The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has selected six papers for the 2025 Cozzarelli Prize, recognizing outstanding contributions to physics, biology, and engineering. The winners include studies on dusty plasmas, eukaryote evolution, and sound absorption.
The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has selected six papers to receive the 2024 Cozzarelli Prize, recognizing originality and excellence in research. The winners are recognized for their work on permafrost thaw, eye blinking as a visual processing stage, and complex network analysis.
Researchers explore remedies for the growing societal problem of misinformation, including an approach borrowed from public health to mitigate threats and quash outbreaks. Decoding Deception offers promising early results in containing infodemics.
The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) has selected six papers for the 2022 Cozzarelli Prize, recognizing outstanding contributions to scientific disciplines. The awardees include researchers who studied ancient chemistry, Sox8's role in ear development, and soft intelligent autonomous robots.
A study re-evaluating global fish stock recovery finds that alternative methods reveal nearly half of individual stocks are still below biomass targets and 40% are being overfished. The results suggest a cautious approach may be needed to rebuild depleted fisheries.
A recent study found that mangrove invertebrates exhibit extremely low functional redundancy, with most species fulfilling only one functional entity, posing a significant threat to mangrove functionality and resilience.
Researchers used Project Drawdown's global strategies to estimate that a system of 20 high-impact solutions could decrease Georgia's carbon footprint by 35% in 2030 compared to business-as-usual forecasts. The study suggests that this approach can be replicated for other US states lacking state-specific plans.
Researchers analyzed over 19,000 comb cells built by 12 colonies and found that worker bees adapt their building behavior to overcome various challenges, such as merging unaligned cells. The study suggests that honeybees are skilled architects rather than automatons, capable of solving complex problems through creative solutions.
A recent study found that individuals with higher education levels had reduced risk of disadvantages later in life, even if they had disadvantaged parents. The research suggests increasing investment in education can interrupt the intergenerational cycle of disadvantage.
A study used Bayesian framework to estimate viral prevalence based on available data sources, finding approximately 60% of infections may have gone unreported. The model suggests the estimated true number of infections is far below potential herd immunity thresholds and that immunization can achieve herd immunity without fatalities.
Reconstruction of ancient oral microbiomes from the Upper Paleolithic to the Neolithic Periods in Southern Europe reveals a significant expansion of microbial species with the transition to agriculture. The studies sequenced ancient DNA from dental calculus, finding a dominant Anaerolineaceae species that diversified geographically.
The study suggests that green habitat corridors connected eastern Africa to the Levant across the present-day Judean Desert, facilitating the dispersal of crested rats and humans. This correlation dates back to a brief period during the Last Interglacial.
Researchers found that individuals born in the mid-1990s were less likely to be classified as an offender compared to those born in the 1980s. Older cohorts were more likely than younger cohorts to have adolescent-limited or chronic arrest trajectories into adulthood.
US children from marginalized groups are more likely to experience CPS investigations, with high rates found in Black and American Indian/Alaska Native populations. The study estimates that over half of all US counties have a risk of at least 60% for these groups by age 18.
Insect pests like the spruce budworm can increase mortality rates of threatened ungulates by altering forest understory composition. This study reveals a positive association between moose density and deciduous vegetation, which in turn supports higher wolf populations and caribou mortality.
Researchers conducted a large-scale experiment near Australia's Pilbara Coast and found no significant effects of seismic surveys on demersal fish abundance or behavior. The study suggests that seismic surveys may not harm tropical fishes, contrary to previous concerns.
Pikas reduce their metabolism to conserve energy during harsh winters, resulting in a 30% decrease in daily energy expenditures. In areas with high yak populations, pikas exploit an easily accessible food source, yak feces, which may help explain their relatively abundant presence.
The study found that El Niño led to higher plant mortality rates in forests with a history of human disturbance, resulting in significant carbon dioxide emissions. Plant growth was only able to offset 37% of the emissions three years after the start of El Niño.
Researchers analyzed tree ring data to determine Asian monsoon variability from 4680 BCE to 2011 CE. The findings revealed a significant decrease in precipitation, leading to megadrought and accelerated dispersal of ancient civilizations, ultimately harming Neolithic societal development.
Removing invasive barred owls from western US coastlines had a significant positive effect on the survival of northern spotted owls, arresting population declines. The treatment also allowed spotted owls to disperse into previously occupied territories.
Research suggests that telomere shortening drives intestinal inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Telomere erosion is positively associated with disease severity and may underlie disease recurrence.
Researchers employed DNA barcoding techniques to identify plant species used by wild New Caledonian crows to fashion complex hooked stick tools. The study found that Mimusops elengi was the primary raw material used, providing insights into variation in crows' preferences and plant availability.
Improved living standards and factors like reduced physical labor and increased food intake may have decreased breastfeeding's contraceptive effect. This is evident in low-income and middle-income countries where access to electricity and water has become more prevalent.
Researchers surveyed over 1.5 million adults across Europe and the US to examine potential links between childhood lead exposure and adult personality traits. The study found that those with higher childhood lead levels were less agreeable and more neurotic, while those from areas with cleaner air were more conscientious.
Researchers suggest that volcanic eruptions comparable to Krakatau on Earth could be responsible for the presence of phosphine in Venus' atmosphere. The study models calculate that small amounts of phosphides from deep mantle sources could react with sulfuric acid to form phosphine.
A collection of articles shows community monitoring can provide information about resource conditions and counter overuse, but may require compensation to be effective. Training and incentivizing community members to patrol forests has been successful in some cases.
A study using San Francisco Bay models found that protective coastal structures can exacerbate flooding along other parts of the shoreline. The analysis estimated significant regional increases in economic damage, up to $723 million, under certain sea-level rise scenarios.
Approximately 8 million US employees used FFCRA emergency sick leave within the first 6-8 months. Unmet sick leave needs tripled during the pandemic, with women exhibiting a higher risk, and college graduates, Asian-Americans, and native-born employees being more likely to know about and use the benefit.
A longitudinal study of infants at risk of developing celiac disease found increased microbial strains and metabolites associated with autoimmune conditions, while decreased protective effects were observed. These preclinical gut microbiome changes may serve as early markers of disease progression.
Male dragonflies have evolved larger melanin wing patches in cooler climates to cope with warmer temperatures. Climate change may lead to even smaller patches in the future, according to research published in PNAS.
Researchers used seismic sensors to study subglacial water flow on the Argentière glacier. The study revealed a complex drainage system with multiple cavities producing high water pressure, accelerating glacier movement.
A family planning program in Bangladesh from 1977 to 2012 showed significant differences in lifetime contraceptive behavior and fertility among women. Women who participated in the program experienced increased body mass index compared to non-participants, particularly those born between 1950 and 1961.
A study analyzed fossil dermal denticles from ancient coral reefs and modern reefs to estimate Caribbean shark abundance before and after human settlement. The results show a significant decline in shark populations, with fast-swimming species facing the greatest losses.
Research reveals that Asian houbara birds use internal temperature cues to fine-tune their migration departure times, adapting to annual temperature variability without genetic changes. Temperature cues are more consistently used than other environmental factors like daylight length or wind velocity.
A study suggests that the Toba supereruption led to regional variations in climate impacts, with cooling predictions ranging from 4°C to 10°C in the Northern Hemisphere. Early human populations in these regions thrived despite the eruption's severity, according to independent archaeological evidence.
Researchers discovered that seabirds' reliance on flying fish as prey leads to reduced fish populations over 150 km from breeding colonies. This depletion effect is worsened by fisheries, posing a threat to seabirds' survival.
A study analyzing age-at-death records of 33,715 Indigenous people in central California between 3050 BCE and 1870 CE found that Spanish settlers contributed to severe demographic collapse. The research suggests extreme social disruption caused by the presence of Europeans led to increased mortality rates among both males and females.
Researchers compared observed global energy technology costs for 2019 with technology cost forecasts generated by models and forecasts by human experts. Models accurately forecasted observed costs for 2019 more often than experts, but all methods underestimated cost reductions.
A simulation study found that wind farms generate little power beyond a certain size, causing interference with neighboring installations. Optimizing arrangement and placement of turbines can increase power density up to a site-specific point.
A study of 65 infants reveals stable individual differences in their responses to impossible events, which predict explanation-based curiosity at 3 years of age. The research suggests that detecting prediction errors in infancy may be a crucial aspect of later cognitive development.
A study analyzing data from 1,104 married couples found that both spouses' enduring qualities, such as neuroticism and attachment styles, predict changes in relationship satisfaction. Stress moderated the effect of these qualities on behavior and satisfaction.
A recent study found that changes in marine fossilization conditions led to a significant increase in diatom abundance during the Cenozoic Era. The researchers built a model of sedimentation rate and ocean temperature on biogenic silica burial efficiency, revealing improved preservation conditions around 5-20 million years ago.
A study of extinct Australian rodents reveals that European colonization drastically impacted native species diversity. Genetic data shows that reduced genetic diversity did not guarantee protection from extinction in the face of rapid population decline.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on coffee production, particularly in smallholder farms. Labor shortages, border restrictions, and economic downturns have created conditions conducive to the spread of Coffee Leaf Rust, a disease that can devastate coffee crops.
A curriculum with additional math instruction led to higher attendance and degree completion rates for students in a 2003 cohort. However, similar effects were not seen in a 2004 cohort, suggesting that pairing high- and low-skilled students undermines positive impacts of extra math support.
A study reveals that Bronze Age weight systems diffused through trade networks in Western Eurasia, with a single origin in Mesopotamia. The Indus Valley developed an independent system, while new units of weight emerged gradually west of Mesopotamia.
Winter rainfall in sub-Saharan Africa limits painted lady butterfly migrations to Europe. The size of migrating populations varies greatly, increasing by a hundredfold in some years, likely driven by weather conditions in West Africa.
Researchers analyzed election data to find that men and women are equally likely to run for office after electoral losses. Gender does not affect political ambition after electoral setbacks, according to the study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The study reveals features on Venus that suggest limited yet global crustal deformation driven by convection in the planet's interior. The findings support the hypothesis that planetary heat flux and a thinner lithosphere were present during Earth's Archean Eon.
A study found that vehicle electrification may produce similar air quality effects as during the COVID-19 pandemic, but with decreased magnitude. The model accounted for nonlinear relationships between emission rates and atmospheric chemistry, highlighting the need to mitigate off-road emissions.