National Academy of Sciences

The National Academy of Sciences, or NAS for short, is like a special club for really smart scientists in the United States. These scientists are super good at discovering new things about science, engineering, and medicine. They get chosen by other scientists who are already in the club.

It's one of the biggest honors a scientist can get in the whole country! They don't get paid for this job; they do it to help everyone.

This amazing group started way back in 1863. That was a super long time ago, even before your grandparents were born! President Abraham Lincoln signed a special paper to create the NAS.

He wanted wise scientists to help the government with tricky science questions. It was like having a team of brilliant advisors ready to help whenever the country needed them, especially for new inventions and discoveries.

Think about all the amazing inventions we have, like phones and airplanes! The NAS helps make sure that new ideas are safe and good for everyone. They give advice to leaders in the government about important science stuff. This helps make sure that the country makes smart choices about technology and science, which can help solve big problems and make life better for all of us.

Being part of the NAS is a really big deal! Scientists who are already members get to vote and choose new members each year. They look for scientists who have done amazing work and made big discoveries. It's like being picked for the all-star team because you're the best at what you do. These chosen scientists then join the club to share their knowledge and help guide the nation.