December 23, 2024 • Duration 10:25

How Snowball Earth melted

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, Shuhai Xiao explores how the Earth emerged from a planetwide glaciation called Snowball Earth.

In this episode, we cover:
•[00:00] Introduction
•[00:48] Geobiologist Shuhai Xiao introduces us to Snowball Earth.
•[01:58] Xiao introduces the “plumeworld” hypothesis that describes the end of Snowball Earth.
•[03:41] He explains how lithium isotopes in rocks can confirm the plumeworld hypothesis.
•[05:54] Xiao explains why dolostone deposits in China were suitable for studying this hypothesis.
•[06:53] He talks about the results of the study.
•[07:39] He talks about the implications of the study results.
•[08:26] Caveats and limitations of the study.
•[10:06] Conclusion.

About Our Guests:

Shuhai Xiao
Professor
Virginia Tech

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2407419121

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

The curious case of the comb jelly

Monday, December 9, 2024 • Duration 10:28

Reverse development in a comb jelly

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 Soto and Patel Burkhardt introduce us to a comb jelly with the ability to reverse its development to an earlier stage of life.

In this episode, we cover:
•[00:00] Introduction
•[00:54] Marine biologist Joan-Josep Soto recounts the history of research into reverse development.
•[02:27] Soto and evolutionary biologist Burkhardt introduce the comb jelly Mnemiopsis leidyi and its life stages.
•[04:04] Burkhardt explains why the researchers became interested in Mnemiopsis.
•[04:48] Soto describes how the researchers induced reverse development in Mnemiopsis.
•[06:13] Burkhardt explores hypotheses regarding why reverse development occurs.
•[07:13] Soto talks about the lessons yet to be learned from Mnemiopsis.
•[09:35] Burkhardt summarizes the caveats and limitations of the study.
•[10:12] Conclusion.

About Our Guests:

Joan-Josep Soto-Angel
Postdoctoral Scholar
University Museum of Bergen

Pawel Burkhadt
Group Leader
Michael Sars Center, University of Bergen

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2411499121

Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs!

Air pollution and economic mobility

Monday, November 25, 2024 • Duration 10:36

Air pollution and upward mobility

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, Luca Merlo and Francesca Dominici explore whether childhood exposure to air pollution can impact economic upward mobility as an adult.

In this episode, we cover:
•[00:00] Introduction
•[01:01] Statistician Luca Merlo talks about the background of the study.
•[02:15] Merlo describes measurement of upward mobility in the study.
•[03:36] Statistician Francesca Dominici explains the results.
•[04:15] Dominici explores the variation in results across US counties.
•[07:08] Merlo talks about the caveats and limitations of the study.
•[08:14] Dominici lists the implications for policymakers.
•[10:20] Conclusion.

About Our Guests:
Luca Merlo
Researcher
European University of Rome

Francesca Dominici
Professor
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2401882121

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:

Long-term impact of wildfire smoke pollution

Monday, November 18, 2024 • Duration 10:32

Nationwide effects of smoke-related air pollution

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, Kai Chen explains the nationwide health effects of smoke-related fine particulate matter air pollution.

In this episode, we cover:
•[00:00] Introduction
•[01:07] Environmental epidemiologist Kai Chen introduces the health risks of fine particulate matter.
•[02:20] Chen talks about trends in air pollution in the United States.
•[03:56] He explains the study findings.
•[05:51] Chen explores conditions that exacerbate smoke-related health effects.
•[06:55] Chen talks about the caveats and limitations of the study.
•[08:36] He lists the implications for policymakers and for the public.
•[10:16] Conclusion.

About Our Guest:
Kai Chen
Associate Professor
Yale School of Public Health

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2403960121

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

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Indigenous communities and subsistence whale hunting

Monday, November 4, 2024 • Duration 10:30

Indigenous hunting and beluga populations

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, Max Friesen, Eline Lorenzen, and Mikkel Skovrind explore beluga population dynamics in relation to subsistence hunting by Indigenous communities in northern Canada.

In this episode, we cover:
•[00:00] Introduction
•[01:01] Archaeologist Max Friesen talks about the role of belugas in Inuvialuit culture.
•[01:45] Evolutionary biologist Eline Lorenzen talks about the background of the study.
•[02:26] Naturalist Mikkel Skovrind explains the methods of the study, including the sources of beluga samples and the methods of analysis.
•[03:58] Skovrind introduces the results of the study, including the changing ratio of males to females harvested.
•[06:07] Lorenzen describes the finding that genetic diversity of belugas had not declined over time.
•[06:59] Friesen and Lorenzen talk about what the study reveals, and suggests, about past hunting methods.
•[08:09] The authors explain the caveats and limitations of the study.
•[09:05] Skovrind and Friesen explore the implications of the study for traditional subsistence hunting practices.
•[10:19] Conclusion

About Our Guests:

Max Friesen
Professor
University of Toronto

Eline Lorenzen
Professor
University of Copenhagen

Mikkel Skovrind
Postdoctoral researcher
Lund University

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2405993121

Perceiving musical boundaries

Monday, October 21, 2024 • Duration 10:06

The neuroscience of music perception

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, Petri Toiviainen, Ibi Burunat, and Daniel Levitin describe the neuroscience of how musicians and non-musicians perceive boundaries within pieces of music.

In this episode, we cover:
•[00:00] Introduction
•[01:04] Music neuroscientist Petri Toiviainen, music neuroscientist Ibi Burunat, and cognitive neuroscientist Daniel Levitin introduce the concept of musical boundaries.
•[02:29] Toiviainen and Burunat tell about the musical pieces used in the experiment, as well as the experimental setup.
•[04:05] Levitin explains why musicians and non-musicians were included in the study.
•[04:27] Burunat and Levitin talk about the findings generally.
•[05:50] Toiviainen and Levitin explain how musicians and non-musicians’ responses to the music differed.
•[07:13] Toiviainen and Burunat talk about the caveats and limitations of the study.
•[08:59] Levitin and Burunat explore the implications of the work for music neuroscience.
•[09:46] Conclusion.

About Our Guests:

Petri Toiviainen
Professor
University of Jyväskylä

Ibi Burunat
Postdoctoral researcher
University of Jyväskylä

Daniel Levitin
Professor emeritus
McGill University

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2319459121

Follow us on Spotify, , , or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs!

How python hearts grow and shrink

Monday, October 7, 2024 • Duration 08:46

How python hearts grow and shrink

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, Leslie Leinwand, of the University of Colorado in Boulder, and Claudia Crocini, of Charité – Berlin University of Medicine in Germany, describe how the hearts of constricting pythons change size after meals.

In this episode, we cover:
•[00:00] Introduction
•[01:19] What is the natural context for cardiac hypertrophy in constricting pythons?
•[02:48] What were the mechanisms involved in this process that you identified?
•[05:27] What did you discover about the mechanisms of heart size regression in these snakes?
•[07:24] What are the next steps in this line of research?
•[08:21] Conclusion.

About Our Guest:
Leslie Leinwand
Professor
University of Colorado

Claudia Crocini
Junior Research Group Leader
Charité – Berlin University Medicine

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2322726121

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

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