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.
ICERM, a federally funded math institute, has been renewed with a $23.7 million NSF grant to support its cutting-edge research and education programs. The institute will focus on expanding the use of computation and experimentation in mathematical research.
The UMass Amherst Department of Food Science has been awarded a five-year grant to fund an experiential learning program for undergraduates. The FUEL Scholars program offers independent research opportunities, paid summer internships with industrial partners, and professional skills development.
Experts argue that New Zealand's proposed cannabis legislation lacks clear criteria for minimum price and potency levels, posing challenges in reducing cannabis use over time and taxing products by THC potency. The bill needs strengthening to address these gaps and ensure a comprehensive regulatory framework.
A study of over 400,000 US adults found that higher long-term consumption of both plant and animal proteins was associated with increased risk of death. The researchers discovered a non-linear relationship between protein intake and mortality risk, suggesting that moderate levels of protein may be protective against mortality.
Kelly Schrum, Jessica Otis and Nate Sleeter will use the funding to support doctoral students and early-career researchers in world history scholarship. The grant aims to develop a high-quality, peer-reviewed Open Educational Resource (OER) for teachers, scholars and students.
Zhi Tian will receive funding to develop communication-efficient approaches for collaborative learning from private data in big data computing. Her goal is to minimize overall runtime, communication costs and total samples used.
A UCLA research team has received a two-year, $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to support development of a process that can convert carbon dioxide emissions into construction materials. The technology captures CO2 directly from raw flue gas, reducing emissions and using less traditional cement.
A study tracked queen bumblebees' movements as they established nests, revealing changes in habitat selection and diet preferences. The findings suggest that diversified landscapes support bumblebee colonies by meeting their changing needs during different phases of their lifecycle.
Researchers discovered that ancient shells were deliberately collected and strung together as beads, with evidence of ochre coloring treatment found on four out of five shells. This study provides insight into the origins of string-making technology, likely between 160-120,000 years ago.
A University of Missouri researcher has received a $4 million grant to develop an intervention that improves reading comprehension and social studies knowledge for struggling middle school students. The five-year project will be implemented in schools across Missouri, Michigan, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C., and aims to create be...
A study found that citizen science has the potential to contribute to all 17 UN SDGs, supporting indicators such as environmental and spatial data. Citizen science initiatives can provide accurate, timely, and comprehensive data to track progress towards the SDGs.
Academics urge government to introduce statutory levy to deliver reductions in gambling harms, citing industry influence and current lack of regulation. They also highlight the need for independent research funding to prevent gambling harms.
An experiment by PLOS found that adding a second entrance to an ant's nest reduces their ability to find and distinguish between food sources of varying value. This reduction in efficiency occurs due to increased competition among the ants, leading to decreased overall foraging success.
A national research and development center will focus on weaving topics into the full curriculum, using real-world examples that are engaging and directly relevant to students of this age. The center aims to develop and test interventions that leverage transdisciplinary approaches to improve instruction for English Learners.
The CABI-led Fall Armyworm Research Collaboration Portal aims to reduce duplication of research, share results rapidly and encourage global teamwork. The platform enables sharing of research data, insights and outputs to help fight the devastating crop pest.
The NFL has awarded the University of Colorado Denver $491,999 for helmet safety research using 3D printing technology. The team aims to reduce concussion risk by lining football helmets with liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) materials.
A new German research project aims to improve the automatic analysis and generation of high-quality texts using artificial intelligence. The goal is to disentangle styles and topics in textual data, enabling enhanced text quality and influencing tone, while overcoming challenges with irony and sarcasm.
Researchers have gained a new understanding of relaxor ferroelectric behavior, which relies on both experiment and theoretical modeling. This breakthrough shows that relaxor ferroelectricity in polymers comes from chain conformation disorders induced by chirality.
The Stephen S. Fuller Institute is updating Arlington County's affordable housing master plan using the latest available data from the American Community Survey. The researchers will analyze housing needs, affordability, and population forecasts to provide a comprehensive set of statistics for county officials.
Nobuo Sato has been awarded a five-year grant from the Department of Energy to develop the FemtoAnalyzer, a tool that will help nuclear physicists image the three-dimensional internal structure of protons and neutrons. The project aims to produce unprecedented resolution in understanding the building blocks of matter.
The researchers aim to create a machine-learning solution that combines pure data-driven reinforcement learning algorithms with domain knowledge. Their technique, Dino-RL, is designed to dynamically adjust to quickly detect and fix network problems without human intervention.
Researchers will create a risk dashboard to help ISOs make sound decisions quickly and allocate resources for reducing renewable energy risks, making the U.S. power grid more efficient and reliable.
A study by Shinshu University researchers used input-output analysis to quantify economic damage from Japan's earthquakes. The study found that the largest earthquakes require significant economic assistance for initial production and recovery, with some requiring up to 50% of initial production until recovery.
Researchers analyzed the Venus flytrap's biomechanical properties using digital 3D image correlation methods and finite element simulations. They found that the trap snaps shut when under prestress, and only traps with three tissue layers can close correctly.
Rice University experimental physicist Ming Yi has been awarded a five-year grant from the Department of Energy to explore magnetism in two-dimensional materials. Her research aims to understand how key ingredients for magnetism evolve as materials transition from 3D to 2D.
The SeaBee project will develop a national centre for state-of-the-art environmental research, mapping, and monitoring of Norway's coasts using drones, machine learning, and novel cloud storage solutions. This will enable better understanding and management of the country's coastal environment.
The Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz has secured EUR 2.82 million in EU funding for a new doctoral training program on Roman inscriptions, led by Professor Marietta Horster. The CARMEN project will provide innovative training to 11 young researchers, exploring the role of poetry in everyday culture in Roman times.
A UC Davis study found that the use of extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs) in California increased substantially over the first four years, with most orders requested by law enforcement officers for male and white individuals. The study also identified differences in ERPO use across counties and geographic clustering among neighbori...
A study by Kapitány and colleagues examines how children evaluate different types of non-real people or figures relative to one another. The results show that most children conceptualize the thirteen figures into four groups, with cultural figures like Santa and the Tooth Fairy ranked highly as 'real'.
A new system for detecting antibodies uses a microfluidic thread-based analytical device that relies on light-emitting sensor proteins held on a thread. The device can detect antibody levels within five minutes and does not require extensive handling and incubation steps.
A machine-learning model analyzes histopathology slides to predict cancer prognosis and survival. The study, published in PLOS ONE, shows promise for improving cancer care.
A study found that dog breeds labeled as 'cooperative' and 'independent' do not exhibit different responses to unfair outcomes, contrary to previous hypotheses. Dogs from both breed groups displayed inequity aversion, with some differences in behavior observed between the groups.
Two NAU research centers, Pathogen and Microbiome Institute (PMI) and Center for Health Equity Research (CHER), received funding to support COVID-19 response efforts. PMI will test vaccine and treatment efficacy using its Biosafety Level 3 facilities, while CHER will model disease spread in rural areas.
A new study simulates the spread of COVID-19 in a densely populated refugee settlement in Bangladesh, predicting over 420,000 infected people and 2,800 deaths in one year. The researchers emphasize the need for innovative responses and intervention to quell the spread and treat the infected population.
A research team has discovered a new mechanism for balancing protein stability during neuronal development, using heat shock proteins to regulate microtubule stability and axonal growth. This discovery can help understand neurodevelopmental diseases, nerve regeneration, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Scientists study cockroach movements to understand how animals overcome energy barriers in tricky terrain. By mimicking cockroaches' 'jittering' legs, researchers create robots that can transition between movements with ease.
Scientists have identified a substance called Neuropeptide Y (Npy) in the kidney's filtering unit, which sends harmful signals causing proteinuria. Blocking this pathway with medical intervention may lead to new treatments for chronic kidney disease.
Dr. Xiaoquan Zhao received funding from the Food and Drug Administration to support youth tobacco education campaigns. He will serve as a consultant to the FDA Center for Tobacco Products to evaluate evidence-based public health communication and marketing interventions.
The COVID-19 pandemic poses major challenges to scientists from underrepresented groups, including women and minority communities. The international appeal emphasizes the importance of promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in science to overcome these challenges. The authors recommend improved gender equality measures, targeted fun...
Researchers at Aarhus University are hunting for unique enzymes that can break down polyethylene, a common type of plastic. They aim to develop polymer-destructive enzymes, which could revolutionize the field and provide a solution to plastic pollution.
The discovery of the ancient bird figurine from Lingjing site in China sheds light on humanity's earliest three-dimensional art. The figurine, dated to approximately 13.4-13.2 ka cal BP, features a technological and stylistic profile distinct from contemporaneous Western European and Siberian representations.
The study will examine how shopping strategies have changed during the pandemic, with a focus on vulnerable communities' limited access to online technology. The researchers aim to provide recommendations for policy-makers to improve resilience planning and ensure everyone's access to basic needs.
A research team has discovered a novel cobalt compound with a low molecular weight, allowing it to be evaporated at high temperatures without decomposition. The compound's unique geometry enables an unusual spin configuration of ½, making it a promising candidate for ultra-thin layer applications.
Researchers at the University of York found that memories for specific locations are either totally forgotten or precisely recalled. The study showed that forgetting involves losses in memory accessibility without changes in precision.
The German Research Foundation has approved a new Collaborative Research Center (CRC/Transregio 288) 'Elastic Tuning and Response of Electronic Quantum Phases of Matter' at Mainz University. Researchers will investigate quantum materials with properties that can be controlled by mechanical deformation.
Researchers at USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences have successfully created metallic ammonia, allowing for a clearer understanding of the behavior of delocalized electrons. The study's findings open up new possibilities for synthesizing important organic compounds using this unique solution.
Avesta Sasan is exploring the design space of SAT-hard obfuscation solutions and building provable methods to tradeoff power, performance, and area versus security. The research has potential to introduce new metrics for evaluating obfuscation effectiveness.
George Mason University's Mark D. Uhen has received funding to create a Paleobiology Database with machine learning tools for automating data entry, reducing expert time and cost. The project aims to improve the usability of the database through user workshops and online resources.
Magnetic ionic liquids (MIL) Emim[FeCl4] and Bmim[FeCl4] were examined at room temperature, revealing paramagnetic to antiferromagnetic behavior. A hybrid reverse Monte Carlo method combined X-ray scattering measurements with molecular simulation to reveal precise coordination structures.
Researchers at the University of Michigan and Purdue University have developed a method to measure electron energy distributions in metal nanostructures, which could lead to more efficient energy conversion and storage applications. The technique uses surface plasmons to give extra energy to charge carriers, enabling faster reactions.
Researchers have identified over 2,000 large protostars using AI analysis of Gaia space telescope data. These young stars are believed to hold secrets about the origin of massive stars and galaxy formation.
A study of nearly 3 million California births found that living near active oil and gas wells may increase the risk of low birth weight babies, with rural residents being more affected. The study also found a slightly increased risk of small for gestational age babies in urban areas.
Research published in PLOS ONE found that social status, not body size, determines reproductive success for female mountain gorillas. High-ranking females produce offspring more frequently due to preferential access to males. Dominance rank is linked to reproductive benefits, even with abundant food supply.
Scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have developed a new sustainable method to extract vanillin from lignin, reducing toxic waste and increasing commercial viability. The process uses electrolytic depolymerization in caustic soda, producing high-quality vanillin with a yield of around four percent.
A recent study using radiocarbon dating and microarchaeology has pinpointed the construction dates of Wilson's Arch on Jerusalem's Temple Mount to between 20 BC and 60 AD during Herod the Great's reign. This new timeline resolves a long-standing debate about the entrance to the holiest site in Jerusalem.
A new study finds that preliminary criterion scores do not mitigate racial disparities in NIH grant awards, with black investigators receiving worse scores on all five criteria. The study reveals substantial funding gaps between black and white applicants, with black PIs award probability only 55% of their white counterparts.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Pathology found that convalescent plasma therapy is a safe treatment option for patients with severe COVID-19 disease. The therapy showed significant improvement in 76% of patients, with no adverse side effects caused by the plasma transfusion.
The Student Collaboration Project aims to diversify the field of space science by providing undergraduate and graduate students with a firsthand research experience. Students will design, build, and launch CubeSats that collect data on the Earth's upper atmosphere.
Transnational judicial training offers a win-win for judges and courts in Asia. By sharing best practices and strategies, countries can enhance their judicial systems and strengthen regional integration.
Researchers at George Mason University received $6,200 from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center to develop science and technical requirements for the ORCAS mission. As part of the project, an undergraduate student will assist in exoplanet science case development.