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 new ASU project will leverage social media to monitor and analyze conversations to determine significant dangers. The goal is to develop a logic-based framework to understand extremist mindset and motivations, supporting counter-messaging strategies.
A European-US consortium led by Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia aims to understand the evolution of plant reproduction, including ancient mechanisms of gamete development and fertilization. The project will identify genes useful to agriculture, increasing crop yield and food security.
A new analysis found that over 34 million children's lives have been saved since 2000 due to investments in child health programs at a cost of as little as $4,205 per child. The report, published in The Lancet, also highlights the impact of funding from donor agencies such as the US government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Researchers at HKUST found a way to stimulate axon growth without external stimulants. The deletion of the PTEN gene enhances compensatory sprouting and promotes regeneration of CST axons. This breakthrough study offers new possibilities for treating chronic SCI, including delayed treatment up to 1 year after injury.
The OpenDreamKit project will develop software for mathematical tools and virtual computing environments, making research data exploration and collaboration more efficient. The four-year project brings together 15 partners from across Europe to create open source software that can be used by researchers worldwide.
The Moffitt Cancer Center has received a $3.6 million grant to investigate the long-term use of e-cigarettes as a quit-smoking strategy. The five-year study will enroll 2,500 e-cigarette users and follow them for 24 months to gather data on their effectiveness.
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have discovered a unique immune response feature in patients with severe asthma, which may lead to new treatments. The study found that boosting levels of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) reduces airway hyper-reactivity in animal models.
A groundbreaking study published in PNAS has found that fingerprint recognition accuracy stays the same even after years of aging. Using large-scale data from the Michigan State Police, researchers Anil Jain and Soweon Yoon demonstrated that fingerprints remain stable over time, addressing a long-standing concern in forensic science.
Zdzislaw Musielak, a UT Arlington physics professor, has won the Humboldt Research Award for his exploration of extra-solar planetary systems, dark matter, and dark energy. The award provides him with the opportunity to work on research projects in Germany, furthering his cutting-edge achievements.
Electrical engineers have developed a method to increase the distance information can travel in fiber optic cables without distorting the signal. By using wideband frequency combs, they can predict and reversible crosstalk between communication channels, enabling longer transmission distances and cheaper networks.
Rapidly turning lovebirds execute extremely fast head turns when their wings cover their eyes, shortening blurry phases and maintaining stable vision. This super-fast behavior allows them to make split-second decisions during maneuvers.
Researchers at UCF developed a technique for creating the world's first full-color, flexible thin-film reflective display inspired by nature. The new method reflects ambient light and can be controlled by voltage, offering potential implications for various electronics and whole new categories of displays.
A new study published in the British Journal of Psychology found that people tend to choose poorly matching passport photos, leading to lower accuracy in face recognition. Strangers were surprisingly more reliable at judging likeness than individuals themselves, with self-selected images being matched seven per cent less accurately.
Professor Andreas Peter Ruediger, a leading expert in nanophotonics and nanoelectronics, has been awarded an honorary Fellowship of the Munich University of Applied Sciences (MUAS). He will collaborate with the university on a research project exploring multifunctional materials for new applications in nanotechnology.
A study found that influenza viruses use both airline and commuter road travel to distribute across the continental US. The commuter network was more often associated with genetic distance than other measures of spatial or network distance for the H1N1 subtype.
Researchers found that musicians' brains can incorporate abstract music notation to enhance their visual perception of congruent musical notes. Non-musicians showed no significant difference in visual preference regardless of the melody played.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have discovered the structure and transport properties of the intermediate state in lithium-ion batteries. This finding may help accelerate battery reaction speed and significantly shorten battery charging time.
The study reveals that wild climate swings in the tropics made it difficult for large, warm-blooded dinosaur herbivores to survive. The researchers found that wildfires swept the landscape during arid regimes, continually reshaping vegetation available for plant-eating animals.
A University of Texas at Arlington researcher is examining when and why employees hide critical information on the job, a phenomenon known as knowledge hoarding. The three-year study will evaluate its effects on work teams' performance and identify optimal ways to distribute knowledge.
Forefront: Innovations in Suicide Prevention is receiving a $100,000 grant from Washington Women's Foundation to expand its outreach to six underserved rural communities. The organization plans to train over 1,260 individuals and provide technical assistance through the two-year life of the grant.
A study by researchers at the University of California - Davis Health found that children with ADHD who moved more intensely exhibited better cognitive performance. The study suggests that allowing movement during cognitive tasks may be beneficial for students with ADHD, rather than trying to keep them still.
Energy efficiency upgrades significantly benefit low-income single-family homeowners, providing improved thermal comfort, enhanced health and safety, and reduced energy costs. Landlords also experience benefits, including lower heating fuel prices and an improved sense of safety.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that participants estimated the length of a round-trip walk as shorter than the outward trip, even when the times were equal. This phenomenon, known as the return trip effect, may be related to our perception of time and awareness of the destination.
A study found that chimpanzees produce the same facial expressions when laugh sounds are present or absent, suggesting flexibility in their expression. The study also showed that facial expressions and vocalizations are used differently during social play.
A study by the University of Montreal found that five companies - Reed-Elsevier, Springer, Wiley-Blackwell, Taylor & Francis, and Sage - now publish more than 50% of academic articles. The large commercial publishers have huge sales with profit margins of nearly 40%, but question whether they are still necessary in today's digital era.
Researchers will investigate mTOR's role in brain function and regulation using various techniques. Understanding its function in the striatum could lead to new therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers at the University of Houston are working on discovering novel materials to improve superconducting properties, thermoelectric efficiency and microelectronic performance. They aim to develop new materials that can transform electricity generation, transmission and storage, as well as reduce greenhouse gases.
The Ecological Society of America has received an NSF grant to support a three-pronged approach to increase diversity within the ecological field. The grant will fund activities that guide students to identify ecology as a viable career option and develop a sense of personal connection with science.
Researchers found that inherent nervous system delays can enable individuals to anticipate others' movements, challenging traditional views. The study used a feedback delay to improve coordination between unpredictable movements, with promising implications for robotics and artificial systems.
A new tool reveals that people with a high bias blind spot are less accurate at evaluating their abilities relative to others and tend to ignore expert advice, ultimately affecting decision-making quality.
The EU has invested €9.5 million in the Aerosols, Clouds, and Trace gases Research Infrastructure (ACTRIS-2), expanding its network of ground-based observatories to study aerosols, clouds, and trace gases. TROPOS coordinates remote sensing and operates a European Calibration Centre for Aerosol Physics in Leipzig.
A recent study found that 29.1% of US adults have lifetime alcohol use disorder, with 12-month prevalence at 13.9%, and only 19.8% seeking treatment or help. The study highlights the need to educate the public and policy makers about AUD and its treatments.
University of Washington researchers are scaling up their 'Sheared Flow Stabilized Z-Pinch' device in hopes of achieving a sustainable fusion reaction. With a $5.3 million grant, they aim to create a proof-of-principle experiment that demonstrates the concept's scalability.
NYU researchers have received a MacArthur Foundation grant to develop cutting-edge visualization tools for human rights advocates. The team, led by Enrico Bertini, Oded Nov, and Margaret Satterthwaite, aims to help organizations effectively display complex data on human rights violations, conflict-related deaths, and economic injustices.
Researchers found that inexperienced investors are more likely to invest in target-date funds, which minimize investment mistakes. TDFs automatically adjust asset mixes based on age, providing a safe option for those with limited knowledge of the investment world.
A pilot study of post-doctorates and doctorate alumni reveals differences in research outputs, satisfaction levels, and employment continuity between permanent and temporary contract holders. The report also discusses the challenges faced by doctorate holders in finding alternative career paths beyond academia.
David Wetz's research focuses on optimizing batteries' performance and lifespan when operated at high power. The project aims to develop safer, more efficient batteries for the U.S. Navy, addressing safety, size, and weight constraints.
A new study by Nicole McNeil and Emily Fyfe found that using abstract labels to identify patterns improves preschoolers' problem-solving skills. The researchers compared concrete labels to abstract labels in a set of patterning problems, with children assigned to the abstract labels condition solving more problems correctly.
The University of the Pacific has been awarded a $192,500 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to digitize Coptic texts. This two-year project, called KELLIA, is an international collaboration between US universities and German institutions.
Biologists from the University of Leicester have discovered that buff-tailed bumblebees develop into queens or workers based on gene expression. The study found that differentiation is not caused by inherited genetic differences, but rather by distinct expression patterns in adults.
A £4 million project is increasing production in Scotland's salmon farming industry by utilizing wrasse as a cleaner fish to reduce sea lice challenges. The research aims to improve the quality and delousing efficacy of farmed wrasse, advancing hatchery technologies and optimising welfare.
Iowa State University will establish a Forensic Science Center of Excellence, focusing on pattern and digital evidence. The center aims to build a statistically sound foundation for forensic sciences, addressing serious problems with the country's forensic science system.
Researchers at the University of Montreal found that targeted interventions can prevent, reduce, or delay cannabis use amongst high-risk youth. The study showed a significant reduction in cannabis use rates among sensation-seekers, with a 75% decrease six months post-intervention.
The National Science Foundation has funded a project to develop ultralow-wear composite materials for industrial applications, with the goal of reducing friction and wear costs. The research will explore material structures, composition, processing, and operating conditions to improve tribological performance.
Researchers at UC Davis will investigate how virtual schooling affects student achievement and teacher effectiveness in a three-year study of Florida's K-12 virtual education sector. The study, led by Assistant Professor Cassandra Hart, aims to provide insights for policymakers and school personnel on avenues for improvement.
The University of South Florida has been named an I-Corps Site by the National Science Foundation, receiving nearly $300,000 to build and mentor teams of USF faculty and students to become successful entrepreneurs. The goal is to launch multiple successful start-up companies over the next three years.
The University of Texas at Arlington educator Alexa Smith-Osborne has received a $200,000 grant to enhance mental health awareness in African-American faith-based communities. The initiative aims to reduce stigma and improve healthcare access, addressing the disproportionately high rates of psychological distress among Black Americans.
Scientists have created a light-emitting, transparent and flexible paper out of biocompatible materials, a significant step towards bendable electronics. The innovation uses wood flour and quantum dots made from zinc and selenium, offering a 'greener' alternative to traditional plastics.
Researchers analyzed millions of online donations collected over a 14-year period and found that increasing repeat givers by 10% could yield over 60% more dollars donated. Building a predictive model with 21 variables helps fundraisers focus on cultivating people likely to become repeat donors.
A groundbreaking report from the National Research Council concludes that team science is increasingly used in scientific research, enhancing innovation and impact. However, resolving the challenges of effective team science requires attention to assembling the right people, training and development, and team leadership.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston has established a Biosafety and Infectious Disease Training Initiative, partnering with the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit. This program aims to deliver meaningful training to various audiences, including public service employees and waste handlers.
Researchers used chemical signatures on otoliths to track Alaska's Bristol Bay salmon, revealing birthplaces and life histories. The technique can help scientists understand freshwater habitats and conservation efforts for Chinook salmon populations.
A research team at McGill University Health Centre has developed a potential vaccine that nudges the immune response away from developing allergies, offering hope for Canadians with seasonal allergies. The study uses a molecule called STAT6-IP to redirect the immune system's response, teaching it to tolerate allergens.
Professor Matei Ciocarlie has received a three-year Young Investigator Program grant to develop collaborative manipulation systems for human-robot teams. His research aims to create novel mechanisms that combine mechanical and computational intelligence, enabling robots to perform versatile tasks in cluttered or occluded settings.
A new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researchers found that adults over 50 with persistent depressive symptoms are twice as likely to have a stroke as those without depression. Even after depressive symptoms improve, stroke risk remains elevated, particularly for women.
Jeetain Mittal, a Lehigh University assistant professor, has been awarded DOE funding to develop computational methods for designing functional materials using DNA-mediated assembly. This research aims to create 'design rules' for particle interactions, revolutionizing energy-related material applications.
Eighty percent of Burmese long-tailed macaques on an island in southern Thailand use stone and shell tools to crack open seafood, employing 17 different action patterns. The study catalogued tool use and action patterns, revealing one-handed hammering for precision striking and two-handed hammering for larger shells.
A study found that smokers who quit successfully had greater connectivity between the insula and somatosensory cortex compared to those who failed. This suggests that targeting this neural pathway could be a strategy for improving smoking cessation outcomes. The researchers hope their findings will guide the development of new treatments.
Two Large Hadron Collider experiments have combined their results to observe a previously unseen subatomic process, establishing a new and extremely rare decay of the Bs particle into two muons. This discovery helps scientists study the properties of particles to search for cracks in the Standard Model, potentially revealing new physics.
Researchers warn against using existing measures of non-cognitive skills, such as self-control and grit, for evaluating educators, programs, or diagnosing students. The measures are not yet ready for educational use and may yield misleading results. A multi-method approach to measurement can increase reliability and validity.