Technical Knowledge Journey

This week with NSF Director Panchanathan From testifying in front of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology to speaking about how partnerships and collaboration advance American innovation — this week, NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan reinforced the significance of NSF's… Published April 28, 2023 at 01:52PM Read more at nsf.gov

NSF honors 3 early-career researchers with the Alan T. Waterman Award The U.S. National Science Foundation has named its awardees for this year's Alan T. Waterman Award, the nation's highest honor for early-career scientists and engineers: Natalie S. King, a science educator at Georgia State University; Asegun Henry, a… Published April 27, 2023 at 12:51PM Read more at nsf.gov

NSF, AACC announce Community College Innovation Challenge finalists The U.S. National Science Foundation, in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges, has selected 12 teams to advance to the final round of the Community College Innovation Challenge, set to take place in June 2023. CCIC, now in… Published April 26, 2023 at 02:59PM Read more at nsf.gov

Study sheds light on ancient microbial dark matter Bacteria are literally everywhere — in oceans, in soils, in extreme environments like hot springs and even alongside and inside other organisms, including humans. They're nearly invisible, yet they play a big role in almost every facet of life… Published April 26, 2023 at 10:38AM Read more at nsf.gov

3D radar scan provides clues about threats to iconic Alaskan glacier A detailed "body scan" of Malaspina Glacier, one of Alaska's most iconic glaciers, revealed that its bulk lies below sea level and is undercut by channels that may allow ocean water to gain access should its coastal barrier erode. That makes the… Published April 26, 2023 at 10:36AM Read more at nsf.gov

NSF Director Panchanathan delivers inaugural President’s Distinguished Lecture at the University of Missouri U.S. National Science Foundation Director Sethuraman Panchanathan traveled to the University of Missouri to deliver the inaugural "President's Distinguished Lecture" on April 24, the first in a series that invites leaders of renowned research… Published April 25, 2023 at 02:55PM Read more at nsf.gov

In the tropics, woody vines make lightning more deadly for forests Many tropical forests are experiencing increases in lightning and lianas, thanks in part to global change. This one-two punch is likely causing an increase in the death of small trees, which could lead to shifts in composition of tropical forests and… Published April 25, 2023 at 09:52AM Read more at nsf.gov

Advancing artificial intelligence research infrastructure through new NSF investments Today, the U.S. National Science Foundation has announced a $16.1 million investment to support shared research infrastructure that provides artificial intelligence researchers and students across the nation with access to transformative resources… Published April 25, 2023 at 09:01AM Read more at nsf.gov

Study on methane in deep-sea sediments shows small releases happen more often than thought A team of scientists led by a Brown University researcher has developed a new method for monitoring when deep-sea methane deposits convert to gas and rise toward the seafloor in amounts that were previously too small to detect. The U.S. National… Published April 24, 2023 at 01:36PM Read more at nsf.gov

‘Alien’ comet 'Oumuamua's weird orbit may have surprisingly simple explanation In 2017, a mysterious comet dubbed 'Oumuamua fired the imaginations of scientists and the public. It was the first known visitor from outside our solar system, it had no bright coma or dust tail like most comets, and had a peculiar shape — something… Published April 24, 2023 at 01:38PM Read more at nsf.gov

NSF hosts government, industry leaders to discuss the future of 6G technology On April 21, the U.S. National Science Foundation hosted leaders from across academia, industry, civil society, and government to discuss the future of next-generation wireless technologies and services and how it can advance economic and national… Published April 24, 2023 at 09:00AM Read more at nsf.gov

For clues to healthy brain aging, look to the Bolivian Amazon Some of the lowest rates of heart and brain disease ever reported by science are found among Indigenous communities inhabiting the tropical forests of lowland Bolivia. New University of Southern California research on two of these societies, the… Published April 17, 2023 at 01:02PM Read more at nsf.gov

This week with NSF Director Panchanathan This week, NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan testified for NSF at the Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2024 budget hearing. The director reinforced the significance of… Published April 21, 2023 at 01:22PM Read more at nsf.gov

Smart pills to help diagnose gut disorders The idea of journeying inside the human body to solve health problems has been around at least since science fiction popularizations, but the approach to medicine has yet to become real. Now, researchers at Caltech have developed what they describe… Published April 19, 2023 at 08:45AM Read more at nsf.gov

Striking new evidence for mass immigration of stars into the Andromeda galaxy Galaxies grow and evolve by forging new stars and merging with other galaxies through aptly named "galactic immigration" events. The archaeology of such events, uncovered by studying the motions of individual stars throughout a galaxy and its… Published April 18, 2023 at 10:25AM Read more at nsf.gov

Scientists discover pristine deep-sea coral reefs in the Galápagos Marine Reserve Scientists have discovered extensive, ancient deep-sea coral reefs in the Galápagos Marine Reserve — the first of their kind to be documented inside the marine protected area since it was established in 1998. The reefs, found at a depth of 400-600… Published April 17, 2023 at 02:27PM Read more at nsf.gov

Researchers create world's first energy-saving paint — inspired by butterflies Debashis Chanda and colleagues at the University of Central Florida have drawn inspiration from butterflies to create the first environmentally friendly, large-scale and multicolor alternative to pigment-based colorants, which the researchers say can… Published April 17, 2023 at 01:00PM Read more at nsf.gov

For clues to healthy brain aging, look to the Bolivian Amazon Some of the lowest rates of heart and brain disease ever reported by science are found among Indigenous communities inhabiting the tropical forests of lowland Bolivia. New University of Southern California research on two of these societies, the… Published April 17, 2023 at 01:02PM Read more at nsf.gov

This week with NSF Director Panchanathan Throughout the week, NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan has been championing NSF's commitment to building strong partnerships across government, industry and academia to create robust innovation ecosystems across the country. The director made a… Published April 14, 2023 at 04:34PM Read more at nsf.gov

Earlier algae blooms, lingering toxins The outsized impacts invasive species can have on an ecosystem — even on its tiniest members — are detailed in a paper in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The report maps out how two invasive species affected the microbial… Published April 12, 2023 at 08:58AM Read more at nsf.gov

Discovery could lead to new fungicides that protect rice crops A fungus that plagues rice crops worldwide gains entry to plant cells in a way that makes it vulnerable to simple chemical blockers, a discovery that could lead to new fungicides to reduce substantial annual losses of rice and other valuable cereals… Published April 11, 2023 at 09:38AM Read more at nsf.gov

Scientists complete first map of an insect brain Researchers have completed the most advanced brain map to date, that of an insect, a landmark achievement in neuroscience that brings scientists closer to true understanding of the mechanism of thought. The team, led by researchers at Johns Hopkins… Published April 10, 2023 at 10:59AM Read more at nsf.gov

NSF launches new crisis helpline for U.S. Antarctic Program community Today, the U.S. National Science Foundation launched the NSF Antarctic Helpline, a 24/7 crisis intervention helpline exclusively for members of the U.S. Antarctic Program, or USAP, community who have experienced sexual assault and/or sexual… Published April 10, 2023 at 09:05AM Read more at nsf.gov

NSF partnering with Brazilian counterpart agency to increase research collaboration The U.S. National Science Foundation and the São Paulo Research Foundation, or FAPESP (in Portuguese, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo), signed a memorandum of understanding this week to encourage and support interaction in areas… Published April 06, 2023 at 02:01PM Read more at nsf.gov

NSF director underscores 'CHIPS & Science Act' opportunities in visit to Washington state U.S. National Science Foundation Director Sethuraman Panchanathan spoke at a press conference at the University of Washington in Seattle. Director Panchanathan was joined by Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA) and leaders from Washington state higher education… Published April 05, 2023 at 04:40PM Read more at nsf.gov

Quantum 'shock absorbers' allow perovskite to exhibit superfluorescence at room temperature Picture a school of fish swimming in unison or the synchronized flashing of fireflies — examples of collective behavior in nature. When similar collective behavior happens in the quantum world, it leads to processes such as superconductivity… Published April 05, 2023 at 10:26AM Read more at nsf.gov

Sea-level rise poses particular risk for Asian megacities Sea-level rise this century may disproportionately affect certain Asian megacities as well as western tropical Pacific islands and the western Indian Ocean, according to new research that looks at the effects of natural sea-level fluctuations on the… Published April 05, 2023 at 10:31AM Read more at nsf.gov

Wheeled robot measures leaf angles to help breed better corn plants Researchers at North Carolina State University and Iowa State University have demonstrated an automated technology capable of accurately measuring the angle of leaves on corn plants in the field. The U.S. National Science Foundation-supported… Published April 04, 2023 at 11:02AM Read more at nsf.gov

Biologists, chemical engineers collaborate to reveal complex cellular process inside petunias Flowers emit scent chemicals called volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. Now, a Purdue University team has published a paper in Nature Communications identifying for the first time a protein that plays a key role in helping petunias emit floral… Published April 03, 2023 at 10:40AM Read more at nsf.gov