PNAS Science Sessions

Using AI to predict the weather
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 discuss advances in AI-enabled weather forecasting.
In this episode, we cover:
•[00:00] Introduction
•[01:12] Jeffrey Shrader explains what 48 expert forecasters had to say about how weather predictions might further improve through 2100, including the potential role of AI.
•[03:43] Ignacio Lopez-Gomez explains how he used generative AI to downscale large-scale earth system models into finer-scale regional climate projections.
•[05:35] Xiaofeng Li explains how he used a machine learning model to forecast whether tropical cyclones will rapidly intensify.
•[07:40] Hui Su explains what nowcasting is and how her deep diffusion model works.
•[09:52] Pedram Hassanzadeh explains what grey swans are and why they may be challenging for AI to predict.
•[10:47] Qiang Sun explains how he and his colleagues tested the ability of AI to predict gray swans.
•[12:28] Final thoughts and conclusion.
About Our Guests:
Jeffrey Shrader
Associate Professor of International and Public Affairs
Columbia University
Ignacio Lopez-Gomez
Research Scientist
Google
Xiaofeng Li
Research Scientist
Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Hui Su
Chair Professor
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Pedram Hassanzadeh
Associate Professor
University of Chicago
Qiang Sun
Research Scientist
University of Chicago
View related content here:
https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2523372123
https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2420288122
https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2415501122
https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2517520122
https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2420914122
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Cryopreservation of brain tissue structures
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, Alexander German explains how to cryopreserve brain tissue through vitrification.
In this episode, we cover:
•[00:00] Introduction.
•[01:14] Physician-scientist Alexander German introduces the problems with traditional cryopreservation methods.
•[02:22] German explains why we cryopreserve tissue.
•[03:23] He tells about vitrification and why it's different than traditional cryopreservation.
•[04:13] German explains why osmotic stress is a concern in cryopreservation.
•[04:51] He talks about how the protocol minimizes damage to brain structures and tissues.
•[06:26] He recounts the tests they performed to evaluate the preservation and function of the vitrified tissues.
•[07:03] German describes the usefulness of vitrification.
•[08:48] He lists the caveats and limitations of the study.
•[10:03] Conclusion.
About Our Guest:
Alexander German 
Resident
Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2516848123
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The lost forests of Doggerland
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, Robin Allaby explores the paleoecology of the submerged area known as Doggerland.
In this episode, we cover:
•[00:00] Introduction.
•[01:10] Evolutionary biologist Robin Allaby introduces the location of Doggerland and history of its exploration.
•[02:58] He introduces sedimentary DNA, including how it can be used to reconstruct paleoecology.
•[03:43] Allaby describes the methods of the study.
•[05:18] He introduces the primary findings about the plant and animal life of Doggerland.
•[06:14] He describes the surprising find of Pterocarya in Doggerland. 
•[08:07] Allaby discusses the habitability of Doggerland for Mesolithic societies.
•[09:38] He lists the caveats and limitations of the study.
•[10:13] Conclusion.
About Our Guest:
Robin Allaby 
Professor
University of Warwick
View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2508402123
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Generative AI and scientific journals
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, Yi Bu explores how generative AI has changed academic publishing.
In this episode, we cover:
•[00:00] Introduction.
•[00:50] Computational social scientist Yi Bu tells about the policies academic journals have introduced to address generative AI.
•[02:17] Bu describes the dataset he analyzed and his findings regarding journals' policies.
•[04:07] He answers the question: Did journal policies have any effect on AI usage?
•[05:39] Bu talks about how the rate of AI disclosure compares with estimates of probable AI use.
•[06:53] He explains the takeaway for journal editors and the scientific community at large.
•[07:27] He lists the caveats and limitations of the study.
•[10:11] Conclusion.
About Our Guest:
Yi Bu
Assistant Professor
Peking University
View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2526734123
Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs!
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Genomics of the Golden Horde
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, Ayken Askapuli explains genomic insights into the ancestors and descendants of the Golden Horde.
In this episode, we cover:
•[00:00] Introduction.
•[00:56] Population geneticist Ayken Askapuli introduces the Golden Horde.
•[02:01] He describes the individuals in the mausoleums whose DNA the team sampled. 
•[04:11] Askapuli explains findings about the modern populations the Golden Horde individuals were related to.
•[05:08] He then explains findings about the Y chromosome characteristics of the Golden Horde individuals.
•[06:14] Askapuli talks about what the results say about the ancestry of the Golden Horde.
•[06:48] He describes how the results aid understanding of population genetics in central Eurasia.
•[08:10] He lists the caveats and limitations of the study.
•[09:53] Conclusion.
About Our Guest:
Ayken Askapuli
PhD candidate
University of Wisconsin-Madison
View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2531003123
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 
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