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.
A University of South Carolina researcher has been awarded a $4.4 million NASA grant to develop new communication systems for aircraft, addressing limitations in ATM networks and increasing safety with unmanned drones sharing airspace.
Researchers at USC and Georgia Tech will develop a powerful new data-analysis platform to process massive amounts of graph data in real-time, with potential applications in security, consumer applications, and predicting cyber attacks. The goal is to achieve a 1000-fold speed-up in processing data.
Researchers developed a method to generate large amounts of training data using computer graphics and motion capture technology. This allows for accurate pose recognition, including complex positions such as recumbent and crouching, enabling care robots to provide better care. The generated data is freely available for research purposes.
Breastfeeding peer support services vary across UK regions, with only 56% of NHS areas offering them. Mothers from poorer areas often face challenges in accessing these services, exacerbating existing health inequalities.
A team of engineers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University at Buffalo has developed a powerful new photodetector that combines unique fabrication methods and light-trapping structures. The device increases light absorption in thin materials, enabling smaller optoelectronic devices with improved performance.
The employment-to-population ratio for working-age people with disabilities increased from 28.1% in June 2016 to 29.8% in June 2017, up 6%. Labor force participation rates also rose, with people with disabilities outpacing those without disabilities.
Researchers have discovered a novel approach to controlling quanta using the tennis racket effect, which can visualize fault-tolerant manipulation of quanta. This breakthrough enables faster and more efficient quantum computing, with potential applications in secure networks and ultrafast quantum computers.
The project aims to improve the usage of digital technologies for research by developing new methods for analyzing historical newspapers. The team will use deep learning to correct errors in text recognition and enhance entity recognition using external data repositories.
A study analyzing five years of Ocean Health Index data for 220 countries found that global ocean health has remained stable, but individual countries have seen changes, particularly in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. Improvements in fishery management and marine protected areas may have stabilized ocean health scores in other regions.
Nobuo Sato received a $10,000 grant to apply his knowledge of Quantum Chromodynamics to understand the protons and neutrons in everyday matter. His calculations involve parton distribution functions and transverse momentum distributions.
Researchers at Linköping University have successfully applied a thin layer of a ferroelectric material to control electronic nonlinearity in ion-doped conducting polymers. This breakthrough enables precise switching of transistors and color changes in displays, opening up new possibilities for applications in printed electronics.
The project aims to create a system that can effectively monitor data centers and analyze findings with minimal human intervention. Led by McMaster Engineering professors, the team will develop tools to analyze performance in real-time, helping companies make decisions to reduce energy usage and predict system faults and failures.
A UK-based consortium will develop a platform for producing new antibiotics using bacteriocins, potent toxins produced by bacteria. The aim is to generate derivatives with drug-like properties while preserving their original potent bacteria-killing abilities.
The USDA is investing $7.6 million in research to help manage pests and beneficial species that affect agricultural crops. The funding will support projects that promote beneficial organisms associated with pests and better understand the fundamental mechanisms of interactions between plants, pests, or beneficial species.
The US Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture has awarded $16 million in grants to 42 1890 historically black land-grant colleges and universities. These institutions will focus on building research, teaching, and extension programs in the food and agricultural sciences.
Researchers at NIST have contributed to accurate new measurements of the Boltzmann constant using a novel technique called noise thermometry. This approach measures the random motion of electrons in a resistor, allowing for more precise temperature measurements and potentially better thermometers for industry.
New research highlights the economic impact of bullying on schools, with 10.4% of students missing school due to feeling unsafe and up to $276 million in lost revenue each year in California public schools. Schools can take steps to create a safe environment through professional anti-bullying training and decreasing racism.
Scientists have developed an electrocatalyst using less expensive ruthenium and nitrogen-doped graphene, promising better durability and reduced noble-metal usage than platinum-based alternatives.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that pups born during warm years had lower antibody levels and were unable to respond to an immune challenge. High sea surface temperatures can lead to prey declines, forcing sea lions to extend foraging trips and eat lower-value prey.
Katie Lewis, PhD, has been awarded the prestigious Robert S. Wallerstein Fellowship to investigate how daily interpersonal interactions influence suicidal thoughts and urges. Her research aims to identify pathways leading to heightened risk for suicide through analysis of personal historical details and daily interactions.
A large Chinese survey found a prevalence of diabetes as high as 10.9%, while prediabetes affected nearly 36% of the population, similar to US rates.
The UT-ORNL led US-China Transdisciplinary Environmental Research Network will identify transdisciplinary research opportunities and collaborations for scientists in the US and China. The project aims to enhance sustainable use of natural resources, address global issues involving food, energy, and water systems.
UCSB scientists compared decades-old data with new field observations to evaluate multidecadal change in sandy beach biodiversity. They found that local processes exerted a stronger influence on intertidal biodiversity than regional factors.
New research reveals genetic differences between Middle-Late Jurassic Cu-Pb-Zn-bearing and W-bearing granites in the Nanling Range. A proposed model attributes the formation of these granites to asthenosphere upwelling and basaltic magma underplating, driven by palaeo-Pacific plate subduction.
A team of scientists has detected a rotating stellar disk in the ancient elliptical-shaped galaxy MACS2129-1, located 10 billion light-years from Earth. This finding contradicts prevailing astrophysical theory regarding the formation of such galaxies shortly after the Big Bang. The stars in MACS2129-1 rotate at a speed of over 500 km p...
A team led by Dr James Bryson deciphered magnetic messages in rare metal meteorites, confirming Psyche as an exposed planetary core. The findings suggest the asteroid cooled quickly due to its rocky mantle stripped away.
Researchers identified naturally infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes with Chikungunya virus genotype ECSA in Brazil. The finding highlights the need for expanded surveillance to prevent new outbreaks and expose other countries at risk.
A new detection system based on pressure changes offers a simpler, more affordable alternative for detecting cancer biomarkers, environmental pollutants, and food contaminants. The system uses smartphone software to provide immediate results, enabling real-time monitoring of disease outbreaks and pollution.
The USDA has allocated $6.8 million for seven research and extension grants focused on pollinator health, addressing declining populations of managed and wild pollinators. These projects aim to promote pollinator health, reduce honey bee colony losses, and restore habitats.
Researchers at Baycrest Health Sciences found that focusing on the meaning of words rather than repeating them creates better short-term memories. The study used brain scans to identify brain activity related to memorizing through sound and meaning.
A Chinese research team proposes a multi-dimensional system dynamic (SD) simulation model to understand China's urbanization process. The model provides a comprehensive view of the mechanism constrained by environmental sustainability, with an ultimate urbanization level predicted in multiple scenarios.
A recent study found that consuming foods high in polyunsaturated fats, such as walnuts and salmon, can favorably change appetite hormones in young adults. The study participants experienced a decrease in fasting ghrelin and an increase in peptide YY, leading to better appetite control.
The Department of Energy has awarded $258 million to six leading US tech companies to advance exascale computing technology. The funding will support research and development in hardware, software, and application development to achieve the goal of deploying an exascale-capable system by 2021.
Researchers identify new Aleodon species in Brazil, previously thought to be Chiniquodontids. The discovery strengthens the correlation between probainognathians from South America and Africa.
A recent grant from the NEA will study the impacts of arts enrichment on students' academic and social outcomes. The Arts Access Initiative in Houston, a partnership between schools and dozens of arts organizations, is being evaluated to gauge its effectiveness.
A new study suggests that tailored music sessions can transform the lives of people with speech impairments by improving communication and reducing feelings of isolation. The research highlights the potential benefits of music for post-verbal individuals, including enhanced creativity and self-expression.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that older female elk adjust their behavior to avoid hunters, reducing movement rates and using safer terrain when near roads. This suggests that learning plays a role in shaping their avoidance of hunters.
The CorsicArchive project, funded by the German Research Foundation, uses tree ecology, hydrology and climatology to analyze past and present climate changes. The researchers aim to understand the effects of climate extremes on forest ecosystems and provide insights for forestry industry and tourism.
In response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), RTI International is working closely with the Ministry of Health and other partners to strengthen local surveillance systems. The average case fatality rate for Ebola is around 50%, and there have been over 100 contacts under daily monitoring.
Researchers found that using descriptive words typically used for less healthy foods increased vegetable selection by 25%. Indulgent labeling resulted in more people consuming vegetables, especially those with added sugar or savory flavors.
A team of scientists discovered a previously undetected health risk from volcanic plumes, finding that certain fine particles can penetrate deep into lungs, exacerbating asthma attacks. The study recommends considering both young and mature plumes when forecasting air pollution and dispersion.
A new technique developed by James Cook University scientists helps oil palm growers predict crop yield, nitrous oxide emissions and nitrogen leaching. The research provides valuable information for on-farm decision making, enabling growers to make decisions that balance productivity and environmental sustainability.
Researchers are developing new approach to computer technology, using mechanical vibrations for computations in aerospace applications. This method makes the computers more robust to radiation exposure and has potential for future commercial impacts.
A study found that most female Steller sea lions breed at the rookery where they were born, with fewer than 3% switching locations. When they did move, they preferred nearby rookeries with higher population densities.
A researcher at Lancaster University will study the impact of atmospheric technologies on airspace sovereignty and privacy using drones. The one-year fellowship aims to understand new regulations and technologies, including Amazon's drone-delivery services.
Scientists at the University of Bonn have created a robotic system that uses short laser pulses to weaken weed vitality, eliminating the need for herbicides. The innovative technology has the potential to transform the field of sustainable agriculture.
Scientists have found that supplementing cattle with dried distillers' grains can minimize the effects of harder-to-digest Bermuda grass as seasons progress. This allows for a potential two-season grazing strategy to optimize nutrition and weight gain.
KELT-9b, a Jupiter-like gas giant, has a 'year' of only 1.5 days and orbits an extremely hot star that radiates more ultraviolet radiation than our sun. The planet's atmosphere is constantly blasted with high levels of radiation, making it inhospitable to life.
Scientists at Gladstone Institutes discover distinct neurons in the reticular thalamus, a region involved in attention, perception, and consciousness. The study reveals that targeting specific cell types can disrupt seizures or affect cognition and emotion.
Researchers aim to develop a system that can explain AI decisions to humans, making autonomous vehicles and robots more trustworthy. The project will utilize real-time strategy games like StarCraft to train AI players that can provide natural language explanations.
KELT-9b orbits a star more than twice as large and nearly twice as hot as our sun, causing its atmosphere to puff up like a balloon. The planet's day side is perpetually bombarded by stellar radiation, making it inhospitable for life.
KELT-9b, a gas giant exoplanet, has a day-side temperature of 4,600 Kelvin, making it hotter than most stars. Its atmosphere is constantly bombarded by stellar radiation due to its tidally locked orbit, preventing the formation of molecules on its surface.
The USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is providing up to $6 million in funding for sustainable energy research, focusing on perennial grasses and woody plants. This investment aims to develop more options for producing biofuels and biobased industrial products, creating jobs and rural prosperity.
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research has invested over $1.8 million in brain health research at Baycrest, led by Dr. Tomáš Paus and Dr. Bradley Buchsbaum. The studies aim to understand how cannabis use affects brain development and memory in young adults, as well as develop targeted treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.
The study aims to determine the factors influencing frog survival and persistence in the wild. The release trial will help pave the way for successful reintroduction programs, as researchers monitor the frogs' behavior, dispersal, and disease resistance.
Researchers at UNH found that rising sea levels pose a new hazard to seacoast roads, even two miles from the shore, due to groundwater rise. The study identifies sections of NH roads as vulnerable to deterioration and closure without improvements.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that migratory Nathusius and Soprano bats are attracted to artificial green light, which could disrupt their flight paths. The researchers exposed bats to brief periods of green light at a wavelength of 520nm, recording increased calling activity near the light source.
Two Clemson University engineers, John Ballato and Lin Zhu, are receiving a combined $3.2 million from the Department of Defense to create high-energy lasers that can be used as weapons. The military has already deployed some lasers as defensive weapons to shoot down incoming missiles and drones.
Assistant professor Namiko Yamamoto is using a $447,663 grant from the Office of Naval Research to explore the fundamental toughening mechanisms of novel ceramic composites. Her goal is to develop ceramics with enhanced fracture toughness and damage tolerance for high-temperature aerospace applications.
Researchers have discovered that all entangled states of two particles have a unique classical fingerprint. This breakthrough enables the certification of quantum computers and encryption devices, ensuring their authenticity. The discovery uses a simple set of measurements to act as an identity check for any two-particle entangled state.