Polar glaciers may be home to previously undiscovered carbon cycle
Researchers discovered that microbes in polar streams are producing organic material, potentially contributing to an underestimated 'dynamic local carbon cycle' as temperatures rise
U.S. National Science Foundation
Scientists discover fossil of dinosaur ancestor with surprising croc-like appearance
Researchers have found a carnivorous dinosaur relative with a crocodilian body plan, forcing them to re-evaluate their understanding of dinosaur evolution. The discovery sheds light on the complex history and traits of early ancestors.
156 early career engineering researchers to journey to frontiers of their fields
The National Science Foundation has awarded 156 early career engineers with a total of $78 million in grants, covering fields like smart materials, advanced robotics, and secure communications. These awardees will conduct five-year research projects and are expected to make significant advances in their respective areas.
Researchers uncover clue about how tiny microbes self-mutate
Researchers have discovered a genetic element that enables tiny microbes to self-mutate, dramatically expanding the tree of life. The discovery reveals how rapid evolution occurs in these small organisms, which are also remarkably diverse.
Dust contributes valuable nutrients to Sierra Nevada forest ecosystems
Researchers found that dust from the Gobi Desert supplies phosphorus to Sierra Nevada plants, which is essential for their growth. This discovery highlights the crucial role of dust in supporting life in geologically young mountain ecosystems.
World Water Day: Fog and dew keep Africa's Namib Desert ecosystem going
The Namib Desert relies heavily on groundwater and soil water to sustain its unique biodiversity, with non-ocean-derived fog accounting for over half of the total fog
Paleontologists find fossil relative of Ginkgo biloba
Scientists have identified a distant relative of the living Ginkgo biloba plant through the discovery of well-preserved fossil plants in Mongolia. The fossils, dating back to the early Cretaceous Period, reveal unique seed-bearing structures that are unlike any other known plant, living or extinct.
SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 8, 2017
NSF announces new long-term ecological research sites off Alaska, New England coasts
The NSF has announced two new Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites along the Northeast U.S. continental shelf and in the northern Gulf of Alaska. The sites will study complex food webs, human activities, and environmental changes to promote science-based stewardship of marine ecosystems.
NSF awards $6.1 million to accelerate advanced wireless research, push beyond 5-G
The NSF has awarded a $6.1 million grant to US Ignite, Inc. and Northeastern University to establish city-scale testing platforms for advanced wireless research. This collaboration aims to develop faster and more robust wireless networks, addressing the growing demand from devices such as smartphones and wearable technology.
NSF Law and Social Sciences program issues new awards
The NSF Law and Social Sciences program has awarded over $5 million to fund 23 projects and four workshops. The program focuses on scientific exploration of law and legal systems, supporting research on topics such as litigation, legal decision-making, governance, crime, and violence.
Scientists present El Nino
Researchers from NSF's LTER Network will present on the effects of the 2015-16 El Nino, including its impact on aquatic ecosystems and species. The presentations will also explore the long-term implications of environmental changes and the importance of data in understanding future responses.
Flat-footed competitors have fighting advantage
A new study published in Biology Open found that the heel-down posture of great apes, including humans, provides a fighting advantage due to increased swinging force when standing with heels planted. This stance allows for stronger blows and more striking force compared to digitigrade stances used by other species.
Last year's El Niño waves battered California shore to unprecedented degree
A new study found that severe El Niño events can cause unprecedented coastal erosion in California, with the 2015-2016 event resulting in 76% above normal winter beach erosion. The study highlights the need to understand and manage coastlines to conserve beach ecosystems and mitigate the effects of rising sea levels.
Contact tracing and targeted insecticide spraying can curb dengue outbreaks
A new method combining contact tracing with targeted indoor spraying of insecticide significantly reduces the spread of the dengue virus. The approach was found to be between 86 and 96 percent effective in controlling dengue fever during a 2009 outbreak in Cairns, Australia.
Exposing the realities of eviction
Research by Matthew Desmond and his team reveals that eviction can lead to job loss, destabilizing economically vulnerable individuals. The study sheds light on the causes and consequences of eviction, providing valuable insights into this complex social issue.
A low-cost mechanical device for minimally invasive surgery
Researchers have developed a new handheld instrument for minimally invasive surgery, providing the same benefits as robot-assisted surgery at a lower cost. The technology could increase access to advanced laparoscopic instruments in rural hospitals and medical centers.
US icebreaker to visit New Zealand
The USCGC Polar Star's port call in Lyttelton marks a significant shift in US-New Zealand relations, allowing for increased cooperation on logistics and scientific research. The visit supports the US Antarctic Program's cargo operations and enables the efficient transportation of supplies to research stations.
Women, Minorities and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering report released
The 2017 report reveals underrepresentation of these groups in S&E education and employment, despite parity in educational attainment for women. The NSF aims to broaden participation through programs like ADVANCE, LSAMP, and NSF INCLUDES, providing valuable data for policy-making.
By age 6, gender stereotypes can affect girls' choices
A new study found that by age 6, girls are already absorbing societal stereotypes about intellectual ability and choosing activities based on these notions. The researchers used experiments to evaluate the beliefs of 5-, 6- and 7-year-old boys and girls about gender and brilliance.
NSF funds new projects to advance energy-efficient computing
Researchers are developing novel approaches to process and store data in energy-efficient ways, using nanoscale devices and innovative architectures. The goal is to create computers that can learn from data and operate like the human brain.
President Obama honors outstanding mathematics and science teachers
The President's Educate to Innovate campaign has resulted in over $1 billion invested in improving K-12 STEM education. The award recognizes exceptional teachers who prepare students for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills crucial to the nation's innovation.
Sunflowers move from east to west, and back, by the clock
Plant biologists discovered how sunflowers use their internal circadian clocks to follow the sun during the day as they grow, acting on growth hormones. The plants' ability to track the sun was disrupted when staked or turned away from the sun, and continued even in an indoor growth chamber with a fixed light source.
NSF announces $55 million toward national research priorities
The NSF has awarded $55 million to 11 institutions to build research capacity on pressing issues like the brain, energy, and water. These collaborative projects foster innovation, train a STEM workforce, and develop new tools for neuroscience and sustainable systems.
NSF awards $110 million for advanced cyberinfrastructure to nation's scientists, engineers
The National Science Foundation has awarded $110 million to XSEDE to expand its services and support for advanced computational and data-enabled research. XSEDE will continue to provide services to over 6,000 scientists and engineers while adding innovative elements in response to evolving user demands.
Earlier snowmelt reduces forests' ability to regulate atmospheric carbon dioxide
A new study finds that earlier snowmelt periods hinder forest carbon regulation, reducing CO2 uptake by 45% by mid-century. Earlier snowmelt also affects streamflow, agriculture, and recreational opportunities in the western US.
Volcanic eruption masked acceleration in sea level rise
A recent study has disentangled the impact of the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption on global mean sea level trends. The research reveals that the eruption effectively distorted calculations of sea level rise in subsequent decades, masking the acceleration caused by climate change.
NSF awards $110 million to bring advanced cyberinfrastructure to nation's researchers
The NSF has awarded $110 million to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and 18 partner institutions to continue and expand activities through XSEDE. XSEDE will maintain existing services, add innovative elements, and support diverse scientific and engineering challenges.
NSF funds new integrative approaches to study the brain
The NSF has awarded 18 grants for frontier research on neural and cognitive systems, exploring complexities of brain and behavior. The projects will contribute to the BRAIN Initiative, advancing neurotechnologies and understanding individuality and variation.
NSF wants engineering researchers to bend rules (of classical physics)
The National Science Foundation has awarded $18 million to nine teams of engineering-led researchers to pursue transformative research in new light and acoustic wave propagation. The goal is to disrupt conventional ways of designing electronic, photonic, and acoustic devices and enable new functionalities.
Computer programming made easier
Researchers have developed a technology that provides human operators with automated assistance in creating working code, expanding the number of people engaged in programming. The ExCAPE project aims to simplify program development and has already been tested in classrooms and online learning platforms.
SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction·DateAug 15, 2016
NSF invests $12 million in quantum technologies for secure communication
The NSF has awarded $12 million to develop systems that use photons in pre-determined quantum states for encrypting data. Researchers will engineer a quantum communication system on a chip, which could operate at room temperature with low energy.
Calculating solutions to combat Zika
A NSF-funded mathematician is working on a model to track how to fight A. aegypti mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus using Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes, reducing their lifespan by a day or two. The goal is to create an endemic population that can displace the virus-carrying population in the wild.
NSF commits $35 million to improve scientific software
The National Science Foundation is establishing two Scientific Software Innovation Institutes (S2I2) with $35 million in funding over five years. The institutes will focus on developing and maintaining scientific software, improving the nation's cyberinfrastructure, and expanding access to computational resources for researchers. The i...
NSF leads federal effort to boost advanced wireless research
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is investing over $400 million in fundamental wireless research and infrastructure development. This support will enable novel technologies, applications, and services that can transform daily life through ultra-high-speed, high-bandwidth, and low-latency connectivity.
The unexpected: Cold snaps in the sub-tropics, drought in rainforests
Researchers have found cold snaps in sub-tropical ecosystems and droughts in rainforests due to human influence. The study also explores new relationships among species arising from global changes, highlighting the need for understanding ecosystem structure and function.
Recreating ancient vertebrate's first step on dry land
Researchers used a custom-built robot, mathematical models and studies of amphibious fish to explore the critical evolutionary leap from water to land. They found that stabilizing the body with a tail provided substantial benefits for the first critical step out of an aqueous environment.
NSF-supported graduate researchers lead exoplanet discoveries
Recent exoplanet discoveries by NSF-supported graduate researchers expand our understanding of how planets form and orbit stars. These breakthroughs include the detection of a unique planet in a triple-star system, one of the youngest fully formed exoplanets ever discovered.
Recreating ancient vertebrate's first step on dry land
A team of researchers used a custom-built robot, mathematical models, and studies of amphibious fish to explore the critical evolutionary leap from water to land. They found that stabilizing the body with a tail provided substantial benefits for early terrestrial vertebrates.
Researchers discover oldest evidence of 'farming' -- by insects
Scientists found 25 million-year-old fossil termite nests in East Africa with evidence of fungus gardens, a form of agriculture not by humans but by insects. This discovery provides the oldest known examples of agricultural practices and sheds light on how termites evolved to cultivate fungi.
Enabling the future of making
The US National Science Foundation has awarded five early-concept grants to investigate new approaches in STEM learning and innovation through making. The projects aim to create more accessible and engaging maker programs for diverse youth populations.
Gravitational waves detected from second pair of colliding black holes
Scientists observed gravitational waves for the second time, produced during the merger of two black holes. The detection was made possible by the enhanced capabilities of Advanced LIGO and Virgo detectors.
Future summers could be hotter than any on record
A study by scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research predicts that future summers could be hotter than any on record if climate change continues unchecked. However, reducing greenhouse gas emissions could lower the global probability of such extreme heat to 41 percent.
Research shows Antarctic lakes are a repository for ancient soot
Researchers have found that Antarctic lakes are repositories for ancient soot from wildfires, dating back over 2,500 years. The study also indicates a more recent increase in dissolved black carbon from fossil fuel burning, which may be caused by helicopter emissions or long-range transport of carbon.
Robots to provide a steadying hand at the right time
Researchers are designing cooperative robots to empower people with disabilities to safely travel and navigate unfamiliar environments. A gaze-controlled robotic system is also being developed to enable people with motor impairments to fetch objects by looking at them.
Flight of the RoboBee
Researchers developed innovative solutions for autonomous flight, sensing and swarm coordination. The team's breakthroughs include new manufacturing methods, ultra-low power computing architectures and adhesives for agile robots.
World Oceans Day: Bring the seas into your home, exploration is one click away
The Ocean Observatories Initiative is providing real-time access to scientific data and visualizations for public engagement. The platform tracks physical, chemical, and biological properties of the oceans, supporting research and educational activities.
Stampede 2 drives frontiers of science and engineering forward
Stampede 2 is a new large-scale supercomputing system funded by the NSF, providing high-performance computing capabilities for thousands of researchers across the US. The system will employ cutting-edge processor and memory technology, delivering peak performance of up to 18 Petaflops.
Emergent, NSF-funded biotech at 2016 BIO Innovation Zone
Fifty NSF-funded biotech companies will exhibit innovative products and processes, including diagnostics and monitoring technologies, drug discovery platforms, and engineering biology innovations. These early-stage companies have the potential to transform the US healthcare system with novel high-tech solutions.
Natural regeneration of tropical forests helps global climate mitigation and forest restoration
A new study by the 2ndFOR Network found that natural processes in Latin American tropical forests can provide a solution to excess carbon dioxide threatening the planet. Regrowth forests increase above-ground carbon storage over time, depending on climate and landscape features.
Researchers find that Earth may be home to 1 trillion species
A new study combines large datasets to estimate the number of microbial and non-microbial species on Earth, suggesting nearly 1 trillion species exist. The research uses universal scaling laws to predict species numbers, revealing simple yet powerful trends in biodiversity.
SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 20, 2016