National Science Foundation (NSF)

Saurabh Amin to be chief scientist on multi-institutional NSF grantProject aims to improve security and operations of civil and environmental engineering structures and systems

Anna Frebel receives NSF CAREER AwardFrebel will work on identifying large numbers of 12 to 13 billion-year-old stars in the galactic halo

Four MIT researchers attend White House announcement of brain initiativeObama invites Boyden, Brown, Desimone and Seung to launch of new federal initiative.

Watching fluid flow at nanometer scalesResearchers find that tiny nanowires can lift liquids as effectively as tubes.

Subra Suresh named next president of Carnegie Mellon UniversityFormer dean of the MIT School of Engineering to step down from NSF post.

Chisholm, Langer receive nation’s highest honors for scientists and inventorsPresident Obama presented the two MIT professors with the National Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology and Innovation on Friday.

Recent Course X grad named one of Forbes magazine's '30 Under 30'Pedro Valencia PhD '12 honored for drug research.

President Obama announces intent to appoint Maria Zuber to National Science BoardMIT geophysicist nominated for 25-member governing board of the National Science Foundation.

Funneling the sun’s energyMIT engineers propose a new way of harnessing photons for electricity, with the potential for capturing a wider spectrum of solar energy.

Brain waves encode rules for behaviorFluctuations in electrical activity may also allow the brain to form thoughts and memories.

Fighting bacteria with mucusStudy shows that key proteins in mucus prevent bacterial adhesion to surfaces, could help prevent growth of biofilms.

Sitting still or going hunting: Which works better?If you’re a microbe floating in the ocean, there’s no single best strategy for getting food, MIT research shows.

Q&A: Michel DeGraff on teaching STEM in KreyòlA model for reaching science-hungry students around the world who speak local languages

Jaenisch, Suresh named Franklin Institute laureates

New technique reveals lithium in actionFundamental reactions behind advanced battery technology, revealed in detail by advanced imaging method, could lead to improved materials.

MIT team builds most complex synthetic biology circuit yetNew sensor can detect four different molecules, could be used to program cells to precisely monitor their environments.

DeGraff awarded $1 million NSF grant to continue linguistics research in HaitiFunding will help develop classroom tools to teach science and math in Creole for the first time.

Measuring the universe’s ‘exit door’For the first time, an international team has measured the radius of a black hole.

Weapon-wielding marine microbes may protect populations from foesIn some populations, natural antibiotics are produced by a few individuals whose closest relatives carry genes conferring resistance.

A one-way street for spinning atomsWork correlating ultracold atoms’ spin with their direction of motion may help physicists model new circuit devices and unusual phases of matter.

Single-photon transmitter could enable new quantum devicesLong-sought goal for quantum devices — the ability to transmit single photons while blocking multiple photons — is finally achieved.

Research update: Chips with self-assembling rectanglesNew technique allows production of complex microchip structures in one self-assembling step.

Dripping faucets inspire new way of creating structured particlesResearchers find new method for making spherical particles, from nanoscale to pinhead-sized — including complex beach-ball-like shapes.

Researchers explain how dye-based nanotubes can help harvest light’s energyTiny cylinders help reveal how natural-light-harvesting antennae collect light with exceptional efficiency.

All in a day’s work: Design and print your own robotMIT project, funded with $10 million NSF grant, could transform robotic design and production

Scott Aaronson wins NSF’s Alan T. Waterman AwardNational Science Foundation’s most prestigious award will help fuel CSAIL researcher’s work.