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 DFG is establishing five new Research Units and four new Humanities Centres for Advanced Studies to tackle pressing issues in various fields. The centres will receive a total of approximately 23.5 million euros over three or four years.
Researchers aim to enable scientists to ask a computer a question and receive an answer in an easy-to-understand picture. The project, funded by the National Science Foundation, seeks to develop an interactive computer system that can produce meaningful visualizations based on natural language requests.
Researchers found that electronic word-of-mouth plays a crucial role in crowdfunding campaign success, with Facebook being more effective than Twitter. The study also identified key factors for creators to optimize their campaigns, including participation in social networks and encouraging early backers to share the project.
The expanded module will help high school students learn how land use impacts freshwater quality in their own geographic regions. The website, funded by a $2.9 million dollar grant, provides students with hands-on learning experience using real data and geospatial analysis tools.
Researchers Susan Alt and Timothy R. Pauketat have been awarded $640,000 in grants to continue their study of Cahokia Mounds, uncovering new insights into the history of civilizations. The projects focus on the role of religion in organizing complex societies, with a emphasis on archaeology, anthropology and cultural innovation.
A new algorithm allows for the efficient decomposition of 3D objects into pyramidal parts, minimizing material waste and saving print time. This breakthrough has significant implications for 3D printing, molding, and casting, enabling the creation of complex shapes with minimal support material.
Researchers tracked magma flow through cracks in Iceland's Vatnajökull ice cap, forming a new layer of crust as the Bárðarbunga volcano erupted. The study found 'ice cauldrons' and subsidence within the caldera, providing insights into the Earth's crust formation and plate tectonics.
Researchers found a link between gut microbiota and Parkinson's disease, with patients having lower levels of Prevotellaceae bacteria and higher levels of Enterobacteriaceae family in their intestines. The study suggests that intestinal dysfunction may be part of the pathology and potentially related to the progression of the disease.
Researchers at Kent State University will study how human dynamics across social media and social networks can be modeled using a $300,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. The goal is to improve disaster warnings and alerts as well as communicate more effectively with the public on social issues.
Researchers will use techniques like molecular scalpels and laser tweezers to study G-quadruplex structures in human telomeres. The goal is to understand how these units are structured and distributed, which could lead to new anti-cancer drugs.
Researchers have developed a new type of smart window that can respond to heat cues, blocking unwanted heat from entering buildings while still allowing natural light to pass. The new design uses microscopic soft beads suspended in a liquid and has shown promise in reducing energy consumption on hot days.
Researchers at UC San Diego have developed a more efficient method to trap light by harnessing bound states in the continuum. This innovation addresses the major challenge of trapping and utilizing light for optical computing circuits.
A new study from Johns Hopkins Medicine found that brain cells fire more rapidly and synchronously when animals focus on touch stimuli, a step toward understanding how brains process external stimuli. The research also showed that synchronization was more important to performance than firing rate.
A new study by UC Irvine neurobiologists suggests that multiple, short learning sessions can strengthen memory formation in fragile X syndrome. Trained using this method, fragile X model mice performed as well on memory tests as normal mice.
Researchers at Kent State's SOLE Center aim to measure the impact of informal science education on children's interest and knowledge. The team will develop an assessment tool to study the effectiveness of field trips to the Great Lakes Science Center and explore how these experiences influence STEM learning.
The University of Exeter has received a £1.1 million grant to fund pioneering research on seasonal weather forecasts across Europe. The team aims to advance current understanding of three key conditions influencing seasonal weather, including the North Atlantic upper-ocean heat content and Arctic sea-ice.
Researchers at UC Irvine found that small drainpipes at enclosed ocean bays produce high fecal counts during summer months, impacting calmer waters. The team suggests green remedies like bioswales and drought-inspired reductions in irrigation runoff to capture urban slobber before it reaches drains.
A new approach uses a comb-shaped polymer to protect enzymes from the immune system, reducing allergic reactions and maintaining efficacy. The method has potential applications in treating allergies and protecting rapidly degraded therapeutic molecules.
NSU's Oceanographic Center is leading a consortium to study deep-sea fish impacts after significant oil spills, essential for understanding oil spill mitigation activities and conserving Gulf ecosystems. The $8.5 million funding will support research in the pelagic realm from surface to depths over one mile.
A study found that falls from furniture by young children result in single injuries most commonly to the head, cuts, or fractures. The majority of cases (60%) were seen but did not require treatment, while parents of fallen children were less likely to use safety gates and teach climbing rules.
Researchers develop a method to activate expression of paternal Ube3a allele, reducing cognitive deficits associated with the disorder. A study in mice showed promising results, paving the way for future human trials.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that individuals buried as potential 'vampires' in 17th-18th century Poland were likely local residents. The research used radiogenic strontium isotope ratios to determine the origin of the individuals, and the results suggested a predominantly local population. This suggests that these burials may h...
Polar bears may undergo 2-5 months of ice-free conditions by 2100, threatening their survival. Projected warming under business-as-usual climate projections could lead to significant habitat loss for nearly one-tenth of the world's polar bear habitat.
A new study published in Psychological Science found that the sound of a person's voice can convey their level of power, with speakers assigned to high-power roles having higher-pitched, more monotone voices. Listeners were able to accurately categorize these vocal cues and associate them with high-power behaviors.
A UT professor and her team will investigate the long-term consequences of the oil spill on coastal ecosystems in the Gulf. Their research aims to understand how oil impacts marsh erosion and microbial cycling, guiding cleanup efforts.
Scientists at HZDR have discovered a seemingly paradoxical phenomenon in graphene when exposed to a magnetic field and laser light pulses. The electrons' energy levels behave unexpectedly due to collisions, causing an unusual rearrangement of the material's state.
Researchers found that psychosocial counseling significantly reduced repeat suicide attempts and deaths by suicide, with benefits lasting up to five years. The study's findings suggest that talk therapy-focused suicide prevention can be an effective strategy for populations at high risk of suicide.
Florida harvester ants exhibit annual nest relocation behavior, constructing similar subterranean nests about once a year. The frequency and size of relocations vary among colonies, with smaller ones relocating more often than larger ones.
The Bureau of Reclamation has awarded $9.2 million for 131 research projects focused on increasing water supplies, optimizing water availability under a changing climate, and improving water infrastructure reliability and safety.
A University of Iowa study finds that adding professional and vocational majors to liberal arts colleges strengthens their mission, with students achieving similar educational gains across majors. Key findings include increased interest in literacy among liberal arts majors and higher leadership skills among professional majors.
Research suggests that Peruvian coastal waters provide suitable habitat for endangered South Pacific green turtles, with healthy populations found in two sites off the southern and northern coasts. The study highlights the importance of conservation measures to protect these vulnerable species from pollution, bycatch, and illegal catch.
Researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center found that calorie-restricted diets slowed the normal rise and fall of genes linked to aging and memory formation in the brain. The study used female mice fed food pellets with 30% fewer calories than controls, and tissue analyses showed a significant impact on gene expression.
The University of Texas at Arlington has been chosen to lead a $1.6 million initiative to connect researchers across the country studying digital learning's impact on higher education. The Digital Learning Research Network will benefit universities making the transition to digital learning and learners from underrepresented groups.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University are investigating child resiliency in the face of abuse and neglect. Their studies aim to identify protective factors that promote resilience in maltreated children, informing interventions and programs for social workers and policymakers.
A two-year grant funded by the William T. Grant Foundation will examine the impact of private foundation funding on education policy discourse. The study aims to understand how foundation-funded research influences teacher quality and effectiveness policies.
A new smartphone app developed by Rutgers engineers helps Warren Township document and mitigate hundreds of hazards to power lines, reducing the risk of future power outages. The app uses crowdsourcing to gather data from volunteers, which is then presented to utility companies in an organized manner.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a new transfer technique for atomic-layer semiconducting thin films, allowing for faster and damage-free transfer onto flexible substrates. The technique uses room-temperature water, a tissue, and tweezers to transfer MoS2 films up to 5 centimeters in diameter.
Researchers found that people who made chance-level decisions still reported greater confidence in correct outcomes and less confidence in incorrect outcomes. This suggests that participants had unconscious insight into their decision-making performance, a phenomenon called 'blind insight'.
Researchers are developing AI-powered software to automatically outline bones in X-ray images, a system that can already identify hips and will now be adapted to map out knees and hands. The goal is to reduce the workload of human researchers and enable faster diagnosis for patients with conditions like arthritis.
Research on giant otters reveals a wide range of unique vocalizations used for communication. With 22 adult vocalization types and 11 neonate vocalization types, the study suggests an intricate relationship between vocalizations and social behavior.
The SENSEI Instrument project aims to create a camera system that captures the entire surrounding environment, including the size and mass of objects. This technology will provide detailed information on marine life, such as coral reefs and kelp forests, and enhance our understanding of cultural heritage sites.
A new study from City University London found that eye movement analysis can detect diseases like glaucoma while watching TV. This method could help clinicians identify the disease earlier, enabling timely treatment before permanent damage occurs.
A University of Texas at Arlington computer scientist is studying smarter route selection and adaptive cover traffic to protect online privacy. The research aims to route traffic around powerful eavesdroppers and add noise to confuse adversaries.
Professor Zvi Bentwich at Ben-Gurion University has received a Grand Challenges grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to eradicate parasitic worm infections in Ethiopia. The project aims to implement mass drug treatment, health education, and sanitation facilities to reduce infection rates.
A new natural supplement based on medicinal plants and dietary supplements has been developed to relieve canine arthritis. The study found that dogs receiving the treatment showed significant improvements in strength and daily physical activity, with none experiencing a decline in health.
Researchers have developed a new kind of ink that mimics the color-shifting ability of a longhorn beetle, offering a durable alternative to current methods. The ink can be fine-tuned to change color in response to environmental factors, making it difficult to copy.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that a small Polynesian population in New Zealand initiated rapid forest transition around 750 years ago, with drier forests shifting to shrub land over decades. The high rate of deforestation was likely due to native and previously burned vegetation vulnerability to fire.
Researchers at the University of Washington have replicated a direct brain-to-brain connection, allowing them to transmit signals and control hand movements between individuals. The study involved six pairs of participants and achieved accuracy rates ranging from 25 to 83 percent.
Researchers are using ant behavior to develop a new method for verifying complex electronic designs. By applying swarm intelligence, these methods can efficiently search large spaces and reduce the computational cost of traditional approaches.
The University of Texas at Arlington has received a $974,250 NSF grant to support doctoral students from underrepresented minority groups. The Bridge to the Doctorate Fellowships will provide full tuition, a $30,000 yearly stipend, and additional resources to help students succeed in STEM fields.
A new species of leopard frog, Rana kauffeldi, has been identified in the New York City metropolitan area through a combination of acoustic and genetic data. The species is found in open-canopied wetlands with upland patches and its range extends from central Connecticut to northeastern North Carolina.
Researchers create a learning network of wheelchair-mounted robotic arms and human users to improve daily activities, satisfaction, and quality of life for people with spinal cord injuries. The project aims to maximize human-robot learning and address ethical issues related to assistive technology.
Eight new research projects will explore various techniques for detecting dementia, including microstructure-sensitive MRI and graphene-based biosensors. The projects aim to develop diagnostic tools that can identify biomarkers of dementia at the point of care.
Researchers at Plymouth University are developing a new graphene-based diagnostic technique to detect biomarkers of dementia in bodily fluids. The technology aims to provide real-time data and conclusive test results within minutes, increasing the accuracy of dementia detection and tracking disease progression.
Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University have discovered that most Li-ion battery electrolytes are superhalogens containing toxic halogens. They propose using halogen-free electrolytes as a safer alternative.
A new supplement in BJOG explores the potential of broad-spectrum prevention methods that can prevent unintended pregnancy and STIs, including HIV. The research highlights the need for funding to spur innovation and close gaps in development.
A University of Texas Arlington associate professor has been awarded a National Science Foundation grant to assess insider threats in financial institutions. The research aims to develop effective protection strategies using criminology theories and large-scale field data from two regional institutions.
Most medical research findings are false due to biases and perverse incentives, notes John Ioannidis in PLOS Medicine. He suggests redesigning research careers and structures to encourage better work, with a focus on testing interventions for improvement.
A study analyzing 1.5 million births in US hospitals found significant variation in cesarean delivery rates, with rates ranging from 8% to 48% across hospitals. The analysis adjusted for maternal factors and hospital characteristics but did not account for parity or gestational age.
Researchers at WSU are building a comprehensive 'smart city' laboratory to test smart grid technologies. The lab will simulate various systems and components, including windmills, solar panels, fuel cells, and power substations.