HomeProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Meghan Blumstein studied red oak genotypes across New England, concentrating on trees that were within reach in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She then collaborated with people doing research at the Harvard Forest, a research forest in rural central Massachusetts. Credits: Courtesy of the researchers
Environment

Urban heat islands are a poor proxy for global warming

Pranjal Malewar

Urban trees mislead climate models: why genetics matter more than temperature

Curiosity Rover
Space

Curiosity Rover detects largest organic compounds ever found on Mars

Amit Malewar

Martian chemistry just got more exciting!

Biology

Researchers unveil key mechanism that blocks egg-sperm fertilization

Pranjal Malewar

In the United States, around 9% of men and 11% of women of reproductive age struggle with fertility issues. This often happens because sperm...

A panoramic photo
Space

Mars: The lost beaches

Amit Malewar

Mars may have once been home to sandy beaches with gentle, lapping waves.

Beautiful young couple having fun together
Psychology

Both men and women prefer younger partners: Study

Pranjal Malewar

Blind dates reveal true preferences.

Shackleton Crater
Space

Science fiction to reality: Searching for a lunar oasis

Amit Malewar

New research may help astronauts locate viable water sources on the moon.

Businessman using using digital 3D projection of a human brain
Neuroscience

Researchers mapped individual brain dynamics

Amit Malewar

Method to create precision brain models with applications to personalized medicine.

Young women with hula hoops
Science

Hourglass body shape is ideal for hula hooping, says study

Pranjal Malewar

Scientists explain the physics of hula hooping.

ants in group
Social Science

Ants vs. humans: Why collaboration works better for them

Pranjal Malewar

Putting group smarts to the test.

early life model
Biology

Today’s genetic code likely came after other codes that have since gone extinct

Pranjal Malewar

Study sheds light on origin of genetic code.

Beer and grain
Science

Evidence of rice beer dating back approximately 10,000 years at the Shangshan site

Pranjal Malewar

New insights into the origins of alcoholic beverage brewing in East Asia.

Researchers identified an unforeseen trade-off for fisheries as nutrient inputs are reduced to improve water quality – in particular, a lower harvest of the popular yellow perch species as dead zones were diminished.
Environment

Cleaner water may pose risk to some Lake Erie fish species

Ashwini Sakharkar

Unforeseen water quality–fisheries tradeoffs are reduced to improve water quality.

Covid-19. Coronavirus Epidemic Design
Health

Surprising biological mechanisms discovered underlying severe COVID-19

Pranjal Malewar

Severe COVID-19 has been considered an inflammatory “cytokine storm”.

Human brain
Neuroscience

Our human family tree evolved bigger brains much more rapidly than earlier species

Pranjal Malewar

Brains grew faster as humans evolved.

Engineers fabricated a simple water filter modeled after the mobula ray’s plankton-filtering features. Pictured are pieces of the filter.
Technology

MIT engineers look to manta rays to design better water filters

Amit Malewar

The filter feeder's unique mechanism could potentially revolutionize the design of industrial water filters.

exploded view of an ice giant planet such as Uranus or Neptune
Space

What lies beneath the bland surfaces of Uranus and Neptune?

Amit Malewar

Uranus and Neptune are unique but superficially bland ice giants in our solar system. Planetary scientists have devised two proposals for what lies beneath...

A seabird colony i Norway, on which this model could be applied.
Environment

New model can be used to better understand coexistence in nature

Ashwini Sakharkar

Understanding the coexistence in nature.

Methylmercury
Environment

How do microbes create the most toxic form of mercury?

Pranjal Malewar

A poison that can accumulate in fish.

fish
Science

Microbial production of the most toxic form of mercury

Ashwini Sakharkar

How microbes create the most toxic form of mercury.

Snowball Earth
Earth

New evidence suggests Earth was covered in ice more than 660 million years ago

Amit Malewar

Researchers at the University of Colorado, Boulder have uncovered strong evidence that supports Snowball Earth theory.

Young again
Science

Aging reversed: A species of comb jelly can reverse its life cycle

Pranjal Malewar

Returning from adulthood to a larval stage.

Robotic sensory cilia that monitor internal biomarkers to detect and assess airway diseases.
Technology

Artificial cilia monitor internal biomarkers to detect airway diseases

Ashwini Sakharkar

A system of artificial cilia capable of monitoring mucus conditions in human airways to better detect infection.

Micrometeorological observation tower in Alaska. The tower installed in a black spruce forest on permafrost in Fairbanks, Alaska, monitors CO2 exchange and environmental conditions in 30-minute intervals.
Science

Climate change increases sources of carbon and CO2 sinks

Ashwini Sakharkar

Landmark 20-year study of climate change impact on permafrost forests.

Plane with covert feather wings
Technology

Bird-inspired rows of flaps can improve flight performance

Jay Kakade

Inspired by bird feathers called covert feathers, researchers at the University of Princeton have found that rows of flaps can enhance flight during maneuvers...

Meteorite Approaching to the Earth
Earth

What impact did a meteorite the size of four Mount Everests have on Earth?

Pranjal Malewar

Giant impact had silver lining for life, according to new study.

Atmospheric Water Harvesting prototype
Invention

Frog skin-inspired technology captures atmospheric water

Jay Kakade

This groundbreaking technology even pulls large amounts of water from the air in low humidity

D. rarus
Science

The mystery of the ‘Dinky’ dinosaur’s unusually long stride solved

Pranjal Malewar

UMD paleontologist helped recreate the movements of a bird-sized raptor.

A person holding a bottle of weight loss supplements
Health

Thousands of lives could be saved by expanded access to weight-loss drugs

Ashwini Sakharkar

It needs to remove existing barriers that are hindering people's access to effective weight loss treatments.

Man Under Stress
Neuroscience

New study reveals brain’s waste-clearance pathways for the first time

Amit Malewar

The study uses imaging in neurosurgery patients to show how the brain's glymphatic system clears waste.

Air bubbles under water
Invention

Researchers witnessed the formation of tiny water bubbles in real-time

Pranjal Malewar

Watch water form out of thin air.

Recent Stories

Mars’ missing carbonate mystery solved

Space

Galactic favorite: Hubble offers a new view of the Sombrero galaxy

Space

16-million-year-old: A new dirt ant species in Dominican amber

Wildlife

Astronomers discover possible signs of life on exoplanet K2-18b

Space

Newly discovered magnetar is traversing our galaxy from an unknown place

Space