Latest news with #NationalScienceFoundation
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
First Images From the World's Largest Camera Are Paving the Future of Astronomy
First Images From the World's Largest Camera Are Paving the Future of Astronomy originally appeared on L.A. Mag. On June 23rd, over 300 public and private Watch Parties tuned in to get a glimpse of the First Look images from Rubin Observatory, according to a Rubin Observatory press release. The reason? This observatory features the world's largest ever camera, an 8.4-meter telescope, and is at the forefront of the current astronomy works so well for three primary reasons: its scope, the detail of the images, and the time it takes to capture said images. For example, the image taken of the Trifid and Lagoon Nebulae utilized two trillion pixels of data and a combination of 678 exposures to create a 5-gigapixel image. Taken in just under 7.2 hours, this stunning image layers the large amount of different exposures to cast the image into enormous detail. Coupled with the extremely wide range of the camera, viewers can now see the Trifid and Lagoon Nebulae in striking and comprehensive first images are the product of over two decades of work from a global team, according to Željko Ivezić, Director of Rubin Observatory Construction. The facility, jointly funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science and the U.S. National Science Foundation, was built at the summit of Cerro Pachón in Chile, where the high elevation, dry air, and dark skies provide an ideal location for astronomical observations. According to Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the observatory 'demonstrates that the United States remains at the forefront of international basic science and highlights the remarkable achievements we get when the many parts of the national research enterprise work together.' Brian Stone, performing the duties of NSF director, details these 'remarkable achievements' by stating how Rubin will 'capture more information about our Universe than all optical telescopes throughout history combined,' including information about dark matter and dark observatory's relationship with dark matter is deeply embedded within the observatory's history, specifically concerning its namesake. The observatory is named after Vera C. Rubin, a pioneering U.S. astronomer who found conclusive evidence for dark matter. Dark matter and dark energy are important because they are key players in what is facilitating our universe's expansion, according to NASA. So what's next for the Vera Rubin Observatory? According to CNN, the observatory will make the first scientific observations of the Southern Hemisphere (also known as 'first light') on July 4th. Looking ahead, over the next ten years, the observatory will take 1000 images of the Southern Hemisphere every night as part of the observatory's primary mission to meticulously capture the universe's changes: the Legacy Survey of Space and Time. These images will not only be important for astronomical discoveries, but also for planetary defense, as having more precise images will allow us to better observe and predict asteroids that may potentially impact the Moon or the Earth. Additionally, the observatory seeks to bring cutting-edge astronomical data and images to the general public through the interactive, user-friendly SkyViewer app. The app offers both guided and free-form exploration of select Rubin images as well as an interactive sonification that encourages users to experience the wonder of the cosmos through an endless soundscape. This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Business Insider
a day ago
- Business
- Business Insider
eXoZymes announces role in $9.2M Meta-PURE initiative
eXoZymes (EXOZ) announced its role in the Meta-PURE initiative, a $9.2M National Science Foundation funded project under the CFIRE program aimed at transforming the scalability and accessibility of cell-free systems to expand real-world applications. Led by Georgia Tech with a coalition of academic and industry groups, Meta-PURE will build a suite of standardized, interoperable 'modules' for cell-free biomanufacturing, enabling plug-and-play modules that can rapidly shift between use cases – from high-value nutraceuticals, to essential chemicals or pharmaceuticals. eXoZymes' contribution builds on its ability to design complex enzyme cascades that operate outside of cells at unprecedented yields. 'Our job in Meta-PURE is to build a cell-free power plant – an ATP-generating module that other teams can plug into to drive their own production modules,' said Dr. Paul Opgenorth, co-founder of eXoZymes and co-principal investigator on the award. Dr. Opgenorth continues, 'By decoupling the power module from the production module, we're enabling faster reaction times, greater product yields, and making the development of production modules more accessible for our partners across a broad spectrum of synthetic biology applications.' Confident Investing Starts Here:
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump's HUD secretary is embroiled in an embarrassing, all-too-familiar scandal
Donald Trump's housing secretary is embroiled in a controversy over ritzy and self-serving renovations he allegedly wants to make at the Department of Housing and Urban Development's new headquarters at taxpayers' expense. No need to pinch yourself. The year is 2025 — not 2018, when then-HUD Secretary Ben Carson faced backlash after a $31,000 dining set was ordered for his office without the required approval from Congress. He ultimately canceled the order amid media scrutiny. But in the world of Trump scandals, it seems all that is old is made new again: The current HUD secretary, Scott Turner, is now at the center of an oddly similar scenario. On Wednesday, Turner held a news conference with Virginia's Republican governor, Glenn Youngkin, to announce HUD's plans to boot employees of the National Science Foundation out of their Northern Virginia headquarters to make room for HUD to move in. As secretary, Turner has taken an odd interest in slashing his department's budget, cutting its staff and selling HUD's headquarters in Washington. Earlier this week, the American Federation of Government Employees claimed that it had been informed that new plans for the Northern Virginia building included a host of seemingly lavish alterations: 'A dedicated executive suite for the HUD Secretary on the 19th floor.' 'The construction of an executive dining room.' 'Reserved parking spaces for the Secretary's 5 cars.' 'Exclusive use of one elevator for the Secretary.' 'A space dedicated to hosting the Secretary's executive assistants on the 18th floor.' 'A potential gym for the HUD Secretary and his family.' 'This kind of let-them-eat-cake approach to government is absurd,' the union wrote in a news release. 'At a time when they claim to be cutting government waste, it is unbelievable that government funding is being redirected to build a palace-like office for the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. The hypocrisy is truly dumbfounding.' When asked about the claims at his news conference, Turner said: 'That's ridiculous. And it's not true.' 'This is about the HUD employees — to have a safe space, to have a nice place to work, to represent the people that we serve in America,' he added. As far as cringeworthy images of executive branch entitlement go, this story ranks right up there with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum's office allegedly deploying staffers to bake cookies, which Burgum — similar to Turner — vehemently denies. It seems we'll have to take a wait-and-see approach with HUD's new headquarters, though the fact there's speculation at all is arguably a bad look — and one that is only shining more light on the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to downsize federal agencies and, seemingly, inconvenience much of the federal workforce. At the moment, it's not clear where the National Science Foundation employees will end up, but a General Services Administration official said at the news conference that the GSA will help the foundation find another building. This article was originally published on
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Trump Cabinet secretary to get swanky new setup as major agency moves headquarters out of D.C.
The Trump administration is moving one federal agency out of D.C. and displacing another – with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development set to score choice new digs in the progress. Coming out on top in the situation is HUD Secretary Scott Turner, who is set to get an executive suite up on the 19th floor of his gleaming new headquarters when his current 2,700 employees make the move. But the 1,800 National Science Foundation employees who currently occupy the building are in the dark about their own prospects, according to American Federation of Government Employees Local 3403, which represents federal workers it says were blindsided by the move. 'While Secretary Turner and his staff are busy enjoying private dining and a custom gym, NSF employees are being displaced with no plan, no communication, and no respect,' the union fumed. It said the 'callous disregard for taxpayer dollars and NSF employees comes after the Administration already cut NSF's budget, staff and science grants and forced NSF employees back into the office.' The furious union local, which says it got briefed on the plan when it was suddenly announced, lists perks it said Turner is set to garner in his new space. HUD currently occupies a brutalist 1960s building near the Southeast-Southwest freeway in downtown Washington with a long list of upkeep needs. They include a 'dedicated executive suite' for the secretary, an executive dining room, reserved parking for five cars (presumably his security detail), plus 'exclusive use' of an elevator and a 'potential gym for the HUD Secretary and his family.' Also blasting the move was Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California, the top Democrat on the House Science Committee. She slammed the administration for 'kicking dedicated scientists out of their building so HUD Secretary Turner can have a penthouse dining suite' in a blistering statement. 'For an administration so obsessed with claiming that it's cutting spending, how can Trump justify the tax-payer dollars it will take to meet Turner's ridiculous demands, like a gym for his exclusive use or parking spaces for his five cars?' she said. She also asked where the NSF staff would go and what was the plan. 'Once again, science loses, the American taxpayer loses, and our competitors, like China, win.' A HUD press release features an image of the gleaming existing NSF building, which the agency occupied a few years ago. 'The move would unlock several hundred million dollars in taxpayer savings, address serious health and safety threats, enhance the Department's work culture, and present an opportunity for greater collaboration and service to the American people,' it says. Turner talked up the move at a press conference with Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, whose state has competed with Maryland and DC over the years to serve as host to the NSF and other federal agencies. The NSF used to have offices in downtown DC before moving to Virginia after the Secret Service took over its prior office space. 'We will work with our friends at [the General Services Administration] to coordinate a staggered and thoughtful relocation process which takes into account the current team and employees of this building and the work they do on a daily basis,' Turner said. He added: 'We are all on the same team.' He also blasted the claims about a posh setup as 'ridiculous and untrue.' 'This is about the posterity and the future of HUD, not just for now, but for those that are coming behind me. My family and I were already blessed before we came so, this is about the HUD employees. This is not about me,' he said. HUD spokeswoman Kasey Lovett told the Daily Mail that contrary to 'sensationalist reporting' no one would be 'displaced' and that there would be a 'staggered and thoughtful approach.' 'There will be a secretary office – just as there is at HUD currently – and every other place of operation with executive staff. There are no plans to "build out" anything more than what is currently there,' she said. The spokeswoman said the move was done for staff safety and did not have 'anything to do with a new space or bells and whistles for the secretary,' although she did not deny that Turner would get the building features the union described. The agency release makes no mention of what would happen to the NSF employees beyond the 'staggered employee relocation plan.' It claims the move 'will save American taxpayers hundreds of millions in deferred maintenance and modernization needs.' HUD's building showed up on a list of government buildings to be disposed of – although numerous buildings fell off the initial draft. A GSA fact sheet now begins with the question: 'The first list was much longer, why is this list shorter?' It responds: 'Due to the overwhelming response that we received after publishing the first list, we are refining our process.' A federal judge has put a temporary pause on massive cuts to research funding that goes out to universities around the country. Universities have sued over Trump administration changes to 'indirect' costs that get awarded to their scientists. One plaintiff, the University of California system, estimates the change will cost it nearly $100 million a year.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Science makes every day life better through innovation
From mapping the human genome and increasing life expectancy to inventing the iPhone and developing artificial intelligence, scientists say, science has a wide impact on the everyday lives of all people. But in the face of massive cuts to public science funding, and with fewer people saying they trust scientists than before the pandemic, some scientists are concerned about the future. Under the Trump administration, thousands of employees have been laid off, and billions of dollars in public grant funds have been cut. The National Science Foundation alone, which funds research that's led to cell phones, artificial intelligence and MRIs, has lost more than $1 billion for 1,400 projects. Because the National Institutes of Health is the nation's main source of federal grants for biomedical research, scientists say the cuts to the NIH jeopardize critical medical research into life-saving vaccines and treatments for cancers, HIV/AIDS and more. The NIH cuts may also threaten Alzheimer's research, affecting the up to 7.2 million Americans living with the disease. Science is relevant and crucial, scientists say, and without it, our lives would look drastically different. "It's the air we breathe, it's the food we eat, it's the medicines we take. That's what science is," chemist Kate Biberdorf said. "… It's everywhere — it's our vaccines, it's the climate change, it's our cell phones. If you like having electricity in your building, you can thank a scientist for that." Find out how science impacts your community. This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Science impacts communities on a daily basis. See its impacts.
