Articles tagged with Scientific Foundations
Researchers have discovered ways to harness the development of stomata in grasses to boost carbon dioxide uptake and water efficiency. By rewiring the systems regulating stomata formation, scientists can improve growth performance in crops like maize, rice, and wheat.
The latest nanosubmarine model, USN-2, can be viewed by single-molecule microscopy for at least 1.5 seconds, allowing for the tracking of its trajectory. This advancement is expected to lead to a better understanding of how the vehicles move and potentially enable their use in delivering cargo or interacting with cells.
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.
Researchers discovered that iron's ability to transmit heat matches previous estimates, suggesting energy necessary for geodynamo has been available since early Earth's history. The study used a laser-heated diamond anvil cell to mimic planetary core conditions and study iron's thermal conductivity.
Shuchin Aeron, a Tufts University assistant professor, has received a five-year NSF CAREER award to develop new algebraic models and algorithms for multidimensional data science. His research aims to reinvigorate interest among researchers in using tools from linear and multilinear algebra.
Mathematicians at Georgia Institute of Technology have finally solved the 40-year-old Kelmans-Seymour Conjecture in Graph Theory, a field used to model complex networks and optimize connections. The proof required collaboration from six mathematicians over four decades.
Researchers developed SEISE to detect semantic inconsistencies in content, identifying 11,000 infected sites across .edu, .gov, and .mil domains. The technique uses natural language processing to spot differences between expected content and malicious advertising code.
A new study published in American Anthropologist found that Nubians and Egyptians developed a cultural identity that combined aspects of both heritages. The research, conducted at the Tombos site in Sudan, revealed a community of Egyptians and Nubians who interacted, intermarried, and eventually became a single community.
The discovery of Protovis himalayensis sheds light on the origin of Ice Age mountain sheep, suggesting that the Tibetan Plateau was their ancestral home range. The fossil finds indicate a C3 diet and adaptation to high-elevation cold environments during the Pliocene.
Scientists developed a simpler and less costly smart skin that boosts sensitivity without increasing costs, enabling robots to feel and sense their environment. The skin harnesses mechanical energy and turns it into an electric current, eliminating the need for external power sources.
Researchers are reconstructing past temperature and hydrology records in southern Greenland using high-resolution quantitative methods. This project sheds light on climate variations during the period of Norse settlement, which had been abandoned by the early 15th century due to various factors.
Researchers created a dynamic model of microbial species interactions in Lake Mendota, understanding the effects of environmental factors on sub-communities and individual species. The model can predict interactions as conditions change, offering insights into healthy lakes and potential cures for sick ones.
The Autism Science Foundation has awarded $2.3 million in grants to support innovative autism research and training programs. The funding will go towards pre- and post-doctoral fellowships, undergraduate summer research grants, and other initiatives aimed at improving our understanding of autism and developing effective treatments.
Dr. Nadja Spitzer, an assistant professor of biological sciences at Marshall University, has been awarded a $508,708 NSF CAREER grant to study the effects of silver nanoparticles on brain health in children and adults. Her research aims to fill the knowledge gap regarding the use of these particles in consumer products.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have shown that magnetic chips can operate with the lowest fundamental level of energy dissipation possible, leading to dramatic reductions in power consumption. This breakthrough is critical for mobile devices and cloud data centers, which demand powerful processors on small batteries.
Five Clemson University researchers have won prestigious awards for their groundbreaking work in developing new medicines, making robots fly, saving buildings from demolition, and creating more efficient fertilizers. The awards bring $2.2 million in new research funding to the College of Engineering and Science.
A new study published in American Anthropologist reveals the transformation of Egyptian and Nubian culture through cultural entanglement. The researchers found that individual choices played a significant role in shaping the development of the Nubian state, allowing it to eventually conquer Egypt.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that giving people time to learn what's possible to ignore improves visual search performance. Participants who were told to ignore distracting colors on a computer screen found the target letters faster and more efficiently over time.
A high-salt diet has been found to contribute to liver damage in adult mice and embryonic chicks, with excessive sodium leading to cell death and decreased cell proliferation. Vitamin C treatment may partially counteract the negative effects of excess salt.
Orion Berryman, a UM assistant professor, has received a $675,000 CAREER grant to study multidentate halogen bond donors for supramolecular catalysis. He will use the award to design molecules that complement sulfur compounds and teach students about chemical concepts through 3-D printing.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a wearable robotic limb that allows drummers to play with three arms. The smart arm responds to human gestures and music, enabling a more sophisticated and creative experience. The technology has the potential to be applied in various fields, including medicine and engineering.
Researchers found that small faults can link together along a 'keystone' fault, triggering larger earthquakes. The El Mayor-Cucapah earthquake showed this pattern, with seven smaller faults activated by the breaking of a central stone-like fault.
A large majority of Americans (80%) agree that scientific research needs government funding, but many believe the country spends too little on it. Meanwhile, most respondents trust scientists, with high confidence levels in their leadership.
Assistant Professor John McCutcheon receives $746,301 NSF CAREER grant to continue his lab's work on mitochondria and chloroplasts. The award aims to increase Montana students' competitiveness in handling complex data sets.
Researchers found that vinegar suppressed inflammation-inducing proteins while improving the gut's bacterial makeup in mice with ulcerative colitis. The study also showed that treatment lowered levels of proteins that induce damaging inflammation, suggesting a potential therapeutic effect.
Mark Rosin, a physicist, has been recognized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for his creative and sustainable public engagement strategies. He organizes interactive events that mix science with art, music, and play to reach diverse audiences.
Jennifer Stockdill, a Wayne State University assistant professor of chemistry, has received a $650,000 NSF Faculty Early Career Development Award to investigate the reactivity of neutral aminyl radicals. The award also supports outreach programs aimed at promoting diversity in STEM fields among middle school girls and graduate students.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology developed reconfigurable origami tubes that can change cross sections to operate at different frequencies for antennas or switch liquids in microfluidic devices. The tubes employ the Miura-ori pattern and can be designed with exact properties needed for various users.
Dr. Paul Leu's CAREER award will support research on flexible metals for thin, efficient solar cells. His work aims to develop new hierarchical structures for adaptive transparent conductors and solar cells.
Researchers analyzed over 5,600 estimates of ocean microbial cell and virus populations, finding dramatic variations from location to location and depth. The study highlights the need for more accurate representations of viral populations in climate models and biogeochemical measures.
Dr. David Simmons aims to develop a predictive understanding of the glass transition in strongly interacting polymers, which could lead to breakthroughs in materials science and technology. His research has the potential to improve human health, energy efficiency, and electronics.
A new research network, CompSustNet, aims to develop computational solutions for creating a sustainable future. Researchers from multiple institutions will collaborate on complex issues like smart electrical grids and renewable energy management.
Nine leading American scientists, including those supported by NSF, receive National Medal of Science for outstanding contributions to science. The awards also recognize innovators who have made lasting impacts on America's competitiveness and quality of life.
Scientists discovered twisted magnetic fields in dusty disks orbiting young stars, affecting disk growth. The study used the VLA radio telescope to observe a 750-light-year-old protostar in Perseus, finding millimeter- to centimeter-sized particles in the disk.
A Clemson University team will study the effects of conservation easements on land-use patterns, public participation, and ecosystem integrity. They will compare outcomes for easements with differing purposes and levels of public oversight.
Scientists have uncovered a new, 160 million-year-old ceratopsian dinosaur from China with an 'ornamental' texture on its skull. The fossil, named Hualianceratops wucaiwanensis, provides insights into the early evolution of Ceratopsia and suggests that at least five ceratopsian lineages may have emerged during this period.
Astronomers have confirmed a proposed explanation for how solar flares accelerate charged particles to nearly the speed of light using the upgraded VLA radio telescope. The new observations support the idea that a termination shock is responsible for accelerating electrons, with results closely matching computer simulations.
Researchers have discovered a detailed record of an FRB, providing new insights into its origin and environment. The signal exhibited Faraday rotation and passed through two distinct regions of ionized gas, shedding light on the mysterious astrophysical phenomenon.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation approved $1.5 million funding for King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) to combat Striga hermonthica, a destructive parasitic weed in sub-Saharan Africa. The research aims to enhance food security for millions by providing lifesaving control methods.
Researchers at Virginia Tech are developing computational models to teach chemistry in an interactive environment that encourages scientific discussion and argumentation. The project aims to integrate science, engineering, art, and design to transform K-12 education.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington are using formal, methods-based testing to automatically discover bugs in development environments for cyber-physical systems. The technique, known as randomized differential testing, generates random programs and models, then translates and compiles them to identify defects.
A new study published in Cell Press found that the glycemic index of foods varies significantly between individuals, contradicting traditional dietary recommendations. The research, led by Eran Segal and Eran Elinav, used a large cohort of participants to demonstrate the power of personalized nutrition in managing blood sugar levels an...
Researchers used large-scale computer modeling to study the effects of confinement on macromolecules inside cells, finding that particles near cell walls linger for extended periods. This could improve understanding of cellular signaling and lead to new therapeutic designs.
Physicists at UCLA's LAPD successfully recreated whistler-mode chorus waves, previously only observed in space, to study the excitation process and its implications for satellite safety. The experiment reveals a complex interplay of plasma parameters and wave signatures that provide an unprecedented constraint on theoretical models.
A new NSF-funded project aims to develop rural libraries and librarians into informal STEM learning centers, providing access to science education for small towns and rural areas. The initiative builds on a previous Dartmouth-led project that reached over 100 libraries and aims to involve another 110.
AOU is developing an aeroecology training program that will train graduate students in data science and its application of Earth-observation data for societal benefits. The program, supported by the National Science Foundation, aims to recruit and retain diverse high-quality graduate students across disciplines.
The US Nuclear Science Advisory Committee has released a new long-range plan for nuclear physics research, prioritizing investments in particle accelerators and neutrino studies. The plan recommends focusing on existing facilities like Jefferson Lab's 12 GeV Upgrade to unlock new scientific opportunities.
Researchers are working on a multi-year project to help end Internet trickery by verifying true network owners and legitimate traffic paths. The team will deploy new protocols such as RPKI, updating router software and adding servers to the routing infrastructure.
University of Oklahoma School of Industrial and Systems Engineering researcher Kash Barker is leading a project to evaluate the impact of analytics on infrastructure resilience. The goal is to design resilience into infrastructure systems, such as transportation and electric power networks, to withstand disruptions and recover rapidly.
The National Science Foundation awards UC Davis a five-year, $5 million grant to utilize the large earthquake-simulating centrifuge for natural hazards engineering research. Researchers can build complex models and conduct accurate scale-model studies of soils and soil-structure systems.
The NSF will provide funding for 16 sites and a coordinating office to advance nanoscale science, engineering and technology research. The NNCI framework builds on the NNIN and aims to establish a nationwide backbone for nanoscale research.
The DESI Collaboration, led by the U.S. Department of Energy, has achieved a major milestone in its dark energy research project. Using the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument, DESI will measure the redshifts of over 30 million galaxies and quasars with unprecedented precision.
The Cornell NanoScale Science and Technology Facility will receive $8 million from the National Science Foundation over five years. This grant, combined with a matching commitment from New York state, will provide long-term infrastructure support for ambitious research.
Marc Edwards, a renowned expert on municipal water quality, is studying severe iron and lead corrosion in Flint's water system. The investigation aims to understand the 'perfect storm' of problems affecting residents, including high levels of lead in tap water.
The National Science Foundation has invested $10 million in smart service systems that learn from data to center on people through individual feedback and input. These adaptive and individualized interactions create more value.
Oberdan is tracing the efforts of a group of intellectuals from diverse fields, including Moritz Schlick's Schlick Zirkel, who developed logical empiricism as a scientific philosophy. The research aims to provide insights into how scientists think about science and its implications for philosophical inquiry.
Cohen and Small's groundbreaking research on hypsographic demography has led to significant benefits in society. Their global model of human population distribution by altitude has informed disaster preparedness, packaging design for food companies, and biomedical studies.
Researchers will investigate how disturbances like fire and insect infestation are changing the Earth's carbon absorption, and use models to optimize observation networks for detecting impact on ecosystem carbon balance. The project aims to understand how terrestrial landscapes are shifting from being a net carbon sink to a source.
A new research from North Carolina State University explores how security tools are used by software developers, finding that peer influence and corporate culture are key factors in adoption. The study also highlights limitations of current tools, including inaccurate notifications and lack of user-friendly interfaces.
The XENON100 detector achieved high sensitivity, challenging traditional dark matter models. The team recorded faint annual modulation signals in the data, raising questions about the nature of dark matter.