Researchers found that ancient whales' hind limbs regressed over millions of years via small genetic changes, not a single dramatic event. This discovery highlights the complex process of evolution and developmental biology.
The US National Science Foundation recognized 100 exceptional middle and high school teachers with the 2005 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. These educators are praised for their focus on student learning, creative approaches to teaching, and ability to make complex concepts relevant to everyday life.
Charles Townes, the father of quantum electronics, receives the award for his work on masers and lasers, while Raj Reddy is recognized for transforming computer science through robotics and human-computer interaction. Their awards mark the nation's appreciation for their statesmanship in science.
A recent study published by Michigan State University's Kay Holekamp found that alpha female hyenas have higher androgen levels during pregnancy, which influences the behavior of their cubs. As a result, the cubs exhibit more aggressive and sexual play, increasing their chances for life-success.
Geologists drilled nearly five months to recover samples of hard rock called gabbro from intact ocean crust, offering insights into fast-spreading oceanic crust formation. The discovery sheds light on the origin of oceanic crust and its composition.
The Maldives AUAV Campaign has demonstrated the effectiveness of lightweight AUAVs in analyzing atmospheric chemistry, revealing how pollution particles cause dimming and contribute to cloud formation. The data produced will aid in understanding climate change science.
Researchers have discovered how certain zeolites form, enabling targeted methods to create crystals with precise sizes and shapes. The study reveals a step-by-step process, including silicon-oxygen nanoparticles forming first, which can be used to develop tailored designs for specific applications.
Emmanuel Candes, a Caltech professor, has been awarded the $500,000 Waterman Award for his groundbreaking work in harmonic analysis and signal processing. His research aims to improve signal processing and analyze complex waves, with potential applications in medical imaging and everyday technologies.
Researchers have developed nanogenerators that can harness energy from body movement and other simple motions to produce significant amounts of electricity. These tiny machines could enable the creation of implantable medical devices, smart clothing, and other applications that require continuous power supply.
Researchers have recorded non-volcanic tremors in a deep borehole near Parkfield, California, providing insight into the San Andreas Fault's behavior. The findings help geologists understand whether the fault's deeply buried rocks behave similarly to those in the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
The US has launched a constellation of six low-orbiting satellites called COSMIC to provide real-time atmospheric data over thousands of points on Earth. The system will measure the bending of radio signals from GPS to track hurricanes, typhoons and climate change.
A six-year study found that higher carbon dioxide levels and limited nitrogen in soils hinder plant growth, potentially leading to reduced ecosystem carbon storage. The research suggests that as atmospheric carbon dioxide increases, soils will struggle to support plant life, exacerbating the issue.
Researchers have discovered a bacterial adhesive that is 70 newtons per square millimeter strong, comparable to the downward force exerted by three cars. This finding suggests that the substance may be the strongest glue in nature, surpassing common commercial glues.
A recent study reveals that ancient ants arose 140-168 million years ago, in concert with the emergence of flowering plants. The researchers used DNA sequencing and fossil records to reconstruct the ant family tree, pushing back the origin of modern-day ants by at least 40 million years.
Astronomers discover that Uranus' blue ring is predominantly made of submicron-sized material, unlike most other rings which appear red. The similarity between the outer rings suggests an in-kind explanation for their blue color.
The Tiktaalik fossil exhibits a mix of fish-like and tetrapod features, bridging the gap between these two groups. The discovery supports the idea that evolution from water to land occurred gradually in shallow waters.
A three-year project led by UNT will investigate voice spam prevention, network attacks, quality of service, and 911 service dependability in Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology. The research aims to establish solutions before damage is done and provide guidelines for preventing security breaches.
A team of researchers has created a single-molecule diode that could revolutionize computer chip design. The device is only a few tens of atoms in size and has the potential to replace silicon in computer chips, allowing for more powerful and smaller computers.
Research by Sallie Chisholm and colleagues reveals genetic variation related to the environment in even the smallest ocean organisms. The findings suggest that viruses play a key role in transferring genes between microbes, enabling them to adapt to changing conditions.
The IceCube project is a collaborative effort of over 30 scientific organizations, including the US National Science Foundation and more than a dozen US universities. The $272-million detector will use 4,200 light-sensing modules to sample high-energy neutrinos from space, excluding types like those from the sun.
Researchers used a large centrifuge to mimic the effects of Hurricane Katrina on levees, finding that earth sliding along a weak clay layer helped bring down the 17th Street structure. The study is part of a nationwide 'co-laboratory' of earthquake engineering facilities and aims to help prepare for future national disasters.
Researchers are creating a high-resolution, 3D online catalog of fishes using MRI technology, allowing for the digital dissection of preserved specimens. The Digital Fish Library project will image at least one fish family per 482 families worldwide, promoting biodiversity research and education.
The Bering Sea ecosystem is responding to changes in Arctic climate, with shifts in species and ecosystem structure impacting native communities. The region's productivity and carbon balance are being altered, with potential implications for the role of the sea as a carbon sink.
The study found that the 2004 earthquake was caused by rupture of a 1,000-mile stretch of the megathrust, spanning up to 93 miles at the surface. This has global implications for understanding earthquake hazards and may require reassessment of subduction zones previously thought to be at low risk.
Researchers predict Cycle 24 sunspots will span 2.5% of Sun's surface, peaking in 2012, with improved forecasting tool helioseismology used to analyze recent solar cycles and forecast future activity.
The HIAPER aircraft will fly over treacherous whirlwinds, known as rotors, in the California Sierra Nevada range. Scientists will study the rotors' structure and evolution to improve forecasters' ability to predict when and where they occur.
Scientists will analyze air and aerosol pollutants using aircraft, ground stations, and satellite observations. The goal is to understand the impact of urban pollution on regional and global climate, ecosystems, and visibility.
The new SAL2 system combines accessible curricula, games and reference materials in a unified platform to open up new opportunities for learning, job-readiness and entertainment for people who prefer tactile and auditory channels. The system is significantly cheaper than the original device, reaching a wider audience.
Scientists report a rapid spread of the deadly fungus chytridiomycosis across Central America, leading to widespread amphibian extinctions. The fungus has been linked to declines of over 40 species in Central America and 93 worldwide, with a recent outbreak causing local extinctions in Panama.
Engineers have developed a simpler and safer material that can separate hydrogen from impurities more efficiently than existing methods. The new material, similar to membranes in biomedical devices, has applications for isolating hydrogen and natural gas.
Researchers sequenced DNA from microbes and viruses collected at different ocean depths, discovering thousands of new genes and evidence of frequent gene exchange. This study provides a comprehensive picture of ocean microbial communities and their interactions with the environment.
The discovery of OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb provides strong evidence that low-mass planets, potentially supporting life, are more common than Jupiter-like gas giants. Researchers hope the gravitational microlensing technique will reveal more habitable worlds in the Milky Way galaxy.
Research reveals that plant species in highly diverse ecosystems face reduced fruit production due to inadequate pollination. This lack of pollination hinders the survival and reproduction of plants, posing a significant threat to their extinction.
A recent study published in Nature reveals that climate-driven fungal disease is a major contributor to the decline of amphibian populations worldwide. The research found that warmer temperatures favor the growth and reproduction of a deadly skin fungus, which kills frogs mostly in cool highlands or during winter.
Scientists have found evidence of an abrupt ocean circulation reversal in the deep ocean, which they believe was triggered by global warming. This phenomenon, known as overturning, is critical for regulating global climate conditions and could have lasting effects on deep ocean circulation.
The study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to detect an increase in blood flow to the prefrontal cortex in individuals subjected to stress. The results showed that the effects of stress are more persistent than previously thought, remaining even when the stressor was removed.
Researchers have developed a new sensor based on a human organ that can detect specific frequencies of sound waves. The device, which is a microelectromechanical system, has three main benefits over existing artificial cochlea designs: mass production potential, comparable size, and efficiency.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) supports six Nobel laureates in chemistry, physics, and economics with its grants. NSF supported Robert H. Grubbs, Richard R. Schrock, Yves Chauvin, John L. Hall, Theodor W. Hänsch, and Roy J. Glauber for their pioneering work on metathesis, laser-based precision spectroscopy, and game-theory analy...
The National Science Foundation has awarded $19 million in grants to 36 US institutions to better understand genetic processes in plants of economic importance. Researchers will study hybrid vigor, seed production, and trees to develop new products and practices.
The joint NSF-NIH program aims to create a predictive understanding of the ecological mechanisms governing relationships between human-induced environmental changes and infectious diseases. Researchers will study how large-scale events alter disease emergence, allowing for better control of disease spread among humans, animals, and crops.
Researchers from NSF deployed instruments to measure water temperature and currents in the Gulf of Mexico. The results suggest that deep, warm eddies in the Loop Current play a crucial role in intensifying hurricanes. This study provides new insights into hurricane intensity changes during landfall.
Researchers have calculated the math behind nearly weightless water walkers' ability to scale water walls several times their height. Tiny obstacles, such as leaves on streams or stones on riverbanks, pose an invisible challenge to these creatures.
Researchers find that HIV in the temporal lobe mutates rapidly, triggering an immune response that causes dementia. The study suggests targeting infected white blood cells could lead to new treatments for HIV-related brain damage, affecting up to 15% of infected individuals worldwide.
The 2005 Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge recognizes achievements in using visual media to promote understanding of research results. The contest has awarded winning entries across five categories, including illustration, informational graphic, photography, interactive media, and non-interactive media.
Scientists successfully cultivated a marine bacterium, N. maritimus, which is believed to play a significant role in the global carbon and nitrogen cycles. This breakthrough, supported by the National Science Foundation, provides new insights into the mechanisms of this microorganism and its relationship with other microbes.
The study found that walking is most energy-efficient at low speeds, while running is best for higher speeds. A third walk-run gait is also optimal for intermediate speeds, but humans do not currently use this gait.
The U.S. National Science Foundation has deployed small unmanned aircraft, including a fixed-wing plane and a miniature helicopter, to assist in the search and rescue efforts during hurricanes. These vehicles provided valuable information to emergency responders, helping them focus their efforts and avoid hazards.
The US National Science Foundation and Japan will collaborate on disaster prevention research through shared access to experimental facilities, including the world's largest shake table. The agreement also includes the exchange of scientists and engineers.
A new study reveals that despite progress in attracting women to science and engineering fields, they still face barriers to advancement, including unconscious bias and hostile campus climates. Institutions are responding with initiatives like mentoring programs and workshops to address these issues.
The US National Science Foundation has awarded $150 million to Teragrid, a distributed cyberinfrastructure that integrates high-performance computers, data resources and tools. Researchers will have access to sophisticated IT applications and computational tools to tackle complex scientific questions.