Discoveries

NSF's public investment in science, engineering, education and technology helps to create knowledge and sustain prosperity. Read here about the Internet, microbursts, Web browsers, extrasolar planets, and more... a panoply of discoveries and innovations that began with NSF support.

Page: Previous |Next (Showing: 31-60 of 306)

		Beyond Cold: How the World Works at Minus 459 Degrees Graduate student David McKay describes how atoms are cooled to near absolute zero for research using an approach called quantum simulation Released  July 25, 2008
		The Man Behind Amazing Movie Simulations He may not be as famous as Johnny Depp or Jessica Alba, but Oscar-winner Ron Fedkiw creates 3-D models of liquids that have had a major impact on Hollywood and our lives Released  July 24, 2008
		Chemist 'Really Jazzed' About Creating New Molecules Lyle Isaacs talks about cool things that chemists do, such as his work to build new molecular containers that are as good as what is found in nature Released  July 18, 2008
		Stem Cell Research Goes Beyond Biology Todd McDevitt tells how engineering can help us understand stem cell differentiation and develop approaches to realize the potential of stem cells for regenerative therapies Released  July 17, 2008
		Cracking the Code of Images New software easily detects pictures' hidden messages Released  July 15, 2008
		Researcher Says Life Evolved Between the Mica Sheets Biophysicist Helen Greenwood Hansma of the University of California, Santa Barbara, on the origin of her new hypothesis for the origins of life Released  July 14, 2008
		Methane Formation in the Oceans: New Pathway Discovered Significant importance for study of greenhouse gas production on Earth Released  July 10, 2008
		Environmental Programs in China Successful, Study Finds Key reforms could turn them into world models Released  July 10, 2008
		Long Wait Before Next China Quake? May 12 earthquake rare and unexpected, geologists discover Released  July 10, 2008
		Fossil Feathers Preserve Evidence of Color Organic material reveals remnants of color pigments Released  July 10, 2008
		What's Behind the Crazy Shapes of Fruits Ohio State researchers discover and clone a gene that controls the shape of tomatoes Released  July 8, 2008
		Beauty Is in the Genes of the Beholder New research on American pronghorns explains why not everything is about looks Released  July 3, 2008
		Why People Live in Wildfire Zones University of Oregon psychology professor Paul Slovic and other researchers offer insight into understanding risks in a democratic society Released  July 2, 2008
		Predicting the Next Major Virus Peter Daszak, executive director of the Consortium for Conservation Medicine at Wildlife Trust, talks about the importance of research to better predict and prevent future devastating pandemics Released  June 30, 2008
		Scientists See Squid Attack Squid Oregon State oceanographer Kelly Benoit-Bird and colleagues succeed in using sonar to track Humboldt squid Released  June 27, 2008
		Not a Quirk But a Quark ... a Quark Star! Super-luminous stellar explosion observed via Caltech's Palomar Observatory, possibly resulting in a quark star Released  June 26, 2008
		Cloaking Device Concept Moves Beyond Theory Applied mathematician Graeme Milton brings the dream of cloaking devices portrayed in "Star Trek" and "Harry Potter" closer to reality Released  June 18, 2008
		Brightest X-ray Vision at the Nano-scale Superconducting 'universal toolkit' for scientists, engineers will conserve energy, too Released  June 6, 2008
		My Research: I Burn Stuff U.S. graduate student Abigail Watrous on her research studying energy technologies and seeking practical and affordable alternatives to help developing communities reduce pollution Released  June 5, 2008
		International Gemini Observatory Captures Birth of a Supernova Stellar discovery marks a new epoc in astronomical research Released  May 28, 2008
		Hunt for Fossils Finds Warning for Warming Earth Graduate student Ellen Currano provides a glimpse of paleontological fieldwork, describing how she collects fossil leaves for research studying the effects of climate change on plants and insect herbivores Released  May 27, 2008
		The Freaky Fishes of the Congo American Museum of Natural History ichthyologist Melanie Stiassny takes us on a journey down the Congo River to explore its rich fish diversity Released  May 20, 2008
		A Season at the Penguin Ranch in Antarctica A veteran Antarctic researcher talks about the whys and hows of studying the diving physiology and behavior of emperor penguins on the "Ice" Released  May 19, 2008
		How to Capture Yellow Jackets (and Not Get Stung) Georgia Tech assistant biology professor Michael Goodisman on the thrill of collecting yellow jacket nests and why he studies these dangerous but important social insects Released  May 14, 2008
		Engineers Create Better Fix for Broken Jaws Computer finite element modeling program used by University of New Mexico engineers in designing smaller and lighter plates for jaw repair surgery Released  May 13, 2008
		How Desert Dust Feeds the World's Oceans Scientists sample dust and trace metals in seawater to learn more about climatic change Released  May 9, 2008
		Computer Program Reveals Anyone's Ancestry Researchers develop computer algorithm that can trace the genetic ancestry of thousands of individuals in minutes Released  May 5, 2008
		For Better or Worse, Modern Ocean Explorers Stay Connected Improvements in shipboard communications mean scientists can keep in constant touch, even when their research takes them to remote locations Released  April 28, 2008
		Chore Wars: Men, Women and Housework Study confirms wives do most household chores Released  April 28, 2008
		Scientist Explores Invisible Environmental Helpers Researcher uses his expertise in catalysis to impact major environmental issues Released  April 25, 2008