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.
UC Riverside psychologist Chandra Reynolds leads a five-year research project to investigate cognitive stability and change across midlife transition in 1,400 participants. The study aims to identify predictors of cognitive maintenance, including genetic factors and lifestyle behaviors.
Kanneganti's research focuses on the innate immune system, inflammation, and cell death in health and disease, particularly in colorectal cancer. She aims to understand how innate immune pathways contribute to tumor development and improve cancer treatment strategies.
The Initiative for Open Abstracts aims to boost the discovery of critical research by making abstracts openly available through Crossref. This collaboration between publishers, librarians, researchers, and stakeholders seeks to facilitate large-scale access and promote discoverability.
Child marriage primarily affects girls and occurs below 18 years old, contrary to common assumptions; a more accurate terminology is suggested to address female agency in marriage decisions.
The DOE has awarded $2.16 million to two physicists at Jefferson Lab for AI-assisted experiment control and calibration, as well as improved SRF operation at the CEBAF accelerator facility. These projects aim to optimize operations and generate better-quality data, potentially shaving off months of research labor.
A $1m research project will examine fossilised fungi from 15-17 million years ago to forecast the impact of predicted rises in current global temperature on present day species. The study aims to understand how fungi respond to past warm climates, which could provide valuable information for adapting to climate change.
Researchers at University of Ottawa receive $3 million from SSHRC to study the pandemic's effects on abortion provision and services. The Partnership Grants aim to inform decision-making across various sectors in response to emerging challenges.
A study examines evacuation behaviors during a global pandemic, revealing that people impacted by mandatory hurricane evacuations are choosing to shelter in place due to health concerns. The research aims to inform public health messaging and identify safety education strategies to increase household preparedness.
A Cornell University scientist is leading a multi-institution team to develop value-added grains for staple foods, benefiting both humans and organic vegetable growers. Key findings include the development of new small grain varieties with improved nutritional quality and the creation of a supply chain for specialty markets.
Researchers discover two types of boulders on Ryugu, hinting at a collision between a small S-type and C-type parent asteroid. The findings provide clues to the asteroid's turbulent past and may shed light on Earth's history.
A team of researchers developed an innovative approach to identify and evaluate candidate molecules that can image and track the progression of Parkinson's disease. They screened millions of compounds using a high-throughput computational method, identifying two promising candidates with extremely high binding affinity to alpha-synuclein.
Researchers are developing an AI tool to analyze brain MRIs and identify indexes of structural complexity, providing insights into the development and progression of hereditary ataxia. The fractal dimension analysis could potentially predict clinical development and inform new treatment approaches.
The Morris Animal Foundation has awarded nearly $1 million in grants to support 14 large animal health research projects focused on improving the well-being of horses. These studies will investigate genetic tests for heart arrhythmias, guidelines for air-transported horses, and the impact of gut microbiome variation on horse health.
A new study found that a Mediterranean-like diet partially modified the association between obesity and cardiovascular mortality. Higher body mass was associated with increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease, but adherence to healthy diets like Mediterranean-style eating reduced this risk.
UTA researcher Warda Ashraf is studying long-lasting Roman structures to develop sustainable construction materials. She aims to recreate ancient concrete using alkali-activated calcined clays to produce highly durable and resilient materials.
Scientists use European XFEL to observe anomalous dynamics in superheated water, revealing uneven heating and unexpected behavior. The study's results are crucial for planning experiments with heat-sensitive samples.
Researchers at University of Guelph discover that e-cigarette vapour is more rewarding for adolescents, even with shorter exposures, compared to adults. The findings may help explain why e-cigarettes are popular among adolescents and contribute to their continued use.
A study found that unemployed men, poor women, and unmarried individuals are more likely to have their remains go unclaimed after death. In contrast, long-distance migrants were not associated with this issue.
A new study suggests that a 56% increase in alcohol-industry funded research into the impacts of alcohol consumption since 2009 is a cause for concern. The researchers found nearly 13,500 studies directly or indirectly funded by the industry, with many making claims about the health benefits of alcohol.
A new study found that aged pet dogs experience declines in four out of six behavioral factors, including problem-solving, sociability, and boldness. The research suggests that further studies are needed to determine the potential links between aging, nutrition, and training on canine cognition.
A new study published in PLOS Medicine found that metabolic surgery reduces the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events and death for individuals with hypertension and a BMI over 35kg/m2. The surgery was shown to be effective in treating hypertension, suggesting it as an option for patients with obesity and high blood pressure.
A recent study used OBS data to clarify the formation mechanism of the Double-peak seamount in the Northwest Sub-basin (NWSB) of the South China Sea (SCS). The survey revealed a high velocity layer at the bottom of the crust, indicating possible in-situ mantle serpentinization or lower crust magma underplating. The study enriches the d...
A University of Illinois Chicago study explores the effects of COVID-19 shelter-in-place and physical distancing measures on heart disease patients' hopelessness and physical activity. Researchers will evaluate the 'Heart Up!' intervention's impact on health outcomes.
The Pew Charitable Trusts has awarded funding to six interdisciplinary research teams to tackle some of biomedicine's toughest challenges. The teams will explore neurological mechanisms behind psychopathy, map protein complexes in Plasmodium falciparum, and investigate steroid hormones' role in Alzheimer's disease.
A new study found that DUI arrest rates in California increase as distance to the southern border decreases, likely due to greater availability of alcohol. The study also reveals sociodemographic factors contributing to higher DUI rates, including Hispanic population density and age groups.
Researchers at Tel Kabri in Israel discovered evidence that an earthquake may have destroyed a flourishing Canaanite palace around 3,700 years ago. The team found warping of plaster floors, tilted walls, and mud bricks that collapsed into rooms, suggesting a rapid collapse without fire or combat.
A new UMass Lowell-led program aims to build culturally responsive and sustainable digital literacy and coding programs for secondary students in Lowell, Methuen and Schenectady. The initiative seeks to make computer science education accessible to all middle-schoolers, particularly from diverse backgrounds.
The US Department of Energy awards $21 million to install and operate new scientific instruments on the National Spherical Tokamak Experiment-Upgrade (NSTX-U) at PPPL. The funding aims to probe key physics problems, validate computer models, and chart a path to next-stage fusion energy research.
A research project at Friedrich Schiller University Jena aims to develop recyclable plastic materials that can be recycled and reused. The team, led by Prof. Ulrich S. Schubert, plans to study fibre-reinforced materials and nanocomposites with potential applications in aircraft, tennis rackets, and other industries.
Rice University engineer Haotian Wang has been awarded a four-year, $2 million collaborative grant by the National Science Foundation to explore converting waste carbon dioxide into pure liquid fuels. The project aims to develop a modular electrochemical system that can provide a sustainable and negative-carbon manufacturing path.
From 2016 to 2018, e-cigarette use decreased significantly among US adults, particularly among younger age groups. The study found that the prevalence of e-cigarette use declined from 13.7% in 2016 to 11.3% in 2018.
A Danish nationwide cohort study found no association between NSAID use and adverse outcomes in COVID-19 patients. The study suggests that the well-established risks of NSAIDs should be considered when using them during the pandemic.
The EPIC project aims to accelerate electrode drying for lithium-ion batteries by increasing energy efficiency and reducing costs. Innovative drying management techniques are being developed and tested to improve the environmental performance and position Germany as a leading location for battery production.
Erion Plaku, Associate Professor of Computer Science at George Mason University, has received $203,796 in National Science Foundation funding. He will oversee the Robust Intelligence, Foundational Research in Robotics, and National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes programs from August 2020 to August 2021.
Two UC Davis historians will craft 80 biographies of women involved in western US national parks, connecting their lives to the struggle for voting rights. The project commemorates the 19th Amendment and supports inclusion of women's stories in park education and media programs.
Professor Dietmar Gallistl from Friedrich Schiller University Jena aims to develop new algorithms and discretization techniques for fully nonlinear equations, with potential applications in financial mathematics and geometry. The project will focus on minimizing computational effort while achieving accurate approximations.
The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded €677 million in Starting Grants to 436 early-career scientists, enabling them to tackle pressing questions in health, energy, and digital technologies. The grants will create approximately 2,500 jobs across Europe.
Ashfaq Adnan, a UTA mechanical engineer, will expand his research on traumatic brain injuries using a multi-material 3D printer and high-speed cameras. The new equipment enables the capture of realistic images of brain injuries, which could lead to better detection and treatment methods.
Researchers investigated the impact of sleep deprivation on glymphatic system function, which regulates waste removal in the brain. The study found that astrocytes play a crucial role in regulating this process, and disruptions to circadian rhythms can lead to neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.
Northern Arizona University assistant professor Cristina Thomas has received NASA grants to study small Koronis asteroids and Trojan-like asteroids in the Main Asteroid Belt. Her research will help scientists better understand the origins of asteroids and provide insights into space weathering and material delivery to the belt.
Researchers at Tokyo University of Science develop novel mechanism for tuning luminescence of a transparent material by controlling proton concentration via voltage application. This breakthrough discovery opens possibilities for advancing methodologies in biological and electronics research.
The CHARA Array, the world's largest optical interferometer, has received $7.1 million to fund a new mobile telescope and expand its open-access program for scientists. The new telescope will increase the array's diameter to over one kilometer and provide the highest resolution of any instrument in the world.
A research team led by the University of Oklahoma aims to identify general ecological rules governing microbiome dynamics using anaerobic digesters as model systems. The study will provide fundamental knowledge critical to predicting microbiome behaviors and enable science-informed policies for ecosystem management.
Researchers found that men's hearts have coarser textures and a larger surface area, while women's hearts have finer grained textures. With age, differences in heart shape decreased for both sexes, but texture differences remained.
A new study from North Carolina State University and Virginia Commonwealth University explores the extent to which fathers who don't have custody are involved in their children's lives. The research highlights three key factors: self-efficacy, relationships with caregivers, and the father-child relationship.
The Maydan podcast will address various topics and themes across multiple academic disciplines, appealing to both expert and non-expert audiences. A team of scholars from diverse institutions will contribute to the project, leveraging their networks and expertise.
Bentley University researchers are exploring ways to minimize recidivism among the homeless, with a focus on data-driven approaches. The team will leverage partnerships with community organizations and government agencies to develop analytical models and improve triage efforts at shelters.
A new study from the University of Jyväskylä found that women scoring high in neuroticism reported less physical activity and had lower leisure time physical activity. High extraversion was linked to higher leisure time physical activity in middle-aged women.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that COVID-19 prevention messages are less effective when attributed to President Donald Trump. Researchers found that even participants who trust Trump did not find his messages more effective compared to other sources.
The partnership aims to galvanize the global research community to make transformative leaps in cancer research. Researchers will be encouraged to think creatively and act boldly to address major challenges in understanding cancer.
A study published in Science found that prior Zika virus infection significantly increases the risk of both symptomatic and more severe forms of dengue disease. This interaction, known as antibody-dependent enhancement, could make it harder to design a safe and effective vaccine.
A new platform for stereocontrol has been developed by Princeton University's MacMillan and Hyster labs, enabling the dynamic rendering of traditionally static stereocenters. This breakthrough allows for more efficient synthesis of complex molecules with specific stereochemistry.
The NSF has awarded a $20 million grant to create an AI Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Fundamental Interactions, a cross-discipline collaboration between 20 physicists and seven AI experts from top universities. The institute will explore the use of AI in fundamental physics and apply physics principles to improve AI methods.
Researchers at Aarhus University have developed a new technique for compressing data from the Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The method enables random access to compressed files, reducing the need to decompress large amounts of data for analysis.
Researcher Heather Johnson aims to transform college algebra instruction to promote students' reasoning and math attitudes, targeting underrepresented groups in STEM fields. The project will create digital tasks, collaborative communities, and develop evidence-based practices to ensure lasting change.
Researchers designed an energy-efficient transmission scheme for mmWave-enabled NOMA-UAV networks by optimizing UAV placement, hybrid precoding and power allocation. The proposed design achieved better performance in user fairness, spectrum efficiency and energy efficiency compared to other schemes without UAV placement optimization.
Children growing at higher altitudes showed variations in growth rates, with some experiencing slower growth and others faster growth compared to those living at lower elevations. The study's findings suggest that altitude may play a role in shaping children's growth patterns.
A novel flavivirus identification test using RT-qPCR has been validated in Brazil for fast and sensitive detection of diseases. The method identifies and distinguishes between flaviviruses causing diseases in humans and animals.
Researchers will use computer modeling to estimate future Malaspina Glacier changes due to global warming, impacting terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The project aims to better understand glacier instability and educate visitors about climate change effects.
Assistant Professor of Accounting Bret Johnson will serve as a research resource for the Office of the Chief Accountant and participate in OCA projects focusing on auditing standards setting and auditor assistance. Funding will support Johnson's work from late August 2020 to late July 2021.