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.
![Photo of the submersible Alvin that was used to collect sediment from methane seeps.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/methane1_l.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
Exploring the Mysteries of the Ocean Floor Scientists travel to the seafloor to learn how deep sea organisms use the sun-less chemical environment to thrive Released
October 14, 2009
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![Photo of a cicada feeding on a plant in Tucson, Ariz.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/cicada1_l.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
Tiny Bacteria Are Secret to Cicada's Success Some common life forms, like cicadas, depend on complex symbiotic relationships with specialized microbes to produce essential nutrients Released
August 14, 2009
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![Photo of the Northern House mosquito.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/west_nile1_l1.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
West Nile Virus: The Search for Answers in Chicago’s Suburbs The pattern of West Nile virus in Chicago’s suburbs may hold the answers to understanding this disease Released
August 11, 2009
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![Photo of juvenile northern elephant seals on the beach at Ano Nuevo.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/hypoxia1_l.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
How Penguins & Seals Survive Deep Dives Jessica Meir goes to extreme environments to learn how birds and mammals thrive in conditions that humans cannot tolerate, and she tells readers all about it Released
July 31, 2009
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![Photo of a researcher collecting soil samples at the Arctic LTER site.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/soil_biodiversity1_l.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
Life Underground Critical to Earth's Ecosystems Scientists travel 'down the rabbit hole' for new view of subterranean biodiversity Released
July 29, 2009
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![Photo of an Anise Swallowtail larva.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/swallowtail1_l.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
Bugs: The Forgotten Victims of Climate Change Researchers consider the impact of relocating species to new environments to save insects from global warming Released
July 21, 2009
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![Picture of the lizard Enyalius leechi over the Amazon rainforest.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/lizard_l2.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
Putting the Heat on Tropical Lizards Climate change has a significant impact on tropical lizards and their ecosystems Released
July 13, 2009
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![A real scan of a human brain.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/brain_l1.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
Unlocking the Secrets and Powers of the Brain Leading minds in neuroscience discuss what we know about how our brains work and where the field is headed Released
June 15, 2009
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![Diatoms through the microscope.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/diatoms_l.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
Journal Spotlights Research on Marine Microbes Funded by National Science Foundation The authors of all five articles included in Nature's recent special section on microbial oceanography have received NSF funding Released
May 29, 2009
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![Photo of Katrina Edwards sub-sampling volcanic basalt for microbiology as Brian Midson looks on.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/microbes1_l1.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
Hunting for Life in Rocks Beneath the Seas University of Southern California geobiologist Katrina Edwards describes research to find and characterize microbes in the crust beneath the deep sea Released
May 8, 2009
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![Photo of L. Curtis Hannah, plant molecular biology researcher at the University of Florida.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/hot_crops1_l.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
Heat-tolerant Crops Could Prevent Future Starvation and Help Preserve Biofuels With NSF support, plant molecular biologist L. Curtis Hannah is developing variants of key crops that will produce increased yields under heat stress Released
April 27, 2009
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![Photo of particpants climbing a tree.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/legis_aloft1_l.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
Changes in Altitude/Changes in Attitude: Scientists and Policymakers Share Views in the Treetops Excursion to a rainforest canopy creates a communication bridge between scientists and policymakers Released
April 13, 2009
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![Photo of Randy Davis discussing his research on Weddell seals.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/outreach1_l.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
More and More Scientists Serve Up Science for Mass Consumption Scientists use innovative, barrier-busting methods to educate the public and decision-makers about cutting-edge science Released
March 16, 2009
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![Eight thumbnail images and 2008 in Review](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/2008_review_l.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
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
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![Photo of a seed trap created by Rogers and her colleagues out of screen and PVC pipe.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/guam_birds1_l1.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
Guam's Birds Gone: Can Forest Survive? With NSF support, a University of Washington graduate student and her colleagues use 'screen door netting and lots of PVC pipe' to study how the loss of birds affects the dispersal of seeds in Guam's forests Released
January 30, 2009
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![Photo of the diatom, <em>Stenopterobia curvula</em>.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/crimes1_l.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
Crimes to Climate History: Tiny Diatoms Offer Big Clues NSF-supported botanist Peter Siver of Connecticut College studies microorganisms that shed light on climate change dating back millions of years Released
January 7, 2009
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![Photo of Cheryl Hayashi holding a spider.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/spider_silk1_l.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
Unraveling the Wonders of Spider Silk University of California, Riverside researcher Cheryl Hayashi closely studies spiders and spider silk to discover the elusive genetic blueprints for silk making Released
December 9, 2008
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![Photo of a spiny waterflea.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/great_lakes1_l1.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
Estimating the True Costs Of Invasive Species in the Great Lakes Graduate student John Rothlisberger describes his research to measure losses caused by non-native species that were introduced by ocean-going ships Released
December 1, 2008
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![Photo of Daniel Bond holding Geobacter microbes.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/dbond_l.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
Batteries Made of Bacteria? Researchers believe the energy produced by Geobacter microbes can be harnessed for electrical power, environmental remediation and biosensors Released
November 19, 2008
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![Photo of Duke University Lemur Center director Anne D. Yoder with a Coquerel's Sifaka.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/yoder1_l.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
Islands: Exquisite Labs of Evolution Anne Yoder, director of the Duke University Lemur Center, and colleagues are using genetic and genomic approaches to unravel the history of lemurs and the primate family tree Released
November 14, 2008
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![Thermal infrared image of Brazilian free-tailed bats in Texas.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/aeroecology1_l1.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
'Gone Bats' Over Aeroecology New scientific discipline studies bats, birds and other animals in atmosphere closest to Earth's surface Released
October 28, 2008
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![Photo of basmati rice before harvest.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/rice1_l.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
Using Your Computer to Grow More Nutritious Rice for a Hungry World Computational biologists use a powerful distributed computing network to research rice genome for increased yields of more nourishing rice varieties Released
October 14, 2008
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![Photo of dung beetle males examined in the study.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/bug_genitalia1_l.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
Size Trade-off: Horns vs. Copulatory Organs Indiana University biologist Armin Moczek explains his findings about the inverse relationship between horn and copulatory organ size in male beetles and how it affects species divergence Released
September 30, 2008
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![Photo of skeletal reconstruction of Majungasaurus, a Late Cretaceous dinosaur from Madagascar.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/mad_fossil1_l.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
The Bizarre Creatures of Madagascar Paleontologist David Krause describes his search for the ancestors of mammals that live in Madagascar today Released
September 24, 2008
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![Photo of a baby chimp and adult chimps.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/chimp_health1_l.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
Researcher Walks Among Dying Baby Chimps Virginia Tech scientist Taranjit Kaur describes her team's research studying chimpanzees in western Tanzania and the virus that is threatening the chimps’ health Released
September 9, 2008
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![Photo of roots hanging from the roof of a lava tube.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/petrels1_l.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
Bones in Lava Tubes Reveal Hawaii's Natural History Michigan State University's Matthew Cimitile describes a Hawaiian adventure exploring lava tubes in search of bird bones from endangered and extinct species Released
August 22, 2008
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![Light photo of Mycena lucentipes, recently described from Sao Pãulo, Brazil.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/fungi1_l.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
A Thousand Points of Light: Bioluminescent Fungi San Francisco State University Mycologist Dennis Desjardin Takes Readers Along on a Nocturnal Hike in a Brazilian Forest to Find Glowing Mushrooms Released
August 15, 2008
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![Ilustration of a crater formed from the impact of a comet or asteroid in Chesapeake Bay.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/ches_impact1_l.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
Crumbling Walls of Ancient Chesapeake Bay Crater Threaten Regional Groundwater Supplies Saltwater intrusion into collapsing crater also allows microbes to flourish Released
August 12, 2008
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![AFM images showing two yellow molecules on a blue mica surface.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/mica1_l2.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
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
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
![A conceptual view of a new pathway for methane production in the oceans.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/cmore_l.jpg) |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
Methane Formation in the Oceans: New Pathway Discovered Significant importance for study of greenhouse gas production on Earth Released
July 10, 2008
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![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20091025031430im_/http://nsf.gov/images/x.gif) |
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