Podcast: The future of quantum computing The future of quantum information science and engineering promises computers with unprecedented speed and capabilities. Mikhail Lukin, an NSF-supported professor, discusses his work... Read more at nsf.gov
This week with NSF Director Panchanathan NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan dove into a busy schedule this week, with multiple meetings with international representatives and a reception to honor a retiring congressional champion of STEM research and education. On Monday, the director… Read more at nsf.gov
Researchers engineer novel material capable of 'thinking' Someone taps your shoulder. The touch receptors in your skin send a message to your brain, which processes the information and directs you to look left, in the direction of the tap. This processing of mechanical information has now been harnessed by… Read more at nsf.gov
New seafloor data upend understanding of Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier The Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica — about the size of Florida — has been an elephant in the room for scientists trying to make global sea-level rise predictions. This massive ice stream is in a phase of fast retreat, leading to widespread… Read more at nsf.gov
NSF’s Convergence Accelerator releases 2022 Portfolio Guide The U.S. National Science Foundation's Convergence Accelerator released its comprehensive 2022 Portfolio Guide, showcasing novel, use-inspired solutions from more than 45 NSF-funded multidisciplinary teams across six distinct convergence research… Read more at nsf.gov
Global tsunamis driven by underwater volcanic eruptions In 1883, there was a volcanic eruption so large it killed tens of thousands of people. It expelled so much ash that, for a time, it changed the colors of sunsets and the palette with which impressionist artists painted. In history, few volcanic… Read more at nsf.gov
New grants support research on factors affecting infectious disease transmission Headlines on COVID-19 and monkeypox underscore the importance of understanding infectious diseases and how they're transmitted. Scientists are studying these diseases, such as hand, foot and mouth disease and Lyme disease, to gain insights into how… Read more at nsf.gov
This week with NSF Director Panchanathan This week, NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan promoted greater domestic production of critical computer chips and the benefits of enhanced international cooperation among agencies and organizations. On Monday, the director sat down with host Judy… Read more at nsf.gov
Mimicking termites to generate new materials Inspired by the way termites build their nests, researchers at Caltech have developed a framework to design new materials that mimics the fundamental rules hidden in nature's growth patterns. The investigators showed that, using these rules, it is… Read more at nsf.gov
NSF's Convergence Accelerator invests $30 million to tackle challenges related to the blue economy The U.S National Science Foundation is tackling challenges related to climate, sustainability, food, energy, pollution and the economy through a $30 million investment to advance six convergent research teams from Phase 1 to Phase 2 of NSF's… Read more at nsf.gov
Silicon image sensor that computes As any driver knows, accidents can happen in the blink of an eye — so when it comes to the camera system in autonomous vehicles, processing time is critical. The time that it takes for the system to snap an image and deliver the data to the… Read more at nsf.gov
Plants reprogram their cells to fight invaders. Here's how. In times of war, factories retool to support the needs of battle. Assembly lines change course from turning out car parts to machine guns, or from building washing machines to aircraft engines. To hear Duke University scientist Xinnian Dong tell it… Read more at nsf.gov
Reintroducing bison to grasslands increases plant diversity, drought resilience, study finds A Kansas State University-led study has found that reintroducing bison — a formerly dominant grazer — doubles plant biodiversity in a tallgrass prairie. The research includes more than 30 years of data collected at the Konza Prairie Biological… Read more at nsf.gov
Exploring how future tech can benefit people in the workplace — NSF greenlights 14 new 'Future of Work' research projects The U.S. National Science Foundation will invest more than $29 million in research projects designed to increase opportunities for U.S. workers and generate positive societal and economic impacts at the local and national level. Researchers in 17… Read more at nsf.gov
NSF announces increased support for capacity building in quantum information science and engineering research The expansive and growing societal and economic impacts of quantum information science and engineering, or QISE, pose new challenges and unique possibilities. Building capacity, broadening participation, increasing access and expanding opportunities… Read more at nsf.gov
Researchers develop an integrated method to measure stability during walking Researchers at Georgia Tech funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation have developed an integrated approach to studying the biomechanics of falls and how the legs, joints and muscles act as a system to respond. Studying how the different… Read more at nsf.gov
Burying short sections of power lines could drastically reduce hurricanes' impact on coastal residents As Earth warms due to climate change, people living near the coasts not only face a higher risk of major hurricanes but are also more likely to experience heat waves while grappling with widespread power outages. Princeton researchers funded by the U… Read more at nsf.gov
Sharpest image to date of universe's most massive known star Astronomers have yet to fully understand how the most massive stars — those more than 100 times the mass of the sun — are formed. One particularly challenging piece of this puzzle is obtaining observations of these giants, which typically dwell in… Read more at nsf.gov
Predicting and preventing pandemics is goal of new NSF awards The potential for future pandemics is an ever-present and growing threat, whether they are due to known diseases like monkeypox or Ebola, or an as-yet-unknown infection. Nearly $26 million in new awards from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)… Read more at nsf.gov
Study shows 'unprecedented' changes to world's rivers The way rivers function is significantly affected by how much sediment they transport and deposit. River sediment — mostly sand, silt and clay — plays a critical ecological role, as it provides habitat for organisms downstream and in estuaries. It is… Read more at nsf.gov
'Forever chemicals' destroyed by simple method PFAS, manufactured chemicals commonly used since the 1940s in nonstick and waterproofing agents, are called "forever chemicals" for good reason. Bacteria can't eat them; fire can't incinerate them; and water can't dilute them. And, if these toxic… Read more at nsf.gov
NSF invests in use-inspired climate change and clean energy research The U.S. National Science Foundation announces 13 new Partnerships for International Research and Education, PIRE, awards totaling more than $19 million. The PIRE competition focuses on global societal challenges related to climate change and clean… Read more at nsf.gov
NSF announces $10 million partnership with Intel Corporation to train and build a skilled semiconductor manufacturing workforce Today, the U.S. National Science Foundation announced a new program with Intel Corporation to educate and train the nation's semiconductor manufacturing workforce and advance opportunities for equitable science, technology, engineering and… Read more at nsf.gov
Researchers develop dashboard to track invasive and vector mosquitoes Mosquitoes cause more than one million deaths each year and rank among the deadliest animals on the planet, even though only a small number of the insect species transmit disease. Tracking and surveillance are crucial to mitigating the worldwide… Read more at nsf.gov
Engineers use modified 19th-century photography technique to make flexible films that change color Engineers at MIT funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation have repurposed a photographic technique from the 1800s and detailed the outcome in a paper published in Nature Materials. The experiment resulted in films that change shades when… Read more at nsf.gov
"Beautiful swimmers" attack at low tide David Johnson, an ecologist at William & Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science, has spent more than 20 years mucking in salt marshes along the U.S. East and Gulf coasts. But while doing research in a Virginia salt marsh at low tide last… Read more at nsf.gov
NSF, DOD partner to advance 5G technologies and communications for U.S. military, government and critical infrastructure operators The U.S. National Science Foundation is accelerating 5G solutions to assist the U.S. government and critical infrastructure operators to communicate securely anywhere and anytime. Partnering with the Department of Defense Office of the Under… Read more at nsf.gov
Statistical tool finds 'gaps' in DNA datasets shouldn't be ignored A simple statistical test shows that contrary to current practice, the "gaps" in DNA protein and sequence alignments commonly used in evolutionary biology can provide important information about nucleotide and amino acid substitutions over time. The… Read more at nsf.gov
Catching up with quicksilver: MXene material can counter mercury contamination Researchers estimate that mercury emissions in the atmosphere have quadrupled since the start of the Industrial Revolution. The heavy metal, generated by burning fossil fuels and the disposal of industrial and medical waste, has become persistent in… Read more at nsf.gov
