
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.
Latest episodes

Jun 10, 2019 • 5min
How mosquitos survive raindrops
David Hu describes his research on how mosquitos survive collisions with raindrops, which could help design better flying robots.

Jun 10, 2019 • 5min
The evolution of music from noise
Bob MacCallum explores how music can evolve from noise based on listeners' preferences.

Jun 10, 2019 • 5min
The science of biodiversity - Part 2
Merlin Hanauer and Chase Mendenhall discuss the science of biodiversity, in the second of two recordings of a PNAS Science Cafe event held in Washington, DC on October 17, 2012.

Jun 10, 2019 • 5min
The science of biodiversity - Part 1
Merlin Hanauer and Chase Mendenhall discuss the science of biodiversity, in the first of two recordings of a PNAS Science Cafe event held in Washington, DC on October 17, 2012.

Jun 10, 2019 • 5min
Reshuffling in the human genome
Fred Alt discusses methods to map human chromosomal reshuffling.

Jun 10, 2019 • 5min
Widespread lead poisoning in condors
Myra Finkelstein discusses her research showing that California condors are significantly threatened by lead from lead-based ammunition.

Jun 10, 2019 • 5min
Cancer nanomedicines
Chemical engineer Mark Davis discusses his research on nano-sized cancer therapeutics.

Jun 10, 2019 • 4min
How caffeine can help prevent cancer
Chemical biologist Allan Conney discusses his research on caffeine's anticancer properties.

Jun 10, 2019 • 5min
Understanding the brain's architecture
Neuroscientist Charles F. Stevens discusses his research on finding the brain's underlying design principles.

Jun 10, 2019 • 5min
A systems approach to drug development
Marc Kirschner discusses the goals of systems pharmacology.