Science & Humanity

Recognizing global scientific excellence and driving transformative discoveries that serve humanity, society, and the planet.

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What We Stand For

Advancing scientific excellence, fostering innovation, and shaping a future guided by knowledge, integrity, and impact.

Laureates & Honors

NAAS members include six Nobel laureates across medicine, physics, and chemistry. Their discoveries—from immune tolerance to quantum circuits and MOFs—continue to shape global science. Explore our honors, fellows, and the milestones that define the Academy’s legacy.

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Research & Impact

From fundamental inquiry to translational breakthroughs, NAAS advances science that serves humanity. We support high-risk, high-reward projects, foster open collaboration, and accelerate real-world solutions in health, climate, and advanced technologies.

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Policy & Advice 

Independent, evidence-based counsel for leaders in government, industry, and civil society. NAAS convenes experts, synthesizes the best available science, and issues guidance on urgent challenges—from biosecurity to AI governance.

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Mission & Values

At the North American Academy of Sciences, our mission is to advance knowledge, uphold integrity, and ensure that science serves the enduring progress of humanity.
We believe that discovery must be coupled with responsibility, and that excellence in science is measured not only by innovation, but by its impact on people, society, and the planet.

Curiosity & Discovery

Curiosity fuels every scientific journey. NAAS nurtures a culture that values open inquiry, bold questioning, and lifelong learning. We empower researchers to challenge convention, explore the unknown, and illuminate new frontiers of human understanding.

Integrity & Responsibility

Integrity defines our foundation. Every project, partnership, and publication within NAAS is guided by ethical rigor, transparency, and accountability. We believe that science must earn society’s trust through truth, fairness, and integrity of purpose.

Collaboration & Global Impact

Science transcends borders. NAAS unites scholars, policymakers, and innovators from around the world to address shared challenges—health, climate, technology, and equity—ensuring that knowledge benefits all, not just a few.

Membership

Election to membership in the NAAS is a recognition of extraordinary scientific achievement, leadership, and integrity. It stands among the highest distinctions in the global scientific community, honoring individuals whose discoveries and influence have advanced knowledge and benefited humanity.

Latest Thoughts

Explore Our Publications

Advancing ideas that inspire discovery, shape policy, and expand the frontiers of global science.

  • Crisis in Government Data: Trust Erosion Explained

    Crisis in Government Data: Trust Erosion Explained

    Global government data systems face a crisis marked by declining trust, political interference, and budget cuts. Experts warn that independence in statistical agencies is diminishing, affecting data accuracy and public trust. Countries like the U.S., Argentina, and India illustrate these challenges, with issues ranging from political manipulation to inadequate methodology, jeopardizing reliable data collection.

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  • Breakthroughs in Brain Cryopreservation: A Scientific Reality

    Breakthroughs in Brain Cryopreservation: A Scientific Reality

    Researchers have made significant strides in cryopreservation, particularly concerning brain functionality. A German team’s study, utilizing vitrification to preserve mouse brain tissue, showed that neurons could retain activity after thawing. Although practical applications for humans are still a challenge, this work paves the way for potential advancements in organ preservation and cryopreserved revival.

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  • Tehran’s Black Rain: Causes and Health Risks

    Tehran’s Black Rain: Causes and Health Risks

    Thick, hazardous smoke and dark, acidic rain have engulfed Tehran, Iran’s capital, this week after missile strikes damaged oil depots and refineries. Experts warn that the rain likely carries chemicals harmful to both humans and the environment. But what exactly is “black rain,” how does it form, and how long will it remain a…

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Max Planck

Fellow of the North American Academy of Sciences

Max Planck (1858–1947) was a German theoretical physicist and the founding father of quantum theory, one of the most transformative ideas in modern science. His discovery of the quantization of energy revolutionized physics and fundamentally altered humanity’s understanding of matter and radiation.

Planck’s insights bridged classical and modern physics, paving the way for Einstein’s theory of relativity and the development of quantum mechanics. His unwavering commitment to truth, reason, and scientific integrity stood firm even amid the political turmoil of early 20th-century Europe.

As a lifelong advocate of ethical science and intellectual independence, Planck believed that the pursuit of knowledge must be guided by moral responsibility — a principle that remains central to the mission of the North American Academy of Sciences today.