National Science Foundation

NSF Director visits the world’s largest experimental earthquake infrastructure facility LA JOLLA, Calif. -- Today, U.S. National Science Foundation Director Sethuraman Panchanathan met with staff and students from the University of California San Diego, local officials and industry partners to observe and discuss research investments… Published June 30, 2022 at 07:33PM Read more at nsf.gov

Spatial aspects of biodiversity important for healthy forests Biologists at Washington University in St. Louis have determined that tree beta diversity -- a measure of site-to-site variation in the composition of species in an area -- matters more for ecosystem functioning than other components of biodiversity… Published June 30, 2022 at 06:30AM Read more at nsf.gov

Historical irrigation leaves long-lasting legacies on the prairie A hallmark of environmental science is understanding how ecosystems respond to global change. Much of this research focuses on short-term ecosystem responses, such as how an ecosystem responds to a sudden onset of drought. But previous conditions can… Published June 30, 2022 at 06:37AM Read more at nsf.gov

Less air pollution leads to higher crop yields, study shows Increasing agricultural productivity usually depends on adding something, such as fertilizer or water. Now, a Stanford University-led study reveals that removing one thing in particular -- a common air pollutant -- could lead to dramatic gains in… Published June 29, 2022 at 07:11AM Read more at nsf.gov

Models predict that planned phosphorus reductions will make Lake Erie more toxic Reducing levels of the nutrient phosphorus to control harmful algal blooms in places such as Lake Erie is advantageous to toxic cyanobacteria strains, which can lead to an increase in toxins in the water, according to a new modeling study. U.S… Published June 29, 2022 at 07:14AM Read more at nsf.gov

Genetics breakthrough in sea urchins aids biomedical research Marine biologists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography have created a line of sea urchins whose genetic makeup is fully mapped and can be edited to study human disease genes. The creation of these new research model organisms will accelerate… Published June 28, 2022 at 11:36AM Read more at nsf.gov

Genetic, environmental factors contribute to how socioeconomic status impacts the brain A study in Science Advances has revealed correlations among socioeconomics, genetics, environmental factors and brain structure. Socioeconomic status is typically defined by characteristics such as an individual's income, education and occupation… Published June 28, 2022 at 11:00AM Read more at nsf.gov