National Science Foundation

Understanding cooperation and conflict in plant symbionts The traditional idea of symbiosis — long-term interactions between two organisms — is that the participants mutually benefit each other. However, researchers have debated whether the interests of the symbionts always line up with the hosts they… Published August 31, 2022 at 08:18AM Read more at nsf.gov

NSF funds new projects to study local and global impacts of a rapidly changing Arctic The U.S. National Science Foundation has awarded a new round of grants under the Navigating the New Arctic, or NNA, program. The awards support research projects to study the Arctic's changing natural, built and social environments. The work will… Published August 30, 2022 at 02:40PM Read more at nsf.gov

Stars determine their own masses Last year, a team of astrophysicists launched Star Formation in Gaseous Environments, or STARFORGE, a project that produces the most realistic, highest-resolution 3D simulations of star formation to date. Now, the scientists have used these… Published August 30, 2022 at 07:38AM Read more at nsf.gov

Subsurface water on Mars defies expectations A new analysis of seismic data from the InSight mission to Mars has revealed some surprises. The first: the top 300 meters of the subsurface beneath the InSight landing site near the Martian equator contains little to no ice. "We find that Mars'… Published August 29, 2022 at 07:55AM Read more at nsf.gov

Even modest climate change may dramatically alter Earth's northernmost forests Even relatively modest climate warming and associated precipitation shifts may dramatically alter Earth's northernmost forests. The woodlands constitute one of the planet's largest nearly intact forested ecosystems and are home to a big chunk of the… Published August 29, 2022 at 07:52AM Read more at nsf.gov

Engineers build a self-aware, self-training robot that can avoid obstacles and assess damage Engineers at Columbia University working on a project enabled by the National Artificial Intelligence Institute in Dynamic Systems and three separate grants from the U.S. National Science Foundation have built a robot that learns from itself instead… Published August 25, 2022 at 07:59AM Read more at nsf.gov

Day or night — your brain is always listening You're fast asleep. But your brain isn't taking the night off, according to new research funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation. Researchers studied activity in the human cerebral cortex in response to music and other sounds. They observed… Published August 25, 2022 at 07:56AM Read more at nsf.gov

NSF announces new awards to understand coastal systems and tackle coastal hazards U.S. coastlines are heavily populated areas with critical public resources, such as housing, transportation infrastructure, freshwater supplies, and electricity generation and distribution facilities. These coastlines are also increasingly vulnerable… Published August 24, 2022 at 09:00AM Read more at nsf.gov

Researchers create an immersible glove with a secure grip Researchers at Virginia Tech, working on a project made possible by a grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation, have developed a glove they designed based on the adhesive abilities of the octopus. The result is a glove that can be used… Published August 24, 2022 at 07:48AM Read more at nsf.gov

First light observations of chemically rich star HD 222925 captured The U.S. National Science Foundation's NOIRLab-operated Gemini South Telescope used its latest upgrade — GHOST, the Gemini High-resolution Optical SpecTrograph — to capture observations of HD 222925, a star more than 1,400 light years away. The star… Published August 24, 2022 at 07:47AM Read more at nsf.gov

Researchers use artificial intelligence to create a 'treasure map' of undiscovered ant species Although small, invertebrates have an outsized influence on their environments, pollinating plants, breaking down organic matter and speeding up nutrient cycling. And what they lack in stature, they make up for in diversity. With more than 1 million… Published August 23, 2022 at 07:18AM Read more at nsf.gov

Understanding how rechargeable aqueous zinc batteries work Researchers have hoped that rechargeable zinc-manganese dioxide batteries — which promise safety, low cost and environmental sustainability — could be developed into a viable option for grid storage applications. Engineers at the University of… Published August 23, 2022 at 07:18AM Read more at nsf.gov

New NSF awards seek to broaden participation in biology through research experiences for recent college graduates To reduce the barriers to entry into careers in the biological sciences and produce a more diverse workforce, the U.S. National Science Foundation has made 12 new awards totaling more than $35 million through its Research and Mentoring for… Published August 22, 2022 at 09:01AM Read more at nsf.gov

Researchers develop online training module to counteract the negative effects of stress on adolescents Adolescents are showing record levels of anxiety, depression and stress. A team of researchers working on a project made possible by two grants from the U.S. National Science Foundation has developed a 30-minute online training module that teaches… Published August 22, 2022 at 07:59AM Read more at nsf.gov

New research uncovers the internal structure of spider silk Scientists at William & Mary funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation studied spider silk in such detail they were able to determine the structure of the silk fibers. Spider silk is known for its strength and durability. "Scientists all over… Published August 22, 2022 at 07:58AM Read more at nsf.gov

Legacy of ancient ice ages shapes how seagrasses respond to environmental threats today Deep evolution casts a longer shadow than previously thought, scientists report in a paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. U.S. National Science Foundation-supported scientists looked at eelgrass communities — the… Published August 18, 2022 at 07:03AM Read more at nsf.gov

Smoke from Western wildfires can influence Arctic sea ice, researchers find Sea ice and wildfires may be more interconnected than previously thought, according to U.S. National Science Foundation-supported research published in Science Advances. By digging into the differences between climate models, researchers at the… Published August 18, 2022 at 07:02AM Read more at nsf.gov

Interaction between humans and the environment is focus of 15 new NSF-funded projects From Southwestern deserts to tropical mangrove reefs, everywhere humans live or go we impact the environment, and the environment impacts us. Fifteen new projects totaling more than $21.6 million funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation will… Published August 17, 2022 at 09:59AM Read more at nsf.gov

Physicists research how aerosol particulates from wind instruments move through the air Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania supported by two grants from the U.S. National Science Foundation have studied the aerosols of musicians playing wind instruments. The findings will inform safety guidelines for not only musical… Published August 17, 2022 at 07:31AM Read more at nsf.gov

Rare plants attract rare bees and birds in urban gardens Little is known about what drives rare biodiversity in cities. Rare plant species in urban gardens may be the answer. The plants in turn attract rare bee and bird species, according to a Dartmouth College-led study looking at urban gardens in… Published August 16, 2022 at 08:18AM Read more at nsf.gov

New model developed to predict landslides along wildfire burn scars A wildfire followed by an intense rainstorm is often a recipe for disaster. Without vegetation to cushion rainfall, water runoff can turn into a fast-moving, highly destructive landslide, called a "debris flow," which often has the power to wipe out… Published August 16, 2022 at 08:18AM Read more at nsf.gov

Integrative biological science and training are the focus of 4 new institutes From understanding the multifaceted transmission of disease to deciphering how living organisms adapt to harsh conditions, answering big questions in biology requires interdisciplinary research and scientists engaging and partnering with those from… Published August 15, 2022 at 11:07AM Read more at nsf.gov

Oldest DNA from domesticated American horse lends credence to shipwreck theory An abandoned Caribbean colony unearthed centuries after it had been forgotten and a case of mistaken identity in the archaeological record have conspired to rewrite the history of Assateague, a barrier island off the Virginia and Maryland coasts… Published August 15, 2022 at 07:24AM Read more at nsf.gov

Invasive species' success may lie in living fast, dying young For some species conquering new territory, it might be better to live fast and die young. In a new study, biologists at the University of Iowa looked at why a type of freshwater snail that has invaded ecosystems worldwide has been so successful… Published August 15, 2022 at 07:24AM Read more at nsf.gov

'Plaza' in ancient city of Cahokia near today’s St. Louis was likely inundated year-round The ancient North American city of Cahokia had as its focal point a feature now known as Monks Mound, a giant earthwork surrounded on its north, south, east and west by large rectangular open areas. These flat zones, called plazas by archaeologists… Published August 11, 2022 at 07:32AM Read more at nsf.gov

Engineers improve catalyst that destroys 'forever chemicals' with sunlight Chemical engineers at Rice University have improved their design for a light-powered catalyst that rapidly breaks down PFOA, or perfluorooctanoic acid, one of the world's most problematic "forever chemical" pollutants. These pollutants aren't easily… Published August 11, 2022 at 07:33AM Read more at nsf.gov

NSF announces 4 new Engineering Research Centers focused on agriculture, health, manufacturing and smart cities Engineering discoveries and advances have the power to make transformational positive impacts on society. For decades, the U.S. National Science Foundation has been a steadfast supporter of research centers that integrate engineering with other… Published August 10, 2022 at 10:00AM Read more at nsf.gov

Water resources to become less predictable with climate change Water resources will fluctuate increasingly and become more and more difficult to predict in snow-dominated regions across the Northern Hemisphere by later this century, according to a comprehensive new climate change study led by the National Center… Published August 10, 2022 at 08:24AM Read more at nsf.gov

Researchers pull record of 700,000 years of tropical climate change from an Andean lakebed When Mark Abbott and his team pulled a 300-foot-long core of mud from a lakebed high in the Peruvian Andes, he hoped it might provide a glimpse of the past 160,000 years of climate change. Instead, the U.S. National Science Foundation-supported… Published August 10, 2022 at 08:28AM Read more at nsf.gov

How did Earth avoid a Mars-like fate? Ancient rocks hold clues Approximately 1,800 miles beneath our feet, swirling liquid iron in the Earth's outer core generates the planet's protective magnetic field. The magnetic field is invisible but is vital for life on Earth's surface because it shields the planet from… Published August 09, 2022 at 07:14AM Read more at nsf.gov

What is a pond? Study provides first data-driven definition What, exactly, distinguishes a pond from a lake or a wetland? A U.S. National Science Foundation-supported study co-led by Cornell University offers the first data-driven, functional definition of a pond and evidence of ponds' distinct ecological… Published August 09, 2022 at 07:14AM Read more at nsf.gov

NSF and Amazon continue collaboration that strengthens and supports fairness in artificial intelligence and machine learning Artificial intelligence and machine learning evolve fast. It is crucial that artificial intelligence and machine learning systems be accountable, fair, inclusive and transparent. The U.S. National Science Foundation has been a leader in providing… Published August 08, 2022 at 08:02AM Read more at nsf.gov

Moths enlist additional troops in an evolutionary arms race While a clear night sky might seem quiet and peaceful to us, empty of everything but stars, this nocturnal world is filled with a high-pitched cacophony of sound just beyond our ability to hear. Bats pierce the shadows with ultrasonic pulses that… Published August 08, 2022 at 06:59AM Read more at nsf.gov

Facilitating US-India bilateral research collaborations In February 2022, the U.S. National Science Foundation issued a Dear Colleague Letter encouraging joint U.S.-India research projects involving principal investigators from both nations for collaborative research that can accelerate the development of… Published August 05, 2022 at 08:00AM Read more at nsf.gov

Four New NSF INCLUDES Alliances Announced The U.S. National Science Foundation will establish four new NSF INCLUDES Alliances to enhance preparation, increase participation and ensure the inclusion of individuals from historically underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering… Published August 04, 2022 at 07:00AM Read more at nsf.gov

New dissolving implantable device relieves pain without medication A team of scientists and engineers at Northwestern University supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation has developed an implantable pain relieving device -- a promising alternative to opioids and other addictive analgesics. The device could… Published August 04, 2022 at 07:21AM Read more at nsf.gov

To keep up with evolving prey, rattlesnakes tap genetically diverse venom toolbox In the evolutionary "arms race" between rattlesnakes and their prey, rodents, birds and other reptiles develop resistance to the snakes' deadly venom to survive. But U.S. National Science Foundation-supported research led by the University of… Published August 04, 2022 at 07:20AM Read more at nsf.gov

NSF selects James L. Moore III to head the Education and Human Resources Directorate The U.S. National Science Foundation has selected James L. Moore III to head the Directorate for Education and Human Resources, or EHR, which supports research that enhances learning and teaching, and broad efforts to achieve excellence in STEM… Published August 03, 2022 at 10:56AM Read more at nsf.gov

Scientists use new technique to identify changes in lakes and reservoirs around the world A team of researchers led by University of Minnesota, Twin Cities data scientists and supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation has published a first-of-its-kind global dataset of lakes and reservoirs. It shows how these waterbodies have… Published August 03, 2022 at 07:49AM Read more at nsf.gov

First known off-axis, high-temperature deep sea hydrothermal vents along portion of the northern East Pacific Rise Finding a new, high-temperature, off-axis hydrothermal vent field on the floor of the Pacific Ocean at 2,550 meters (8,366 feet) down could change scientists' understanding of the impact such seafloor vent systems have on ocean life and chemistry. U… Published August 03, 2022 at 07:46AM Read more at nsf.gov

Fire corals winning the battle for domination of Caribbean reefs Every year for the past three decades, California State University, Northridge marine biologist Peter Edmunds has traveled to the Caribbean island of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands to document the life history of fire corals. "This is more than… Published August 02, 2022 at 06:58AM Read more at nsf.gov

NSF announces awards to advance cybersecurity efforts Cybersecurity is critical to safeguarding infrastructure, keeping supply chains moving, and ensuring privacy in cloud computing and health care. Adapting to ever changing threats requires cutting-edge research and transformative solutions. The U.S… Published August 01, 2022 at 08:01AM Read more at nsf.gov

Coastal glacier retreat linked to climate change More of the world's coastal glaciers are melting faster than ever, but exactly what's triggering the large-scale retreat has been difficult to pin down because of natural fluctuations in the glaciers' surroundings. Now, researchers at The University… Published August 01, 2022 at 07:25AM Read more at nsf.gov

Does this ring a bell? Wild bats can remember sounds for years There are certain skills that once acquired, such as riding a bike or looking both ways before crossing a street, rarely have to be relearned. Most studies on learning and long-term memory in the wild focus on a handful of animal species. Now, in a… Published August 01, 2022 at 07:24AM Read more at nsf.gov