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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		Computer Scientist Turned Artist CAREER awardee studies geometric folding algorithms Released  October 25, 2012
		Self-healing Curved Crystals Scientists discover novel method of removing defects by bending, twisting, flexing materials Released  September 30, 2012
		Predicting "Cosmic Fireworks" From Our Own Backyard Using the largest map of the cosmos ever, astronomers have counted nearby double white dwarfs, stars thought to cause an important type of supernova Released  March 13, 2012
		Miracle Material Two-dimensional graphene may lead to faster electronics, stronger spacecraft and much more Released  May 19, 2011
		Future Fuels for Everyone Powered by the Sun New scheme would use only sunlight, air and water to supply energy for cars, laptops, GPS systems Released  April 6, 2011
		Capturing the Fugitive...in Art Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) reveals invisible colors in art masterpieces Released  April 4, 2011
		What Lies Beneath? Understanding Art Using Science Scientists are using antibody-based techniques to identify and study the organic compounds used in paintings Released  March 30, 2011
		Strange B Meson Studies at LHCb Provide New Tools for Discovery Physicists study rare particles to learn why the universe has more matter than antimatter Released  March 28, 2011
		Deciphering the Elements of Iconic Pottery What do cutting-edge research into future space travel and the investigation of ancient ceramic pots have in common? More than you'd think. Released  March 28, 2011
		How the Sun Gets Its Spots To prevent solar damage to communication, navigation and other high tech systems, scientists are determining the temperatures, composition and movement of materials inside the sun Released  January 7, 2011
		Exotic Discovery Made in Soft Polymer Novel nanostructure pattern never seen in a plastic material Released  January 3, 2011
		Scientists Untangle Spider Web Stickiness Studying spider silk, NSF-supported researchers learn about the properties of this sticky material, and their findings could lead to new bio-adhesives and glues that work under water Released  December 3, 2010
		Three NSF-Funded Scientists Among Recipients of $3 Million Kavli Prize Among the latest winners of the Kavli Prize are three scientists who have received NSF funding over the past several years Released  November 28, 2010
		The Water Dance A myriad of methods for watching water molecules in motion advances critical understanding of biology, chemistry and climate science Released  November 28, 2010
		Gigantic Gravity "Lenses" Magnify Galaxies Far, Far Away Submillimeter observatories penetrate cold, dusty galaxies to see stars forming in the primeval past Released  November 19, 2010
		Electronics Breakthrough Could Revolutionize Memory Chips Rice University graduate student Jun Yao's research with silicon-oxide circuits could be a game-changer in nanoelectronics Released  October 8, 2010
		Observatory Staff Aid in Military Helicopter Crash Rescue Green Bank Telescope's staff typically spend their days helping scientists carry out their research, but on one dramatic day in February 2010, they helped rescue soldiers from a crashed helicopter Released  September 10, 2010
		Asymmetric Electron Behavior Discovered in High-temperature Superconductors Finding could eventually lead to cheaper electrical power Released  August 31, 2010
		Scientists Use Math to Build Better Stents University of Houston mathematician Sunica Canic and her colleagues build computer models to study stents; their simulations could lead to better designs and also help doctors select the right stents for specific procedures Released  August 26, 2010
		Researchers Control Collective Spin States Electrically at Room Temperature Breakthrough paves way to store and process information in novel spin-electronics Released  August 16, 2010
		How Did Life Begin? Georgia Tech professor Nicholas Hud and his students discover new evidence advancing the theory that certain small molecules may have acted as "molecular midwives" to help the first RNA and DNA molecules to form Released  July 30, 2010
		New Gene Sequencing Method Could Reduce Cost, Increase Speed Researchers are developing a new kind of DNA sequencer that will make the dream of "reading" a person's genetic code for less than $1,000 a reality Released  July 16, 2010
		Measuring the Intersection of Two Worlds How "spooky" quantum mechanical laws may affect everyday objects Released  June 30, 2010
		On Earth Day and Everyday, Ecologist Fights for Phosphorus NSF-supported ecologist James Elser is internationally recognized as an expert on phosphorus in biology and ecology, and his research could help to change society’s views on phosphorus use and conservation Released  May 6, 2010
		Breakthrough in Electron Spin Control Brings Quantum Computers Closer to Reality Research allows control of a single electron without disturbing other nearby electrons Released  February 26, 2010
		Tiny Galaxies Reveal How First Stars Formed Lowell Observatory astronomer Deidre Hunter and her team studies small, diffuse galaxies to learn about star formation in those regions and, perhaps, shed light on the birth of the first stars after the Big Bang Released  February 25, 2010
		Lifting the Curtain on Mysterious Hidden Order Theoretical spectroscopy and computational model reveal hidden ordered state Released  February 9, 2010
		Titan: A Climate Out of This World Researchers using ground-based telescopes and space probes make amazing discoveries about the atmospheric cycle of Saturn’s largest moon, and find similarities to Earth Released  January 7, 2010
		Metallic Shape-Memory Foam Shows Giant Response to Magnetic Fields "Smart" alloy stretches, contracts by almost 10 percent Released  October 16, 2009
		High School Student Develops Chemical-detecting Robot California senior describes how she developed a mobile, autonomous robot, spending time in the lab of an NSF-supported researcher, and she shares what it was like to win at the state science fair competition Released  October 6, 2009