National Science Foundation (NSF)

Origami-inspired robotic plants twist and turn in tough-to-reach spots to gather data in the wild. ?? Engineers supported by NSF, including electrical and computer engineers from Clemson University, collaborated with mechanical engineers from Virginia Tech to create robots designed with origami-inspired trunks and branches. These #robots are equipped with sensors that mimic plants' growth, adaptation and survival habits while also monitoring and collecting data in natural environments. #NSFfunded Watch to find out how it works with NSF Science Now: https://bit.ly/3OnYPc8.

It's impossible to accurately predict droughts and floods without knowing where water travels, a top-to-bottom accounting from treetops to bedrock — and such data is so sparse, that it is impossible to get the full picture from observations alone. To address data gaps, researchers use large simulations that require enormous computing resources. Those powerful simulations can help us better understand exactly how water flows, but they are expensive to access and unavailable to most communities. Using artificial intelligence, a new project from the NSF-led National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) pilot is trying to address those limitations by creating a "digital twin" of the entire continental U.S. water cycle, above and below the ground surface.?The digital twin will rely on AI-powered by physics and machine learning principles, as well as continuously updated water data. Led by?Princeton Universityand the?University of Arizona,?the researchers hope to track water, and predict scarcity, with unprecedented accuracy, precision and speed, generating monthly, national forecasts, in real-time, every day. Publicly hosted, freely accessible and user-friendly, the HydroGEN platform will help communities across the United States prepare as climate patterns shift.?https://bit.ly/410CCZz

Happy National Entrepreneur's Day! ? From 2016 to 2023, America's Seed Fund, powered by the U.S. National Science Foundation, awarded over 3,600 grants to ambitious startups and small businesses. Annually, we invest over $200 million in research and development for around 400 companies across diverse technology areas and market sectors. We are dedicated to transforming scientific and engineering discoveries into innovative products and services that make a lasting impact. Today, and throughout this month, we honor the spirit of entrepreneurship, particularly small business owners, who create jobs and drive positive changes across America. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/48X4QWO. #NSFSBIR #EntrepreneursDay

Calling all educators, parents and mentors of young game developers and innovators! ???? On Nov. 21, 2024, at 4 p.m. EST, we will host a one-hour NSF Game Maker Awards webinar with experts from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). We'll discuss how to help the next generation of creators and entrepreneurs safeguard their innovations by covering topics like: ?? Intellectual property fundamentals: How kids can protect their game and software creations. ?? Patenting apps and software: Insights into U.S. patent practices for software and apps. Register today! https://bit.ly/4frH87A #NSF75 #NSFGameMakerAwards

NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan spent the week commemorating NSF's leading efforts in strengthening partnerships and supporting research empowering individuals and communities to promote a better, safer, healthier world. On Tuesday, Nov. 12, Panchanathan joined the NSF Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (NSF OSDBU) to present the NSF OSDBU Star award. The award recognizes NSF organizations for their exemplary service in advancing opportunities for small businesses to partner with NSF. This year's awardees, the NSF Directorate for Engineering and Office of Chief Information Officer, leveraged investments to strengthen individuals and uplift local communities that power and fuel the national economy. On Wednesday, Nov. 13, the director attended the Embassy of Sweden in USA's gala dinner to honor the 2024 American Nobel laureates at the House of Sweden in Washington, D.C. Panchanathan joined Swedish Ambassador Urban Ahlin to celebrate the astounding and transformative accomplishments of this year's winners, including seven laureates supported by NSF. In his remarks at the Nobel dinner, the director emphasized NSF’s crucial role in supporting fundamental research and continued efforts to grow its impact by expanding strategic investments and fostering international collaborations. NSF has supported 268 Nobel laureates across all scientific disciplines and is proud to have played a role in discoveries that push the frontiers of knowledge. On Thursday, Nov. 14, the director met with Chairman Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OH) to thank him for his outstanding leadership at the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology in ensuring the U.S. remains in the vanguard of science and technology, and for his strong support for science and NSF's vital mission. Later that day, the director published a LinkedIn article discussing the significant impact that federal investments have on Nobel laureates' research. Panchanathan stressed the need to grow and accelerate federal support so the U.S. can remain a global leader in research. https://bit.ly/4fMLWUX

As artificial intelligence (#AI) becomes more integrated in various aspects of society, NSF is ensuring it’s done responsibly. Investing in research and development as well as responsibly deploying new and evolving technologies internally is the comprehensive twofold system NSF uses to conduct its work on AI. Dorothy Aronson, the division director and chief data officer serving as the assistant chief information officer for AI is focused on the latter. She sits down with Nextgov/FCW to explain NSF’s AI policies, including her role and responsibilities, how they may evolve over time, her team dynamics, their main priorities and how to create policies to ensure responsible use of AI over its life cycle. Check out the full interview: https://bit.ly/3CFpizl ??: Charlotte Geary/NSF #artificialintelligence #researchanddevelopment #emergingtechnology

Nobel Prizes celebrate individual achievements that result from years of hard work to better understand our world. While these prizes highlight personal success, winners often thank their colleagues, mentors, and U.S. federal agencies for their support. The U.S. National Science Foundation has helped nearly 270 laureates with critical funding at crucial times in their careers. Discoveries by Nobel laureates, like the CRISPR technology, greatly affect our economy, safety, and health. In his latest article, NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan highlights the crucial need for ongoing investment in research to drive innovation and progress ?

HEN Nozzles is dedicated to developing innovative wildfire-fighting technologies that enhance first responders' safety. Their adjustable smoothbore nozzle uses advanced fluid dynamics to suppress fires 300% faster while conserving 67% more water. With the increasing frequency of wildfires worldwide, HEN Nozzles aims to help fire departments save resources and improve safety. The company recently raised $8 million in funding. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3Ctu0QL. #NSFSBIR #firesuppression ??: HEN Nozzles

This hurricane season, researchers are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence for new ways to model storms and quickly predict their paths. Recent studies suggest some AI systems may predict hurricane paths more quickly, while AI tools are developing to personalize predictions to the scale of neighborhoods and homes. Unlike traditional models that crunch enormous amounts of atmospheric data about a current storm, AI models train on existing data from decades of storms, looking for physical processes that indicate storm behavior. On a recent episode of NBC News Now's "The Future of Everything," University of Oklahoma professor and NSF AI Institute for Research on Trustworthy AI in Weather, Climate, and Coastal Oceanography director Amy McGovern explains how AI may soon transform hurricane prediction: https://bit.ly/4erNi6r ??: Travis Caperton

Ready, set, LIFT OFF! ????? A #NSFfunded team is working with more than 150 students from six collaborating universities to design and build three identical CubeSats, or shoebox-sized satellites, which they plan to launch into space in 2026. As part of the Space Weather Atmospheric Reconfigurable Multiscale Experiment, the three CubeSats will collect data to improve space weather forecasting, to reduce the negative impacts of this weather on systems and technologies in orbit. "CubeSats, which are light and inexpensive compared to typical satellites, offer a unique way to advance observations in space weather and atmospheric and geospace sciences," NSF Program Director Mangala Sharma said. "They also allow us to experiment with novel technologies and engage students in exciting space missions." Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Z33zuf ??: Shutterstock