PNAS Science Sessions

Stanley Cohen reflects on the 50-year legacy of a classic PNAS paper on recombinant DNA.

Longqi Yang and Fengqi You discuss the potential reductions in carbon emissions of switching from in person to remote work.

Jeremy Siow, Taylor Damann, and Margit Tavits discuss historical and modern gender inequality in Europe. The podcast explores tooth records revealing gender roles in rural Scandinavia, compares archaeological findings with modern survey results, studies the impact of population replacement on gender values, and discusses the persistence of gender bias in European archaeological sites.

Emmanuel Mignot discusses the potential protective effects of a variant of an immune system gene against neurodegenerative diseases. The podcast explores the role of HLA genes in the immune system, their association with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, and the potential mechanism for efficient removal of tau protein. The researchers also propose a potential immune system mechanism in clearing acetylated tau to prevent neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, the podcast explores the potential of a vaccine to protect against neurodegenerative diseases by enhancing the immune response and clearing tau aggregates.

Cecilia Machado and Douglas Almond discuss the impact of a first child on the career trajectory of mothers.

Laela Sayigh asks whether dolphins use "motherese" when communicating with their calves.

Pascal Polonik and Kate Ricke explain why reducing greenhouse gas emissions does not always improve environmental equity.

Ian Phillips, Rui Zhe Goh, and Chaz Firestone explore how people perceive silence through auditory illusions, challenging traditional views on hearing. The podcast discusses the 'one silence is more' illusion, the illusion of silence impacting time perception, and the concept of event-based warping. It also covers the silence-based warping illusion and oddball silence illusion, and how the perception of silence is influenced by context.

Intervention targeting high school teachers to improve student retention and diversity in STEM fields. Importance of teachers' mindsets on students from disadvantaged groups. Success of values alignment framework in promoting behavior change among teachers. Potential of teacher-focused interventions to improve educational outcomes and reduce inequalities.

Vanessa Duthé explains how dehorning affects the behavior of black rhinoceroses.