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 discovery of modified white-tailed eagle talons at the Krapina Neandertal site reveals evidence of jewelry-making skills among human predecessors. The findings indicate that Neandertals acquired eagle talons for symbolic purposes around 130,000 years ago.
Scientists have identified two new species of Thorn Snails, a genus containing 20 cave-dwelling species, with evolutionary roots dating back to the Cenozoic Era. The discovery sheds new light on these enigmatic snails, which are barely visible to the naked eye.
The research provides a unified model that explains how layer properties and bonding determine surface textures, applicable to various biological processes and material applications. The findings could lead to the creation of materials with tailored surface properties for specific uses, such as disease treatment or water-shedding.
Researchers found that neurons in our brains react to time-sensitive information by favoring alternating patterns over repeating ones. This biases can impact medical decision-making and machine learning, highlighting the need for smarter programming and interfaces.
Researchers found high concentrations of dimethylarsinate (DMA) in southern Willamette Valley aquifers, correlating with overall arsenite levels. The study suggests that monitoring organic arsenic is crucial for treating arsenic-contaminated water.
A new study reveals that patients' perceptions of GP safety are crucial to reaching successful diagnosis and treatment. The research found that trust issues, alienation, and impersonal processes can lead to problems in improving patient safety within GP services.
The University of Texas at Arlington's Technology Manufacturing and Advanced Materials Center (TMAC) has received a $6.7 million federal award to support small and mid-sized manufacturers in the state. The funding will be matched with customer fees to provide services such as network of field engineers, consultants, and experts.
Researchers are developing a groundbreaking therapy for spinal cord injury, enabling patients to regain autonomic control. The treatment involves epidural electrical stimulation, which stimulates nerves thought to be lost in spinal cord injuries.
Researchers from JCU and a Saudi university are conducting a three-year joint study to understand why fish exposed to high water temperatures have offspring already acclimatised. The study aims to uncover the epigenetic changes triggered by the environment that enable fast adaptation.
A five-year excavation program in Diros Bay, Greece, has uncovered an ancient town and burial complex dating back to the Neolithic and Bronze Age. The site revealed multiple burials, including Mycenaean-period burials with Late Bronze Age artifacts.
The American Society for Microbiology has received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to host joint sessions at ASM's Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) in San Diego. The program aims to support developing world scientists attending ICAAC through the Gates Travel Award.
A brain imaging study has found evidence of complex processing in the initial stages of the visual system, contradicting long-held assumptions about how the brain perceives visual stimuli. The researchers used high-resolution fMRI to discover that the human lateral geniculate nucleus plays a key role in processing line orientations.
The American Gastroenterological Association has received a $2.25 million endowment to support young researchers studying neuroenteric disease. The AGA-Athena Troxel Blackburn Research Scholar Award will fund studies on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and its impact on the brain-gut axis.
Researchers found that 'mute' cicadas produce sound by banging their forewing costa against the operculum, a newfound mechanism. This discovery expands our understanding of acoustic signaling in cicadas without tymbal organs.
A new study has uncovered seven different species of crocodiles co-existing in the same place and time, filling gaps in understanding the Amazon's rich biodiversity. The research suggests that a peak in mollusk diversity was correlated with the rise of 'durophagous' crocodiles, which went extinct when the mega-wetlands transformed.
A study analyzed lung cancer incidence and screening trends, finding a decline in the proportion of patients meeting high-risk screening criteria. The decline indicates an increasing number of patients with lung cancer would not have been candidates for screening.
Researchers found La Niña-like conditions associated with a 2,500-year hiatus in coral reef growth. The study suggests that similar climate changes could lead to coral reef collapse. Climate change is the leading cause of coral-reef degradation.
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has received over $22 million in CPRIT research grants to study breast, skin, prostate, and lung cancers, as well as leukemia and brain cancer. The funding will also support prevention and early detection efforts.
INRS has received significant funding to develop new fibre laser systems, electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction, and terahertz technologies. These collaborations aim to enhance broadband communication and energy efficiency, while addressing greenhouse gas conversion and chemical detection needs.
Researchers found that neighboring birds sang at significantly different rates than non-neighboring birds, according to a study published in PLOS ONE. Great tits use their songs to signal territory boundaries, and the study suggests that neighborhood structure may shape variation in territorial birdsong.
A team of researchers from INRS developed novel graphenated-MWCNTs with enhanced field electron emission properties by decorating graphene sheets with gold nanoparticles. This innovation enhances the density of electron-emitting sites, improving FEE performance and opening new prospects for portable X-ray imaging systems.
Research reveals that Bangladeshi garment factory jobs lower the risk of early marriage and childbirth for young women, promoting their education. The industry's growth also boosts girls' educational attainment by 50% in areas close to factories.
State-funded programs in California and Connecticut have contributed to an increase in stem-cell-related publications, with California benefiting most. The study suggests that state funding has established California as a leader in this emerging field, while Maryland and New York saw minimal impact on publication trends.
A primary care nurse-delivered intervention increased physical activity among older adults, with significant increases at both 3 and 12 months. The intervention included individualized PA plans and pedometer feedback, leading to higher step counts and moderate-to-vigorous PA bouts.
Researchers will create tools using Argonne's POLARIS system to model and simulate the movement of people via mass transportation during emergencies. The tools will provide complex modeling, simulation, and real-time assistance for officials during emergencies.
Arturo Hernandez, a University of Houston developmental psychology professor, has received the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award for his groundbreaking work on how the brain processes language. His research has significant implications for teaching and learning multiple languages, including second languages.
A study by Purdue University researchers found that Listeria monocytogenes bacteria are widespread in retail delis, with 6.8% of samples tested positive before operation and 9.5% during operation over six months. The bacteria can persist in growth niches, posing a risk to vulnerable immune systems. To mitigate this risk, experts recomm...
Researchers have discovered a family of 'second laws' that govern the behavior of systems at very small scales, leading to counterintuitive phenomena and constraints on disorder. These new laws complement the traditional second law of thermodynamics, which describes the universe's growing state of disorder.
A team of astronomers successfully restored the Half-wave Spectropolarimeter (HPOL) instrument, allowing it to conduct measurements with improved performance. The upgraded HPOL is now fully operational at the University of Toledo's Ritter Observatory and enables researchers to study variable or transient objects more effectively.
A new study suggests that increasing individualism in the US over the last 150 years is systematically correlated with socioeconomic trends, particularly the rise of white-collar occupations. The research found that only changes in occupational status appeared to precede changes in individualism.
Researchers aim to standardize antibody identification by defining them by their sequences, like genes. This would enable consistent results across experiments and reduce waste in the research pipeline.
The University of Texas at Arlington has received a $298,770 grant to purchase a micro-optics assembly and characterization system. The equipment will enable researchers to conduct more accurate nanoscale-related research and manufacturing, including integrating electronic devices with nanotechnology and photonics.
A study of over 345,000 hospitalizations found no significant difference in post-surgical complications between hospitals that participate in quality improvement programs and those that do not. The researchers suggest that while outcomes reporting systems are necessary for improvement, they are not sufficient to drive change.
Researchers at the University of Missouri discovered that the cerebellum plays a critical role in controlling robotic grasping tools. By monitoring brain activity with fMRI, they found that participants' brains adapted quickly to associate new movements with grasping actions.
The book, 'Unfinished Work: The Struggle to Build an Aging American Workforce,' explores how businesses, governments, and individuals deal with the issue. Coleman traveled extensively, including Japan, France, and Sweden, to research how companies are adapting to an aging workforce.
Researchers at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management found that offering a range of options and different price points can lead to higher success rates and profits in crowdfunding campaigns. This approach allows creators to tap into consumers' willingness to pay more, generating additional revenue.
Undergraduates at Wake Forest University will conduct original mathematical research under the guidance of Assistant Professor Jeremy Rouse and Visiting Assistant Professor Katherine Thompson. The program, WADE INTO Research, aims to develop students' skills in mathematics and prepare them for future careers.
Naomi Cleghorn's team will excavate a site near Knysna, South Africa, believed to date back 44,000-18,000 years and hold never-before-seen evidence of early human evolution. The funding supports the search for additional sites in the area, which may provide insight into the population dynamics of early humans.
Researchers observe orangutans walking on newly constructed logging roads in East Kalimantan's Wehea Forest, suggesting a potential adaptive strategy for survival. The finding highlights the rapid loss of Borneo's forest habitats and underscores the need to protect remaining forests.
A new FSU study finds that 6-10 million gallons of oil are buried in the sediment on the Gulf floor, contaminating the food web and affecting marine life. The researchers used carbon 14 as an inverse tracer to determine the oil's distribution, revealing a significant amount still lingering on the seafloor.
A team of researchers has created a method to change graphene's electron density without physical alteration, enabling dynamic reconfiguring of circuit elements. This technique uses oxides to tune the amount of electrons in graphene, potentially revolutionizing semiconductor devices and optoelectronics.
Researchers aim to create a novel paleoaltimetry tool that accurately measures paleoelevation and surface uplift rates independent of atmospheric circulation. They will use cosmogenic nuclides to determine shifts in elevation of slowly eroding mountain landscapes.
Researchers from University of Exeter, Edinburgh and Imperial College London recreated asteroid impact to debunk theory it caused massive global firestorms. The intense heat near the impact site was too short to ignite live plants, but affected areas far from the site were heated for longer periods.
A team led by Dr. Andrew Craig is developing inhibitory antibodies targeting key signals that cancer cells require for metastasis. The goal is to identify lead antibodies and test their potency in pre-clinical models to develop new immunotherapies for clinical trials.
Researchers from the University of Southampton have developed a new technique for generating more powerful and efficient pulsed lasers. The technique uses coherent combination of multiple semiconductor lasers, allowing for complex pulse waveforms with user flexibility.
Scientists studied a woman with low vision since birth whose vision was restored through surgery. While the brain's visual cortex showed some plasticity, full normal functioning was not regained after several months. The study has implications for predicting outcomes in individuals considering eye surgery.
A University of Houston study found that performance-based funding can lead to 'creaming' effects, where institutions recruit only high-performing students. This can result in reduced admissions for at-risk students, hindering their success. The study recommends direct funding incentives and measures to support student success.
New research found that state performance funding in Washington State did not increase student retention and degree completion, despite being a model for accountability systems. However, short-term certificate programs showed growth in students earning certificates with little value in the labor market.
Researchers have discovered a highly sought-after material that can lead to vastly improved organic solar cell performance, increasing efficiency from 8% to 9.3%. The new discovery enables the production of cells that are double in thickness and opens up opportunities for the development of new materials with improved performance.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison team developed ultra-high-purity semconducting carbon nanotubes using a new technique, enabling more efficient and durable electronics. This breakthrough could lead to flexible displays, clothing-integrated electronics, and improved consumer devices with longer battery life.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University are developing machine learning algorithms to analyze ads for sex services posted on websites, helping law enforcement track down sex traffickers. The tools will also be useful in indexing the Deep Web, a hidden part of the internet that contains illicit content.
Researchers at UNH have successfully grown bulbing onions planted in fall using low tunnels, allowing for a spring harvest. The study found that cultivar selection plays a critical role in successful overwintering of onion production systems in cold climates.
Researchers at the University of Kansas are developing an iPhone and Android app called iChequIt that gauges Ebola risk based on social media posts and contact-tracing records. The app will provide users with a running score of their likelihood of contact with the deadly virus, but it's not meant to advise people how to live their lives.
The Center will address four key topics: layered oxide ferroics, autonomously powered nano-motors, high-pressure electronic metalattices, and optically active particles. The grant supports 45 faculty members worldwide in interdisciplinary research.
Georgia State University will partner with Chinese health officials to expand tobacco control efforts in major cities, protecting non-smokers from second-hand smoke and encouraging smokers to quit. The project aims to curb smoking and increase quit rates in China, where the country produces more tobacco than any other nation.
Researchers are working on a £103,000 project to study electron transfer among hydrogen-bonded dimers, which could lead to new materials with unique properties. The research aims to mimic nature and understand how electrons are transferred between molecules.
Researchers develop a novel evolvable Internet architecture framework with design constraints and models analysis to meet future Internet demands. The framework balances the advantages of both clean-slate and dirty-slate approaches, promoting flexibility and stability.
Researchers at University of Waterloo received $246,000 Insight grant to study toxic boss behavior and its impact on employees' anxiety, depression, and illness. The project aims to develop strategies for teaching supervisors to resist negative impulses and substitute positive behaviors.
Professor Joachim Kopp at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz has received a €800,000 ERC Starting Grant to pursue new approaches in theoretical neutrino physics. He aims to investigate the existence of sterile neutrinos and their potential connection to dark matter.
Carnegie Mellon University will receive a five-year, $2 million grant to train humanities PhD students in digital scholarship and TEL. The courses will be available online, open to anyone, and include fellowships for students pursuing thesis work involving digital humanities or TEL.