National Science Foundation (NSF)

Today, the U.S. National Science Foundation began terminating awards that are not aligned with agency priorities. NSF priorities are grounded in our mission and modulated by statutory directives and administrative priorities. It is our priority to ensure all broadening participation activities aim to create opportunities for all Americans everywhere, without direct or indirect exclusion of any groups. NSF remains committed to reviewing and funding proposals that are aligned with the agency’s priorities. A list of FAQs reflecting NSF priorities is available at https://bit.ly/42Dx6ei.

Physicists experimenting with the quantum properties of materials have found something new and different: the fractional exciton, a type of quasiparticle made of opposite fractional electric charges bound together by mutual attraction. This phenomenon, predicted in theory but now observed, was made possible through NSF funding and the unique capabilities provided by the NSF National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. If the particles can be controlled, the Brown University-led study opens new possibilities for developing faster and more reliable quantum computers by improving how information is stored and processed at the quantum level. "Our findings point toward an entirely new class of quantum particles that carry no overall charge but follow unique quantum statistics," says Jia Li, leader of the research team and associate professor of physics at Brown University. "The most exciting part is that this discovery unlocks a range of novel quantum phases of matter, presenting a new frontier for future research, deepening our understanding of fundamental physics and even opening up new possibilities in quantum computation." Discover more: https://bit.ly/4lDKWpS. 📷: Courtesy of Jia Li/Brown University

The NSF-U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science Vera C. Rubin Observatory has begun on-sky engineering tests, which means one of the most ambitious scientific facilities ever conceived is now tantalizingly close to completion. Once it's up and running, the Rubin Observatory will capture more data than all previous telescopes combined, including the discovery of millions of previously unseen asteroids, billions of stars and galaxies and who knows what else.  Stay tuned space fans. Get ready to #CaptureTheCosmos.

Northwestern University researchers, supported by the NSF Great Lakes Water Innovation Engine, have developed a sponge that removes pollutants from water while saving valuable minerals. 🧽 Coated with nanoparticles, the sponge captures metals like zinc, copper and lead, as well as phosphates and microplastics. It can also release these materials when exposed to different pH levels, allowing for the reuse of valuable metals. This innovation is making a splash in the real world through a commercialization partnership between NSF-funded and Northwestern University startup Coral Innovations and stormwater systems manufacturer StormTrap. https://bit.ly/3RSdluz #NSFSBIR #NSFEngines #GreatlakesReNEW

With the goal of making native foods more widely available and affordable for consumers, Manzanita Cooperative, an #NSFfunded startup, is developing new sustainable crops that require little or no irrigation. They utilize an innovative method known as gene-informed rapid breeding — a technology that relies on genetics, rather than gene editing, to swiftly enhance crops for agricultural purposes, aiming to shorten breeding times from decades to just a few years or even less. Manzanita is developing a new native-derived, low-alkaloid lupini bean with the superior drought adaptation characteristics inherent to California's lupine species. To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/42yJD2G. #NSFSBIR 📷: Manzanita Cooperative

Today, NSF launched a 24/7 crisis intervention helpline for members of the NSF research community who have experienced sexual assault, sexual harassment or stalking. The NSF Safer Science Helpline is an anonymous and secure helpline available to NSF awardees, grantees, scientists, contractors and those affiliated with supporting the mission of NSF, including all those supporting NSF's mission throughout Antarctica and the Arctic. To learn more, visit https://lnkd.in/etUruhGk. 🔗 : https://lnkd.in/g4gvypTw.

Relying on the limited abilities of conductive metals like copper may soon be a thing of the past. ⚡ With multiple grants and infrastructure provided by NSF, Stanford University researchers created an ultrathin material, niobium phosphide, that can conduct electricity better than copper. This breakthrough could lead to making nanoelectronics, such as computer chips, more efficient and powerful since the material becomes a better conductor as it becomes thinner. "Our niobium phosphide conductors show that it's possible to send faster, more efficient signals through ultrathin wires. This could improve the energy efficiency of future chips, and even small gains add up when many chips are used, such as in the massive data centers that store and process information today," says Asir Intisar Khan, a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University and an author on the research paper.  https://bit.ly/4jqlLVR 📷: Asir Khan/Eric Pop

The U.S. National Science Foundation is expanding the NSF CloudBank, an initiative designed to accelerate science and engineering research through access to commercial cloud computing. Led by UC San Diego, in partnership with the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Washington, NSF CloudBank 2.0 will continue to collaborate with major cloud providers to provide seamless access to commercial cloud computing, artificial intelligence tools and model access, and advanced data processing capabilities. The expansion will also be an integral part of achieving the vision of the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource pilot. "The United States must secure its position as the unrivaled world leader in critical and emerging technologies. American AI dominance is crucial to our national security and economic interests. To do this, we need to provide cutting-edge resources to our research community, and Cloudbank 2.0 does exactly that. Utilizing every tool in the toolbox to promote innovation and push our researchers to the next level is exactly how we'll strength our position as the leader in artificial intelligence," said White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Principal Deputy Director Lynne Parker. https://bit.ly/3E2w6IF

Scientists have created a revolutionary chainmail-like polymer that could be the future of body armor. Groundbreaking in more ways than one, researchers supported by grants and instrumentation provided by NSF created and imaged the first 2D mechanically locking polymer, akin to chainmail, that also has the highest density of mechanical bonds ever achieved, with 100 trillion mechanical bonds per 1 square centimeter! 🔗 This method makes the material exceptionally strong and flexible while remaining lightweight at the same time. The nanoscale material was developed by researchers at Northwestern University and the polymer's crystallinity and interlocking structure were confirmed at Cornell University, where an advanced electron microscopy method was used to atomically image a crystalline material for the first time. https://bit.ly/3RLw8aN 📷: Mark Seniw, Center for Regenerative Nanomedicine, Northwestern University

Hundreds of life-saving medications may no longer need refrigeration with the development of a new way to preserve protein-based drugs. Led by Scott Medina at Penn State University, a recipient of an NSF Faculty Early Career Development grant, researchers created an oil-based solution using a naturally sterile oil that protects against bacteria, fungi and viruses, which need water to grow and survive. The work could eventually reduce the cost of refrigerating drugs like insulin, monoclonal antibodies and viral vaccines throughout the supply chain and allow more protein-based therapies to be used where constant refrigeration isn't possible, including military environments.  "Keeping these drugs stable without refrigeration could simplify our supply chain and improve healthcare in a wider range of conditions," says Nitsa Rosenzweig, program director in the NSF Division of Materials Research. 📷: Penn State (CC By-NC-ND 4.0) https://bit.ly/3DVhWch