Getting to the root of the rhizosphere

**Getting to the root of the rhizosphere** Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us. In this episode, researchers describe methods for illuminating interactions between plants and microbes in the rhizosphere. In this episode, we cover: •\[00:00] Introduction •\[00:35] Molly Hanlon describes a relatively inexpensive technique for rapidly imaging plant anatomy along the root axis. •\[01:47] Oumeng Zhang explains a microscopy technique for imaging 3D microbial interactions with improved speed and reduced phototoxicity compared to traditional methods. •\[03:07] Reinaldo Alcalde describes the results of his and Oumeng's approach. •\[04:08] Victoria Orphan used synthetic cryolite to create a transparent, soil-like scaffold, allowing belowground microbial processes to be visualized. •\[05:31] Final thoughts and conclusion. About Our Guests: Molly Hanlon  Senior Research Scientist Donald Danforth Plant Science Center Oumeng Zhang Assistant Professor Texas A&M University Reinaldo Alcalde Senior Postdoctoral Scholar California Institute of Technology Victoria Orphan James Irvine Professor of Environmental Science and Geobiology California Institute of Technology View related content here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2643651525001566 https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2403122121 https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/article/4/5/pgaf118/8114130 Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts for more captivating discussions on scientific breakthroughs! Visit Science Sessions on PNAS.org: https://www.pnas.org/about/science-sessions-podcast  Follow PNAS: Twitter/X Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Sign up the PNAS Highlights newsletter