Articles tagged with Scientific Foundations
The report 'INVENTION: Enhancing inventiveness for quality of life, competitiveness and sustainability' highlights the critical roles of invention and inventiveness in society. The National Science Foundation, along with the Lemelson-MIT Program, has examined the factors that drive invention.
Researchers have found that Earth's magnetic field reversal events occur within certain time-frames, regardless of the polarity of the reversal. The overall average duration is 7,000 years, but variation depends on latitude, with changes taking half as long at low-latitude sites.
Researchers use X-ray detectors and rocket-triggered lightning to study lightning's complexities. They found that lightning flickers in X-rays at 10,000 times the speed of visible light, with X-ray energies extending up to twice those of a chest X-ray.
Scientists have found that magnetic field reversal events occur within certain time-frames, regardless of polarity, with an average duration of 7,000 years. The variation in duration is influenced by latitude, taking half as long at low-latitude sites compared to mid- and high-latitude sites.
Researchers create maps of science from vast digital data collections, enabling exploration and analysis of interconnected scientific disciplines. The results provide insights into how scientists and their work are connected, with potential applications in education, funding, and industry.
The Kavli Institute will bring together world-renowned thinkers in nanoscale science to address major challenges and opportunities. The institute aims to define a path for progress in creating significant new science by sponsoring seminars and symposia on emerging themes in nanotechnology.
The new website will collect and organize resources such as funding opportunities, research programs, and conferences, facilitating the growth of the biogeoscience field. It will also feature a discussion forum and image gallery, supporting scientists in defining the field and addressing its future.
Scientists found large and rapid sea-level changes during the Late Cretaceous greenhouse world, contradicting previous assumptions. The research suggests that ice sheets on Antarctica grew and decayed rapidly, significantly altering global sea levels.
NSF plans to develop new programs to attract underrepresented groups to science and engineering careers, including African Americans, Alaska Natives, and people with disabilities. The agency aims to ensure that the US has a skilled, technically literate workforce capable of meeting the demand for a knowledge-based economy.
A new generation of researchers will unravel the Earth's complexity using powerful cyberinfrastructure tools. This includes advanced data analysis, intelligent sensing systems and collaborative platforms.
The Mind Science Foundation has awarded seven research teams worldwide a total of $1.4 million in grants to study human consciousness. The recipients include prominent scientists and researchers from institutions such as Harvard Medical School, Oxford University, and the California Institute of Technology.
Researchers at the University of Rhode Island are using virtual reality technology to educate students about the impact of volcanic eruptions on human populations and the environment. The virtual field trip will feature interactive simulations, including footage from a historic eruption and excavated cities like Pompeii.
A team of researchers found nearly complete genomes of two organisms in a microbial community from a hot, acidic solution, revealing clues about metabolic activity and speciation. The study sheds light on how bacteria function collectively in acid-adapted environments.
Researchers discovered that a mineral gel formed during rock abrasion can reduce friction between rocks to near-zero levels at high shearing speeds. This finding has implications for understanding and predicting earthquake damage, as it could lead to more accurate simulations of seismic slip speeds and fault weakening processes.
The Protein Data Bank has expanded to accommodate nearly 24,000 proteins and other macromolecules, providing a comprehensive resource for biologists worldwide. The bank's growth is expected to revolutionize structure-informed research, driving breakthroughs in medicine and scientific discovery.
New research reveals that Siberian peat bogs originated suddenly around 11,500 years ago and have been absorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide while releasing large amounts of methane. The findings suggest that thawing permafrost could release these trapped gases, leading to a significant shift in climate trends.
Two LSU professors are working to develop survivable sensor networks that can collect valuable data during disasters, which could be used in environmental monitoring, healthcare, and national security projects. The researchers also aim to ensure secure data transmission through methods like anonymous email tracking.
Researchers at Purdue University have identified the secret to nature's super glue, a strong adhesive mesh produced by bivalves using metal ions. The discovery has the potential to develop safer alternatives for surgical and household glues, as well as combat invasive species like the zebra mussel.
Researchers have discovered an RNA lariat structure that may explain the long-standing mechanism of template shift in retroviral replication. The finding provides new insights into the process of reverse transcription and has potential implications for understanding HIV-1 replication and developing targeted therapies.
The National Science Board has approved a $70 million award for the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN), which will create the world's largest and most comprehensive nanotechnology laboratory. The NNIN, led by Cornell University, will provide access to leading-edge tools and instruments, and contribute to developing a...
The new Little GLORIAD network increases bandwidth between the US and China to 155 Mbps and enhances research capabilities for scientists worldwide. The network enables joint responses to natural disasters, nuclear materials safeguards, and human genome studies.
Researchers analyzed features in mid-latitudes on Mars, similar to those in Antarctica's Dry Valleys, to indicate significant ice buried near the planet's surface. The study provides new insights into Martian ice ages driven by variations in the planet's orbit and tilt.
A new discovery of fossil mammals in Ethiopia's highlands sheds light on the evolution of African mammals during a long-standing gap in scientists' understanding. The findings, reported in Nature, show that mammals continued to evolve and produce new species on the isolated continent of Afro-Arabia.
Researchers found a new type of ocean ridge where the sea floor splits apart by pulling up solid rock from deep within the Earth's mantle. These 'ultra-slow' ridges are characterized by widely spaced volcanoes and have implications for understanding plate tectonics.
University of Central Florida will redesign its industrial engineering curriculum to better prepare students for a corporate world where technology plays a key role. The new curriculum will feature remote laboratories and focus on leadership roles in industries like service and information technology.
Researchers at Brookhaven Lab help create new form of carbon by studying its bonding under high pressure. They propose a distorted graphite-like structure that challenges current understanding of carbon's intermediate forms.
A study using CT scans of two pterosaur skulls reveals key structures responsible for flight control and prey spotting were specialized and enlarged, revising views on vision, flight, and the brain's evolution. The research found significant differences between the vestibular apparatus and flocculus in the two species.
The EMIST project will test defenses against worms, denial-of-service attacks, and routing computer attacks. The experiments will run on the Cyber Defense Technology Experimental Research network (DETER), a new testbed built by UC Berkeley and USC.
The Reading Tutor, a Carnegie Mellon-developed AI-powered talking computer, aims to improve reading skills in children. The $6M grant from the NSF will enhance its speech and user modeling technologies to better assess and assist students.
Researchers at the University of Missouri-Rolla have created a new material that can differentiate between chiral molecules, which is essential for creating new chemical sensors and catalysts. The stable and relatively simple catalyst could help sort biologically potent chemicals from less useful or toxic counterparts.
The Center for Environmental and Biological Chemistry (CEBC) will focus on developing greener chemical processes, including catalysts for cleaner solvents. Researchers will work with industry partners to create more efficient reactors and reduce waste, aiming to improve the quality of life through cleaner chemicals.
The National Science Foundation has announced the winners of its first-ever International Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge. Two hundred ninety-seven entries were qualified for judging, with the top prize awarded to Brandon Pletsch's 'Auditory Transduction Animation' and Dee Breger's colorized photograph 'Mongolian Frost ...
Two NSF-backed public television science programs, 'Galileo's Battle for the Heavens' and 'The Secret Life of the Brain,' won Emmys in Historical Programming and Outstanding Science categories, respectively. The programs were funded under NSF grants and explored unique stories of science that would have taken volumes to tell.
A recent study of five baboon groups found that male baboons overwhelmingly sided with their offspring in disputes, suggesting paternal care may be an ancient trait in primates. The study, which monitored 75 juvenile baboons for whom fathers were clearly identified, provides new insights into the evolution of complex social behavior.
The book catalogs 211 NSF grants since 1993, featuring hands-on learning experiences that work, and emphasizes the importance of removing barriers to science and technology education. The resource is designed to be a toolkit for educators at all levels, with research-based ideas, contacts, and resources.
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has received a significant National Science Foundation (NSF) award for its plasma research, enabling the development of new computational infrastructure and innovation. The NSF funding will support key areas of research, including fusion energy, astrophysics, and space weather.
The UGA team will expand on their glancing angle deposition technique to fabricate nanoscale 3-D pillars, providing unique features for biosensing applications. The project aims to solve pressing health-related problems through interdisciplinary research and cooperation.
David Anderson receives Rumelhart Prize for 30 years of research on human thought processes and learning, leading to effective computer-based tutoring systems. His work explores the neural basis of cognition, contributing to our understanding of the human mind.
The URI Metcalf Institute has awarded fellowships to two minority journalists, Rodriguez and Ortiz, to develop story ideas and receive scientific training in marine and environmental science. The fellowship aims to increase the number of minority journalists trained in science who report on science-based news.
A team of researchers discovered a new microbe, Strain 121, that can survive and thrive in extremely hot temperatures, with growth possible up to 121 degrees Celsius. The discovery opens up possibilities for understanding life on a hot early Earth and the potential for life in extraterrestrial environments.
Researchers found that musicians played at a tempo closer to fast music when listened to before playing, while speakers read faster or slower after hearing a recording's speaking rate. Both groups unconsciously coordinate timing to find a mutually agreeable tempo.
Researchers discovered a genetic signature that identifies genes targeted by RNA editing, which is primarily confined to the nervous system across species. This breakthrough improves the value of existing genome sequences and may hasten neurological research.
A new underground lab design has been completed by a collaborative project between the University of Washington and other institutions. The proposal establishes a main laboratory 7,400 feet deep and includes important operations on lower levels, with a focus on earth science and homeland security activities.
Kansas State University has received $4.2 million from the National Science Foundation to support new science initiatives, including a project in ecological genomics that aims to understand how organisms respond to environmental changes caused by human activities. The project will use the tools of molecular genetics with ecology to inv...
Scientists from NSF and DFG present striking new results from the Gakkel Ridge research cruise, which contradicts expectations of volcanic activity. The slowest spreading rate was found to have higher levels of volcanic activity than predicted, highlighting the importance of other factors in crust formation.
Researchers have successfully assembled three-dimensional patterns from two different types of nanoparticles with complementary properties. The combination may exhibit novel magneto-optical properties and key features for quantum computing.
Researchers discovered that blinking behavior in single-molecule wires is caused by temporary breaks in chemical bonds between the molecule and gold contacts. The study highlights limitations of the current gold surface material for electronic circuits.
A new computational method, developed by Stanford University and Hebrew University researchers, efficiently identifies regulatory genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's yeast). The method reveals previously unknown control genes and predicts their regulatory roles, making the experimental process more efficient.
BAMEX will investigate how damaging winds unfold at night, when low-level air cools and stabilizes. The study aims to improve forecast warnings for high winds produced by bow echoes and heavy rains triggered by mesoscale convective systems.
Dordick and Sroga use hybrid proteins to manipulate linear DNA strands into unusual shapes, including three-dimensional cubes. These bio-inspired nanostructures can spontaneously assemble, saving researchers time and effort.
The URI Oceanography team is conducting a two-year research expedition off the coast of Africa to investigate horizontal ocean mixing. The deployment of 92 subsurface RAFOS floats will help scientists understand eddy stirring and mixing in this poorly understood region.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have devised a 'reverse production' system to recover and reuse materials from e-wastes, reducing the need for raw materials and protecting groundwater. The system uses mathematical models and expertise in recycling and separation to make the process economically viable.
Physicists Wolfgang Knoll and Shigemasa Suga have been recognized for their contributions to German-Japanese cooperation. The Eugen and Ilse Seibold Prize, awarded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, honors their collaborative research in exotic nano materials.
William T. Golden establishes endowment fund to support innovative programs and creative thinking in the scientific enterprise. The gift aims to improve human welfare through scientific advances, fostering an environment of creativity and innovation.
Scientists have discovered that ancient birds used a unique 'wing-assisted incline running' behavior to help them climb vertical surfaces, which may be the key to explaining how dinosaurs learned to fly. This behavior, found in modern-day birds, involves rapid movement of the front appendages to gain foot traction as it climbs.
The Kavli Institute will bring together top minds in particle astrophysics and cosmology to tackle fundamental questions about the universe. The institute will focus on areas like dark matter, black holes, and hidden space-time dimensions.
Researchers have identified the KCNQ1 gene as the primary cause of familial atrial fibrillation, a condition affecting nearly one in 20 individuals over 65. The mutation leads to excessive potassium channel activity, disrupting normal heart rhythms and increasing the risk of heart failure.
A team of Colorado researchers has discovered a large population of 'proplyd' objects in the Carina Nebula, located 7,300 light-years from Earth. The newly found proplyds are roughly 100 times the diameter of our solar system and are puzzling for several reasons.
The Nearby Supernova Factory has achieved its best rookie year due to the high-speed link provided by the High Performance Wireless Research and Education Network (HPWREN). This allows for rapid image processing and analysis, leading to a higher number of discovered supernovae. The project's success demonstrates the benefits of partner...
Researchers found evidence of the earliest form of writing in the New World on a cylindrical seal and greenstone plaque fragments. The discoveries date back to the Olmec era, a pre-Mayan civilization, and challenge previous notions about the earliest written communication in Mesoamerica.