News on the grants and awards that fuel scientific work. Covers federal grants, foundation awards, gene-editing and disease programs, and shifts in funding policy.
Researchers at University of California, Riverside, are developing a software-based thermal sensing system to monitor heat changes during run time. The system aims to address design shortcomings in traditional temperature sensors, which can lead to performance degradation.
A team of researchers from Williams College will travel to Greece to study the solar eclipse, capturing observations of the Sun's corona and testing new electronic cameras. The expedition aims to provide valuable insights into the mechanism that heats the solar corona to millions of degrees.
Researchers at University of Pennsylvania develop method to create world's smallest and cleanest nanometer gaps that can be imaged directly with atomic resolution. These nanogaps enable electrical connection to small objects, such as individual molecules, with applications in medicine, robotics, materials science, and security.
The University of Iowa is part of a five-year Department of Defense grant to develop a multifunctional chip using spin technology. This chip could revolutionize computing and storage capabilities in small portable devices like cell phones, reducing power consumption and increasing efficiency.
RIT scientist Ryne Raffaelle's $847,109 grant will develop nanostructured materials to enhance solar cell absorption and conversion rates. The project aims to improve current technology and lay the foundation for long-term improvement in solar energy use.
A team of researchers at Duke University has developed a computer-assisted method to find novel and superior materials by simulating and lab synthesizing vast universes of possible molecules. The technique, called LCAP, uses a universal property applicable to all molecules to identify optimal candidates for various applications.
A team of researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has developed a new process to create flexible, conducting 'nano skins' that can be used in various applications, including electronic paper and sensors. The materials combine the strength and conductivity of carbon nanotubes with the flexibility of traditional polymers.
In a unique discovery, researchers found that Batwa Pygmies located bee nests for honey, and Apis mellifera subspecies coexist with native-American stingless bees. The Bwindi-Impenetrable National Park's diverse ecosystem lacks ecological information on honey-making bees.
A team of researchers, led by Giulia Galli at UC Davis, used a supercomputer to investigate the structure of liquid water. They found that water molecules may not cluster in tetrahedral groups as previously thought, but instead form rings and chains.
A multicenter trial of two spinal cord injury therapies found that weight-supported treadmill training and conventional overground mobility therapy produce similar outcomes. The study showed that individuals with partial spinal cord injuries can walk independently by six months, regardless of the therapy strategy.
Research projects focusing on Aboriginal women's self-care, mental health consumers' recovery, and psychologists' role in the Mental Health Service have been allocated funding. The programs aim to build research capacity with the health region through collaborative education processes.
A Florida Institute of Technology faculty member has received a $360,000 grant to explore the origin of mass through high-energy physics research. The grant supports the CMS project, a massive particle detector experiment at CERN's Large Hadron Collider.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute developed new nanocomposites that provide excellent damping capabilities, even at high temperatures. These materials show great potential for applications in aircraft, spacecraft, and sensors, particularly in reducing vibration and improving sound quality.
Researchers have identified a key gene associated with rare but important pregnancy disorders, including molar pregnancies, spontaneous abortions, and stillbirths. The discovery has significant implications for developing new treatments and therapies for these conditions.
A new study by Michigan Medicine researchers demonstrates that a minimally-invasive procedure called endovascular thoracic aortic repair (ETAR) can successfully treat many patients with upper aorta problems, offering an alternative to open-chest surgery. The procedure uses stent-grafts inserted through small incisions in the leg or belly.
A Stevens Institute of Technology professor has been awarded a grant from the Office of Naval Research to develop more efficient energy-sensitive sensor networks for the US military. The project aims to improve sensor performance and reduce energy consumption in these critical systems.
A Tufts-led study will provide training and support to immigrant workers in Somerville, MA, to improve their health and safety on the job. The program will also launch a non-profit green cleaning cooperative to break down barriers of isolation faced by these workers.
A new study reveals that high fitness levels can enhance the effects of short-term hormone treatment and offset declines associated with long-term use. Researchers analyzed brain tissue volume in 54 postmenopausal women and found a significant association between higher fitness levels and greater tissue volume in key areas.
A UK study reveals a correlation between women's stress levels and their career ambitions, while also highlighting the benefits of Portugal's more family-friendly policies. The research suggests that women in Britain face limited access to quality childcare and domestic help, leading to increased work-life conflict.
The collaboration aims to develop and field-test individual lessons/modules that can be incorporated within courses or used to support entire courses. The project's deliverables will benefit digital library users with improved understanding of those who build the next generation of digital library systems.
The American Mathematical Society has awarded lifetime achievement and research prizes to seven mathematicians for their outstanding contributions to the field. The winners include Frederick Gering, Dennis Sullivan, Lars Hormander, Clifford Gardner, John Greene, Martin Kruskal, and Robert Miura. These prestigious awards recognize the m...
The UK Select Committee on Science and Technology has been criticized for its lack of knowledge about research use in public policy and funding bodies it monitors. This oversight allows the committee to ask irrelevant questions, compromising the integrity of British science.
A global skin cancer research consortium, Genomel, has won £7m in funding to investigate the genetics of melanoma and identify those at high risk. The project will also develop a website providing information on melanoma symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
A Rensselaer researcher has received a $300,000 NSF grant to study miniaturized solar-powered heating and cooling systems that can be applied to existing buildings. The goal is to create a thin-film system for efficient thermal control, potentially rendering traditional air conditioning and heating equipment obsolete.
Bar-Ness received the IEEE Communications Society Publications Exemplary Service Award for establishing and serving as editor of IEEE Communications Letters. The journal allows researchers to publish brief papers in a short turnaround time, enabling rapid knowledge sharing.
A study found that adolescent girls who accurately perceived their mother's weight concern were more likely to think about being thinner and diet. The study suggests parents should promote healthy habits through physical activity and nutrition, rather than just weight control.
The Tropical Dry Forest Research Network (TROPI-DRY) aims to translate research into policies to save these ecosystems. With over $175 million in environmental services fees paid by Costa Rica since the late 1990s, private conservation offers a promising solution.
Researchers at the University of Florida and two other universities have created a new type of foam-like film made from carbon nanotubes, which can be compressed to 15% of its original size. The films show promise for use in solid lubricating coatings for air and space applications.
Researchers found that people with mildly depressed symptoms are more perceptive of their social environment than those without. They can identify subtle cues, such as eye expressions, to gauge others' emotions and mental states.
Researchers at Penn State and Rice University discover how to flip molecular switches by engineering their design and surrounding environment. They demonstrated that single-molecule switches can be tailored to respond in predictable ways, depending on the applied electric field direction.
Researchers at Princeton University developed an algorithm to optimally assign funding proposals to reviewers, resolving a long-standing issue for the National Science Foundation. The solution has broad applications in scheduling interns, deploying combat units, and assigning teachers to classes.
Professor Larry Milstein has been recognized with an endowed chair for his contributions to wireless communication, particularly CDMA and interference suppressing receivers. His research focuses on ultra wideband communications, MIMO systems, and orthogonal frequency division modulation.
A study published in Cancer Research reveals that patients with high levels of the protein BCA2 are less likely to experience breast cancer re-occurrence. Higher levels of BCA2 are associated with positive estrogen receptor status and increased disease-free survival for regional recurrence.
The Oxford Vascular Study found that cerebrovascular events occurred at similar ages to coronary vascular events, but stroke was more likely to cause major disability. Stroke has a greater clinical burden than heart disease in the UK due to higher rates of acute events and major disability.
The Pierre Auger Observatory is constructing an array of 1600 detectors in Argentina to study ultra-high-energy cosmic rays. The collaboration includes 370 scientists from 60 institutions and has set out to answer fundamental questions about the origins of these rare particles.
A team of researchers found that black-capped chickadees respond differently to variations in bird calls, including changes in pitch, order, and rhythm. The birds' reactions suggest a functional aspect to their vocalizations, which may serve purposes such as attracting mates or warning others of potential threats.
Florida State University research physicist Edmund G. Myers is using a state-of-the-art Penning trap to measure the precise difference in mass of tritium and helium-3 atoms, which will help pin down the mass of the electron neutrino.
The University of Manchester will develop new composite technologies and materials in partnership with the University of Washington, focusing on future 'greener' aircraft design and testing safety levels of composite materials. The project aims to unlock the potential of composite materials for the aerospace industry.
Researchers aim to mass produce technologies for consumer market, focusing on fundamental research and nanofabrication techniques to improve hydrogen storage and generation from solar cells. The grants are part of a $64 million DOE initiative aiming to make vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells available and affordable by 2020.
The ASU Resilience Solutions Group is studying how factors of risk and resilience contribute to health and well-being among baby boomers. The project will identify biopsychosocial factors that sustain well-being and protect against disability, aiming to maximize wellness and health.
A Rensselaer researcher has been awarded $845,000 in federal funding to improve computer representations of terrain on the Earth's surface. The research aims to reduce errors in commercial mapping products and enhance navigation of unmanned aerial vehicles.
A new computer system using DNA will be developed to solve complex logistical problems, such as evacuation logistics after a hurricane. The system aims to calculate optimal evacuation routes and supply logistics in record time.
UCF researchers have developed a portable method for producing safe drinking water from any source, including contaminated wastewater. The system uses naturally created nanoparticles to kill bacteria that foul membranes used in traditional water treatment methods.
Researchers at UK and ChemPharma aim to develop an effective treatment for inclusion in the Strategic National Stockpile by creating orally administered dosage formulations. The project, funded by $1,204,374 over 21 months, seeks to improve distribution and administration of radioprotective drugs during mass exposure situations.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces investigated the assembly of filament networks and bundles. They found that thermal motion prevents bundle formation unless crosslinker concentration exceeds a certain threshold value.
A study on a pay-for-performance program found that clinical quality scores improved only in one area, cervical cancer screening, and that low-performing groups often improved more than high-performing ones. The program's financial rewards were also deemed too low to motivate significant changes in quality.
A team of experts is investigating the damage caused by wind-driven waves and overtopping, as well as emergency patch effectiveness and decision-making processes behind levee configurations. The study aims to improve levee design to withstand potential terrorist attacks and natural disasters.
Five organizations have won US$10,000 each for imaginative education projects focused on osteoporosis prevention and management. These grants will support public education materials, campaigns, and awareness initiatives across Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Panama, and Taiwan.
Penn physicists develop artificial solids from nanoscale crystals, enabling controlled changes in electrical properties. Their findings promise the creation of functional nanocrystal-based devices and circuits with potential applications in electronics.
Researchers found the surface structure to be arranged differently than previously thought, with groups of four atoms in one direction but three in the other. This discovery could help scientists understand how to use cubic gallium nitride as a new semiconductor material.
Titia de Lange, a renowned scientist at Rockefeller University, has been awarded the NIH Pioneer Award for her groundbreaking research on DNA damage response. Her work aims to understand how cells sense and repair damaged DNA, with potential implications for tumorigenesis, aging, and hereditary disorders.
The Cybertools project, led by Cornell University's Michael W. Macy, aims to develop tools to extract and analyze information from the Internet Archive, a massive collection of web pages. The project will explore the spread of innovation, social norms, and opinion dynamics in evolving networks.
A newly designed molecule, 9,10-dithioanthracene (DTA), has been engineered to walk in a straight line on a surface using its two linkers as feet. This achievement proves that molecules can be deliberately designed to perform specific dynamic tasks on surfaces.
Dr Frederic Meunier's research explores how powerful nerve toxins like Botox selectively dissect basic nerve cell processes, leading to a novel angle in understanding neuronal diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. He has also discovered that Botox-intoxicated nerve cells can recover by emitting little sprouts.
Computer scientist will receive a $500,000 MacArthur grant for their innovative work on searchable networks. The award recognizes exceptional originality in and dedication to creative pursuits.
Lipman Hearne biochemist will receive a $500,000 MacArthur grant for outstanding contributions to drug research. The award recognizes their exceptional originality and dedication to their creative pursuits.
A geophysicist has been awarded a $500,000 MacArthur grant for their exceptional originality and dedication to predicting seismic activity. The grant will provide the researcher with the financial freedom to pursue their innovative work without conditions.
Lipman Hearne researcher will receive a $500,000 MacArthur grant for their groundbreaking work on learning and memory functions. The award recognizes exceptional originality and dedication to their creative pursuits.
The research aims to design and test protocols that incentivize participants to follow rules, reducing misbehavior in settings where users act in their own best interests. Incentive-compatible solutions can provide robust security at a lower cost.
Researchers created DNA-based sensors using single-stranded DNA and carbon nanotubes to detect tiny amounts of specific molecules. The sensors can identify weak known odors in a strong background due to their self-regenerating surface and specificity.