National Science Foundation (NSF)

Happy World Penguin Day! 🐧 Penguins have adapted to their environments over a long and complex evolutionary history. #NSFfunded researchers in Antarctica study the remains of ancient Adélie penguins, such as bones and eggshells, to see the changes in the colonies over the years. Analyzing these remains provides insights into when penguins first arrived at the breeding colony and how long they have been there. It turns out that penguins have been inhabiting the area for around 3,000 years! By analyzing ancient penguins, the researchers can see a benchmark for when Adélies first arrived and chart the changes in the environmental conditions since then, such as changing sea-ice cover that started to favor the penguins. This information allows researchers to understand how and why climate change affects them. 📷: Annie Schmidt #WorldPenguinDay #penguins

🦟 Malaria is a leading cause of preventable illness and death worldwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The serious and sometimes life-threatening disease is caused by parasites that are carried by mosquitoes and then spread to humans. This #WorldMalariaDay, we recognize the #NSFfunded startup Fyodor Biotechnologies and its mission to solve issues affecting global health like malaria for international patients, especially from underserved communities. Fyodor developed the Urine Malaria Test, the first and only non-blood test that tells in minutes if a fever is malaria, using a few drops of urine. According to the World Health Organization, early diagnosis and treatment of malaria reduces disease and prevents deaths, and Fyodor seeks to do just that. For more information, check out https://bit.ly/4aNje41 or visit https://bit.ly/3UdJWfg. 📷: Fyodor Biotechnologies #NSFSBIR #malaria

📢 Progress in science, technology and innovation increasingly relies on advanced research infrastructure — including the equipment, cyberinfrastructure, large-scale datasets and skilled personnel needed to perform cutting-edge research. That’s why the U.S. National Science Foundation today announced a $90 million investment in SafeInsights: a five-year national cyberinfrastructure project to transform U.S. STEM education. SafeInsights, led by OpenStax at Rice University and funded through the Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure Level-2 program, will serve as a central hub – facilitating research coordination and leveraging data across a range of major digital learning platforms that already serve tens of millions of U.S. learners. "We are thrilled to announce an investment of $90 million in SafeInsights, marking a significant step forward in our commitment to advancing scientific research in STEM education," said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. "There is an urgent need for research-informed strategies capable of transforming educational systems, empowering our nation's workforce, and propelling discoveries in the science of learning. By investing in cutting-edge infrastructure and fostering collaboration among researchers and educators, we are paving the way for transformative discoveries and equitable opportunities for learners across the nation." Read more about NSF’s largest single investment in research and development infrastructure for education: https://bit.ly/49SdJzX #STEM #education

🏆 Congratulations to this year’s Alan T. Waterman Award winners for their pioneering contributions to biomedical engineering, genetics and robotics. https://bit.ly/3WgDjvc 📍 Muyinatu A. Lediju Bell is a biomedical engineer at The Johns Hopkins University. Bell has developed groundbreaking techniques that are transforming the utility of medical imaging, especially in ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging, by harnessing the power of light and sound to improve diagnostic capabilities and guide surgeries. 📍 Katrina G. Claw is a genomic scientist at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and a leader in Indigenous science. Claw has been recognized for her contributions to pharmacogenomics and for fostering cultural and bioethical research participation within Indigenous communities. As a member of the Navajo Nation, she is dedicated to collaborative and community-based genetic research that produces better science and ethically benefits all participants. 📍 Rebecca Kramer-Bottiglio, an engineer at Yale University, is creating robots that adapt and evolve to changing conditions. Her breakthrough design strategy of adaptive morphogenesis for robotics is inspired by biological adaptations, organic structures and evolution and extends techniques she developed to create shape-shifting and phase-changing materials. When integrated into robots, these new materials enable transformative new capabilities via unprecedented adaptive behaviors. “This award recognizes their contributions and is also a vital investment in the future of science discovery and innovation, empowering the awardees to deepen their research, expand their projects and explore new frontiers in their field. More importantly, it enables these exceptional individuals to apply their groundbreaking work for the betterment of their communities and society at large." - NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan

This year's Earth Day theme, "Planet vs. Plastic," brings the overflowing plastic crisis to the forefront of the struggle for a clean environment. 🌎 Here are five NSF-driven projects that examine plastic in both expected and surprising places, as well as how it impacts everyone. https://bit.ly/44dtXSP

Happy #EarthDay! 🌎 Earth Day serves as a reminder of the significance of environmental conservation and sustainability, encouraging everyone to think about how to help protect the planet. Heirloom, an #NSFfunded startup, is fighting climate change by removing billions of tons of CO2 from the atmosphere with its direct air capture technology. Heirloom hones in the power of nature by using limestone to directly remove carbon dioxide from the air, absorbing it “like a sponge,” and storing it in concrete — away from the atmosphere. The concrete can then be reused in construction projects safely and sustainably. Located in Tracy, California, Heirloom's facility is the first commercial plant in the U.S. to capture and permanently store CO2. The company aims to remove 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide by 2035. To learn more information, visit https://cbsn.ws/4490fyk #NSFSBIR #conservation #sustainability #greensolutions 📷: Heirloom Carbon

This week, NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan worked to strengthen pathways into STEM and expand the agency's reach in communities across the nation and the world. At the Arctic Encounter Symposium, Director Panchanathan took center stage alongside global leaders, giving remarks that underscored the critical need for collaborative action to address the pressing challenges confronting the Arctic. He also met with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and had the opportunity to tour the University of Alaska Anchorage's campus, where he witnessed first-hand the cutting-edge science, engineering and innovation research happening across its centers and facilities. The director welcomed Martina Hirayama, Switzerland's state secretary of State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI, to NSF headquarters. Discussions addressed progress under the NSF and Swiss National Science Foundation SNSF Lead Agency Opportunity, which was launched in January 2023 and includes nearly 100 participating NSF programs.

"Wilson! Oh, wait — no, that’s just a buoy." To study short and long-term changes in the ocean, ocean scientists deploy instruments at sea to collect continuous data on depth, temperature, salinity and more. But keeping those instruments and systems powered isn't quite as simple as paying your electric bill on time, which reminds me … In a new #NSFfunded study, researchers from the Sandia National Laboratories, in partnership with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, are developing a wave energy converter to help power the Coastal Surfacing Mooring (CSM) system moored off the coast of Martha's Vineyard. Currently, the CSM system relies on solar, wind and battery systems to power the sensors on the buoys and along the mooring line, which, together, meet the system's full power demand roughly 70% of the time. However, to fully power the mooring system's sensors and prevent data stream interruptions, Sandia has been experimenting with several potential wave energy converter designs. Having narrowed the designs down to two, the team's next step will be to move forward with one wave energy converter concept, build a prototype and perform at-sea testing. To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/4aVvjDY 📷: Al Plueddemann, WHOI

📢 Exciting announcement! A new opportunity from the NSF Regional Innovation Engines program. If you care deeply about building innovation ecosystems across the country in key technology areas, check it out. This big opportunity could give your team up to $160M over 10 years. Learn more at an upcoming webinar: https://bit.ly/3U3S55N

Did you know that NSF’s early investment in 3D printing helped prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus at the onset of the pandemic? In 1989, NSF awarded Emanuel Sachs and Michael Cima at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology a grant to develop their additive manufacturing method known as “binder jet printing,” which earned them a patent in 1993. In the years that followed, their invention revolutionized global supply chains. Products could now be manufactured layer by layer, rather than by being cut away from a large block of existing material, making them cost-effective and efficient. Fast forward to 2020. In the first five months of the COVID-19 pandemic, 3D printing was able to meet the insane demand for products like personal protective equipment — churning out 38 million face shield parts and helping to prevent the spread of the virus at a critical hour. Today, 3D printing continues to expand and strengthen health care and many other sectors, including defense. By 2029, the global 3D-printing market is expected to grow from $18.33 billion in 2022 to $83.9 billion. That makes this “NSF investment to impact” one that saves lives, boosts the country’s economy and bolsters national security. For more: https://bit.ly/3vZdQf9 📸: Sarah Modgling, Somerset Community College