Most people are reluctant to purchase insurance against natural disasters due to perceived low risk and high cost, according to a 1978 NSF study. Property owners often forego buying insurance unless required by mortgage or in areas with regulatory restrictions on premiums.
Researchers successfully cloned the first mammalian clock gene, identified as 'Clock', which regulates biological clocks and sleep patterns. The discovery provides new insights into the genetic basis of individual differences in human sleep-wake behavior and may lead to the development of new drugs to regulate circadian rhythms.
Astronomers have detected radio emission from a cosmic gamma-ray burst using the National Science Foundation's Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescope. The detection may help resolve one of the biggest mysteries in astrophysics, providing unprecedented knowledge about gamma-ray bursts and their parent objects.
The study estimates ecosystem services' value between $16 and $54 trillion per year, with coastal environments accounting for 43% of this value. The research highlights the importance of valuing ecosystem services in decision-making processes.
Research sheds light on climate change by showing fish in Antarctica and Arctic independently evolved similar antifreeze glycoproteins, linked to environmental adaptation. The genes arose around 5-14 million years ago, providing new evidence for the Southern Ocean's freezing timeline.
The National Science Board has approved new criteria for evaluating funding proposals, clearing the way for the first change in NSF's merit review process since 1981. The new criteria aim to better reflect the agency's strategic plan and incorporate feedback from the science and engineering community.
A study of wild guppies in Trinidad found they can evolve between 10,000 to 10 million times faster than the fossil record. This suggests short-term experiments can provide insight into evolutionary changes over millions of years.
The GovNews Project introduces a new category on Usenet, facilitating the delivery of official notices, news, announcements, reports, and publications from government agencies. Millions of people will now be able to participate in discussions on topics like privatization, procurements, and environmental issues.
A team of scientists from NCAR analyzed global temperature trends obtained via satellites and surface instruments. They found that satellite data can produce spurious drops due to changes in satellite records, which can mask actual rises in global temperatures.
The NSF is installing 250 ground-based monuments to track satellites and study earth movements in Southern California, enabling scientists to follow Earth's crust movements with unprecedented detail. The network will provide valuable insights into earthquake potential and strain buildup, helping to identify areas of high seismic activity.
The President requests a 3.4% increase in overall research funding and a 6.3% rise in major equipment funding, with key areas including KDI, life sciences, and education programs. The NSF FY98 budget aims to drive national growth and opportunity through fundamental research and innovation.
Researchers have created a new tool to correct distortions in microscopes, allowing for enhanced resolution and accuracy in studying tiny surfaces. The innovation uses an electron mirror to cancel aberrations caused by lenses, leading to practical applications such as smaller miniature probes and improved instruments.
Researchers predict significant changes in mineral behavior and crystal structures under high pressure, affecting the Earth's magnetic field. The study investigates the properties of materials containing iron, manganese, cobalt, and nickel at extreme conditions.
A field program, FASTEX, investigates connections between coast-to-coast winter storms and Atlantic Ocean storms to enhance forecasting for both Europe and North America. The project aims to identify precursors that trigger cyclones, enabling better forecasts up to two or three days in advance.
Research funded by NSF seeks to improve jury decision-making in capital cases, where jurors may not fully comprehend instructions and legal definitions. Researchers aim to develop modifications to court procedures to help jurors make decisions more consistent with the law.
A recent study reveals that in 24 out of 28 cases involving Americans released from prison based on DNA evidence, eyewitnesses made false identifications from photo spreads and lineups. New research is helping to understand the circumstances leading to these errors and find ways to reduce their occurrences.
The report summarizes findings of a workshop on robotics and computer-assisted medical interventions, highlighting advancements in surgical simulations, image-guided therapies, robotics, and teleinterventions. Researchers aim to improve patient care and reduce treatment costs with more precise tools that leverage human skills.
Scientists confirmed decades-old notion that plant disease resistance is linked to protein interaction between a plant's resistance gene and a pathogen's avirulence gene. The discovery may lead to genetically engineered disease-resistant crops, as researchers suspect the mechanism occurs in many other plants.
A new species of frog, Eleutherodactylus iberia, has been discovered by scientists funded by the US National Science Foundation. The one-centimeter-long frog is the smallest of its kind in the Northern Hemisphere and part of a group that includes all animals with backbones except fishes.
Researchers measured steady, imperceptible movements of faults since the 1994 Northridge earthquake using GPS data from over a dozen receivers. The force of 'after-slip' has added about six inches to nearby Granada Hills, highlighting the difficulty in fully accounting for strain leading up to earthquakes.
A team of scientists has assembled evidence on rocks and rock formations deep beneath the surface to locate an ancient strike-slip fault. If successful, this will provide opportunities to study geological processes in the lower crust during strike-slip faulting.
Researchers discovered a cycle of strong and weak trade winds that triggered massive iceberg armadas across the North Atlantic during the last ice age. The study found a suborbital rhythm of 8,400 years in the strength of tropical winds, which governed the melting of massive ice sheets in the Northern Hemisphere.
A new government report reveals progress and signs of persistent underrepresentation of women and minorities in science and engineering occupations. Women's grades among first-year college students planning STEM majors are higher than men's, but they still earn fewer degrees and face a substantial pay gap.
Western Europe is narrowing the gap with the US in R&D investment, spending over $20 billion on research in Western European institutions. The region also outproduces the US in producing Ph.D.s in natural sciences and engineering, with a 38% increase in doctoral degrees awarded in NS&E fields.
Scientists find that excessive nitrogen deposition in grasslands leads to loss of diversity, extinction of native species, and decreased carbon storage. The study, funded by the National Science Foundation, suggests that nitrogen pollution is a major threat to ecosystem functioning.
Scientists from UCLA and the University of Washington found that a combination of factors, including asteroid impacts and sea level changes, contributed to the extinction of 70 percent of species. The impact of meteorites accounts for 50-75% of extinctions, while sea level drop caused 0-25%.
A multiyear project called EXPRESSO aims to explore how vegetation and fires interact with the atmosphere in tropical regions. The study will help define the degree of influence central Africa has on global chemistry cycles.
The U.S. National Science Foundation is supporting over 145 Antarctic investigations this season, focusing on carbon cycling in the Southern Ocean, deicing dynamics of sea life, archea ecology, UV-B impact on terrestrial plants, and drilling an ice dome in West Antarctica.
Researchers at Scripps have discovered a previously unknown relationship between a protein in eggs and a protein on white blood cells, potentially leading to new treatments for leukemia. The protein structure reveals a molecular cavity that can be modified to alter signal transmission and eliminate leukemia cells.
Scientists are installing a network of 250 Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers to continuously measure the movement of earthquake faults in southern California. The data will enable researchers to forecast future earthquake hazards and prioritize mitigation activities.
Federal contributions to US university R&D facilities decreased from $541 million to $207 million between 1990-91 and 1994-95. The decline led to a shortage of research space, with over half of institutions reporting inadequate amounts in various fields.
The National Science Foundation has funded eight research projects to develop petaflop computers, which would be a thousand times faster than current computers. The goal is to enable applications such as real-time nuclear imaging, computer-based drug design, and astrophysical simulations.
Researchers will use Logging While Drilling technology to sample physical and chemical properties of rocks and sediments on the ocean floor. They aim to determine the age, composition, and physical properties of the area's rocks and sediments, as well as understand why some areas have low heat flow.
A study by the National Science Foundation found that an interactive math program increased passing rates of up to 30% in Philadelphia public schools. The program, which eliminates tracking and offers hands-on learning experiences, also showed improvements in science scores and overall academic success.
The $10.3 million, six-year Hawaii Scientific Drilling Program aims to study the formation of volcanoes and the mechanisms within Earth's mantle. Researchers will analyze samples from a 14,500-foot bore hole in Mauna Kea to understand volcanic activity, groundwater movement, and earthquake cycles.
The US education system lacks a clear focus in science and mathematics courses, covering numerous subjects but providing limited depth. This is compared to international counterparts who demand more from their students.
The National Science Foundation has awarded over $5.6 million in grants to support the Collaborative Research in Learning Technologies (CRLT) program, which aims to integrate technology with learning across all education levels.
Researchers have developed a powerful tool to study gene expression by harnessing the glow of green fluorescent protein (GFP) from a Pacific Northwest jellyfish. By altering the protein's structure, scientists can now track two proteins simultaneously and determine if genes are activated at the same time.
The National Science Foundation's (NSF) Teacher Experience in Antarctica (TEA) program pairs K-12 teachers with scientists for three- to four-week stints, promoting science education and research integration. The six selected teachers will work on research projects at Antarctic stations or vessels.
A recent National Science Foundation-funded research expedition discovered two new hot springs on the seafloor, reactivating an ancient hydrothermal system. The site provides an unprecedented opportunity for scientists to study the life cycle of a seafloor hot spring and its associated biological community.
Researchers have successfully used GPS satellites to collect accurate weather data, including temperature, pressure, and humidity, every hour of the day, for any location on Earth. This new technique fills a void in atmospheric data collection over oceans, providing valuable insights into climate change research.
A new model developed by University of California geophysicists predicts the size and shape of tectonic plates by assuming a 30-fold increase in mantle viscosity with depth. This assumption creates a cyclic flow or convection cell with dimensions close to the plate sizes, explaining why continents are broken into large plates.
The US has signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, which will be verified through a global seismic monitoring system. The treaty bans nuclear testing in all environments except underground, and the global network is being installed by IRIS and the National Science Foundation to detect seismic events of magnitude 4.25 or larger.
A three-year project is underway to sequence the entire Arabidopsis thaliana genome at a rate of 200 genes per month. The goal is to develop the first complete gene sequence map of a higher plant, which will lead to improved plants and plant-based products.
Researchers are conducting studies on wind load, wind engineering meteorology, and wind flow around low-rise buildings. Computer programs have been developed to calculate direct/indirect costs of natural hazard disasters. The goal is to mitigate damage caused by hurricanes and other severe weather events.
Marine geologists find detailed marine record of late Pleistocene era fires on land, shedding light on natural burning's impact on climate and ecosystems. The study reveals charcoal from fires on land was transported to ocean sediments via winds and rivers.
A high-tech radar system developed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) successfully distinguished between heavy rain and hail in Colorado. The experimental dual-polarimetric radar proved its precision on July 12th, 1996, providing accurate measurements of raindrop size and shape that can help predict flash floods.
Dr. Neal Lane raises questions about dumping of Japanese vector supercomputers in the US market, affecting domestic industries, and calls for swift investigation by federal agencies like Commerce and International Trade Commission.
The National Science Foundation has successfully completed two key projects supporting the transition to the commercial Internet, demonstrating multiple network providers can work together in a competitive marketplace. The next generation of Internet will focus on high-performance connections and routing for advanced research.
A new study by the National Science Foundation reveals that basic college science courses primarily serve as a filter for promising students, leaving the majority without a deep understanding of science. This has significant implications for the quality of teacher education and the nation's pursuit of world-class research.