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PNAS Nexus
@pnasnexus.org
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Discover groundbreaking news and research from PNAS Nexus, the sibling journal to @pnas.org - both official research journals of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Visit www.pnasnexus.org for more information.
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pnasnexus.org
A study of tweets from 2012–2022 shows that the site’s users could tell when pollen seasons shift in time. Liberal users, however, were more likely to blame the shift on climate change than conservative users. In PNAS Nexus: https://ow.ly/NGqE50XWimw
An allergy sufferer regards pollen-rich catkins. Stock image.
January 13, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Reposted by PNAS Nexus
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Is China poised to become a global scientific leader? In the latest Science Sessions, James Evans of the University of Chicago explains how China’s growing role in international collaborations is reshaping scientific leadership worldwide. Listen now: https://ow.ly/7ckU50XWhF4
Close-up illustration of the Chinese and US flags side by side. Credit: iStock/WD Stuart
January 13, 2026 at 6:02 PM
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Trending on PNAS Nexus 🔥 One of last week’s most-viewed articles explores how flexoelectricity in active living cells could impact energy harvesting, ion transport, and neuronal activity.
Read more: https://ow.ly/YrGy50XWi45

Submit your research: https://ow.ly/Oeoa50XWi3E
Schematic of an active cell membrane. In a typical active biological process, active proteins (shown in a variety of colors) in a cell membrane interact with various biological components, such as the ATP molecules. These interactions of active proteins generate active noise (fluctuation) force within a cell membrane, mechanically affecting the out-of-plane displacement of a cell membrane.
January 13, 2026 at 6:30 PM
pnasnexus.org
How toxic is social media—really? 🤔 A new study shows harmful content comes from a small, hyperactive minority, not most users—and correcting this myth can reduce cynicism.

In VICE https://ow.ly/ajzt50XVxvo
In PNAS Nexus: https://ow.ly/AArb50XVxj0
January 12, 2026 at 10:00 PM
pnasnexus.org
Pheomelanin, the pigment that creates orange feathers and redheaded humans, is associated with a high risk of melanoma—so why does it persist? A study in zebra finches finds a role for the pigment in neutralizing toxic cystine. In PNAS Nexus: https://ow.ly/7zTv50XVy6A
Male (left) and female (right) zebra finches. The orange feathers displayed by the male are colored by the pigment pheomelanin, which is also present in human skin and red hair. Pheomelanin is associated with an increased risk of melanoma, but also exerts a beneficial physiological function consisting in the avoidance of toxicity that an excess of the amino acid cysteine in the diet may cause.
January 12, 2026 at 8:30 PM
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From air pollution’s impact on children’s vision to AI and learning, Antarctic sea ice loss, and antibiotic pollution in rivers, PNAS Nexus Selected Highlights 2025 showcase the research that resonated beyond the lab and into public conversation. Read the collection: https://ow.ly/O8sV50XVwvO
PNAS Nexus – 2025 Selected Highlights. Read now!
January 12, 2026 at 6:30 PM
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences & PNAS Nexus are committed to advancing all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals 🌍 Through rigorous, peer-reviewed science, we inform policy, drive sustainability, and tackle urgent global challenges.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/AK5050XUCEE
Learn more about PNAS & PNAS Nexus’ commitment to all 17 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
January 10, 2026 at 6:30 PM
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🔬 2025 Issue 12 of PNAS Nexus is now available! Explore fast, high-value decision-making, cryo-EM insights into T-cell intracellular antigen-1 amyloid fibrils, and more. Dive in: https://ow.ly/6tIr50XUcqC
PNAS Nexus – 2025 Issue 12 is now available. Pnasnexus.org
January 9, 2026 at 10:30 PM
pnasnexus.org
A study outlines two approaches to achieving net-zero emissions in Southeast Asia by 2050: accelerating investment in renewables and battery storage; or expanding investment in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and hydrogen fuel. In PNAS Nexus: https://ow.ly/Kf7550XUctQ
A group of windmills for renewable electric energy production in Khao Kho District, Phetchabun, Thailand. Stock photo.
January 9, 2026 at 8:30 PM
pnasnexus.org
Discover the research that captured public attention in 2025. From PFAS in drinking water to ancient oceans on Mars, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Selected Highlights showcase 12 studies that shaped conversations beyond the lab. Read here: https://ow.ly/vNVq50XU6rQ
PNAS – 2025 Selected Highlights.
January 9, 2026 at 6:30 PM
pnasnexus.org
🔥 Trending article in PNAS Nexus in the last week:
“Thermal constraints on the distribution of Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) at its northern limit: Links to land use and geology.”

Read more: https://ow.ly/I4Zq50XSqKe

To submit your research, visit: https://ow.ly/zq0L50XSqsP
A) Map showing the location of southern Hokkaido, the spawning area of Japanese eel located west of the Mariana Islands (circle), and the ocean currents that transport the leptocephali (arrows). B) Map of the study region showing the locations of the survey sites (open circles) and the target rivers.
January 6, 2026 at 10:30 PM
pnasnexus.org
Cells are dynamic, characterized by constant nanoscale membrane fluctuations. A study proposes that electricity could be harvested from these movements via flexoelectricity—potentially enough to drive ion transport. In PNAS Nexus: https://ow.ly/JN4R50XStl1
Schematic of an active cell membrane. In a typical active biological process, active proteins (shown in a variety of colors) in a cell membrane (shown in blue) interact with various biological components, such as the ATP molecules (shown in white and red). These interactions of active proteins generate active noise (fluctuation) force within a cell membrane, mechanically affecting the out-of-plane displacement of a cell membrane.
January 6, 2026 at 8:30 PM
pnasnexus.org
🌟 Discover one of the top-performing PNAS Nexus articles on Altmetric for the past three months!

“RNP condensates modulate survival under Mars-like stress conditions” by Riya Dhage et al. scored 152—driven by strong media attention. Read more: https://ow.ly/ELOa50XSpYy
PNAS Nexus – Check out one of the top performing PNAS Nexus articles on Altmetric from the past three months! Read now!
January 6, 2026 at 6:30 PM
pnasnexus.org
Explore the discoveries that shaped scientific conversations in 2025! The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Selected Highlights collection features 12 studies that made a lasting impact on the public understanding of science. Read here: https://ow.ly/eSkB50XS37f
January 6, 2026 at 12:30 AM
pnasnexus.org
Yellowstone quakes spark chemical energy that feeds underground microbes—revealing how deep life endures on Earth and hinting at possibilities on Mars. 🌋🔬

In EarthSky: https://ow.ly/bXC950XS41L
In PNAS Nexus: https://ow.ly/WKon50XS3Oh
Yellowstone's Grand Prismatic Spring Image credit: Carsten Steger/ Wikimedia Commons
January 5, 2026 at 10:30 PM
pnasnexus.org
A literature review spanning 67 countries chronicles the many ways farmers value crops. While yield and profit are the most commonly cited values, farmers value crops for many practical, cultural, social, and culinary reasons. In PNAS Nexus: https://ow.ly/EPhe50XS49g
A Kenyan farmer holds harvested vegetables. Stock image.
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 PM
pnasnexus.org
From air pollution and childhood vision to antibiotic pollution in rivers, the PNAS Nexus Selected Highlights showcases studies that shaped scientific conversations in 2025. Explore the collection here: https://ow.ly/RGAN50XS3az
PNAS Nexus – 2025 Selected Highlight. Read now!
January 5, 2026 at 6:30 PM
pnasnexus.org
Explore the discoveries that shaped scientific conversations in 2025! The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Selected Highlights collection features 12 studies that made a lasting impact on the public understanding of science. Read here: https://ow.ly/QNka50XR9Qo
PNAS – 2025 Selected Highlights.
January 3, 2026 at 6:00 PM
pnasnexus.org
A transformer encoder-based classifier called JoblessBERT can identify posts about unemployment on social media, allowing researchers to predict US unemployment claims, up to two weeks in advance, at the national, state, and city levels. In PNAS Nexus: https://ow.ly/Zvi850XRa8I
Illustration of the official unemployment rate published in newspapers. Stock photo.
January 2, 2026 at 8:30 PM
pnasnexus.org
A Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Special Feature explores how machine learning is transforming drug design, materials discovery, and molecular prediction, while also exploring the challenges that limit broader adoption. Read the blog post: https://ow.ly/KjHs50XR9GK
PNAS Special Feature – Machine Learning in Chemistry
January 2, 2026 at 6:30 PM
pnasnexus.org
One of the most-viewed PNAS Nexus articles in the last week is “Americans overestimate how many social media users post harmful content.” Explore the article here: https://ow.ly/88vb50XQsR6

To learn more about submitting your research, visit PNAS Nexus at https://ow.ly/pYsQ50XQsR7.
a) Density plot indicating that people overestimated how many Reddit accounts posted severely toxic content. b) Density plot indicating that people overestimated how many Facebook accounts shared false news. c) Visualization of actual and perceived contribution ratios of toxic accounts on Reddit. d) Graph showing differences in pluralistic ignorance around social media content perceptions between the correction condition (blue) and the control condition (red).
December 31, 2025 at 12:30 AM
pnasnexus.org
From air pollution and childhood vision to antibiotic pollution in rivers, the PNAS Nexus Selected Highlights showcases studies that shaped scientific conversations in 2025. Explore the collection here: https://ow.ly/aPWk50XQsG7
PNAS Nexus – 2025 Selected Highlight. Read now! ALT/Caption: PNAS Nexus – 2025 Selected Highlights. Read now!
December 30, 2025 at 10:30 PM
pnasnexus.org
Moving from a corn monoculture to a corn-soybean-wheat rotation with cover crops could improve the stability of productivity, reduce nitrogen use, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions in the US Midwest. Adding cattle adds even more benefits. In PNAS Nexus: https://ow.ly/km3B50XQpTI
Summary of the impacts on ecosystem services of different levers of agroecology/regenerative agriculture.
December 30, 2025 at 8:30 PM
pnasnexus.org
Final call for Cozzarelli Prize nominations! Submit by Jan 2. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences articles published between December 16, 2024, and December 15, 2025, that demonstrated exceptional impact are eligible for nomination: https://ow.ly/YHzB50XQnZW
PNAS – 2025 Cozzarelli Prize. Final Call for Nominations. Learn more!
December 30, 2025 at 6:30 PM
pnasnexus.org
New study maps biological “tilings” across life, uncovering shared patterns that tie form, function & materials — a fresh blueprint for bioinspired design & biomaterials! 🚀

In Science News: https://ow.ly/sAOB50XQ0QJ
In PNAS Nexus: https://ow.ly/f6JU50XQ0Jc
The compound eyes of the snipe fly and many other insects are tessellated with ommatidia, which individually capture images that are then compiled by the insect’s brain into a single picture. Image credit: lauriek/Getty Images
December 29, 2025 at 10:30 PM