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 studied 100 youth participants' exposure to tobacco outlets and found that high exposure was associated with more cigarettes smoked. The study suggests regulating youth exposure to tobacco outlets can limit access and availability of cigarettes, particularly in disadvantaged areas.
Cameron Nowzari designs robotic swarm system that exhibits various emergent behaviors without collisions. The project aims to co-design dynamic stigmergic controllers and agents for a fully autonomous system.
Scientists at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have made significant progress in understanding turbulence by studying the behavior of vortex rings when they collide. The research, published in Science Advances, reveals a fundamental mechanism for how fluidic systems transform from order to disorder.
A new technology developed at Purdue University has shown promise in treating obesity and diabetes by converting bad fat into good fat. The Adipo Therapeutics team is seeking additional funding to further develop their technology and submit it to the FDA.
Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia developed a new imaging method to visualize the enteric nervous system, a key part of the human colon, in three dimensions. This allows doctors to gain new insight into cells that control bowel function and may help understand disorders of the colon.
A new study from the University of Cambridge found that serving wine in larger glass sizes (370ml) led to increased wine sales, while reducing the size to 250ml resulted in lower sales. The researchers suggest that the perception of a 'standard' glass size plays a significant role in influencing drinking habits.
Researchers from the University of Lincoln will investigate the impact, risks, and cost of stress in the construction industry. The study aims to identify types and causes of occupational stress, which is estimated to cost British industry £5 billion annually.
Researchers at the University of Houston are developing a new power plant technology that can reduce emissions and improve grid resilience. The technology uses supercritical CO2 to generate electricity, making it an attractive option for storm-prone regions.
Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum have determined the neutron charge radius from lightest atomic nuclei using a more direct methodology, differing significantly from previous calculations. The new result corrects the previously assumed value for the size of a neutron.
The US Preventive Services Task Force finds no conclusive evidence to support or refute screening for cognitive impairment in older adults. Current guidelines recommend against routine screening due to the potential risks and limited benefits.
Researchers have found a new noncentrosymmetric superconductor, CaPtAs, exhibiting unusual properties and potential for studying unconventional superconductivity. The discovery offers new opportunities to explore the effects of broken inversion symmetry on superconducting gap structure.
The researchers aim to develop a compact sonomyographic prosthetic system that can provide robust control signals proportional to muscle activity. They plan to evaluate the system's performance compared to existing methods, including clinical outcome measures and user satisfaction questionnaires.
The University of Arizona's wind tunnels will expand experiments on vehicles traveling at the speed of sound and faster, thanks to a $1.7 million funding boost. Researchers will now be able to study unsteady and separated flows in the transonic range, critical for developing future Army and Department of Defense systems.
Researchers at Princeton University discovered a common flaw in standard comfort measurements used for building heating and cooling systems. The globe thermometer's calculations do not account for free convection, leading to temperature errors of over two degrees Celsius.
Researchers Juliette Shedd and Sheherazade R. Jafari are developing a graduate-level conflict resolution training course for Burma Leadership Activity scholars. The five-year project aims to improve technical competencies and leadership among participants, promoting respect for ethnic and religious diversity.
Researchers investigate electron behavior in disordered materials, finding a connection to soft matter particles. The study reveals the Griffiths phase, an electronic analog, in Mott-transition systems, bridging condensed matter and soft matter physics.
The study found that skyrmions move more efficiently at higher temperatures and their trajectories only depend on the speed of the skyrmions, making device design significantly easier. Billionfold reproducible motion of skyrmions was also observed in thin films of magnetic material stabilizing them at room temperature.
Professor Maddalena, director of UTA's Aerodynamics Research Center, has been elected a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society for his outstanding contributions to hypersonic research. He is a leading expert in mixing and combustion in turbulent supersonic flows and their application to hypersonic airbreathing propulsion.
The University of Bristol is working with the Children of the 90s health study to examine the effect of environmental exposures on health. The project aims to develop tools to predict disease risk based on environmental factors and will combine data from multiple studies across Europe.
A new study shows that female dolphins in southern Australia form social clusters with mothers' groups, while maintaining loose bonds with same-sex individuals. The research highlights the importance of conservation efforts to protect marine sanctuaries and regulate aquaculture and fishing practices.
A new study found that a cancer education intervention improved cancer literacy in middle and high school students in Kentucky by 30%. The study's results highlight the importance of providing cancer education material to vulnerable populations like young students, who are at risk for developing unhealthy behaviors.
Researchers created a field-effect transistor with a diameter of two nanometers using tellurium and boron nitride nanotubes. The material's unique structure allows for smaller transistors, which could lead to faster computing and reduced power consumption.
The Penn State team aims to create a handheld device that can quickly and cheaply detect evolving viruses in the field using data science and machine learning. The device will utilize laser technology to capture vibrations on the surface of viruses, tracking minute changes to differentiate between emerging strains.
A team of OU researchers has been awarded a $730,000 grant from NASA to study emerging infectious disease threats, including the 2019 novel coronavirus, in Central Asia. The research aims to predict the economic, public health, and environmental risks of large-scale development initiatives.
Researchers discover magnetic vortex clusters in one-dimensional manganite wire stabilized by artificially engineered strain state. Phase-field modeling supports the role of inhomogeneous strain in vortex formation. This work offers a new strategy for building emergent spin textures and designing magnetoelectronic devices.
A new article from the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation reveals effective but underutilized practices for including employees with disabilities in workplaces. These include partnering with disability organizations, auditing hiring practices, and providing supervisor training. The survey also found that a higher commitment from uppe...
The employment-to-population ratio for working-age people with disabilities increased from 29.8 percent in January 2019 to 30.7 percent in January 2020, up 3.0 percent or 0.9 percentage points. This gain reflects the growing strength of the labor market and suggests an upward trend for 2020.
Researchers found evidence of an inverse transition in ferroelectric ultrathin films, defying fundamental laws. The discovery could lead to breakthroughs in data storage, microelectronics, and sensors.
Researchers have discovered that ozone treatment and subsequent chlorination can convert trace amounts of some pharmaceuticals in wastewater into potentially toxic halonitromethanes. The study found that ozone treatment increased the formation of these compounds, which could be harmful to human health.
Easter Island's society continued to build and use its monuments for at least 150 years after the traditional collapse timeline, according to a new study. The research integrated radiocarbon dates with historical records of Dutch, Spanish, and English seafarers to create a revised chronology.
The study reveals that ligand distribution and angles influence the formation of 1D-CS, affecting electronic structure and conductivity. The findings provide guidelines for creating 1D-CS with desired connecting structures.
A study on co-creation in research reveals the benefits of collaborative models, including improved communication dynamics and decision-making techniques. Practical tools for managing cross-disciplinary research projects have been developed to address the challenges of complexity and diversity.
Researchers at University of Cambridge discovered that sand dunes interact with and repel each other as they move, with turbulent swirls controlling the distance between them. The study used a unique experimental facility to observe long-term behavior, challenging existing theories on dune interaction.
Researchers developed a concept to understand correlations between element selection, theoretical properties, and measurable parameters. This enables quick identification of promising candidates and optimisation of element proportions.
Scientists have discovered a fundamental process that regulates gene activity by destroying tangled RNAs. This discovery may lead to powerful new medical treatments and shed light on the development of human disorders.
Researchers discovered three new Araniella and Neoscona orb-weaver spider species, including one named after Villani, highlighting the need for taxonomic research to protect biodiversity. The study reveals the importance of conservation efforts in preserving species diversity.
A study by the University of British Columbia and other institutions found that merit-based grants are the most effective way to provide student aid. The current system of grants and loans has significant long-term value, with a $1000 increase in grants per year leading to a long-run gain in GDP of close to one percent.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has renewed a $20 million partnership with Colorado State University (CSU) to improve community resilience planning for natural hazards. The center, which has developed the IN-CORE modeling system, will now apply its findings to actual communities over the next five years.
According to new research from Cornell University, opening more grocery stores can significantly reduce global warming by lowering food waste. The study found that even small increases in store density can have a high impact on reducing waste, with benefits comparable to converting thousands of cars to electric power.
A recent study found that hospital websites in Washington state lack essential information on language services, making it difficult for non-English speaking patients to access care. Only 20% of hospitals listed language services on their homepage, and most were not translated into the patient's native language.
A new score, the Cambridge Multimorbidity Score, outperforms the Charlson Comorbidity Index in predicting healthcare outcomes for patients with multiple chronic illnesses. The score can help clinicians prioritize care and optimize health delivery to an aging population.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has secured renewed funding for the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network (CPCRN), a flagship program for preventing and controlling chronic diseases. Researchers from eight institutions will collaborate to produce research on implementing evidence-based approaches to reduce canc...
The university received awards to support the purchase of state-of-the-art facilities and technologies, enhancing military research efforts. Virginia Tech researchers will gain valuable experience working on advanced projects, including a nano-calorimeter instrument and an aircraft engine test bed.
A study published in PLOS ONE describes five trackways containing 25 footprints from three types of animals: small synapsids, large dinosaurs, and quadrupedal dinosaurs. The fossils suggest that a variety of animals survived the intense environmental stress caused by volcanic activity.
At-home genetic ancestry tests may decrease beliefs in racial essentialism among those with higher genetic knowledge, but increase them among those with lower genetic knowledge. The study suggests that people's understanding of genetics influences the impact of ancestry testing and polarizes test-takers' views on racial essentialism.
New study reveals previously unknown, highly toxic compounds formed when chlorine disinfects drinking water. The discovery raises questions about the need for chlorination and potential alternatives like ozone treatment or filtration.
A NIU psychology professor is studying the links between exercise and brain health in prairie voles. The researcher hopes to find how exercise can promote brain health and resilience to social stress that results in anxiety, depression and cardiovascular disease.
The Mark Foundation Center for Advanced Genomics and Imaging at Johns Hopkins University aims to develop innovative solutions for cancer immunotherapy. The center will utilize a combination of tools from astronomy image analysis, pathology, computer science, cancer genomics, and immunogenomics.
Researchers have created kirigami structures that can support 14,000 times their own weight without adhesives or fasteners. The tilted triangle design is strongest when flaps are undamaged and untapped, and its unique geometry allows for horizontal compression within the center of the design.
Researchers at the University of Würzburg have discovered modified plants capable of absorbing excess carbon dioxide more effectively. The plants' metabolic networks can be modulated to increase CO2 absorption by five times, which could help mitigate global warming.
Deregallera's pilot scale pouch cell production line will demonstrate the company's advanced materials in packaged cells conforming to industrial standard regulations. The project aims to create a massive step-change in developing future-friendly, non-toxic and sustainable energy storage technologies using sodium-ion instead of lithium.
A KU Leuven study found that oxytocin significantly reduced repetitive behavior and improved attachment in men with autism. The treatment showed long-term effects up to a year after administration.
Researchers have developed a new method to measure ultrafine particles in exhaust gas, which are harmful to health. The process provides a better understanding of the formation of secondary aerosols by car exhaust gases and can help reduce vehicle emissions.
Researchers at Southeast University have developed a novel kind of microtort with stable structural color for multiplex assays. These micromotors can efficiently accelerate mixing speed and increase probe-target interactions, leading to faster and more sensitive detection. The unique structural color coding allows for simultaneous mult...
Researchers found that only 0.12% of climate research funding went to social science research, while natural sciences received 770% more funding. Experts recommend increasing funding for social science research, improving transparency, and prioritizing key questions.
The Pachacamac Idol, a sacred icon worshipped for nearly 700 years, was symbolically painted with red, yellow, and white colors using cinnabar pigment. The study confirms the idol's polychromatic design and sheds light on pre-Columbian cultural practices in South America.
A new therapy aims to regenerate brain damage caused by premature birth through human mesenchymal stem cells. The PREMSTEM project, funded by the European Union, will develop an imaging tool to identify premature babies at risk of brain injury and potentially treat conditions such as cerebral palsy.
A new analysis reveals that a marine heatwave caused mass starvation of common murres off the US west coast. The study found that unusually elevated sea temperatures reduced food supplies, leading to widespread die-offs and reproductive failure among seabirds.
Researchers discovered that two-dimensional liquids exhibit collective motion and long-wavelength fluctuations, which differ from the random Brownian motion seen in three-dimensional liquids. This finding helps explain puzzling differences in liquid dynamics and opens avenues for understanding complex fluid behavior.
Thermolysis helps rid petroleum of viscous components by analyzing composition and mechanisms of catalytic activity during in-situ refining of heavy oils. The technique aims to improve efficiency and selectiveness in reactions with destruction of asphalt-resin compounds, reducing oil viscosity.