Topic: research funding
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Court Blocks Research Funding Cuts, Upholds Congress
A federal court has blocked a policy that would have imposed a uniform, severe cap on indirect cost reimbursements for federally funded university research, preserving a critical funding mechanism. The proposed cuts, which ignored regional cost variations, were challenged by a coalition of states...
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Europe's Tech Leadership Hinges on Regulation and Culture
Europe's innovation strategy emphasizes regulatory foresight, stability, and ethical accountability, offering a compelling alternative to the U.S. model focused on speed and scale. The EU's regulatory frameworks, such as the AI Act and GDPR, provide certainty and attract investment, fostering ste...
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Parkinson's May Be Linked to Water, Not Just Genes
For decades, the industrial solvent TCE contaminated the groundwater at Camp Lejeune, exposing residents to a chemical with delayed and severe health risks. Despite initial denial, prolonged exposure at the base was later linked to significantly elevated rates of certain cancers and, in a recent ...
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Power struggle over NIH director roles intensifies
The NIH's leadership selection has historically been insulated from direct political control, prioritizing scientific expertise over political direction for its research and funding decisions. Recent actions, including placing political appointees into roles traditionally held by career scientist...
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Scientists Must Forge a Positive Vision for AI
Authoritarian control, misinformation, and lethal conflicts are exacerbated by AI, while the industry faces ethical issues like labor exploitation and high energy consumption. Scientists express significant concern about AI's risks but must balance warnings with a compelling vision of its benefit...
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Is Tech Still a Top Career Choice for Kids?
Students face challenges in choosing sustainable STEM careers due to rapid technological changes like AI and fluctuating research funding, requiring careful consideration of future opportunities. One student emphasizes the need for young people to lead AI development, focusing on security and pri...
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EU Launches €307 Million AI Funding Initiative
The EU is investing €307.3 million in AI, robotics, and quantum computing to advance its principle-driven strategy focused on ethics, safety, and "open strategic autonomy," contrasting with purely commercial models. Despite its strong regulatory framework and ethical goals, Europe trails other gl...
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APA Warns: AI Therapy May Harm Your Mental Health
The American Psychological Association warns that AI chatbots are not safe or effective substitutes for professional mental health care, as their design can worsen conditions and they lack proper therapeutic capabilities. AI chatbots pose risks by reinforcing harmful biases and behaviors due to s...
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Inspiring Your Kids to Love STEM Despite an Uncertain Future
Inspiring a lasting passion for STEM in children is essential, often starting with sparks of curiosity that can lead to lifelong pursuits, as illustrated by the author's personal journey from a lightsaber dream to a career in physics. Today's students face unique challenges, including shifts in r...
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AI-Designed Viruses Now Deployed to Combat Bacterial Infections
AI is being used to design bacteriophages that precisely target and destroy antibiotic-resistant bacteria, offering a new approach to combating infections. This AI-driven method accelerates biological discovery by rapidly generating functional viral designs, as demonstrated by successful lab resu...
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Male Mosquitoes Also Drink Human Blood
New research challenges the long-held belief that only female mosquitoes bite, revealing that **male mosquitoes are also capable of drinking human blood**, particularly when triggered by dehydration. Evidence from both lab experiments and wild-caught specimens confirms this behavior and shows mal...
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Trump Administration Expands Geothermal Energy Funding
A major $8.6 million federal grant will expand the first U.S. utility-led geothermal network in Massachusetts, adding about 140 new customer connections and funding performance research. The existing system efficiently heats and cools buildings by circulating water through underground pipes, allo...
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Butt Breathing Breakthrough: IgNobel Idea Nears Medical Reality
Enteral ventilation, a method of delivering oxygen through the colon, has shown promising safety results in its first human clinical trial and could serve as an emergency oxygen delivery method when traditional breathing is impossible. The technique uses an oxygen-rich liquid absorbed through the...
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