search
US science
Trends
- 1Agency Diverted $1.4 Billion in Congress-Mandated Science Funds▼Agency Diverted $1.4 Billion in Science Funds Mandated by Congress
The New York Times reports that a US federal agency diverted $1.4 billion in science funding that Congress had specifically mandated, redirecting the money away from its intended research purposes. The report is drawing attention to questions of congressional authority over federal spending and the fate of key scientific research programs.
- 2West Point professor says he was fired over climate change teaching▼West Point professor fired after pushing back on limitations to teaching climate change, lawsuit says
A lawsuit filed by Adam Kalkstein, a former professor at the US Military Academy at West Point, alleges he was fired after objecting to department officials barring faculty from teaching that humans contribute to climate change. The case raises questions about academic freedom at the academy and the role of climate science in military education.
- 3Banks quote on guilty systems resonates in US politics●"A guilty system recognizes no innocents." IAIN M. BANKS, THE PLAYER OF GAMES, 1988 / CH. 2 "IMPERIUM" / P. 215. zer0bil
People are sharing a line from Iain M. Banks's 1988 science fiction novel The Player of Games: "A guilty system recognizes no innocents." The quote, from the chapter "Imperium," is being circulated in discussions of US politics, with readers suggesting it captures how corrupt institutions implicate everyone within them. It is being used as a pointed commentary on American political life.
- 4Sharp Fall in Research Mobility Between EU, US and China●‘Sharp’ Fall in Research Mobility Between E.U., U.S. and China
A reported decline in researcher mobility between the European Union, the United States and China has been described as 'sharp', raising concerns about the future of international scientific collaboration among the three major research powers. Observers suggest the drop reflects tightening visa rules, geopolitical tensions and funding restrictions affecting academic exchange in both directions.
- 5
Physicist Jun Ye of the US National Institute of Standards and Technology has been named a recipient of the 2026 Wolf Prize in Physics, one of the most prestigious international awards in science. Ye is known for his work on ultracold atoms, precision measurement and atomic clocks. The Wolf Prize, awarded annually in Israel, is often seen as a precursor to the Nobel Prize.
- 6DOE Commits Up to $400 Million for Office of Science Funding▼DOE Allots Up to $400M for FY 2027 Office of Science Funding Call
The US Department of Energy has announced it will allocate up to $400 million under its fiscal year 2027 funding call for the Office of Science, the nation's largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences. The funding opportunity covers early-career and university-led research programs, with researchers and institutions now preparing proposals ahead of the application deadlines.
- 7NASA Selects Projects to Bring Science to Communities Across the US▼NASA Selects Projects to Engage Communities Across the US With NASA Science
NASA has announced its selection of projects aimed at engaging communities across the United States with NASA science. The initiative is designed to broaden public participation in the agency's scientific work, bringing educational and outreach programs to diverse audiences nationwide. Details on the selected projects and funding amounts have not yet been widely reported.
- 8NIH Awards $2 Million Grant to Study Brain's Protein Detection▼NIH US$2M grant: How the brain detects protein intake
The US National Institutes of Health has awarded a $2 million grant to fund research into how the brain detects protein intake. The project aims to uncover the mechanisms behind protein sensing, a topic of growing interest in nutrition science given protein's role in appetite regulation and health. Details on the receiving institution and researchers were not included in the initial coverage.
- 9
Quantinuum has secured a $100 million award under the US CHIPS and Science Act, the company says in coverage carried by Yahoo Finance. The funding supports the quantum computing firm's expansion of hardware development in the United States. The news is circulating among investors tracking semiconductor and quantum technology policy spending.
- 10How the 2008 financial crisis reshaped US energy●The 2008 economic crisis changed the US's relationship to energy https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/10/the-2008-econom
An Ars Technica article argues that the 2008 economic crisis marked a turning point in the United States' relationship to energy, reshaping how the country produces and consumes power in the years that followed. The piece is drawing attention among readers discussing the intersection of economics, energy policy and science.
- 11Columbia Physicist Sebastian Wins $1.35M Moore Foundation Award▼Will Lab’s Sebastian Wins Columbia $1.35M Moore Foundation Award
Sebastian, a researcher with Columbia University's Will Lab, has been awarded a $1.35 million grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The funding will support his research programme, which falls within the physics field, and marks a significant recognition of his work. The award adds to ongoing philanthropic investment in basic science at leading US universities.
- 12DOE Opens $400 Million Office of Science Funding Call for FY 2027▼DOE Opens $400M Office of Science Funding Call for FY 2027
The US Department of Energy has opened a funding call worth $400 million through its Office of Science for fiscal year 2027. The announcement invites researchers and institutions to seek federal support for basic scientific research. It is drawing attention from the science and research policy community as one of the larger upcoming federal funding opportunities.
- 13Colleges struggle with AI in STEM classrooms●Colleges grapple with AI use in the STEM classroom amid uncertain impacts
US colleges and universities are wrestling with how to handle student use of artificial intelligence in science, technology, engineering and math courses. Instructors face uncertain effects on learning: AI can help students work through problems, but may also undermine the practice needed to build core skills. Institutions are experimenting with policies ranging from outright bans to structured integration, with no consensus yet on the best approach.