SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " Research " 8,498 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Trends and challenges in higher education
Americans are both proud and critical of our higher educational system. More American universities are highly ranked than those in other countries. More international students come here than to any other country. And basic research at U.S. universities has earned more patents and Nobel Prizes than elsewhere. Yet trust in colleges and universities has dramatically declined. Costs have dramatically increased and more parents […]
UCSC researcher aims to fill gaps in Pajaro Valley air monitoring data, help farmworkers deal with pollution health impacts
Javier González-Rocha, an assistant professor of mathematics at UC Santa Cruz, has been working to identify air monitoring data gaps in the Pajaro Valley to better inform farmworkers and the local community.
Your mum said it first! 5 health tips now backed by science
Mums know things. Not the kind of things you find in textbooks or peer-reviewed journals, but the real-world wisdom that somehow always turns out to be right! She told you to eat your greens and get some fresh air, but you’d roll your eyes. Now? Researchers are catching up, validating every single thing she told you as a kid, proving that sometimes the best health advice doesn't come from a lab coat; it comes from someone who just knew. Your mum! So, this Mother’s Day, let’s give our mums the credit they deserve!
Science & Medicine: For veterans with traumatic brain injuries, AI offers a new weapon against post-traumatic headaches
Hundreds of thousands of veterans live with traumatic brain injuries that can trigger chronic headaches, often made worse by PTSD. A researcher at UT Health San Antonio is using AI to help predict and prevent the pain before it starts.
FBI investigating recent deaths and disappearances of multiple US scientists
The scientists supposedly all had access to sensitive government research, and the nature of their work has led to speculation that their cases might all be connected.
“Cannot be explained” – New ultra stainless steel stuns researchers
A team at the University of Hong Kong has developed a new “super steel” that can survive the harsh conditions needed to make green hydrogen from seawater. The material uses an unexpected double-protection mechanism that resists corrosion far better than conventional stainless steel. Even more impressive, it could replace costly titanium parts used in today’s hydrogen systems.
Brain scans reveal a shocking difference between psychopaths and other people
Scientists have uncovered a striking brain difference linked to psychopathy: people with psychopathic traits were found to have a striatum — a brain region tied to reward, motivation, and decision-making — that was about 10% larger on average than those without such traits. Using MRI scans and psychological assessments on 120 participants, researchers connected this enlarged brain region to thrill-seeking, impulsive behavior, and a stronger drive for stimulation.
Scientists stunned as volcano cloud destroys methane in the atmosphere
A colossal underwater volcano in the South Pacific may have revealed a surprising new weapon against climate change. After the 2022 eruption of Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai, scientists detected enormous amounts of formaldehyde in the atmosphere — a telltale sign that methane, one of the planet’s most powerful greenhouse gases, was being destroyed. Researchers now believe volcanic ash mixed with salty seawater and sunlight created reactive chlorine particles that effectively “cleaned up” some of the methane released by the eruption itself.
Antarctica is melting from below and scientists say it’s worse than expected
Scientists have uncovered a hidden Antarctic threat that could accelerate global sea level rise far faster than expected. Deep beneath floating ice shelves, long channels carved into the ice appear to trap warmer ocean water, dramatically speeding up melting from below. Even regions of East Antarctica once considered relatively stable may be far more vulnerable than scientists realized. Researchers warn that current climate models may be missing this dangerous process entirely, meaning future sea level rise could be underestimated.
Annual Boston walk supports maternal health equity, improving infant health
Supporters gathered at the Hatch Shell despite rainy weather for the annual March for Babies Boston, raising funds for maternal and infant health research.
Recent studies warn about businesses packing to leave Colorado
A growing body of research is warning about businesses packing to leave Colorado at a moment when major cities on both coasts are making headlines over departures of corporations and high earners. The studies’ conclusion sits at a crosscurrents with state data, perennially touted by officials, that new business filings are up over last year. […]
Harvard researchers investigate link between mental health crises and police shootings
Mayflies have crazy, acrobatic sex
Researchers froze mayfly couples in the middle of mating—for science.
Scientists reversed liver aging with young gut bacteria in stunning study
Rebooting the gut microbiome with bacteria from youth may help stop aging-related liver damage and even prevent liver cancer, according to new research in mice. Older mice that received their own preserved youthful microbiome showed less inflammation, reduced DNA damage, and no signs of liver cancer. Researchers also found that the treatment suppressed a cancer-linked gene called MDM2, making older mice biologically resemble younger ones.
Black licorice compound shows promise against inflammatory bowel disease
Researchers have developed a stem cell-based model of the human intestine that may transform how new IBD treatments are discovered. After testing thousands of compounds, they identified glycyrrhizin — a natural substance found in black licorice — as a promising anti-inflammatory candidate. In both lab-grown tissue and mice, the compound reduced intestinal damage and cell death linked to IBD.
The hidden atomic gap that could break next-generation computer chips
A major obstacle may be standing in the way of the next generation of ultra-tiny computer chips. Researchers discovered that many promising 2D materials lose their advantages because an invisible atomic-scale gap forms when they are combined with insulating layers. That tiny gap weakens electronic performance and could prevent further miniaturization. The team says new “zipper materials” that lock together more tightly may offer a path forward.
Scientists say this simple music trick can boost workout endurance by 20%
A new study shows that listening to your own favorite workout music can dramatically boost endurance. Cyclists exercising with self-selected songs lasted nearly 20% longer than when riding in silence, yet they didn’t feel more exhausted at the end. Researchers say music may help people stay in the “pain zone” longer without increasing perceived strain.
New chemical kills 95% of termites without harming humans
Scientists may have found a smarter, safer way to wipe out termites hiding inside homes. A chemical called bistrifluron prevents drywood termites from forming new exoskeletons during molting, killing entire colonies from within. In tests, it eliminated about 95% of termites while avoiding the toxic side effects of traditional fumigation. Researchers say the method could provide longer-lasting protection as termites spread into new areas.
Physicists discover quantum particles that break the rules of reality
Physicists may have just cracked open a hidden side of the quantum world. For decades, every known particle was thought to belong to one of two categories — bosons or fermions — but researchers have now shown that bizarre “in-between” particles called anyons could also exist in a one-dimensional system. Even more exciting, these strange particles may be adjustable, allowing scientists to tune their behavior in ways never before possible.
Ice age humans in China crafted surprisingly advanced stone tools 146,000 years ago
Scientists in China discovered that ancient humans were making surprisingly advanced stone tools during a harsh ice age 146,000 years ago. The tools, created by Homo juluensis, show careful planning and complex thinking rather than simple stone-chipping. Researchers dated the site using tiny calcite crystals inside animal bones, revealing the tools are much older than expected. The discovery challenges the idea that human creativity only thrives in easy, prosperous times.
New infusion therapies can put cognitive decline on pause. What Louisianans should know about brain health.
Learn about the five pillars of healthy brain aging and the latest research on cognitive decline, Alzheimer's disease, and strategies for maintaining brain health through lifestyle changes.
Scientists found the “holy grail” gene that could one day help humans regrow limbs
Scientists studying axolotls, zebrafish, and mice have uncovered a shared set of genes that may one day help humans regrow lost limbs. By identifying powerful “SP genes” involved in regeneration, researchers discovered that disabling these genes stopped proper bone regrowth in salamanders and mice. They then used a gene therapy inspired by zebrafish biology to partially restore regeneration in mice, marking a major step toward future treatments that could replace damaged limbs with living tissue instead of prosthetics.
Why we need to talk more about menopause and its health consequences
More than 1 million women in the U.S. start menopause every year, yet this biological certainty is too often shrouded in secrecy or ignored by many mainstream researchers. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores what we do and don’t know about menopause with Dr. Sharon Malone and Dr. Lauren Streicher.
A different kind of leader: Scaling impact in geospatial science
David Page, head of the Geographic Data Science Section at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, leads with a focus on judgment, collaboration and empowering teams. Drawing on experience in academia, entrepreneurship and national security science, he has helped advance faster, scalable geospatial analysis while building resilient, forward-looking research teams.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) 101: Following Re-Authorization, What Contractors (and Their Investors) Need to Know
On April 13, 2026, President Trump signed into law the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act, which reauthorized the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business…
Annenberg Health and Science Survey Wins AAPOR’s Policy Impact Award | The Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania
The Annenberg Public Policy Center's ASAPH survey has won the American Association for Public Opinion Research’s 2026 Policy Impact Award.
Trump administration again suspends UC Berkeley research grants
The Trump administration has again suspended research grants to the University of California. The National Science Foundation froze at least 18 grants to the university shortly before Trump ousted the scientists on the board overseeing the agency, an attorney representing researchers said.
2026 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship Award
First year Materials and Nanoscience graduate student Stéphane Miaule (Tolbert group) has been awarded the 2026 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship, one of the country’s most prestigious honors for graduate students in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). The program, jointly sponsored by the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force, supports doctoral students across a broad range of scientific and technological fields of strategic importance. This highly competitive fellowship provides full tuition, fees, and a monthly stipend for three years. In 2026, only 102 fellowships were awarded nationwide, and Stéphane is the sole recipient from UCLA. Before transferring from Santa Monica College to UCLA, Stéphane interned at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and Marshall Space Flight Center, where he researched the mechanical and thermodynamic properties of lunar regolith, as well as radiation shielding materials for lunar habitation development. At UCLA, he joined the Soft Materials Research Laboratory under Professor Qibing Pei, focusing on the synthesis and characterization of hafnium oxide nanocomposite scintillators. After earning his bachelor’s degree in chemistry, he remained in the Soft Materials Research Laboratory as a post-baccalaureate researcher for one year before joining Professor Sarah Tolbert’s group as a Ph.D. student. Stéphane’s Ph.D. research is focused on improving the properties of conjugated polymers, which are a family of plastic materials that can conduct electricity. Stéphane is specifically looking at self-assembling polymers that can be processed in water to create light-weight, flexible, high-conductivity polymer devices without the need for toxic or volatile organic solvents. After completing his Ph.D., Stéphane hopes to work in a national laboratory, researching semiconducting polymers for applications in new electronic devices. “The Graduate (1967) featured a memorable scene in which the protagonist was told that ‘there’s a great future in plastics.’ We know this still holds true today, as polymer research has expanded rapidly due to the wide variety of applications these materials enable. Through my work on semiconducting polymers, I hope to contribute to the continued development of plastic electronics,” Stéphane said. Penny Jennings, UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, penjen@g.ucla.edu.
MICC highlights renewed small business innovation authority
The reauthorization of two federal small business innovation programs is expected to strengthen how the Mission and Installation Contracting Command delivers emerging technology, shortens procurement timelines and expands opportunities for industry partners supporting Army readiness. The Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act of 2026, signed into law April 13, reauthorized the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs through Sept. 30, 2031. The action restored continuity to programs that experienced a lapse after the end of fiscal year 2025, placing some Phase I and Phase II efforts on hold.
Funding crisis in Argentina sparks new wave of protests
Two years after the country’s research funding collapsed, scientists are demonstrating against the government’s failure to restore previously cut scholarships and increase salaries as required by a 2025 law.
From Campus to Capitol Hill: Stony Brook Students Advocate for Science and Research Funding
Members of Stony Brook University’s student Advocacy Corps recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the AAAS Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering (CASE) workshop, representing the university in the national program focused on science policy and advocacy. The undergraduate students were selected and sponsored by the university’s Office of Federal Relations to attend
The Material Science Behind A Spacecraft's Impact Armor
Aerospace engineers have to consider numerous factors when designing a spacecraft, but one that comes up more and more often is the need to design against Micro-Meteoroids and Orbital Debris (MMOD). While most designers understand the threat, designing structural solutions capable of withstanding the hypervelocity impacts these undercontrolled pieces of material can cause can take a significant bite out of a mission’s mass budget. A new paper from Binkal Kumar Sharma of the University of Bremen and Harshitha Baskar, an independent researcher, provides a detailed review of cutting-edge options for defending against those deadly particles.
Students present faculty-mentored research at national conference
Stay up to date with the latest news, stories, and achievements from the Susquehanna University community.
UCF Grad’s Mission to Build Pipeline of Young Innovators
Guided by their two-time alum instructor and UCF researchers, three Oviedo High School students are ready to represent Central Florida at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).
Scientists: Forgo the jargon and focus on the people, experts say
Nearly half of Americans say scientists are not good communicators, but there are ways experts can better connect, researchers said at Technical.ly’s 2026 Builders Conference.
The shaky policy foundations of California’s overambitious science bond
“Research is best treated as a public good — supported through sustained public investment, not borrowing tied to uncertain returns.”
How Dante's Inferno modeled a planetary impact 500 years before modern science
New research reveals that Dante Alighieri's Inferno wasn't just a masterpiece of literature: it was a gedankenexperiment in impact physics. From multi-ring craters to shockwaves that reshaped the globe, ...
Political Science department concludes its two-term editorship of national undergraduate research journal
Since Fall 2020, Elon University’s Department of Political Science and Public Policy has hosted the Pi Sigma Alpha Undergraduate Journal of Politics, a publication of the Pi Sigma Alpha, the...
Weird Science: Research using everyday trash to figure out how litter travels from city streets to the ocean.
Led by NC State and NC Sea Grant, the study involves releasing GPS-equipped plastic bottles into the Neuse River to track their movement in real time. The goal is to solve the mystery of how land-based waste transforms into the marine debris that clutters our coastlines.
MARY BRUNKOW
A chance discovery made around 80 years ago paved the way for Mary Brunkow’s painstaking work, which contributed to redefining how the immune system functions. From investigating an obscure gene dismissed as ‘junk’ by other scientists, to choosing to opt out of academia and conduct her research at a biotech startup, Brunkow has embraced the unexpected throughout her career.
Judge rules Trump administration’s cancellation of humanities grants was unconstitutional
The Trump administration’s cancellation of more than $100 million in humanities grants to scholars, writers, research groups and other organizations was unconstitutional, and the Department of Government Efficiency had no authority to end the funding, a federal judge in New York ruled on Thursday.
Elitist Journal Lists Undermine The Social Purpose Of Business Schools
FT’s list of ranking-worthy publications undercuts research into power, inequality & corporate responsibility, write Carl Rhodes & Alison Pullen.
Penguins are helping scientists track ‘forever chemicals’ in Patagonia
Researchers fitted Magellanic penguins with chemical-absorbing leg bands to gather data about pollution in the ocean.
TAMEST Executive Director Visits Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center to Strengthen Research Collaboration
TTUHSC welcomed Terrence Henry, executive director of the Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science and Technology (TAMEST), for a campus visit aimed at strengthening partnerships and expanding research engagement opportunities across Texas.
The Real Danger to Women Isn’t Hormone Therapy, It’s Bad Science
Are all hormones created equal? Drs Rachel Rubin and Kelly Casperson unpack the missing details in recent menopause research and explain why nuance matters.
Class of 2026: Gati Wambura extends her reach as a ‘global health citi
With her Ph.D. from VCU’s Department of Health Policy, the researcher builds on her Kenyan roots and her experience on other continents.
Scientists discover a new way to prevent gum disease without killing good bacteria
Scientists have uncovered a surprising way to influence the bacteria living in our mouths — not by killing them, but by interrupting how they “talk” to each other. Researchers found that dental plaque bacteria use chemical signals to coordinate growth, and by blocking those signals, they were able to encourage healthier bacteria while reducing disease-linked microbes tied to gum disease. Even more intriguing, the bacterial conversations changed depending on oxygen levels above and below the gums, revealing an entirely new layer of complexity inside the mouth.
Trends in Female First Authorship in Anatomical Science International: A 24-Year Analysis (2002-2025)
In recent years, the promotion of gender equity and diversity in academic research has attracted increasing international attention. However, studies examining gender differences in authorship w...
Can blockbuster GLP-1 weight-loss drugs also protect brain health?
UCSF experts share their research on medications’ potential to slow or reduce risk of dementia and to treat the triggers that drive addiction.
Connecting climate science and storytelling at Mission Hill Middle School
Working with seventh grade science teachers Sallie Corbin and Christy Fairbairn, Lookout developed a science communication workshop to support students’ climate change research projects and help students think about how complex scientific ideas can be communicated clearly and meaningfully. The visit introduced students to the basics of journalism, storytelling and audience engagement, with support from UC Santa Cruz science communication graduate student and Lookout intern Cassidy Beach. Students later presented their climate change projects at Mission Hill’s Climate Change Symposium through creative formats including videos, games, comics, sculptures and interactive activities. The partnership marks one of Lookout’s first middle school classroom visits as part of its growing educational initiative focused on media literacy, civic engagement and local journalism.
David Attenborough Has Inspired Countless Scientists. To Mark His 100th Birthday, Here Are Ten Living Things They've Named After Him
Researchers around the planet grew up watching documentaries hosted by the English broadcaster and naturalist, which sparked their love of the natural world. Now, their discoveries become tributes to his legacy
New Research Shows Vitamin B12 May Hold the Key to Healthy Aging
Vitamin B12 may shape metabolism and aging more than previously understood.
Fewer than half of US states adequately prepared for health emergency ahead of World Cup: Report
Fewer than half of U.S. states are sufficiently prepared for a health emergency, according to new research released on Thursday. Only 20 states scored “high” on the annual report from Trust for Am…
How federal regulations choke U.S. science
Investment in research is a good use of tax dollars, but bureaucracy is reducing the return on investment.
Trump’s Attack on Science Escalates With Firing of Entire National Science Board
The impact of the loss of knowledge and research will be felt for decades — a legacy of Trump’s war on science.
Science is becoming less disruptive. Is an aging workforce to blame?
Most researchers conduct their more disruptive work early in their careers, but as they age, they tend to abandon that groundbreaking energy
Nature’s giant vacuum cleaner: Scientists reveal how the Sun is secretly cleaning Earth’s space junk
Science News: As Earth’s orbit becomes increasingly crowded with decommissioned satellites and fragments from the 1960s, however, researchers have identified a natu.
Women’s Health Watch: Maria Shriver explains the gender disparity in Alzheimer’s research
Former OpenAI Researcher To Raise $500 Million For AI Science Startup
Periodic Labs, which plans to push breakthroughs in physics and chemistry using artificial intelligence, has seen its valuation jump sixfold in just eight months.
Fake rumors, real killings: Inside Congo's deadly health misinformation crisis
Angry mobs attacked and killed Four health workers conducting vaccination research in an episode that took place in October.
How Anthropic’s Mythos has rewritten Firefox’s approach to cybersecurity
Security researchers at Mozilla say Anthropic's Mythos has unearthed a wealth of high-severity bugs in Firefox.
Yerby Fellows present new research on mental health, stress, and HIV | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
The Yerby Fellowship Program provides a bridge between academic training in public health-related fields and entry-level faculty positions.
Publication Q&A with Melissa Maffeo: Science of the Supernatural
Melissa Maffeo, associate teaching professor of Psychology, spoke with the Dean’s Office about her new book, Science of the Supernatural, published with Cambridge University Press. In it, Maffeo blends research and storytelling to explore eerie phenomena through the lens of neuroscience and psychology. Diving into [...]
The National Academy of Sciences Elects Two Berkeley Lab Researchers
Two Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) scientists have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. They are part of a cohort of 120 new members and 25 international members. The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit institution that was established under a congressional charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. It recognizes achievement in science by election to membership, and — alongside the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine — provides science, engineering, and health policy advice to the federal government and other organizations. The 2026 electees bring the total number of active members to 2,705 with 557 international members. Gary Karpen is a biologist senior faculty scientist in Berkeley Lab’s Biological Systems and Engineering Division and a Professor of Cell and Developmental Physiology in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at UC Berkeley. Karpen studies how the structure, organization, and maintenance of genetic material impact inheritance and cell function. His lab focuses on chromatin — a packaged form of DNA strands wrapped around proteins that comprises our chromosomes — with a particular emphasis on centromeres, rarely expressed sequences called heterochromatin, DNA repair, and regulatory RNAs. His research reveals insights into fundamental aspects of nuclear organization and genome regulation that are shared across the tree of life, broadening our understanding of cancer and other diseases, birth defects, and aging. Kam-Biu Luk is a Professor Emeritus of physics at UC Berkeley and a retired senior faculty scientist in Berkeley Lab’s Physics Division. He is an experimental particle physicist whose research has focused on neutrinos: nearly massless, electrically neutral elementary particles that can pass through matter virtually undetected. Neutrinos are created during radioactive decay processes, including the fusion process occurring in stars and the fission process that powers nuclear reactors. Luk initiated and co-led the Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment, a project based in China with more than 200 international collaborators. In 2012, the Daya Bay experiment discovered a new form of a phenomenon called “neutrino oscillation” in which neutrinos change from one type to another. For this discovery, Luk and his collaborator Yifan Wang received the 2014 American Physical Society Division of Particles and Fields W.K.H. Panofsky Prize for outstanding work in experimental particle physics, and he was also the co-recipient of the 2016 Breakthrough Prize. Luk is currently participating in the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) hosted by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, which will investigate any potential difference in behavior between neutrinos and antineutrinos that may shed light on the evolution of the universe, especially why antimatter is absent in the present universe. ### Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is committed to groundbreaking research focused on discovery science and solutions for abundant and reliable energy supplies. The lab’s expertise spans materials, chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environmental science, mathematics, and computing. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research. Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams, Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 17 Nobel Prizes. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.
How Much Microplastic Is Really In The Human Brain? Here's The Science Behind The Headlines
"This is a research field in its infancy, while the general public is being fed with sensational scraps of information."
NASA’s Prithvi Becomes First AI Geospatial Foundation Model In Orbit
A team of researchers demonstrated NASA and IBM’s open-source Prithvi Geospatial artificial intelligence foundation model aboard two in-orbit platforms.
Recognizing excellence in global health: Student Research Showcase winners
The 2026 Harvard Global Health Student Research Showcase, held in partnership with the Department of Global Health and Population at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, brought together an interdisciplinary community of students, researchers, and faculty committed to addressing some of the world’s most pressing health challenges.
Moms, Coaches, Doctors, Entrepreneurs: Who Are America’s Health and Wellness Influencers?
Half of U.S. adults under 50 say they get health and wellness information from social media influencers or podcasts. About 4 in 10 of these influencers describe themselves as health care professionals; coaches and entrepreneurs are almost as common.
UMass Chan Reverse Science Fair has Worcester high schoolers judging grad students, postdocs
The classic science fair format was flipped at UMass Chan as Worcester high school students judged research posters by graduate students and postdocs.
Annual Science Expo Winners Announced — Central Catholic High School
Central Catholic announced the winning projects from its annual Science Expo, which took place April 20. More than 50 Honors Biology and Chemistry students presented their research projects to faculty, staff, and students, and 20 junior high students from OLPH, St. Joseph's Sylvania, and S
‘People should be talking about it’: moves to curtail vaccine information obscures important science, doctors say
Quashed studies, halted publications and canceled research threaten damage to public health, critics say
4 WVU students awarded prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowships
The four West Virginia University students — Daniel Campa, of Morgantown; Colin Krisulevicz, of Salisbury, Maryland; Rebecca Ozbolt, of Akron, Ohio; and Samuel Stalnaker, of Atwater, California and Cowen — have joined the ranks of the nation’s top emerging researchers after earning National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships.
College of Science recognizes Outstanding Seniors and Excellence in Undergraduate Research Awardees
Students were nominated by their home departments in recognition of their outstanding academic work, research participation, community engagement, extracurricular activities, leadership, and more.
Science diplomacy lessons from a North Korean volcano
Mount Paektu, a mythic, active volcano on the border between North Korea and China, is almost the epitome of a scientific challenge that crosses political lines. In 946 CE, it erupted in one of the five biggest volcanic events of the past 10,000 years, kicking up huge quantities of ash and sending destructive mud flows down river channels for hundreds of kilometres. Should this happen again, the entire region, including easternmost Russia, South Korea and even Japan could be hit. “It’s definitely got the potential to be big,” said James Hammond, a professor of geophysics at Birkbeck, University of London. An eruption on the scale of 946 would have “huge regional impact.” For the past 15 years, Hammond has helped lead a groundbreaking collaboration with North Korean scientists to study the volcano, navigating scientific sanctions, tough export controls on scientific equipment and a long, pandemic-enforced exodus from the country. Although he seems more at home on far-flung research expeditions – before speaking to Science|Business, Hammond was camping out on a Greenland ice sheet – he has also advised the European Commission on its changing science diplomacy strategy. His long experience with North Korea has made Hammond sceptical of blanket bans on science collaboration, no matter the country.This is a live question in Europe, where in the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, institutional ties with Russian universities were almost entirely severed, although some scientists fear this could undermine our understanding of climate change’s impact on the Arctic. Here, Hammond tells the story of the Mount Paektu mission and the policy lessons he takes from it. Ominous rumblingsThe genesis of Hammond’s collaboration came in 2002, when Mount Paektu began to rumble ominously. Earthquake activity picked up and the volcano began to emit unusual gases. North Korean scientists took notice. “People felt we need to know more about this volcano,” said Hammond. In 2011, North Korean vulcanologists put out a request for international expertise to help them learn more. At the time, Hammond and his collaborator, Clive Oppenheimer, were working on a vulcanology project in another sanctioned country, Eritrea, and so decided to answer the call. Within a month, they had flown into Pyongyang. “It was pretty incredible,” recalls Hammond (left). “We were made to feel like honoured guests, and invited to official celebrations.” The scientific opportunity was huge. Paektu is unusually positioned, a thousand kilometres from where tectonic plates rub against each other in the Pacific. “It was an incredibly interesting volcano, but not much research had been done, at least not in the international community,” he said. “There was so much we felt we could do. And we had these partners that were super keen to engage.”The mission received an unusual visitor in the form of volcano-obsessed filmmaker Werner Herzog, who accompanied Hammond and Oppenheimer while directing his 2016 film Into the Inferno about volcanos across the world. Four days into the trip, the German director delivered a long speech about reunification to his North Korean hosts, recalls Hammond. “He got to the heart of the Koreans and how they felt, and how they thought, in a way that I'm not sure I ever will,” he said. UN sanctionsHowever, Hammond realised he’d been “naïve” about how difficult it would be to collaborate with North Korea, which was sanctioned far more heavily than Eritrea. “We didn’t fully appreciate the all-encompassing nature of restrictions,” he said. In 2016, as tensions escalated over Pyongyang’s nuclear tests, a United Nations resolution banned all joint scientific work with North Korea. However, the UN sanctions did allow countries to request carve outs, and the UK successfully requested an exemption for Hammond’s work. Related articlesEU pushes for joint science diplomacy, but care needed to avoid gridlock, experts sayRussia severs its last ties with German scienceAnchor Greenlanders in Arctic climate research, experts tell EU ahead of policy updateExport controls have also delayed Hammond’s work. In one case, it took 18 months to get approval from the UK government to take seismometers, which measure earthquakes, to North Korea. “It was frustrating,” he said. “But they didn’t just say no.” However, one instrument, called an induction coil, used to measure how the earth conducts electricity, was blocked entirely because it can in theory be used to detect submarines. Karaoke bondingSince the collaboration started in 2011, Hammond has visited the country around 15 times, although the pandemic closed off North Korea for more than five years. A trip last November was Hammond’s first since the outbreak. Despite this lengthy interlude, Hammond has deep bonds in the country. The North Korean scientists Hammond works with are somewhat isolated, as they struggle to access the latest research papers and travel to international conferences. That said, they are “excellent geophysicists” and are “very well trained in the field,” he said. Over karaoke and chats about their families, “we’ve made friendships, for sure,” he said. The authorities have to sign-off things like the placement of seismometers, for example, but Hammond said these requests have been approved. “Everything that we've asked for within a scientific context has been delivered.”Scientific backchannels? These kind of personal links between scientists across political lines are one purported benefit of science diplomacy. During the Cold War, some historians argue, scientific contact between the US and Soviet Union laid a groundwork of trust for other cooperation, such as on arms control. Hammond agrees that backchannel contacts to North Korean geophysicists are hardly likely to defuse a military crisis on the Korean peninsula, but the simple fact of the scientific collaboration makes contacts between diplomats that little bit easier. “It creates opportunities to understand each other a little bit better,” he said. “When maybe you have those more difficult discussions as diplomats, it's coming from a slightly better place.” Cutting tiesDrawing lessons from the Mount Paektu mission for today’s links with Russian science isn’t simple. The analogy is far from exact, Hammond said, “because one is essentially a Cold War, versus a pretty hot war in the case of Russia.” But Hammond’s broader argument is that the challenges we face, such as climate change, pandemics, biodiversity loss, pollution and so on, have globalised in an unprecedented way, making blanket shutdowns in collaboration with any country unwise.He’s somewhat critical of the UN scientific sanctions imposed on North Korea in 2016, even though they did allow for exceptions. “I think a blanket halt to some of these things, when we face big global challenges [. . .] that’s quite a risky thing to do,” he said.Institutional endorsement?European academics are still by and large free to work individually with Russian counterparts. However, official, institutional partnerships have largely ended. Shortly following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian university rectors wrote a public letter endorsing the war, meaning European universities fear official collaboration could also be seen as a kind of endorsement. Hammond acknowledges there is a risk of legitimising regimes, and state-controlled universities, through scientific cooperation. “That’s the trade off you have to make,” he said. Strategic projectsWith Russia, instead of giving a green light to restart all Arctic science, a middle ground might be firing up a few carefully selected “strategic” projects, said Hammond. After all, European countries are still collaborating with Russia on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, an experimental nuclear fusion plant in the south of France. However, even if Europe did try to revive Arctic science with Russia, there’s no guarantee Russian scientists would play ball. A series of high-profile arrests of physicists in Russia accused of sharing their findings with the outside world has made collaboration fraught. Even before the invasion of 2022, “the Russian regime made it increasingly difficult, and this sort of discouraged people,” Dag Rune Olsen, rector of the Arctic University of Norway, told Science|Business last year.
Is the FDA Really Suppressing Science? Plus. . .
It’s Thursday, May 7. This is The Front Page, your daily window into the world of The Free Press—and our take on the world at large. Today: Aaron MacLean says Trump is poised to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the Iran war. Joe Klein on the life of CNN founder Ted Turner. Jillian Lederman on why cruise ships are here to stay. And much more. But first: Is the FDA suppressing science? On Tuesday, The New York Times published a story with an alarming takeaway. “FDA Blocked Publication of Research Finding Covid and Shingles Vaccines Were Safe,” read the headline. It is the latest in a string of stories that all have the same message: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other agencies, are engaged in a cover-up—and silencing scientists trying to get the word out about the Covid vaccine. What all these stories suggest—some more subtly than others—is that the outsiders now running the public health establishment, officials such as Marty Makary at the FDA and Jay Bhattacharya at the National Institutes of Health, are on a revenge tour. That they are doing harm to the country to get back at the scientists and bureaucrats who ostracized them for deviating from the public-health consensus during the pandemic. It’s a seductive narrative. But is it true? That’s the question we address in our latest editorial. —The Editors Read [ Marty Makary's FDA Has All the Right Enemies ](https://www.thefp.com/p/marty-makary-vaccine-study-fda) [ Trump Blinks First ](https://www.thefp.com/p/iran-peace-deal-pakistan-trump-strait-of-hormuz) Aaron MacLean In return for no detectable concessions, President Trump this week gave up on forcing open the Strait of Hormuz. Now, the Trump administration looks desperate for a deal to end the war with Iran. It’s easy to understand the desire to end the war, but are they blowing the chance at victory? Aaron MacLean makes sense of the administration’s latest moves—and Iran’s response—in his column today. Read full story Aaron MacLean and Niall Ferguson: Live in New York City Join Aaron MacLean and Niall Ferguson on May 19 for a live recording of School of War at the iconic New York Historical. In a conversation as timely as it is wide-ranging, Aaron and Niall will explore the strategic stakes of the moment, including the Middle East, China, and the future of American leadership on the global stage. Get Tickets Now [ Ted Turner, the Optimist Who Built CNN ](https://www.thefp.com/p/ted-turner-cnn-tribute) Joe Klein The man who gave us CNN and the 24-hour news cycle, Ted Turner, died Wednesday at the age of 87. Today, political writer Joe Klein—who almost ghostwrote Turner’s autobiography—remembers his friend, the American media mogul who stood out for his idealism and lack of a filter—something that got Turner in trouble more than once. “His was not a traditional intelligence, but one of horizon: Ted saw things before other people did,” Joe writes. Read full story [ Nothing Can Sink the Cruise Ship ](https://www.thefp.com/p/cruise-ship-hantavirus) Jillian Lederman A viral outbreak on a cruise ship that left three passengers dead has left some people wondering: Are cruise ships on the way out? Not so fast, says Jillian Lederman, who has been on many a cruise herself. Read her piece on why 38 million people a year take a cruise—and aren’t about to stop. Read full story [ The Great Writers Who Were Terrible People ](https://www.thefp.com/p/the-great-writers-who-were-terrible) Shilo Brooks Throughout history, some of the greatest literary geniuses have also been immoral bigots. In the latest episode of Old School, Shilo Brooks is joined by Eli Lake for a conversation about those geniuses, from Voltaire to Norman Mailer and Roald Dahl—and why we should read their work despite their odious prejudices. Listen on MORE FROM THE FREE PRESS [ Inside the Digital Intifada ](https://www.thefp.com/p/digital-intifada-social-media-hamas-terror) Warren Kinsella Read full story [ This Week in American History: Trump’s Over-Arching Problem ](https://www.thefp.com/p/this-week-in-american-history-trumps-over-arching-problem) Jonathan Horn Read full story [ Humanity Is Still Evolving—and Fast ](https://www.thefp.com/p/humanity-is-still-evolvingand-fast) Razib Khan Read full story THE NEWS Thirteen D.C. Metropolitan Police officers have been placed on administrative leave and could face termination after an internal investigation found evidence that crime statistics were manipulated to make the city look safer. The Republican-led House Oversight Committee previously alleged that former D.C. police chief Pamela Smith pressured officers to skew data. Tennessee Republicans unveiled a redrawn U.S. House map yesterday that would split up Memphis’s black-majority Democratic district, the latest move in a nationwide push to redraw congressional boundaries ahead of the midterms. The effort follows a Supreme Court ruling last week on Louisiana’s districts, which Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton said gave states the green light to redraw maps along partisan lines. Israel struck Beirut for the first time since a ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect last month, saying it targeted a commander of the militant group’s elite Radwan force in the city’s southern suburbs. The strikes risk destabilizing that truce at a delicate moment, as Iran and the U.S. report progress toward a deal to resolve their own standoff. The U.S. Air Force is aiming for a Fourth of July delivery of a Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar, hoping to add it to the Air Force One fleet in time for the U.S.’s 250th anniversary, Reuters reported. (For more on the controversy surrounding the aircraft, read Jed Rubenfeld’s piece “It’s a Terrible Idea, but Trump Probably Can Accept a Free Jet from Qatar.”) Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified privately before Congress that he has no memory of why he and his family dined on Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in 2012, according to Reuters. The admission contradicts Lutnick’s earlier claim that he had cut ties with the convicted sex offender well before that visit. Weeks before a former JPMorgan investment banker filed a lawsuit packed with explosive allegations, the bank reportedly offered him $1 million to settle his sexual assault and harassment claims, according to The Wall Street Journal. The suit, filed by Chirayu Rana, alleges he was sexually assaulted by a female colleague, subjected to racial discrimination, and forced into a degrading dynamic at work. JPMorgan says the claims lack merit, and the female colleague’s lawyers call the accusations fabricated. A new report from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research shows that, for the first time in roughly 20 years, church attendance is trending upward, with more people volunteering and clergy expressing renewed optimism. The study’s authors described the findings, based on a survey of more than 7,400 congregations, as showing signs of widespread recovery from low attendance numbers.
New WAM Grants Support Research on Gut-Brain Interactions, Menopause and Sarcopenia
The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement (WAM) at Cleveland Clinic has awarded grants for promising research in sex-based differences in the disease.
Want a Better Brain? New Science Says Coffee Has a Big Benefit You Didn't Know About
New research suggests that both regular and decaf coffee may support gut health, mood, and cognition through changes in the gut microbiome.
Former director calls research and science shakeup 'mind-boggling'
Scientists accidentally discover DNA that breaks the rules of life
A routine experiment with a new single-cell DNA sequencing method turned into a surprising scientific twist when researchers stumbled upon a bizarre genetic code in a microscopic pond organism. Instead of following the near-universal “rules” of life, this newly identified protist rewrites how genes signal their end. This unexpected discovery challenges long-held assumptions about how genetic translation works and hints that nature may be far more flexible—and mysterious—than scientists realized.
Philadelphia church leaders encourage Black women to participate in health research this Mother's Day
Materials science and engineering professor Joshua Robinson named MRI director
Joshua A. Robinson, professor of materials science and engineering at Penn State, has been named director of the University’s Materials Research Institute, effective July 1.
Google Chrome Is Downloading a 4GB AI Model Onto Your Device Without Consent, Researcher Warns
Maybe Google doesn't ask permission because it knows what the answer would be.
Jason Furman to Lead Center for Business and Government
The new director of Harvard Kennedy School’s Mossavar-Rahmani Center bridges economic research and policy.
The Growing Importance of Lacrosse-Specific Research and Science
Lacrosse is growing at the youth, scholastic, collegiate, professional, and Olympic levels and across all disciplines of the sport. This growth has been accompanied by increasing attention to lacrosse specific research. Collaborative efforts by USA Lacrosse and MedStar Health have significantly advanced injury surveillance efforts, safety policy, and prevention strategies.
College of Health and Human Development ranked first in NIH-funding category
According to The Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, the Penn State College of Health and Human Development received more funding from the National Institutes of Health in 2025 than any other school of allied health in the nation.
Researcher explores the hidden science of pipe failure
How do aging cast iron pipes actually start leaking? The School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering's Edward John is the highlight in a new UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR) video looking ...
Busting five myths about mental health with University of Minnesota experts
University of Minnesota experts are setting the record straight with evidence-based research, new treatments and workforce innovations that are changing how mental health conditions are understood and treated.
Collaboration in community: Political scientist Jeff Harden wins Arts & Letters Research Award
Jeff…
Intermittent Fasting Can Help You Lose Weight, But Science Says Not For the Reason You Might Think
Research shows when you eat really only matters if it means you'll eat less.
Wisconsin lab tapped to research psychedelic drug as mental health treatment
A Wisconsin-based medical research lab is one of just three organizations nationwide the federal government has tapped to move forward on research into psychedelic medications.
Clean hydrogen created from plastic waste using battery acid from old cars and solar power
Researchers turned hard-to-recycle plastic into hydrogen using battery acid. This circular upcycling system tackles multiple problematic waste streams at once, the scientists claim.
Clarivate launches Web of Science Research Intelligence
AI-native platform designed to support institutional decision-making across funding, strategy and research impact
Stanford researchers develop AI scientists for therapeutic discovery
The multi-agent system generated SARS-CoV-2-binding proteins in days.
Announcing the global launch of Web of Science Research Intelligence: An AI-powered research intelligence platform for funding, strategy, and impact
Web of Science Research Intelligence unites trusted data and AI to help research offices, library teams, and researchers secure funding and demonstrate impact.
How science is taking tripping mainstream
President Trump recently signed an order to speed up the evaluation of psychedelics to treat the brain. That’s coming after decades of strict prohibition on psychedelic drug use dating back to President Nixon. So how did we go from that to a psychedelic renaissance? A look into a key institution in the world of psychedelic research may give us some clues. This episode, NPR’s brain correspondent Jon Hamilton shares insight from a recent trip. (No pun intended.) Want more psychedelic content? Catch our episode on ketamine therapy here, or learn why some scientists want to take the trip out of psychedelics here. Have other questions about psychedelics and the brain? Let us know by emailing shortwave@npr.org!
Clarivate launches Web of Science Research Intelligence
/PRNewswire/ -- Clarivate Plc (NYSE:CLVT), a leading global provider of transformative intelligence, today announced the global launch of Web of Science...
Fifty years of science still can't tell us the cost of deep-sea mining
A new review of over 50 years of research has found that the environmental consequences of deep-sea mining remain deeply uncertain.
Science Will Win season finale explores AI in cancer care with Pfizer Chief Oncology Officer Jeff Legos
In February, Pfizer launched the sixth season of Science Will Win, our flagship podcast which recently reached 3 million downloads. The season finale focuses on the future of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) —and what they could mean for cancer research and care.
April Social Media Round-Up—Trailblazer Cancer Research Grants, World Health Day, and More
April has come to a close and we are barreling towards the summer. Before you head outside to enjoy spring, take a moment to catch up with Pfizer’s social channels, which have been on fire. Check out updates across our channels.