Center of Science and Technology

Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara will take part in three of the National Science Foundation's Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes, the university announced. The multi-institution institutes are part of the NSF's effort to advance quantum science and technology, and UCSB's involvement underscores its standing as a leading center for quantum research.

NASA has opened a new Lunar Grounding Challenge through its Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation, inviting the public to contribute ideas supporting lunar missions. The crowdsourced competition falls under NASA's prizes and challenges program and is drawing attention from space and science communities, with supporters sharing it widely and encouraging innovators to take part in shaping future Moon exploration technology.

A new BlueTech accelerator has been launched to bring water-technology startups to a freshwater research center. The program aims to connect early-stage companies with research facilities and expertise in freshwater science. Details about the center's location, funding partners, and the startups involved have not yet been reported.

The Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland is celebrating MFG Day, an annual event that highlights careers and innovation in modern manufacturing. Visitors are being given a closer look at how science, technology and engineering connect to the region's industrial base. Manufacturing Day is observed across the United States each October to inspire students and the public.

Stanford University's Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence has welcomed 15 new data science scholars to its fellowship program. The announcement highlights the institute's continued effort to bring together researchers working at the intersection of data science and AI. The new cohort is expected to contribute to interdisciplinary projects spanning technology, policy, and society.

A new study by the Welcoming Center finds that immigration is boosting population growth across the Philadelphia region and playing a significant role in supporting the local STEM workforce. The report highlights immigrants' contributions to the area's demographics and science and technology sectors, adding data to ongoing debates about immigration's economic impact in US metropolitan regions.

Whatsoever Community Center in Kansas City runs a robotics club aimed at giving local young people a mix of hands-on fun and academic enrichment. A report by Northeast News KC highlights how the program engages kids in science and technology skills while keeping them entertained. The club is presented as an example of neighborhood centers supporting education outside the classroom.

Rice University has appointed Karen Lozano as director of the Tapia Center for STEM Education. The center focuses on expanding access to science, technology, engineering and math education, particularly for underrepresented students. Lozano's appointment is being noted in education circles as a significant leadership move for diversity and STEM outreach efforts.

The Rochester Museum and Science Center has opened a new exhibit showcasing medical technology. The display gives visitors a look at tools and innovations used in modern healthcare, adding a science-and-medicine focus to the museum's offerings. Local outlet WHEC reported the opening, and residents are discussing the new attraction as a family-friendly way to explore how technology shapes medicine.

Impression 5 Science Center in Lansing, Michigan, has broken ground on a new TECH space that was designed with input from teenagers. The hands-on area is aimed at giving young visitors a place to explore technology and science, and the center says the teen involvement ensures the space reflects what young people actually want. Local outlet WILX reported on the groundbreaking ceremony.

Discovery Space has been awarded a $20,000 grant to launch a new laser welding program. The funding will support hands-on learning in welding technology at the science center. Details on the donor, the program's launch date, and who it will serve have not yet been made public.

Google's Project Suncatcher test hardware for AI data centers in space has launched aboard a SpaceX rocket. The experiment is an early step toward running AI computing infrastructure off Earth, using solar power in orbit. The combination of Google's space ambitions and SpaceX launch capability has drawn wide attention across science and technology media.

Georgia Tech has launched ETHOS, a new initiative aimed at advancing human-centered medical research. Announced via Mirage News, the program is positioned to put patient needs and human factors at the core of biomedical innovation at the institute. Details on funding, partners and specific research areas have not yet been released, but the launch signals Georgia Tech's continued push into healthcare-focused science and technology.