Technical Knowledge Journey

NSF names two new Innovation Engines in North Carolina, announces $30 Million in new investments to region Today, the U.S. National Science Foundation announced two of the first-ever NSF Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) as a part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The Piedmont Triad Regenerative Medicine Engine and the North… Published January 26, 2024 at 11:00AM Read more at nsf.gov

Giant sea salt aerosols play major role in Hawaii's coastal clouds, rain Despite their tiny sizes, aerosols — such as sea salt, dust and ash — play a significant role in shaping weather and climate. These particles scatter light, act as the starting point for cloud formation and can even initiate or limit rainfall.Now, a… Published January 25, 2024 at 09:00AM Read more at nsf.gov

Democratizing the future of AI R&D: NSF to launch National AI Research Resource pilot Alexandria, Virginia: Today, the U.S. National Science Foundation and collaborating agencies launched the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) pilot, a first step towards realizing the vision for a shared research infrastructure… Published January 24, 2024 at 11:00AM Read more at nsf.gov

Researchers invent new way to stretch diamond for better quantum bits A future quantum network may become less of a stretch, thanks to researchers at the University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory and Cambridge University.A U.S. National Science Foundation-supported team has announced a breakthrough in quantum… Published January 23, 2024 at 10:28AM Read more at nsf.gov

Combining cell types may lead to improved cardiac cell therapy following heart attack Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and other institutions have harnessed a combination of lab-grown cells to regenerate damaged heart muscle.The study, published in Circulation, addresses major challenges of using heart muscle cells… Published January 18, 2024 at 09:00AM Read more at nsf.gov

Forming ice: There's a fungal protein for that The way ice forms is much more interesting than expected. This basic physical process, among the most common in nature, remains somewhat mysterious despite decades of scientific scrutiny.Now, U.S. National Science Foundation-supported research by… Published January 16, 2024 at 09:44AM Read more at nsf.gov

'Plug-and-play' nanoparticles could make it easier to tackle various biological targets Researchers at UC San Diego have developed modular nanoparticles that can be customized to target biological entities such as tumors, viruses or toxins. The surfaces of the nanoparticles are engineered to host biological molecules, making it possible… Published January 16, 2024 at 09:47AM Read more at nsf.gov

This week with NSF Director Panchanathan This week, U.S. National Science Foundation Director Sethuraman Panchanathan welcomed Gintaras Valinčius, chairman of the Research Council of Lithuania and Audra Plepytė, Lithuanian ambassador to the U.S., to NSF headquarters. Discussions centered… Published January 12, 2024 at 02:20PM Read more at nsf.gov

Damaging thunderstorm winds increasing in central U.S. Destructive winds that flow out of thunderstorms in the central United States are becoming more widespread with warming temperatures, according to new research by the U.S. National Science Foundation-supported National Center for Atmospheric Research… Published January 11, 2024 at 09:00AM Read more at nsf.gov

Autonomous lab discovers best-in-class quantum dot in hours It can take years of focused laboratory work to determine how to make the highest quality materials for use in electronic and photonic devices, which are designed to create, manipulate or detect light. Researchers have now developed an autonomous… Published January 09, 2024 at 10:07AM Read more at nsf.gov

New model adds human reactions to flood risk assessment Researchers at North Carolina State University have created a land-change model that simulates interactions between urban growth, increased flooding and human response. The new model could offer a more realistic assessment of risk for urban planners… Published January 09, 2024 at 10:07AM Read more at nsf.gov

​​​NSF and philanthropic partners announce $16 million in funding to prioritize ethical and social considerations in emerging technologies​​ The U.S. National Science Foundation today launched a new $16 million program in collaboration with five philanthropic partners that seeks to ensure ethical, legal, community and societal considerations are embedded in the lifecycle of technology’s… Published January 09, 2024 at 09:00AM Read more at nsf.gov

North Atlantic's marine productivity may not be declining, according to new study of older ice cores To paraphrase author Mark Twain, reports of declining phytoplankton in the North Atlantic may have been greatly exaggerated. An earlier study used ice cores in Antarctica to suggest that marine productivity in the North Atlantic had declined by 10%… Published January 05, 2024 at 12:00PM Read more at nsf.gov

Ammonia fuel offers great benefits but demands careful action Ammonia, a main component of many fertilizers, could play a key role in a carbon-free fuel system as a convenient way to transport and store clean hydrogen. The chemical, made of hydrogen and nitrogen, can also be burned as a zero-carbon fuel… Published January 04, 2024 at 09:54AM Read more at nsf.gov

People are disrupting natural 'salt cycle' on a global scale, new study shows The demand for salt comes at a cost to the environment and human health, according to a scientific review led by University of Maryland geologist Sujay Kaushal. Published in the journal Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, the U.S. National Science… Published January 04, 2024 at 09:54AM Read more at nsf.gov

NSF announces IT revitalization through consolidation in support of the 'CHIPS and Science Act of 2022' The U.S. National Science Foundation today announced a comprehensive reorganization of its information technology functions, marked by the establishment of a new independent and consolidated Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO). This… Published January 03, 2024 at 11:09AM Read more at nsf.gov