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.
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation has selected 31 institutions to host threatened researchers from abroad, providing funds for 35 researchers fleeing war or persecution. The Philipp Schwartz Initiative is now being financed permanently by the German Federal Foreign Office.
A £7 million funding has enabled the development of a 'virtual factory' to test and refine new steel alloys 100 times faster than traditional methods. This breakthrough allows for faster testing of small-scale samples, covering areas like strength, durability, and corrosion resistance.
A University of Illinois team found that twisted bilayer graphene exhibits a Wigner crystal, not a Mott insulator, by injecting electrons into the material. This discovery holds promise for room-temperature superconductors and other groundbreaking applications.
The open-source deal.II library has been awarded $1.7 million in National Science Foundation funding to continue its development and support a growing community of users. The new funding will enable researchers to expand documentation, training modules, and infrastructure to further improve the software.
Researchers from Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have developed a new method to fabricate and design integrated, on-chip modulators 100 times smaller and 20 times more efficient than current lithium niobite (LN) modulators
The ESRC-funded LuCiD Centre will explore why children develop language problems and how to identify those at risk. The research aims to inform effective interventions in early years education and healthcare.
Researchers affiliated with São Paulo State University have identified four extremely young asteroid families using a numerical simulation method. The newly discovered families are estimated to be less than 7 million years old and were dated using the backward integration method, which is precise for young families.
A team from Lehigh University and UC Berkeley is developing an efficient Bayesian-guided computational framework to guide the search for new materials. This approach leverages deep learning neural networks to accelerate traditional physics-based simulation methods, enabling researchers to explore previously computationally intractable ...
A new research project, backed by the Innovation Fund Denmark, aims to standardize fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) treatment for Clostridium difficile diarrhea. The project will develop a secure feces bank and screen future feces donors to ensure high safety and effectiveness.
The SWEEPER robot, developed by an international research consortium, can harvest ripe fruit in 24 seconds with a success rate of 62 percent. Additional research is needed to increase work speed and reach higher harvest success rates.
A recent study from North Carolina State University found that the overhead ratio, a widely used metric for assessing nonprofit efficiency, is actually negatively correlated with efficiency. The researchers used data from Habitat for Humanity affiliates and two established efficiency analysis tools to demonstrate this problem.
A University of Houston researcher is studying 1,000 community college students taking developmental math coursework to understand the causes of math struggles. The four-year study aims to identify factors contributing to math learning disabilities and develop strategies for early intervention.
University of Konstanz chemist Professor Stefan Mecking has developed a method to synthesize tailor-made bio-synthetics by precisely determining the length of molecular chains. The newly synthesized material exhibits an extraordinary layered structure with great potential for application in high-tech membranes, such as batteries and wa...
Researchers at Northwestern University have identified four clusters of personality types using comprehensive data from over 1.5 million questionnaire respondents. The findings challenge existing paradigms in psychology and provide new insights into human behavior.
Researchers Jeff Lei and Dimitris Simos are working on a three-year grant to develop a new approach to testing the security of blockchain and IoT systems. They will use interaction testing to generate test cases and check for security properties compromised. This approach aims to avoid common vulnerabilities in these systems.
A new study by Ohio State University researchers found that having a support system of other women in the entering class is crucial for females to stay in doctoral STEM programs. The study suggests that the gender gap in STEM fields may be attributed to the 'female-friendliness' of these programs.
Researchers from Michigan State University are studying how journalists became first responders during Hurricane Maria, transforming news stations into community centers for refugees. The team aims to analyze why infrastructure failed and provide policy recommendations for effective crisis communication.
A four-year grant funds a collaborative study with 11 centers worldwide to assess the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation and aerobic exercise on cognitive function in people with progressive MS. Researchers aim to demonstrate improved brain activity in regions responsible for memory, learning, and executive functioning after treatment.
Researchers at NTNU's QuSpin Center have successfully controlled a spin current across 80 microns in an antiferromagnet, demonstrating significant advancements in spintronics. This breakthrough enables the potential for more efficient and faster electronic devices.
The University of New Hampshire is conducting the largest study on intimate partner violence among sexual minority college students. The survey aims to evaluate a new theoretical model that assesses institutional and individual stigma's role in increasing risk for intimate partner violence experiences.
Researchers at Indiana University are leading an experiment that could shed light on the existence of matter in the universe. The project aims to detect a small separation of electrical charges in neutrons, which would validate theories about the imbalance between matter and antimatter.
Researchers aim to understand how individuals protect their personal data in the digital age. The new study will develop survey instruments and conduct qualitative fieldwork to identify different strategies for navigating algorithmic privacy. It also plans to create experimental prototype tools to explore the design space around algori...
The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) awards Dr. Jason Christie $2,082,074 to investigate neural circuits in the cerebellum and their role in motor learning. The goal is to understand how neurons interact with each other to facilitate learning outcomes.
A study from 2000-2017 found that active shooter incidents involving semiautomatic rifles resulted in a significantly higher number of wounded and killed individuals compared to those without semiautomatic rifles. Semiautomatic rifles were used in approximately 25% of the shootings, resulting in 898 people being wounded and 718 deaths.
NETenergy will commercialize its hybrid thermal energy storage technology to reduce cooling costs in commercial buildings. The $500,000 grant from the DOE will help construct a hybrid HVAC prototype and develop it for commercialization.
The project, called Playing & Learning Across a Year (PLAY), will create a digital library of videos of mothers going about their daily activities with their children. Researchers will gather video data from over 900 infants and their mothers, which will be transcribed, annotated, and uploaded to an open-source video library.
Researchers at Ural Federal University developed new adsorbents and enzymatic catalysts using modified halloysite nanotubular materials with unique functional properties. The breakthrough technology enables cost-effective extraction of non-ferrous metals and efficient biotechnological hydrolysis processes.
The team aims to develop a modular and scalable interface system that can modulate and monitor large-scale activities in the nervous system, with potential applications for pain management, epilepsy, and neurological disorders. They plan to advance bioluminescence imaging instead of fluorescence to enable long-term cortical imaging wit...
Researchers from the University of Bristol have developed autonomous sensor pods called 'dragon eggs' that can withstand harsh conditions around active volcanoes, providing valuable real-time data on volcanic activity. The innovative technology has numerous applications, including remote monitoring of glaciers and geological faults.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital identified CD103+ dendritic cells as a major trigger of skin graft rejection, but found that pre-treating organs with an anti-inflammatory protein can mitigate this effect. This new strategy could offer benefits for organ transplantation, including face transplants.
The University of Texas at El Paso is leading a national effort to increase the number of Hispanic students participating in computing through a $10 million NSF grant. The initiative aims to have Hispanics comprise 20% of graduates in computing disciplines by 2030.
This Inter Faculty volume delves into the importance of engagement in human sciences, discussing identity, linguistic concepts, and ethical interpretation. Research papers explore topics such as maintaining national minority rights, grammatical gender in Japanese and Ancient Greek languages, and Confucian ethics.
Hyeok Choi, a UTA environmental engineer, has received a $199,985 grant to prove a concept for cleaning up PFAS-contaminated soil and water. He plans to use oxidation and reduction technology, as well as activated carbon-based nanomaterials, to break down the chemicals.
Karen Fredriksen-Goldsen, PhD, has been awarded the 2018 Maxwell A. Pollack Award for Productive Aging by the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) in recognition of her work on translating research into practical application and policy. She is a leading scholar addressing equity and aging disparities in marginalized communities.
Lithium trivanadate cathode thick films were successfully fabricated on garnet-type oxide solid electrolytes using aerosol deposition method. The resulting cells showed high reversible charge and discharge capacities, cycling stability, and safety, making LVO a promising candidate for high-capacity oxide-based solid-state batteries
A team led by Colorado State University's Steve Simske aims to dismantle illicit supply networks using technology. They plan to use machine learning, analysis of public web sales, and proprietary information to reveal weaknesses in these networks.
Kristen DeAngelis will lead a new soil warming studies project with undergraduates annotating soil microbe genomes and investigating bacterial traits. The goal is to understand how bacteria thrive in warmer soils and their impact on the environment.
Fiordland penguins migrate 3,500-6,800 km in 69 days, traveling up to 80km/day, and arrive at two feeding grounds near Tasmania and Antarctica. Their behavior may be a remnant from an ancestral species, with successful breeders departing late to reach these distant areas.
Researchers develop biodegradable plastics that break down under diverse conditions, offering new options for disposal. The study examines the degradation of individual bioplastics and blends under managed and unmanaged environments, finding improved characteristics in certain blends.
Researchers developed a novel way to analyze poor urban communities, revealing obstacles between unplanned areas and infrastructure. The models identify distinctions between informal and formal neighborhood structures, enabling the creation of people-centered urban planning solutions.
The Jiachala Formation, a key deposit in the Neo-Tethyan subduction zone, was formed in a submarine fan environment during Late Cretaceous (~88-84 Ma) at the active southern margin of the Asian plate. Provenance analysis indicates it originated from the Gangdese arc and central Lhasa terrane.
Researchers at Yerkes National Primate Research Center have successfully reversed the effects of parental stress on offspring by exposing parents to behavioral interventions. The study found that this approach breaks the cycle of intergenerational stress, reducing sensitivity and structural imprints in offspring.
Researchers found that fishing in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area doubled before its implementation, leading to excess fishing equivalent to what was prevented by the reserve for 1.5 years. This suggests that anticipating marine reserves can trigger overfishing, undermining conservation efforts.
A new study reveals that Amazonian wetlands are home to an astonishing 3,615 tree species, exceeding expectations by three times. This comprehensive list of tree species was compiled from forest inventories and botanical collections, providing valuable insights into the region's biodiversity.
Chemical engineering researchers at Brigham Young University have developed a physical model that can accurately predict soot and smoke emissions from wildfires. The model provides foundational elements for validating more efficient models, which will aid in predicting smoke emissions and related health effects.
Two new studies from the University of Bath expose evidence that big tobacco companies are still facilitating tobacco smuggling and funding studies that overestimate levels of tobacco smuggling. The findings highlight the tobacco industry's elaborate efforts to control a global track and trace system and undermine international agreeme...
Researchers have pinpointed risk factors for noma, a rare disease causing facial gangrene, in northwest Nigeria. Children who were fed pap daily were at higher risk, while those breastfed colostrum and had varied diets were less likely to contract the disease.
A study has identified six biomarkers of inflammation associated with the risk of polyneuropathy in people with type 2 diabetes. The findings suggest a complex interaction between innate and adaptive immunity in the development of this complication.
The University of Pittsburgh's Center for Energy will collaborate with Leidos and NETL on a ten-year, $365 million contract. The partnership aims to provide research support services and access to the university's talented faculty in various energy-related fields.
Attention is not a steady focus, but rather a pulsing rhythm that cycles between periods of maximum concentration and broader situational awareness. This rhythmic structure of perception allows the brain to sample the environment and allocate resources efficiently.
Researchers analyzed 265 Samarra glass artefacts to reconstruct the city's glass supply and exchange networks during the Abbasid Caliphate. The findings suggest a mix of local production and imports from the Levant and Egypt, highlighting Samarra's importance in early Islamic art and architecture.
A research collaboration led by Pittsburgh University's Swanson School of Engineering received a $750,000 Department of Energy grant to develop innovative technologies for fossil energy power systems. The team will utilize additive manufacturing and integrated computational materials engineering to design superior alloy components.
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) will provide seafloor seismographs and technical support under a new cooperative agreement, starting August 1, 2018. The OBSIC replaces an earlier instrument pool, providing unique insights into seismic activity and ocean basins.
A study found that people with prediabetes who prefer to be active and alert later in the day tend to have higher body mass indices compared to those with morning preferences. This association is partly due to lack of sufficient sleep, which can increase the risk of obesity and diabetes.
A global study reveals that children living near forests have better nutrition due to increased dietary diversity from forest products and reduced micronutrient deficiencies. Forests promote health through multiple pathways, including access to a range of foods and income for food purchases.
Scientists have discovered previously unknown sulfur compounds causing the bitter taste that develops after chopping onions. The compounds, dubbed allithiolanes, form spontaneously when the onion is damaged, affecting the flavor of resulting dishes.
The High-Energy Physics Group at Syracuse University is developing a new tracking device called the Upstream Tracker (UT), which will significantly enhance the capabilities of the LHCb experiment. The UT, supported by a $3.7 million NSF grant, will increase data handling capacity by factors of five to 10.
A 7-year trial found that continued mass azithromycin distribution prevented recurrence of trachoma but did not eliminate the infection entirely. Ocular chlamydia prevalence was significantly lower in communities with ongoing treatment compared to those discontinuing treatment.
Research shows that babies with cystic fibrosis are born weighing less than those without the condition, even accounting for premature births. The study found a link between CF mutation and intrauterine growth, highlighting the need for further research into improving health outcomes before birth.
Jianhan Chen is studying intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) with flexible 3D structural properties, which account for about one-third of all eukaryotic proteins. His project aims to develop computational methods to simulate flexible proteins and explore the fundamental principles of their structural disorder's effect on function.