Why does the inner solar system not spin faster?

Why does the inner solar system not spin faster?
The motion of a tiny number of charged particles may solve a long-standing mystery about thin gas disks rotating around young stars, according to a new study by Caltech researchers. These features, called accretion disks, last tens of millions of…

Published August 31, 2022 at 03:17PM
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Understanding cooperation and conflict in plant symbionts

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 03:18PM
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NSF funds new projects to study local and global impacts of a rapidly changing Arctic

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 09:40PM
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New model sheds light on day/night cycle in the global ocean

New model sheds light on day/night cycle in the global ocean
Phytoplankton are the foundation of all life on the planet. Understanding how these photosynthetic organisms react to their ocean environment is important to understanding the rest of the food web. But computer models of the global ocean…

Published August 30, 2022 at 02:40PM
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Stars determine their own masses

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 02:38PM
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Subsurface water on Mars defies expectations

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 02:55PM
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Even modest climate change may dramatically alter Earth's northernmost forests

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 02:52PM
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Engineers build a self-aware, self-training robot that can avoid obstacles and assess damage

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 02:59PM
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Day or night — your brain is always listening

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 02:56PM
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NSF announces new awards to understand coastal systems and tackle coastal hazards

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 04:00PM
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Researchers create an immersible glove with a secure grip

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 02:48PM
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First light observations of chemically rich star HD 222925 captured

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 02:47PM
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Researchers use artificial intelligence to create a 'treasure map' of undiscovered ant species

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 02:18PM
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Understanding how rechargeable aqueous zinc batteries work

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 02:18PM
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New NSF awards seek to broaden participation in biology through research experiences for recent college graduates

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 04:01PM
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Researchers develop online training module to counteract the negative effects of stress on adolescents

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 02:59PM
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New research uncovers the internal structure of spider silk

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 02:58PM
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Legacy of ancient ice ages shapes how seagrasses respond to environmental threats today

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 02:03PM
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Smoke from Western wildfires can influence Arctic sea ice, researchers find

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 02:02PM
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Interaction between humans and the environment is focus of 15 new NSF-funded projects

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 04:59PM
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Physicists research how aerosol particulates from wind instruments move through the air

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 02:31PM
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Rare plants attract rare bees and birds in urban gardens

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 03:18PM
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New model developed to predict landslides along wildfire burn scars

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 03:18PM
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Integrative biological science and training are the focus of 4 new institutes

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 06:07PM
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Oldest DNA from domesticated American horse lends credence to shipwreck theory

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 02:24PM
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Invasive species' success may lie in living fast, dying young

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 02:24PM
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'Plaza' in ancient city of Cahokia near today’s St. Louis was likely inundated year-round

'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 02:32PM
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Engineers improve catalyst that destroys 'forever chemicals' with sunlight

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 02:33PM
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NSF announces 4 new Engineering Research Centers focused on agriculture, health, manufacturing and smart cities

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 05:00PM
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Water resources to become less predictable with climate change

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 03:24PM
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Researchers pull record of 700,000 years of tropical climate change from an Andean lakebed

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 03:28PM
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How did Earth avoid a Mars-like fate? Ancient rocks hold clues

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 02:14PM
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What is a pond? Study provides first data-driven definition

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 02:14PM
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NSF and Amazon continue collaboration that strengthens and supports fairness in artificial intelligence and machine learning

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 03:02PM
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Researchers develop computer model to predict whether a pesticide will harm bees

Researchers develop computer model to predict whether a pesticide will harm bees
Researchers at Oregon State University have harnessed the power of artificial intelligence to help protect bees from pesticides. Cory Simon and Xiaoli Fern led the project, which involved training a machine learning model to predict whether proposed…

Published August 08, 2022 at 01:58PM
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Moths enlist additional troops in an evolutionary arms race

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 01:59PM
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Facilitating US-India bilateral research collaborations

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 03:00PM
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Four New NSF INCLUDES Alliances Announced

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 02:00PM
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New dissolving implantable device relieves pain without medication

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 02:21PM
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To keep up with evolving prey, rattlesnakes tap genetically diverse venom toolbox

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 02:20PM
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NSF selects James L. Moore III to head the Education and Human Resources Directorate

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 05:56PM
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Scientists use new technique to identify changes in lakes and reservoirs around the world

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 02:49PM
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First known off-axis, high-temperature deep sea hydrothermal vents along portion of the northern East Pacific Rise

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 02:46PM
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Could a computer diagnose Alzheimer's disease and dementia?

Could a computer diagnose Alzheimer's disease and dementia?
It takes a lot of time — and money — to diagnose Alzheimer's disease. After running lengthy in-person neuropsychological exams, clinicians must transcribe, review and analyze every response in detail. Now, U.S. National Science Foundation-supported…

Published August 02, 2022 at 01:58PM
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Fire corals winning the battle for domination of Caribbean reefs

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 01:58PM
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Coastal glacier retreat linked to climate change

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 02:25PM
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Does this ring a bell? Wild bats can remember sounds for years

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 02:24PM
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