iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 02/10/2026

Researchers presented 21 LLMs with ethical dilemmas to explore their social norms when interacting with people who do not cooperate. Differences between models could steer people, and society, in more or less cooperative directions. In PNAS Nexus: ow.ly/Ujkf50ZU2a1

Photo illustration of the concept of AI ethics.

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 02/10/2026

An analysis of two of the 14 remaining cubes of uranium from the German WWII nuclear project, along with historical records, reveals that the Nazis wouldn’t have been able to create a working bomb with the materials available to them. In PNAS Nexus: ow.ly/KVNO50ZU1Sa

A cube of natural uranium from the German nuclear project.
CREDIT: John T. Consoli, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD.

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 02/10/2026

What can DNA reveal about connections across the Tree of Life? 🧬🌳 Discover Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences research on the evolutionary history linking species, then watch those connections come to life with LabX. Read: ow.ly/o43w50ZU1Oi Watch: ow.ly/HnLo50ZU1I3

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 30/09/2026

How can studying illegal markets across sectors strengthen research and public policy? A new Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences blog explores how a shared scientific framework can reveal commonalities and differences across these markets. Read more: ow.ly/NTfc50ZSUFE

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 29/09/2026

One of the most-viewed PNAS Nexus articles in the last week is “A conditional threat-regulation model: When deliberative processing of ongoing threat reduces intergroup bias.” Explore now: ow.ly/zt9I50ZSMEg To submit, visit PNAS Nexus at ow.ly/AZ4p50ZSMEf.

A path diagram enclosed in a box labeled ongoing threat. An intervention box combining writing topic and processing depth leads to integrative complexity, which leads to intergroup bias, with multicultural experience feeding into the first path.

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 29/09/2026

A study fails to find a link between masculine-looking faces and self-reported aggressiveness in 16 populations from South Asia and Cabo Verde, challenging the idea that aggressive disposition is biologically encoded in sexually dimorphic facial structure. In PNAS Nexus: ow.ly/9cHL50ZSN6m

A group of friends in Himachal Pradesh, India, one of the study locations. Stock photo.
CREDIT: Sumit.Kumar.99

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 28/09/2026

As the climate warms, droughts and floods may occur in quicker succession. Researchers project more frequent drought–flood transitions across China, with greater risks for lower-income populations. In Science X / Phys.org: ow.ly/CUu250ZSqnM In PNAS Nexus: ow.ly/iLOg50ZSqnI

Conceptual diagram of drought–flood alternation events and associated impacts.
Image credit: Qi et al.

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 28/09/2026

Smoking appears to be more deadly in recent decades. A study uncovers the reason for the trend: smokers are, on average, older than they once were, due to cultural changes that have reduced the number of young people taking up the habit. In PNAS Nexus: ow.ly/4Jkm50ZSkza

Close-up of an elderly person smoking. Stock photo.

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 26/09/2026

Explore peer-reviewed research in cell biology from Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, including intracellular transport and cytoskeletal organization. Discover articles that shed light on development, homeostasis, and the cellular basis of health and disease: ow.ly/4KMZ50ZRvth

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 25/09/2026

In this week’s Advance Articles: Deep learning without weight symmetry; cultural proximity and local premiums in collective memory; model distillation for multimodal early-warning systems; and more. ow.ly/L3ON50ZRvvo

Explore the latest Advance Articles from PNAS Nexus! Read now at pnasnexus.org.

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 25/09/2026

As the climate warms, droughts and floods are becoming more frequent. A study explores a natural consequence of these trends in China: back-to-back flood–drought and drought–flood events are also likely to become more frequent, causing complex compound risks. In PNAS Nexus: ow.ly/Nl1h50ZRuEY

Conceptual diagram of drought–flood alternation events and associated impacts.

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 25/09/2026

One of the most-discussed Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences articles on Reddit last month was “Evolutionary trends in Triceratops from the Hell Creek Formation, Montana.” Explore the article: ow.ly/MP5p50ZRvOA

Potential patterns of HCF Triceratops evolution. (A) Anagenesis, or transformation of a lineage over time. (B) Bifurcation of an anagenetic lineage in which the ancestor becomes pseudoextinct through evolution (sensu ref. 38). (C and D) True cladogenesis implies the coexistence of ancestral and descendant clades for at least a short period. The gray and white asterisks represent potential positions for MOR 3045 and MOR 3027.

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 23/09/2026

One of the most-viewed PNAS Nexus articles in the last week is “Host nucleolin-targeting unique peptide drugs as potent broad-spectrum anti-influenza therapies.” Explore now: ow.ly/N5ve50ZPTrA To submit your own research, visit PNAS Nexus at ow.ly/9aKn50ZPTpu.

$Western blot analysis showing distribution of IAV proteins in A549 cell fractions treated with AGM-380d and AGM-380t compounds.$

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 22/09/2026

From elephants and manatees to fungi and comb jellies, explore the connections across the Tree of Life. Watch LabX Tree of Life series, then dig deeper with related research from the PNAS journals. Watch the series: ow.ly/T9TA50ZPTnj Explore research: ow.ly/RS9i50ZPTmR

LabX - One leaf. One branch. One enormous. Tree of Life. Explore the Tree Life!

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 22/09/2026

New research from National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Medicine member Ruslan Medzhitov and colleagues identifies a potential therapeutic target for improving survival during severe influenza infection. In PNAS Nexus: ow.ly/GqxQ50ZPSI4

Graphs and lung tissue images comparing influenza infection in mice with and without vanin-1, showing similar antiviral immune responses and lung pathology despite differences in survival.

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 22/09/2026

One of the most-discussed Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences articles on Reddit last month was “Value misalignment in X’s feed algorithm is a reflection of value tensions in engagement.” Explore the article: ow.ly/2a2m50ZPT3i

Top: Amplification results for the four middle-level value clusters of Self-transcendence, Openness to change, Conservation, and Self-enhancement. Bottom: A radar plot of amplification results for low-level values using coefficients computed from the preregistered PCA analysis (Materials and Methods).

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 21/09/2026

Less splashback, more science. 🚽🏆 Researchers used fluid physics and differential equations to design a splash-free urinal—work that earned the 2026 Ig Nobel Prize in Physics. In Smithsonian Magazine: ow.ly/K90x50ZPJnj In PNAS Nexus ow.ly/oHTq50ZPJnB

This year's Ig Nobel Award ceremony took place in Zurich, Switzerland.
Image credit: Improbable Research via Facebook

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 21/09/2026

Studies in Hong Kong during the 2014 unrest and in Israel during a 2014 military escalation show that taking the time to reflect and write essays about threats reduced bias against outsiders—but only for those with multicultural experience. In PNAS Nexus: ow.ly/P0ck50ZPIGi

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 21/09/2026

Discover one of the top-performing PNAS Nexus articles on Altmetric over the past three months! “Restoring indigenous trees can help combat malnutrition in Africa” by Vansant et al. scored 34, driven by strong media attention. Read more: ow.ly/p6hM50ZPIYO

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 19/09/2026

Peer-reviewed applied mathematics research from Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, including machine learning, stochastic modeling, quantum computation, biological systems analysis, and more. Discover articles that advance understanding across disciplines: ow.ly/WJMw50ZPpSr

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 19/09/2026

In this week’s Advance Articles: Craniofacial effects of nicotine metabolites, wind turbine performance across control settings, classroom social networks as predictors of student outcomes, and more. Explore now: ow.ly/yIV550ZPaPy

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 19/09/2026

Extreme climate events can reveal how close marine ecosystems are to ecological tipping points and inform preparations for what comes next. A new PNAS Editorial builds on discussions from the 2026 US-UK Scientific Forum on ocean systems. Read more: ow.ly/ASkN50ZPcez #OceanScience

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 18/09/2026

Warnowiid dinoflagellates have remarkably complex structures for single-celled organisms, including eye-like ocelloids and projectile weapons systems known as nematocysts. Explore an analysis of the transcriptomes of 44 warnowiid specimens. In PNAS Nexus: ow.ly/JT9g50ZPatX

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 18/09/2026

Meet the 2026 #LaskerAward recipients, recognized for their groundbreaking contributions to science and medicine. In partnership with the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation, PNAS highlights the work of this year’s recipients. Explore now: ow.ly/WXGR50ZParx #Lasker2026 #LaskerLaureate

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 17/09/2026

How can we better prepare marine ecosystems for a warming ocean? A new Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Editorial calls for building resilience, protecting vulnerable #ecosystems, expanding monitoring, and strengthening #ocean forecasting systems. ow.ly/QcPi50ZOPqz

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 16/09/2026

A developing El Niño could intensify marine heatwaves and push ocean ecosystems closer to critical thresholds. A new Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Editorial explores how marine scientists and managers can prepare. ow.ly/7hXP50ZOtlj #OceanScience #ElNino

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 16/09/2026

Explore peer-reviewed scientific articles that have stood the test of time. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Classics are landmark papers that have opened new avenues of research across their respective fields. Explore the collection: ow.ly/CJjX50ZNY7Z

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 16/09/2026

One of the most-viewed PNAS Nexus articles in the last week is “Civilianized safety practitioners reduce crime and disorder: Evidence from a quasiexperimental evaluation in San Francisco.” Read now: ow.ly/C8KZ50ZNWRq To submit, visit PNAS Nexus at ow.ly/Sth050ZNWN6.

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 15/09/2026

Discover one of the top-performing PNAS Nexus articles on Altmetric for the past three months! “Pulling up the ladder: Enduring adversity increases opposition to reform” by Yoosun Kim et al. scored 46—driven by strong media attention. Read more: ow.ly/9A2150ZNWIV

Cover of a hut with a thatched roof. PNAS Nexus, ISSN: 2752-6542. June 1, 2026, Volume 5 No. 6. Pnasnexus.org. The National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 15/09/2026

DNA looping plays a critical role in many biological processes. New research from National Academy of Medicine member Taekjip Ha, National Academy of Sciences member William Bialek, and colleagues identifies the sequence features that govern this process. In PNAS Nexus: ow.ly/BCWa50ZNXXu

High-throughput measurements of sequence-dependent DNA cyclizability (27). a) Experimental construct. b) The probability distribution of the intrinsic cyclizability for the Random and Tiling libraries. The mean and SD are calculated using random sampling of halves of the data.

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 15/09/2026

For 26 years, Lasker Jury Chair Joseph L. Goldstein has explored the intersection of science and art in annual essays. This year, he reflects on “Reimagination in art and science.” Read the #PNAS Perspective: ow.ly/AoKS50ZNW5i #Lasker2026 #LaskerLaureate Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 14/09/2026

Integrating indigenous food trees into landscape restoration could boost biodiversity and nutrition. Researchers identify opportunities and challenges for integrating these trees in Malawi. In PNAS Nexus: ow.ly/9KXr50ZNyum In Mongabay: ow.ly/8vtz50ZNyur

A chacma baboon (Papio ursinus) enjoys a marula fruit (Sclerocarya birrea).
Image Credit: Image by Bernard Dupont via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0).

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 14/09/2026

Researchers investigated language change by studying Slovotvir, a Ukrainian website where users propose and rank alternatives for foreign-origin words. The site shows that people prefer shorter words, but not necessarily more common words. In PNAS Nexus: ow.ly/yS8R50ZNxT7

The study used an agent-based model. Diagram of a two-step agent action model. Ukrainian alternatives for the word дедлайн (deadline, a borrowing from English, possibly through Russian) are given as an illustration. In step A, an agent chooses a word based on the number of likes received by that word’s most-liked translation. In step B, after choosing a word, the agent chooses which translation to like based on each translation’s length and number of likes.

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 14/09/2026

The 2026 Lasker~Bloomberg Public Service Award honors Michael J. Fox for empowering patients’ voices and accelerating research toward improved therapies and a cure for Parkinson’s disease. Read the QnA: ow.ly/P8WA50ZNuoE #Lasker2026 #LaskerLaureate Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 12/09/2026

Peer-reviewed research in applied biological sciences from Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences including gene editing, biosensing, biotechnology, and more. Discover articles that advance research in healthcare, environmental monitoring, and food production: ow.ly/Vsso50ZMG8s

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 12/09/2026

In an editorial, Charles Branas and Bruce Levine posit that while some AI tools can make the tedious parts of science easier, outsourcing the core tasks of science to generative AI will likely lead to derivative, unoriginal work. In PNAS Nexus: ow.ly/Blk250ZMF2n

A researcher gazes at a computer screen. Stock photo.

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 11/09/2026

In this week’s Advance Articles: Facial masculinization in diverse South Asian populations, accessible magnetic field gradients, wind turbine aerodynamics across control strategies, and more. ow.ly/BJ8050ZMGcv

Explore the latest Advanced Articles from PNAS Nexus! Read now at pnasnexus.org.

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 11/09/2026

A drug targeting the host rather than the virus could get around the problem of antiviral resistance. AGM-380d and AGM-380t bind to the host’s nucleolin, a phosphoprotein hijacked by influenza A and B, leaving the virus unable to reproduce. In PNAS Nexus: ow.ly/eZKZ50ZMEQ4

Representative confocal images of influenza A nucleoprotein inside cells, with or without treatment with AGM-380d or AGM-380t. Treating cells infected with the influenza A PR8 strain with AGM-380d or AGM-380t at 10 µM resulted in nucleoproteins remaining in the nucleus, whereas in virus-infected, vehicle-treated controls, nucleoproteins were distributed throughout the cytoplasm.

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 11/09/2026

The 2026 Lasker~Bloomberg Award honors Michael J. Fox for advancing Parkinson’s research through his foundation. Randy Schekman reflects on his impact in a Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Perspective: ow.ly/sErk50ZMCUr #LaskerLaureate Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 10/09/2026

The 2026 Lasker~DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award honors Kunihiro Hattori, Tomoyuki Igawa & Takehisa Kitazawa for inventing a bispecific antibody that prevents severe bleeding in hemophilia A. Read now: ow.ly/sU8S50ZM4qR #Lasker2026 #LaskerLaureate Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 10/09/2026

Emmanuel Mignot & Masashi Yanagisawa receive a 2026 #LaskerAward for discoveries linking orexin, wakefulness & narcolepsy. Read the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Perspective: ow.ly/7TUm50ZM2ij #Lasker2026 #LaskerLaureate Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 10/09/2026

We’re proud to partner with Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation to honor this year’s Lasker Award recipients! Explore articles celebrating their groundbreaking contributions to science and medicine. Learn more: ow.ly/5CI750ZM1UC #Lasker2026 #LaskerLaureate

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 10/09/2026

From climate-resilient crops to precision agriculture, discover Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences research on advances in sustainable food production and resource management. Explore the collection: ow.ly/xXvk50ZKKgt

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 09/09/2026

Discover one of the top-performing PNAS Nexus articles on Altmetric over the past three months! “Heart rate synchrony as a marker of real-world social engagement” by He et al. scored 99, driven by strong media attention. Read more: ow.ly/XGxt50ZKK1w

Study design and multimodal data collection during real-world interactions across three trips to New York City. Illustration of the participants' wearable sensors, a heatmap of sound intensity in New York, photos of different event types, and graphs showing heart rate and brain activity data.

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 09/09/2026

An “infodemic” is the flood of information—some accurate, some misleading and inflaming—that spreads during a health emergency. A modeling study of the COVID-19 infodemic shows how its dynamics differ from the viral pandemic that accompanied it. In PNAS Nexus: ow.ly/at4R50ZKIuy

Image from an anti-lockdown protest in Manchester, UK, in August 2020. Stock photo.
CREDIT: Nick Harris Editorial

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 09/09/2026

A trending PNAS Nexus article in the last week is “Addressing antimicrobial resistance: Current challenges, emerging strategies, and an AI-powered, community-driven approach.” ow.ly/aCIr50ZKJaK To submit your own research, visit PNAS Nexus at ow.ly/5gwE50ZKJ7Z.

Drug development workflow comprising three main stages: drug discovery, preclinical research, and approval and commercialization.

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 09/09/2026

Honoring scientific excellence with the 2026 #LaskerAward! 🏅 Basic Medical: Emmanuel Mignot & Masashi Yanagisawa Clinical Medical: Kunihiro Hattori, Tomoyuki Igawa, and Takehisa Kitazawa Public Service: Michael J. Fox Explore now: ow.ly/zmPq50ZKNt2 #LaskerLaureate #LaskerFDN

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 09/09/2026

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation partner to celebrate this year's remarkable #LaskerAward winners as we spotlight groundbreaking contributions to medical research. Read the announcement: ow.ly/fYwm50ZKLFE #LaskerLaureate #LaskerFDN

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 09/09/2026

Meet Dr. James Moody of Duke University, a PNAS Nexus Associate Editor who brings expertise in sociology to the journal’s Editorial Board. Learn more about the editors helping shape the journal’s interdisciplinary research: ow.ly/o1GH50ZKLjF

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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 08/09/2026

Mesolithic hunter-gatherers on Malta likely relied on repeated long-distance sea crossings to maintain their presence on the island, suggesting early maritime connections across the Mediterranean. In PNAS Nexus: ow.ly/Unl950ZKJPv In @zmescience.bsky.social: ow.ly/t01x50ZKJPK

Hunter-gatherers were crossing at least 100 km of open water to reach the Mediterranean island of Malta 8,500 years ago.
Image credit: Daniel Clarke/ MPI-GEA

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