Office of Integrative Activities (OIA) 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.

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		2008: Year in Review A look back at some of the NSF-supported advances and activities that made news last year Released  March 13, 2009
		Pedal-Power Supercomputing Green supercomputing paves the way for sharing scientific research and collaboration Released  January 14, 2009
		Cheaper Plastic Solar Cells in the Works South Dakota State University’s Diane Hinkens describes her work in an interdisciplinary research collaboration that is trying to design, synthesize and eventually fabricate a more efficient and less costly solar cell Released  January 13, 2009
		Researchers Peek Under Ice Sheets for Clues on Climate Change Synthetic aperture radar technology provides world-class data Released  December 18, 2008
		Jellyfish Researcher Explains How and Why Jellyfish Swarms Form Why are large swarms of jellyfish and other gelatinous animals being reported in many of the world's popular fishing and vacation spots? Released  December 16, 2008
		Physicists Gear Up for Huge Data Flow University of Nebraska researchers build a computer center to handle the flood of data expected from the world's next-generation particle accelerator Released  August 7, 2008
		Cracking the Code of Images New software easily detects pictures' hidden messages Released  July 15, 2008
		Methane Formation in the Oceans: New Pathway Discovered Significant importance for study of greenhouse gas production on Earth Released  July 10, 2008
		International Gemini Observatory Captures Birth of a Supernova Stellar discovery marks a new epoc in astronomical research Released  May 28, 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
		New Coating Could Prevent Infection From Surgical Tools and Implants Development of penicillin-coated surfaces could save thousands of lives from infection Released  September 7, 2007
		Berkeley Nanotechnology Pioneer to Receive $500,000 Waterman Award Annual prize from NSF recognizes outstanding young individual who is revolutionizing research Released  May 15, 2007
		Life Can Be a Strain From enormous mining trucks to human knee implants, sensor technology is teaching us when enough is enough Released  February 21, 2007
		2006: Year in Review A look back at some of the NSF-supported activities highlighted last year Released  January 9, 2007
		Swimming Robot Tests Theories About Locomotion in Existing and Extinct Animals May explain why four-flippered swimmers now use only two Released  May 30, 2006
		Crystal Sieves, Born Anew Hard data resolves decades-old mystery of how certain zeolites form Released  April 17, 2006
		Virtual Tools Add New Dimension to Learning Internet-based resources educate students about archaeology, biology, computer science and geology Released  April 12, 2006
		Waterproof Superglue May Be Strongest in Nature Bacterial adhesive is 2-3 times stronger than common commercial glues Released  April 11, 2006
		Doodle Search New software can hunt through online catalogs using only a sketch Released  February 23, 2006
		Fantastic Fungus: Plant Biologist Discovers Natural Antimicrobial in Honduran Jungle Montana State University professor Gary Strobel travels the world in search of exotic plants and the mysterious fungi that live inside them. Among his discoveries: a smelly white fungus that acts as a natural antimicrobial. Released  October 5, 2005
		Researchers Carve with Electricity at the Nanometer Scale Process may yield miniscule molecular detection devices, semiconducting connectors and molecular sieves Released  August 17, 2005
		New Mexico Graduate Student Receives Costa Rica's Top Science Honor At 26, Esteban Araya is the youngest person to ever receive the top science award from his native Costa Rica. A graduate student in astronomy at New Mexico Tech, Araya was honored for his research into the formation of massive stars. Released  August 5, 2005
		Nano-engineered Powders Tackle Toxic Chemicals Thirsty grains act fast to clean up messes Released  April 28, 2005
		Teenage Mentors Open Door to Science for Younger Girls How can schools encourage more girls to study science? Researchers have found that pairing high school girls as mentors of elementary school girls for field and laboratory science investigations boosts interest--and confidence--in both groups. Released  April 6, 2005
		News of This Speedy Mole Travels Fast Researchers need high-speed camera to catch the star-nosed mole devouring its food. Released  March 8, 2005
		Deeper View Helps Explain Rio Grande Rift Subsurface revealed down to the Earth's mantle Released  March 1, 2005
		Real Science for Younger Scientists Real scientific projects go beyond "cookbook curriculum" and engage students in the unknown. Released  November 8, 2004
		Game Theorist Describes Unintended Consequences of U.S. Counterterrorism Policies World events might not suggest that a decline in terrorism incidents has taken place during the post-Cold War era. Yet, economists have identified just such a trend while revealing that the likelihood of death or injury from terrorism has increased. Released  July 30, 2004
		Tracking the Black Rosy-Finch: Hidden Treasure and Higher Learning in North America's Alpine Zone Climbing for science above 10,000 feet, a University of Wyoming student makes a rare discovery that yields new genetic data about one of North America's highest breeding species. Released  July 30, 2004
		Breakthrough Brings Laser Light to New Regions of the Spectrum Researchers have created a "waveguide" that coaxes extreme-ultraviolet light waves into forming a tightly focused laser-like beam that will allow researchers to "see" tiny features and carve miniature patterns. Released  December 9, 2003