National Science Foundation

This week with NSF Director Panchanathan NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan dove into a busy schedule this week, with multiple meetings with international representatives and a reception to honor a retiring congressional champion of STEM research and education. On Monday, the director… Published September 30, 2022 at 10:07AM Read more at nsf.gov

New seafloor data upend understanding of Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier The Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica — about the size of Florida — has been an elephant in the room for scientists trying to make global sea-level rise predictions. This massive ice stream is in a phase of fast retreat, leading to widespread… Published September 29, 2022 at 07:30AM Read more at nsf.gov

Neurons that have food on the brain A gooey slice of pizza. A pile of crispy French fries. Ice cream dripping down a cone on a hot summer day. When people look at any of these foods, a specialized part of the brain's visual cortex lights up, according to a new study by MIT… Published September 28, 2022 at 06:58AM Read more at nsf.gov

Global tsunamis driven by underwater volcanic eruptions In 1883, there was a volcanic eruption so large it killed tens of thousands of people. It expelled so much ash that, for a time, it changed the colors of sunsets and the palette with which impressionist artists painted. In history, few volcanic… Published September 28, 2022 at 06:54AM Read more at nsf.gov

NSF joins USPTO Council for Inclusive Innovation Today, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office announced U.S. National Science Foundation Director Sethuraman Panchanathan as a co-vice chair of the Council for Inclusive Innovation, or CI2. The USPTO council will develop a national strategy for… Published September 27, 2022 at 09:13AM Read more at nsf.gov

Antarctic deep-sea coral larvae may be resistant to climate change The larval health of an Antarctic cold-water coral species may be resistant to warming water temperatures, a University of Maine study finds, bringing new hope for the climate change resilience of deep-sea ecosystems in the Western Antarctic… Published September 27, 2022 at 08:21AM Read more at nsf.gov

COVID radar: Genetic sequencing can help predict severity of next variant As public health officials around the world contend with the latest variant in the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. National Science Foundation-supported researchers at Drexel University have created a computer model that could help better prepare for the… Published September 27, 2022 at 08:20AM Read more at nsf.gov