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.
Peter Lodahl, professor at the University of Copenhagen, has received a 18.6 million kroner grant from the European Research Council to develop technology for quantum communication based on photonics. The project aims to create scalable quantum photonic networks.
The NetSage service will help network engineers understand current traffic patterns, identify loss of data and congestion issues. By analyzing large-scale data flows, researchers can optimize performance and improve the overall efficiency of international networks.
The NSF-funded COMET program aims to train graduate STEM students to use DFT intelligently, bridging the gap between fundamental assumptions and numerical methods. Students will also receive professional development training and international internship opportunities.
Delgado-Aparicio's research aims to eliminate impurities that cool plasma and halt fusion reactions, crucial for ITER and NSTX-U experiments. His $2.6M grant will fund development of a complex diagnostic tool to analyze impurity reactions with plasma.
The project aims to synthesize different atomically thin two-dimensional semiconducting layers, which possess novel properties. The team will investigate the electronic properties of transition metal dichalcogenides in various layer configurations, with potential applications in photovoltaics and photoelectronics.
The German Research Foundation has awarded 75,000 Euros for an international research marketing project that hosts a competition with challenges in digital forensics, discrete optimization, and photonic technologies. The project aims to engage the global research community and promote collaboration and innovation.
Researchers at the University of Virginia will use single-cell genome sequencing to examine brain samples from people with and without schizophrenia. By comparing these samples, they hope to identify genetic causes of the disease and develop more effective treatments.
The university will establish a Data Intensive Research and Education Center to create academic opportunities for students from underserved communities. Faculty and students will focus on collaborative research in areas such as hydrology, climate change, and cloud computing.
Queen's University Belfast is at the forefront of a major European push to combat increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks. The SAFEcrypto project, led by Professor Máire O'Neill, will focus on three main areas: protecting information passed via satellites, public-safety communications systems, and safeguarding data privacy.
Researchers found that writing and speaking are supported by different parts of the brain, revealing a high-level distinction between word construction. This understanding could help educators teach children to read and write more effectively and improve therapies for those suffering from aphasia.
The U.S. Northeast Passive Acoustic Sensing Network (NEPAN) uses buoys and autonomous underwater vehicles to record and archive sounds from marine mammals and fish in the western North Atlantic. The data will inform NOAA Fisheries stock assessment reports, permit consultations, and specific management actions.
The Department of Navy announced 36 young investigators who will receive grants to fund research in various naval-relevant science and technology areas. The awardees, representing 31 institutions across the US, will receive funding for laboratory equipment, graduate student stipends, and other expenses.
The discovery of rare pygmy sperm whale fossils in Panama has provided new insights into the evolution of these whales. The fossils indicate that the spermaceti organ, which plays a key role in sound generation and echolocation, was reduced in size throughout their evolution.
Researchers at The University of Akron have pioneered a new class of hybrid materials by creating tetrahedron building blocks that assemble themselves into strong structures. This breakthrough has the potential to be custom-designed for various functional materials and applications in nanotechnologies.
Researchers found that tall and wide-plated Stegosaurus individuals were actually male and female of the same species. The differences in plate height and width were not due to growth, but rather sexual dimorphism, providing new insights into Stegosaurus behavior.
Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have discovered a new method to detect Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a bacterium that has contaminated oyster beds and sickened consumers in the Northeast. The detection platform uses genome sequencing and analysis to identify specific genes found only in the invasive strain.
The team aims to create scalable nano-manufacturing processes for functional metamaterials, revolutionizing computing, communication, sensing, and imaging. By manipulating light in ways not possible in natural materials, they seek to overcome current roadblocks towards integrated photonics.
A new archive of Malian photography has been created, providing valuable documentation of modernization in West Africa. The archive features original black-and-white negatives dating from the 1940s, offering a unique perspective on village-based lifestyles and cultural practices.
Scientists at Scripps Research Institute will investigate brain regions that suppress relapse associated with cocaine and alcohol addiction. Preliminary studies suggest that cues signaling unavailability of drugs can activate neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex, potentially leading to new methods for resisting relapse.
A new study suggests global warming is not as fast as predicted, with natural variability accounting for recent temperature changes. This 'middle-of-the-road' scenario could result in 11-year hiatuses in warming, making it more plausible than the most severe IPCC projections.
Researchers found that overnight fasting reduced postprandial glucose levels and associated them with lower breast cancer risk. Longer nighttime fasts were linked to fewer calories consumed per day and improved biomarker results.
Professors Tiago Falk and Douglas O'Shaughnessy from INRS Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications Research Centre received Google research grants to improve automatic speech recognition (ASR) accuracy. Their projects focus on reducing background noise and developing new methods to analyze acoustic speech.
Researchers at UT Arlington are developing an underground freight transportation system using electric and pneumatic methods. The project aims to reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and accidents in urban areas.
Research reveals that men donate more when seeing other men have donated large amounts, especially if the fundraiser is attractive. Men compete to show generosity, while women don't react in a similar way.
Researchers found that people fall into a specific pattern to avoid collisions while performing complementary tasks like dancing. The study revealed nearly all pairs fell into the same stable coordination pattern.
Researchers have discovered how oxytocin acts on individual brain cells to prompt specific social behaviors. Adding oxytocin to adult mice' brains allowed them to learn and perform social tasks, suggesting potential treatments for social anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Brunel University London is providing a £29,625 grant to train 40 female engineering postgraduates to deliver 'Robo-Code' sessions at secondary schools. The program aims to introduce engineering thinking and computer programming to students, while also engaging girls in STEM subjects.
A new study finds that wind bursts in the western Pacific can significantly impact El Niño events and their severity. The research identifies three distinct varieties of El Niño and explains how westerly wind bursts determine which flavor will occur. This finding could help improve future predictions of these global-scale climate events.
Túngara frogs exhibit different escape responses when attacked by ground versus aerial predators. They flee from snakes on the ground but move towards bats in the air, effectively undercutting their flight path. This study highlights the flexibility of prey strategies to evade predators with diverse attack modes.
Researchers at UT Arlington have developed a new power generator that produces electricity up to 25% more efficiently than existing technology. The Afthon process harnesses pressure gain combustion, capturing most of the lost energy and burning fuel over 30 times faster than traditional engines.
The European Science Foundation emphasizes the importance of addressing rare, high-impact geohazards that can lead to global disasters. The report aims to develop robust risk management plans and increase general resilience in the face of surprise events.
UT Arlington researchers have developed a way to fabricate nanoscale pillars that can lead to more energy-efficient transistors in electronic devices. The innovation could result in a tenfold reduction in energy consumption, reducing the need for frequent battery charging.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have received a grant to investigate the Hippo-YAP signaling pathway in various cancers, including breast and colorectal cancer. The study aims to identify compounds targeting this pathway to combat cancer, with a focus on ultra-high-throughput screening resources.
Physicist Ramon Lopez will use a combination of computer simulation models and real observations to understand the role of solar wind fluctuations in space weather. The research aims to enhance our understanding of the near-Earth space environment and provide critical information for managing satellite and communications technology.
Scientists have discovered three new species of dragon-like woodlizards in the Andes of Peru and Ecuador, increasing the total number of species to 15. The new species differ from their closest relatives in scale features, coloration, and DNA.
Researchers have developed an innovative cooling scheme for massive mechanical resonators, overcoming the limitation of quantum backaction. By utilizing destructive quantum interference in a cavity optomechanical system, they achieve ground state cooling beyond three orders of magnitude.
Researchers used UV light to reveal coloration patterns on ancient seashells, showing 28 species with unique patterns, 13 of which are new species. The study helps understand relationships between ancient and modern cone snail species.
Researchers summarize the recent progress on theoretical studies of various 2D Dirac materials, including graphene, silicene, and graphynes. They predict these systems will exhibit half-integer quantum Hall effects and ultrahigh carrier mobility, with potential applications in physics and technology.
The University of Pittsburgh has received a three-year, $300,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to advance innovation, commercialization, and entrepreneurship. The grant will support Pitt Innovator teams with $3,000 stipends for market research and customer-discovery analyses.
Researchers at Rutgers University and NIST have developed a technology that can create optical switches with sub-square-micron footprints, allowing for densely packed chip fabrics. The new devices use modulated light signals to switch between different states, offering a promising alternative to existing technologies.
Professor Tyagi's team has developed an integrated approach to resource management that can produce biodiesel from various raw materials. They have also perfected a process for converting wastewater effluent into biodiesel, reducing greenhouse gas emissions due to incineration and disposal of wastewater sludge.
The DFG is establishing new Clinical Research Units and Research Units to investigate various topics, including pregnancy complications, particle physics, and nanotechnology. The research collaborations will focus on developing systematic design rules for nanoparticle synthesis and improving public transport planning.
A UConn Health study finds that smaller plates do not universally help reduce portions in children and teens with obesity. The researchers suggest that diet education should be clear, simple, repeated, and interesting for this population.
The Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships aim to develop a global wellbeing index, similar to the Canadian Index of Wellbeing. Researchers will work with students from low- and middle-income countries to create indicators for measuring wellbeing in these regions.
The Human Frontier Science Program awarded $35 million in research grants to 31 teams, with a focus on intercontinental collaborations and cutting-edge life sciences projects. Younger scientists are encouraged to participate, with an average age of 36 for Young Investigator Grant awardees.
Researchers used crowdsourced measurements to study energy impact of smartphone system settings. The study found that certain settings, such as Wi-Fi signal strength and temperature, can significantly affect battery life.
Cardiff University has received a $25.8m investment to establish the UK's first Compound Semiconductor Research Foundation, set to drive innovation in semiconductor technology. The foundation will strengthen partnerships between the university and IQE Plc, a leading global Compound Semiconductor wafer supplier.
A new study found that high-energy TV commercials can be overwhelming for consumers, especially during sad or relaxing shows. Moderately energetic commercials, on the other hand, were shown to be more effective in grabbing viewers' attention and leaving a positive impression.
A Danish-led project, EGRIP, will drill a 2½-kilometer deep ice core through northeast Greenland's large ice stream to gain new knowledge about the speed of ice movement and its contribution to rapid loss of the Greenland ice sheet. This information could improve forecasts of future sea level rise.
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is investing £70 million in science research projects across the UK. The funding will support equipment and projects at 18 universities, including ultra-bright lasers, electron microscopes, and advanced x-ray imaging.
Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum analyze interactions between Oriental-Orthodox Churches and Jewish communities in the post-Late Antiquity period. The project aims to close a research gap, exploring manuscripts, inscriptions, and archaeological artefacts in different languages.
A £5 million investment will enhance security in virtual environments, detect emerging malware threats, and create high-tech jobs. The funding aims to promote successful economic development through strong industry-academic partnerships.
A study led by Benoît Laplante finds that consensual unions have become increasingly popular among higher-income groups in Latin America. University-educated women are no longer limited to having children out of wedlock, as fertility rates correlate with living in a conjugal relationship rather than its legal nature.
A University of Texas at Arlington assistant professor will study the vertical movements that formed the Rockies' present topography and the influence of topography on climate. A geo-camp for local high school students traditionally underrepresented in science will also be conducted to fuel student interest in geosciences.
Researchers develop spatial microsimulation model called Local Demographic Simulations (LDS) to forecast population distribution and slow urban sprawl. The study found that housing availability affects residential mobility and local population size.
Gold nanorods are being investigated for use in biomedical applications due to their surface plasmon resonance, allowing them to absorb and scatter light. The improved method enables large-scale production and controlled shell thicknesses, paving the way for stable gold nanorods with chemically functionalized surfaces.
The American Diabetes Association and European Association for the Study of Diabetes call for a comprehensive safety overhaul of insulin pumps, including greater access to data from manufacturers and funding for independent clinical trials. This is crucial for healthcare teams to educate patients on preventing errors with these devices.
Professor Mathias Kläui has received a grant from the European Research Council to develop a new type of magnetic sensor, which will enable recording large numbers of revolutions. The new sensors are expected to be ready for pilot applications within 18 months and offer enormous advantages for industrial users.
Scientists have developed a new, 'green' way to improve lithium-ion battery performance using a carbon-based nanosheet derived from silk. The material stores five times more lithium than graphite, critical for improving battery life.
INRS professor Federico Rosei has received the 2015 Lash Miller Award from the Electrochemical Society Canada Section, bringing the award back to INRS after 44 years. The award recognizes his outstanding contributions to electronic and photonic devices.