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 Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) has established 17 new Priority Programmes across diverse fields, including humanities, social sciences, life sciences, and engineering sciences. The programmes will receive approximately €100 million in funding for the next three years.
The DFG is funding six new research units and two humanities centers focusing on topics such as plant morphodynamics, Russian lyric poetry, and trace element interactions. These initiatives aim to advance knowledge in various fields and tackle pressing issues.
The USDA has allocated $6.3 million to support projects combating childhood obesity, which affects over 12 million children in the US. Funding is aimed at promoting nutrition and healthy living, particularly among low-income communities.
A study by Duke University economists found that catch shares reduce the 'race to fish' that compresses fishing seasons. This allows fishers to time their catches with market demand, reducing occupational hazards and improving fish quality. While exceptions exist, benefits still outweigh negatives.
The study will examine how healthcare services are delivered to people on probation and identify ways to improve health outcomes and reduce recidivism. By analyzing existing data and conducting surveys, the researchers aim to develop evidence-based guidelines for better healthcare commissioning in this vulnerable population.
A Yale study warns that if federal funding for CHIP is not extended, over 8 million children could face substantial cost increases in health insurance. Children with chronic conditions are most vulnerable to these cost increases.
Researchers at the University of Washington have shown that Google's Cloud Video Intelligence API can be tricked into mislabeling videos by inserting images. The system, designed to automatically recognize objects and search for content within videos, can be deceived even when the inserted image is barely visible.
The Environmental Leadership & Training Initiative (ELTI) has received a $4.9 million grant from Arcadia to continue its work empowering leaders in tropical landscapes through field-based training, leadership support, and innovative online instruction. The program has reached over 5,000 individuals since 2006.
Three MIT-affiliated research teams receive $10M in funding to develop novel energy storage technologies for future mobility and autonomous systems. The projects focus on lithium-ion batteries and nanostructured catalysts for oxygen reduction, with the goal of accelerating materials discovery and reducing CO2 emissions.
Researchers from Durham University found that only a quarter of the UK's largest shale gas reserve might be recoverable due to limited space for well development. To minimize land disruption and environmental impact, they recommend locating wells as far apart as possible and operating on a multi-well basis.
The study establishes conditions for globally stabilizing closed-loop systems and converging their position to setpoints. The selection of PID parameters has flexibility due to the availability of upper bounds for partial derivatives of nonlinear uncertain functions.
A consortium of UK universities has been awarded £3 million to establish a national high-performance computing facility for machine learning. The Joint Academic Data Science Endeavour (JADE) will provide computational resources for researchers in machine learning and data science.
Researchers create new material that can treat pollutants in water using sunlight, addressing a majority of contaminants. The material's reusability is now a challenge, as it deactivates after use.
Scientists use relative strength index from stock market to detect slow slip earthquakes, matching results with exhaustive analyses. The technique detects millimeter-scale changes in position at surface, providing clues on plate boundary physics.
A study by Allina Health researchers reveals that both patients and healthcare providers tend to delay conversations about serious illness. The study's findings emphasize the need for clinicians to discuss patients' social, emotional, and spiritual priorities to provide better end-of-life care.
Von Reden plans to develop a comprehensive model of exchange between ancient empires, investigating economic systems, cultural exchange, migration, and border regions. Her project aims to avoid eurocentricity and challenge existing historical narratives.
A pioneering project aims to develop an innovative 'switch on-switch off' mining method for small deposits, reducing feasibility studies and improving resource consumption. The IMP@CT project, funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 program, has received €7 million funding.
Researchers found no association between mosquito abundance and dengue virus risk, but longitudinal indicators showed individuals living with mosquito evidence were more likely to contract dengue. Alternative surveillance frameworks incorporating human outcomes may be necessary for effective dengue control programs.
The Flame Refluxer technology, developed at Worcester Polytechnic Institute with funding from BSEE, demonstrates potential for efficient oil burning while reducing emissions. The tests showed hotter fires consuming more oil, cleaner emissions, and less burn residue.
Analysis of isotopes in bones and teeth from fifth-century cemeteries reveals hybridity among nomads and settlers, suggesting cooperation and coexistence. This challenges the traditional narrative of the Huns' violent attacks on settlements on the edge of the Roman Empire.
The USDA has allocated $11 million for projects addressing antimicrobial resistance, a significant public health concern affecting over 2 million people annually. The funding supports extramural research and education activities aimed at understanding and mitigating AMR along the food chain.
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has announced $11 million in funding to support the development of safe and effective pest management solutions for specialty crops. This investment aims to improve practices and profits for producers, addressing key challenges such as childhood obesity and rural economic growth.
The Resilient Materials 4 Life (RM4L) project aims to create smart materials that adapt, develop immunity, and self-heal. This research has the potential to revolutionize infrastructure maintenance costs and protect the UK's built environment.
The Human Frontier Science Program has awarded $30 million in grants to the top 3% of research applications, supporting innovative and collaborative projects globally. The 2017 HFSP Research Grants will fund cutting-edge research in various fields, including engineering, biology, and medicine.
A new study finds that patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) who undergo moderate-intensity exercise training experience a small but statistically significant increase in peak VO2 max. This improvement is associated with reduced mortality risk and improved self-reported physical functioning.
The Journalists in Aging Fellows Program supports diverse voices and expert sources on aging issues. The program has produced over 450 news stories by its 118 alumni to date, educating journalists and disseminating information about new scientific findings, policy debates, innovations, and evidence-based solutions.
Scientists create a more environmentally friendly way to produce vanillin by encapsulating copper-aluminum hydrotalcite in silica. The new process eliminates the need for polluting hydrochloric acid and allows for catalyst reuse.
A new study developed a better method for evaluating fabric softeners that could lead to potentially "greener" and more millennial-friendly versions. The researchers found that the concentration of surfactant affected vesicle size and arrangement, which could help manufacturers assess efficiency and speed up design.
Researchers developed a novel method using Terahertz spectroscopy and 3D-printing technology to measure water content in crude oil with high accuracy. The technique can be used to continuously monitor moisture content and is suitable for applications even during high-water-bearing periods.
Research found that individual physicians' spending patterns have a limited impact on patient outcomes, with no difference in readmissions or mortality rates between low- and high-spending physicians. The study analyzed data from Medicare patients aged 65 and older who were hospitalized for nonelective conditions between 2011 and 2014.
Researchers discovered a molecular signaling receptor, type I Interferon receptor (IFNAR), that fuels production of pro-inflammatory cytokines during secondary inflammatory challenge, inducing preterm birth. Testing in mouse models and human tissues found that genetic deletion or inhibition of IFNAR prevents preterm birth.
A PSU researcher is using a $877,836 NSF grant to investigate how race, poverty, and disabilities affect students' success in STEM fields. The goal is to identify school and teacher factors that facilitate student success and offer policy recommendations to improve classroom outcomes.
Physicists propose non-invasive probe to induce magnetic response in materials with weak or nonexistent fields. This technique could yield more sensitive MRI machines, high-speed storage memory, and efficient CPUs.
Research from NC State University found that crowdfunding backers' number predicts market success, not the amount of money raised. Backers serve as evangelists and provide constructive feedback, contributing to a product's later financial goals.
Researchers at Brown University created an algorithm that enables robots to ask for clarification when unsure about object requests. The system uses a combination of speech commands and human gestures to improve interpretation accuracy and efficiency.
Researchers at University of Illinois Chicago have developed a method using bubble-recoil to mix liquid coolant around high-power microelectronics. This technique is effective both on Earth and in space, where traditional pool-boiling methods fail due to the lack of gravity.
Researchers discovered a neuroprotective compound that reduces brain cell loss and boosts newborn neurons after stroke. The P7C3-A20 compound improves physical balance, coordination, learning, and memory in rats.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston has received a $2.4 million grant to create the Healthy Cities Research Hub, exploring drivers of diabetes and other chronic diseases in urban settings. The hub will facilitate knowledge exchange and evaluate community-based interventions aimed at improving public health in cities.
The Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program has released high-quality images of a large swath of the night sky, containing 100 million stars and galaxies. The data will allow researchers to search for previously undiscovered galaxies and study dark matter, which can be detected via its effects on gravity.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture has announced funding for fundamental and applied research on canola to increase productivity and profitability in various growing environments. This $766,000 grant program aims to develop new commercial products from canola and improve production systems.
Google's Perspective AI system can be bypassed by manipulating language, resulting in false low toxicity scores for abusive phrases. Researchers suggest techniques to improve robustness, including spellchecking and training with adversarial examples.
The new centre will address social crises from four perspectives: socio-ecological transformation, social inequalities, violence and conflict resolution, and identity and region. It aims to carry out research together with academics from Latin America and promote the internationalization of the humanities.
The USDA is providing funding for research on new, environmentally friendly pesticides to replace the ozone-depleting chemical methyl bromide. The goal is to develop practical and safe alternatives for pest management in various industries.
A new study found that nations with indirect alliances are less likely to engage in major conflicts. The probability of conflict between neighboring countries decreases as the degree of separation increases, reaching a low of 3-4% for those within three degrees of each other.
A study reveals significant variation in palliative care services across England, with some regions failing to provide standardised information and patient choice being hindered. Experts recommend a national framework to ensure fair access to palliative care, citing the Welsh Palliative Care Strategy as a best practice model.
Stella Offner's research aims to understand how stars form and interact with their birth environments. Her team will perform computer simulations to test different theories on star mass origin and compare models to telescope observations of star-forming regions.
Scientists have successfully created plant-based wires and supercapacitors that can store energy, opening up new possibilities for renewable energy sources. The innovative technology enables plants to absorb conducting polymer solutions, forming functional transistors and storing electrical charge.
A team at the Technical University of Munich has demonstrated that using monoenergetic X-rays from a miniature particle accelerator can significantly reduce the required quantity of contrast agents in coronary angiography. This approach enables sharper images with fewer health risks, especially for patients with kidney insufficiency.
Researchers studied Anopheles darlingi mosquitoes in Amazonian Peru revealing that humans are the most common blood source followed by Galliforme birds. The study provides valuable information on malaria transmission and could help track potential changes in mosquito behavior.
Researchers have revealed the nanoscale architecture of a beetle's exoskeleton, composed of chitin fibers with unique twisting patterns. The discovery could lead to the development of lighter, stronger materials for various applications, including reducing drag in vehicles and airplanes.
The Bladder Cancer Funding Analyzer (BCFA) offers a free service to analyze funding streams and trends, facilitating better understanding of research organizations' funding portfolios. Researchers can access the BCFA at no charge on the BLC website.
Klebsiella pneumoniae is a multi-drug resistant microbe causing severe infections with mortality rates of 25-60 percent. Researchers have identified the underlying molecular explanations preventing treatment, highlighting the need for innovative solutions to counteract its effects.
A Princeton University study found that social exclusion leads to superstitious beliefs and conspiracy theories, suggesting a cycle of exclusion that can entrench beliefs. The researchers propose that addressing social exclusion could help counteract these theories.
Researchers created a supercapacitor infused with green tea polyphenols, demonstrating power and energy densities suitable for powering wearable electronics. The device performed well even after being compressed over 100 times, making it a promising solution for long-lasting wearable energy.
The USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture is awarding $1.7 million to support research capacity building at land-grant tribal colleges and universities. The funding will focus on enhancing research projects of tribal, state, or national importance.
People with depression experience trouble processing information and solving problems, with symptoms persisting even after other symptoms fade. Researchers identified molecular mechanisms affected by depression on a rat model, shedding light on potential new treatments addressing associated cognitive problems.
A small crocodile from the Upper Jurassic Langenberg Quarry in Germany has been identified as a potential new species, Knoetschkesuchus langenbergensis. The fossilized remains exhibit unique features such as openings in the jaw bone and tooth morphology.
A study by Northwestern University found that delinquent youth are more likely to have multiple sexual partners and engage in unprotected vaginal sex with high-risk partners as they age. This risk is particularly pronounced among African American males, who are over four times more likely to have multiple partners.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed new mechanical metamaterials that can easily transmit motion in one direction while blocking it in another. These nonreciprocal materials have potential applications in soft robotics, prosthetics, and energy harvesting.
New research by University of Bristol physicists shows that protein molecules can be understood using virtual knots, a branch of knot theory previously considered abstract. This approach captures the essential ambiguity of where protein curve ends are, providing a more detailed understanding of their three-dimensional structure.