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.
Ding-Shyue Yang, a UH assistant professor of chemistry, has been awarded a $570,332 NSF CAREER grant to further his research on the movement of energy and charge across material interfaces. He aims to improve imaging tools for ultrafast molecular studies using new technologies and experimental methods.
A new study found that access to basic amenities like electricity and clean energy improves with income growth, but not uniformly or quickly enough. The poorest members of society, especially women, bear the brunt of health risks from cooking with solid fuels and lack of sanitation.
A new study found that people unconsciously map sounds to shapes, influencing awareness before conscious recognition. The 'bouba-kiki' effect, observed across cultures and age groups, shows that soft-sounding words pair with round shapes and sharp-sounding words with angular shapes.
Researchers developed hand-held spectrometers using meta-lenses, enabling real-time monitoring of pollutants and toxic chemicals. The devices can be customized and mass-produced, offering significant potential for applications in healthcare diagnostics and environmental monitoring.
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine developed a new software tool to measure energy production in human immune cells, using Extracellular Flux technology and the SHORE analytical tool. This tool enables accurate comparisons between healthy individuals and those with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
A recent study found that disabling the Golgi apparatus, a protein regulation part in brain cells, causes developmental delay, severe ataxia, and postnatal death in mice. This suggests a potential link to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
A £1.7 million, five-year project will provide electronic music composers with access to newly-developed software tools and methodologies to mine vast digital sound databases. This will enable the creation of exciting new sounds and ideas, pushing the limits of new 'sound worlds'.
The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) is offering a $50,000 grant to support research into the effects of companion animals on healthy aging in humans. The grant aims to advance the study of human-animal interaction's impact on older adults and their caregivers.
The National Human Genome Research Institute awards JAX a four-year $6.7 million grant to launch a center for three-dimensional genome mapping of the human and mouse genomes as part of the ENCODE initiative.
A new four-year study, funded by a $2 million NIH grant, will test a web-based program designed to help grandmothers manage the stresses of caring for their grandchildren. The program aims to improve coping skills and reduce emotional and physical fallout associated with this demanding role.
A new study found that some fast-food packaging in the US contains a variety of fluorinated compounds, including long-chain PFASs associated with developmental problems, decreased fertility, and increased cancer risk. The researchers detected fluorine in nearly half of food contact papers overall.
A consumer EEG device is generating valuable data for neuroscience research, revealing new information on what happens to our thinking processes as we age. The device's large-scale data collection has enabled scientists to study the brain in the real world, shedding light on sex differences and cognitive functions.
Anderson Janotti, a UD professor, has won an NSF Faculty Early Career Development Award to model defects in materials used for energy, electronics, and optoelectronics applications. His research aims to understand and control defects to enhance material functionality.
Researchers found that plants emit unique odour profiles in response to exotic herbivores, which are distinct from those emitted by native herbivores. This adaptation helps plants specifically attract natural enemies that feed on the herbivores eating them.
Research shows people prefer those who openly admit bad behavior over hypocrites who condemn it, as the former provides genuine moral insight. Participants viewed hypocritical characters more positively when they condemned bad behavior without direct information about their moral behavior.
Researchers face challenges in scientific writing due to lack of support for highly specialized areas. A recent study surveyed common tools and identified key features that could be used to construct a system for production engineering.
A new study at the University of Pennsylvania found that people who are more mindful are more likely to change their behavior in response to health messages. Mindful individuals react less negatively to health advice, leading to increased exercise motivation and healthier choices.
Researchers at Iowa State University have received grants to improve glacier-flow models and predict the contribution of glaciers to sea level rise. The team will use lab experiments, field work, and complex computer models to better understand the physics of glacial ice movement and develop more accurate sliding laws.
Researchers analyzed a medieval skeleton found in a leprosy hospital cemetery in Winchester, UK, and discovered the strain of leprosy it carried was genetically distinct from others, linked to South-Central and Western Asia. The findings suggest that resistance to the disease may have developed over time.
Researchers have quantified social genetic effects on over 100 phenotypes in laboratory mice, finding that up to 29% of variation is explained by the social environment.
The Danforth Center is expanding its research program to optimize breeding strategies for grain sorghum, a critical source of nutrition for millions in Sub-Saharan Africa. The grant will support the development and deployment of advanced phenotyping and breeding technologies.
Monash University has been awarded a USD 9.7 million grant to lead a five-year research project on transforming water infrastructure and sanitation practices in urban slums globally. The project aims to improve human health and well-being in informal settlements, with potential applications for new water management policies worldwide.
Researchers found that attackers can crack Android Pattern Lock within 5 attempts using video and computer vision algorithm software. Complex patterns are actually easier to crack than simple ones, making shorter, simpler patterns a more secure option.
Researchers at INRS have developed a new pulsed laser with an ultra-narrow spectral width of 105 MHz, breaking the optical bandwidth record. The compact architecture enables full-spectrum resolution in the radio frequency domain, opening up opportunities for on-chip integration and novel sensing applications.
Children living in slums in Brazil and East Lubbock, Texas, experience similar cognitive and behavioral effects due to toxic stress. The research project aims to identify chronic toxic factors common to both regions and promote cross-border scientific partnerships.
Researchers found disruptions in brain network communication affect memory regions in individuals with PTSD, linked to avoidance symptoms. The study suggests treatments targeting enhanced communication may improve PTSD symptoms.
A recent study demonstrates the integration of atomically precise graphene nanoribbons (APGNRs) onto nonmetallic silicon substrates, overcoming a significant challenge in chip manufacturing. The 'bottom-up' approach allows for atomic-level control and uniform electronic properties.
The USDA has invested $13.6 million in four new grants to combat citrus greening disease, also known as Huanglongbing, which is affecting the US citrus industry. Researchers will use CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing and nanotechnology approaches to develop resistant varieties and bactericides.
The LSU Health New Orleans research enterprise will receive a $499,640 NSF grant to upgrade its networking infrastructure and create a Science DMZ. The project aims to facilitate large data exchange, remote collaboration, and leadership in multiple science disciplines.
Researchers have found that women's mental sharpness starts to decline as early as their 50s, with an average decline of 5% over 10 years. Cognitive processing speed and verbal memory also show significant declines, highlighting the importance of menopause transition in understanding cognitive changes.
Casey Miller's initiative aims to increase diversity in physics graduate education through inclusive practices and support structures for underrepresented students. The project will assess faculty attitudes, develop training materials, and provide workshops to improve holistic admissions and retention.
Andrew Morris will continue his work on a book about Hurricane Camille and its impact on American disaster relief policy using the NEH fellowship. The book examines the transformation of disaster assistance programs in the US following the devastating Category 5 storm in 1969.
The USDA is providing funding to 19 eligible 1890 land-grant colleges to enhance their agricultural and food sciences facilities and equipment. This investment aims to educate the future workforce in these critical job sectors.
Researchers found that loggerhead turtles spend an average of seven years and 16 years in the waters off Baja California before migrating to Japan. The study provides crucial information for developing conservation plans and reducing bycatch rates, which can be as high as 1,000 turtles per year.
A new UC Berkeley study finds that crowdfunding has opened up funding to entrepreneurs in regions lacking venture capital investment. Successful Kickstarter campaigns have been shown to increase venture capital funding in those areas.
A new collaborative project aims to improve inclusiveness in graduate education and attract more under-represented minorities to faculty careers. The University of Texas at Arlington is part of a multi-institutional initiative to increase diversity among university faculty from under-represented minority groups.
Researchers aim to overcome traditional antenna limitations with liquid materials, enabling flexible and compact devices. The project will test liquids for stability and frequency transmission across various temperatures.
The new guidelines provide a revised conceptual model of VCI and its subtypes, aiming to clarify diagnosis and facilitate collaboration among researchers. The study's findings have the potential to speed up research in this vital area and bring much-needed help to people with vascular cognitive impairment.
The USDA is providing $3 million in funding to support Alaska Native- and Native Hawaiian-Serving colleges and universities. The grant program aims to enhance educational equity and develop the local workforce, resulting in increased employment, new business launches, and improved agricultural production.
A University of California, Riverside researcher is leading a team studying the life cycles of harmful viruses. The goal is to understand viral capsid dynamics to develop new approaches to curb infections.
New research found that concussions accelerate brain atrophy and cognitive decline in people with a genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease. The study, published in the journal Brain, suggests that even mild traumatic brain injuries may increase the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that baboons produce five distinct vowel-like sounds similar to those used in human speech. The anatomy of the baboon's vocal tract also reveals similarities with the human tongue, indicating a shared mechanism for forming these sounds.
Researchers at University of Plymouth receive funding to build on existing work exploring phenomena within Standard Model and Beyond, with aim to develop new ideas using supercomputers. The grant will fuel efforts to push boundaries in particle physics research and identify possible candidates for universe's remaining mass-energy content.
A new optical device has provided the most precisely detailed, real-time pictures to date of solar activity occurring across vast stretches of the star's surface. The system corrects images distorted by atmospheric turbulence, allowing researchers to analyze magnetic events and forces that propel the star's magnetic fields.
Rettsyndrome.org has reached a milestone of $40 million in research funding for Rett syndrome treatments. The organization has funded over 40M in high-quality research grants and programs to date.
Researchers found a significant increase in large-scale tornado outbreaks in the US, with the number of extreme events doubling over the last half-century. The study suggests that vertical wind shear is driving this trend, rather than climate change.
The USDA has allocated $2.9 million for research into integrated biorefineries, which aim to create biofuels and bioproducts from renewable energy sources. This funding will support projects that address the challenges of scaling up and operating these facilities, with the goal of enhancing US energy security and economic growth.
The new therapy uses a kilohertz frequency electrical block of afferent vagus nerve pathways to stimulate the nerve while inhibiting unwanted nerve activity, increasing clinical efficacy and therapeutic benefit. This approach is reversible, controllable, and clinically feasible, providing a potential solution for chronic inflammatory d...
Michigan State University has secured a $1 million USAID grant to build a mosquito factory in Yucatan, Mexico, to combat the Zika virus. The project aims to use Wolbachia bacteria to reduce mosquito populations and prevent disease transmission.
Researchers found that both crops successfully sequestered more carbon in the soil than was lost from the soil surface, with sugarcane storing three times as much carbon. Deficit irrigation boosted soil carbon sequestration but reduced yield.
A PLOS study found that Neotropical spotted cat species are drawn to protected areas, with habitat preferences playing less of a role than protection status in determining their distribution. The study suggests maintaining and creating reserves can help conserve the species.
A researcher at the University of Kansas is examining the role of nonprofits in community cohesion and recovery after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The study aims to reveal the social-ecological drivers of response and current extent of recovery in approximately 92 communities using data from various disciplines.
Scientists at JGU and MIT achieved billion-fold reproducible motion of special magnetic textures, called skyrmions, between different positions, taking a critical step towards applying skyrmions in spintronic devices. The skyrmion Hall angle was also investigated, revealing an unexpected dependency on the velocity of the skyrmions.
Researchers aim to identify effective treatments for cognitive deficits in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. Dr. Chiaravalloti's project seeks to improve everyday functioning and quality of life for individuals with SCI.
The Biophysical Society's 2018 Future of Biophysics symposium features young investigators exploring the intersection of physics and life sciences. Researchers will present their work on topics such as enzyme structures, protein sorting, and RNA polymerase II mechanisms.
The project investigates Buddhist networks in Eastern Central Asia from the 6th-14th centuries, exploring transregional links between China, India, Tibet, and Central Asian regions. The team will analyze manuscripts and conduct field research to understand how Buddhism spread and evolved.
Researchers at Yale University developed a novel approach to detect exoplanets by analyzing signal fluctuations in star spectral intensity. By studying all signal information together, they can refine the search for Earth-like planets and improve traditional methods.
Researchers at the University of Lincoln have secured £300,000 funding to develop an automated social network analysis tool for monitoring zebrafish and rainbow trout welfare.
The project aims to increase hybrid wheat yield potential by 15-20 percent, making it climate resilient and attractive to producers. The team will develop tools and germplasm for efficient hybrid seed production and create hybrids to establish and confirm heterotic pools in wheat.
Research found girls with low fundamental movement skills exhibit higher body fatness compared to boys, emphasizing the need for tailored strategies to enhance motor proficiency in girls. The study aims to understand the relationship between motor skills and obesity, suggesting that developmental delays may be a contributing factor.