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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · 1d

In this issue: Solving the mystery of Pollock’s blue pigment, uncovering early evidence of adzuki bean domestication, and tracing the origins of Châtelperronian culture in western Europe. In PNAS: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

Pictured is an artistic depiction of the exoplanet WASP-107b, its bound atmosphere, and escaping upper atmosphere transiting in front of its star.

Image credit: ESA/Hubble, NASA, M. Kornmesser.

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · 1d

Researchers model the evolution of watercourses in the Yangtze, Lancang, and Red River basins in Tibet. Tectonic forces played a key role as the westward-propagating Yangtze River captured south-flowing river systems over millions of years. In PNAS: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

The deeply incised middle Jinsha River gorge in southeastern Tibet.
CREDIT: Kai Cao

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · 1d

Opinion piece: To effectively conserve #ecosystems, we must also conserve #microbes. This plan supports traditional #conservation goals while offering adaptations to conserve #microorganisms themselves. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

#biodiversity

Microorganisms viewed through a microscope.
Image credit: Shutterstock/luchschenF.

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · 1d

The Ganga River, which flows through India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, has been drying since the 1990s—its most severe drying trend in the past 1,300 years. This trend is not captured by global climate models, which predict increased streamflow. In PNAS: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · 1d

The Ganga River, which flows through India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, has been drying since the 1990s—its most severe drying trend in the past 1,300 years. This trend is not captured by global climate models, which predict increased streamflow. In PNAS: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

The Oconaluftee River in North Carolina. Stock photo.

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Reposted by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 9d

Congratulations to the 2025 #LaskerAward winners! 🎉 Honorees: Dirk Görlich, Steve McKnight, Michael Welsh, Jesús (Tito) Gonzalez, Paul Negulescu & Lucy Shapiro. Discover their groundbreaking work in @pnas.org: www.pnas.org/post/update/...

#Lasker2025 #LaskerLaureate @laskerfdn.bsky.social

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · 1d

How does climate change affect oxygen levels in lakes? In the latest Science Sessions episode, Joachim Jansen of University of Helinski discusses how warming alters seasonal oxygen cycles and which lakes may be most at risk. Listen now: www.pnas.org/post/podcast...

A close-up of a fish in water.
Credit: Pexels/Kelly

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · 2d

World’s oldest mummification found: smoke-dried remains from SE Asia & S. China date back 12,000 years—predating Egypt & Chinchorro, with ties to Indigenous New Guinea & Australia..

In @archaeologymag.bsky.social: archaeology.org/news/2025/09...
In PNAS: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

Examples of Early and Middle Holocene human burials from southern China. This figure shows six human burials from Huiyaotian (A: M14, B: M19, C: M20) in Nanning and Liyupo (D: M23, E: M24, F: M28) in Long’an, both shell-midden sites located in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. All individuals are in flexed positions, with several exhibiting hyper-flexed postures (A and E: male, B–D and F: female).

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · 2d

Researchers used an empty house to study how domestic surfaces act as reservoirs for toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Smoke, insecticides, and other VOCs can lurk in wood, cement, and painted surfaces for up to a year. In PNAS: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

Empty room with wood floor. Stock photo.

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · 2d

A study tracking 1,420 people from middle childhood to adulthood found that biomarkers for stress in childhood—including C-reactive protein, the steroid hormone DHEA-s, and high BMI—predicted worse cardiac and metabolic outcomes in adulthood. In PNAS: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

Linear regression of mean childhood allostatic load—including C-reactive protein, the steroid hormone DHEA-s, Epstein–Barr Virus antibodies, cortisol, and body-mass index—on adult cardiometabolic score.

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Reposted by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 5d

Meet the 2025 #LaskerAward recipients, recognized for their groundbreaking contributions to science and medicine. In partnership with Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation, PNAS highlights this year’s honored research. Explore the collection: https://ow.ly/uZYe50X6eS9

#Lasker2025

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · 2d

Could #DarkEnergy be evolving? Using the #DarkEnergySpectroscopicInstrument, researchers mapped the cosmos and found signs its anti-gravitational force may have weakened in today’s era. Read the PNAS Core Concept explainer: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

#cosmos #Universe #DarkMatter #LBNL #DESI

A large 3D map of our universe to study dark energy.

Image credit: DESI Collaboration/ Department of Energy (DOE)/Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO)/National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab)/National Science Foundation (NSF)/Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA)/R. Proctor.

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · 2d

One of the most-viewed PNAS articles in the last week is “Detecting environmentally dependent developmental plasticity in fossilized individuals.” Explore the article here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

For more trending articles, visit ow.ly/Me2U50SkLRZ.

CT scan of Menardella limbata specimen (Left) and a 3D reconstruction of a cross-section of the same specimen with individual chambers highlighted in different colors (Right). The scale bar represents 100 µm. Visualized in Dragonfly version 2021.3 (Object Research Systems, Canada).

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · 2d

Models of management in European beech forests suggest that intensively managing 40% for timber while leaving 60% unmanaged produced the most biodiversity. “Extensive” management for both timber and biodiversity were not effective. In PNAS: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

Beech forest in autumn near the town of Montejo de la Sierra in Spain. Stock photo.

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · 2d

Pigments and shells with drilled holes to be used as beads found with Châtelperronian stone tools in France suggest humans—or Neanderthals—were decorating themselves in the Middle Paleolithic, just as Homo sapiens were moving into Eurasia. In PNAS: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

Modifications observed on shells from La Roche-à-Pierrot in Saint-Césaire, France, including perforations made by pressure and pigment staining.
CREDIT: Solange Rigaud

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · 2d

For 25 years, the Chair of the @laskerfdn.bsky.social Jury has reflected on the intersection of science and art in an annual essay. This year, Joseph L. Goldstein explores “From simplicity to complexity: A path to innovation in science and art.” Read now: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

2025 Lasker Awards – “From simplicity to complexity: A path to innovation in science and art.” Read the essay in a PNAS Perspective. Portrait of Joseph L. Goldstein.

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · 2d

Yeast-embedded kitchen tiles that absorb harmful toxins? #Designers and #scientists are teaming up to make #LivingArchitecture a reality. A PNAS Science and Culture piece: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

#architecture #fungi #yeast #bacteria #ecofriendly
#sustainability #BioinspiredDesign #SciArt

These 3D-printed porcelain structures (approximately 1.5 inches across) are prototypes for larger wall tiles designed to house formaldehyde-absorbing yeast.
Image credit: Jenny Sabin Lab, Cornell University.

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · 2d

Behold an adzuki bean from over 8,000 years ago, a little charred, displayed next to a modern bean. Ancient beans found in Shandong, China, shed light on the domestication of the crop, which is still commonly eaten as red bean paste. In PNAS: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

Modern adzuki bean (right) and charred adzuki bean recovered from Xiaogao, China (left).
CREDIT: Haohong Cai

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · 2d

Playing a piano is more than hitting keys in sequence. A good pianist produces a pleasing timbre, or tonal quality. A study identifies subtle features of piano touch that are linked to the perceived weight, clarity, and brightness of the sound. In PNAS: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

The time-varying movement of the piano key.
CREDIT: Shinichi Furuya

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · 2d

A new role for the #amygdala in response to #fear and #anxiety: Experiments in mice show that the amygdala’s #MedialNucleus can trigger an immediate #BloodSugar spike. In PNAS Journal Club: www.pnas.org/post/journal...

#metabolism #FightOrFlight #brain #cortisol

A scan of the human brain shows the amygdala (orange) helps orchestrate a metabolic reaction to stress, not just a behavioral response.
Image credit: Kateryna Kon / Science Source.

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · 2d

PNAS Front Matter explores the stories behind science—featuring research trends, policy perspectives, and the intersection of science and culture. Explore Core Concepts, Inner Workings, Science and Culture, and more: www.pnas.org/front-matter

PNAS Front Matter – Unveiling the stories behind the science. Explore now.

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · 2d

Attention exoplanet fans: A collection of articles showcases how the James Webb Space Telescope has enabled atmospheric studies of distant worlds, including work on the atmospheres of sub-Neptunes and the challenges of detecting biosignatures. In PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

Artist’s depiction of planet TRAPPIST-1 d passing in front of its turbulent star, with other members of the closely packed system shown in the background.
CREDIT: NASA, ESA, CSA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI)

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · 2d

A study of over 500,000 Brits and Australians finds that people who never have sex are more educated, less likely to use alcohol and smoke, more nervous, lonelier, and unhappier. Regions with high income inequality had more sexless residents. In PNAS: www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1...

Phenotypic associations of sexlessness with health, psychological, and behavioral outcomes.

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · 2d

PNAS highlights Johannes Lehmann’s pioneering soil science—from revealing the secrets of Amazonian dark earths to advancing biochar for fertility and climate solutions. His work is reshaping sustainable agriculture. Read the PNAS Profile: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · 2d

Read highlights in this week’s issue of PNAS: We analyze a first-of-its-kind image of silicon defects for quantum devices, investigate sea surface warming and cyclone expansion, and explore ancient DNA from the Casas Grandes people. In PNAS: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

Pictured are high seas (10–12 meters) in the Southern Ocean.
Image credit: Benoit Stichelbaut (photographer).

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