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 this episode, we cover: • [00:00] Introduction • [01:03] Environmental virologist Curtis Suttle introduces the importance of the Pacific oyster to aquaculture. • [01:42] Suttle describes mass mortality events, including one he witnessed. • [02:42] Environmental microbiologist Kevin Xu Zhong talks about the methods used to identify the Pacific Oyster Nidovirus 1. • [03:53] Zhong describes the notable features of the nidovirus. • [05:19] Zhong and Suttle explain how the nidovirus merits designation of a nidovirus family. • [06:25] Suttle explores the takeaways for oyster farmers and regulators. • [08:15] He lists the caveats and limitations of the study. • [09:40] Conclusion. About Our Guests: Kevin Xu Zhong Research Associate University of British Columbia Curtis Suttle Professor University of British Columbia View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2426923122 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
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10:09
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10:09
Swamp lights and bat sight
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] Introduction •[00:58] Richard Zare's background and expertise. •[01:26] Richard, have you ever seen will-o'-the-wisps in the wild? •[01:31] What did we already know about will-o'-the-wisps before your study? •[02:42] How could water droplets ignite methane? •[03:24] Tell us about the methods of your study. How did you explore this phenomenon? •[04:17] What are the broader implications of your findings, beyond just will-o'-the-wisps? •[05:20] What are the caveats or the limitations of the study? •[05:40] Laura Stidsholt's background and expertise. •[06:06] Laura, what can you tell us about the species you studied? •[06:25] What instruments did you attach to the bats? •[07:03] How did the bats' echolocation behavior compare in dark versus lit environments? •[08:14] What do the results suggest about the benefits of integrating information from multiple senses while hunting prey? •[08:58] What do the results imply about the potential impact of artificial light on bats? •[09:43] Final thoughts and conclusion. About Our Guests: Richard Zare Marguerite Blake Wilbur Professor of Natural Science Stanford University Laura Stidsholt Assistant Professor Aarhus University View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2521255122 https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2515087122 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
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10:26
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10:26
Enzyme linked with brain evolution
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, we cover: •[00:00] •[01:22] Neurobiologist Xiangchun Ju introduces the enzyme adenylosuccinate lyase, or ADSL, and its role in the synthesis of purine. •[02:09] Evolutionary anthropologist Svante Pääbo talks about the discovery of the A429V mutation, which is present in modern humans but not Neanderthals or Denisovans. •[03:38] Ju and Pääbo talk about the methods to humanize mice in order to study the evolutionary importance of the A429V mutation. •[05:04] They explain the results of the behavioral studies of the humanized mice. •[06:27] Pääbo explores the takeaways from the study. •[08:05] He contextualizes the study alongside other studies of modern human development. •[09:17] Pääbo and Ju list the caveats and limitations of the study. •[10:14] Conclusion. About Our Guests: Xiangchun Ju Postdoctoral scholar Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Svante Pääbo Director Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2508540122 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
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10:42
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10:42
Where primates evolved
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 cover: •[00:00] Introduction •[00:58] Evolutionary biologist Jorge Avaria-Lautureo explains the prevailing hypothesis that primates evolved in a tropical climate •[02:54] Evolutionary biologist Chris Venditti introduces evidence suggesting a different origin climate. •[03:54] Avaria discusses how the researchers reconstructed the climate of early primate species. •[05:05] Venditti and Avaria explain why it was important to use standardized climate definitions in this study. •[07:29] Avaria describes the results of the study. •[08:18]Venditti talks about the importance of understanding early primates' climates. •[09:21] Avaria and Venditti talk about the study's caveats and limitations. •[10:22] Conclusion. About Our Guests: Jorge Avaria-Llautureo Postdoctoral scholar University of Reading Chris Venditti Professor University of Reading View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2423833122 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
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10:48
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10:48
How climate change alters lake oxygen levels
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 Joachim Jansen introduces us to the cycles of oxygenation in lakes throughout the seasons. •[02:35] He describes previous hypothesis about climate change and lake oxygenation and introduces the methods and datasets of the study. •[04:59] Jansen introduces the results of the study, including key differences between large and small lakes. •[06:54] He talks about the consequences of deoxygenation. •[09:03] Jansen explains the caveats and limitations of the study. •[09:37] Conclusion. About Our Guest: Joachim Jansen Postdoctoral Researcher University of Helsinki View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2426140122 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
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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