Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

How a Beaked Whale Fossil May Reveal Origins of Humanities First Steps

In a study published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers with the University of Potsdam in Germany say that they may have found the origin of man’s first steps on land with the rediscovery of a 17 million year old fossil of a beaked whale once native to East Africa. The fossil, which was original unearthed in 1964, but lost for nearly half a century after the skull was misplaced, is the oldest known fossil of a beaked whale and strongly suggests an exact time for when the East African plateau was once turned into a savannah.

NASA—How Tropical Rainforests May Help End the Climate Change Issue

If 2014 made anything evident on the global stage, it’s that climate change is a serious issue and one that must be dealt with urgently. Many hope that the United Nations Summit in 2015 will bring some sort of international change, but with new research from the US space agency NASA, researchers are now saying that we may have some added help on our side—tropical rainforests.

Study Shows How Red Meat May Cause Cancer in Humans

In the past, red meat consumption has been linked with many diseases, such as colorectal and breast cancers amongst many other. And while it has been strongly associated with higher risk of cancer in humans, as opposed to other animals, the mechanism for the meats' health risk have not been determined. But a recent study published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences may have just discovered the science behind its carcinogenic effect, particularly in humans.

Reading From an E-Reader Before Bedtime Disrupts Sleep- Study

In an age of computer graphics, social media, and the ever-present technology that plays such a vital role in our daily lives, it comes as no surprise that even in the moments before we close our eyes every night that we are consumed with checking that last status or watching a video or two. Sometimes, we just want to have some good, old traditional reading using an electronic reading material and wait until we get drowsy and sleepy. However, a new study published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealed that reading through electronic devices such as iPad, smart phones and other similar devices before bedtime could disrupt sleep patterns, affecting sleep quality, and affecting long-term health.

Milestone Birthdays Prompt Change, and A Bad Choice or Two

And at these strange cusps where “nine-enders” (those who have an age ending in a nine) step into the next set of ten, researchers now say that individuals may mark the milestones with a slew of good choices looking towards their future – and maybe just a bad choice or two too.
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