(Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy)
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory have built superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) using silicon-compatible transition metal silicides. The work points to a scalable path for quantum systems.

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) announced that it has made offers and will award 2,500 Graduate Research Fellowships for the 2026-2027 academic year to outstanding graduate students across the United States who are pursuing research-based degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

(Funded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology)
Traditional computer chips have transformed our world by cramming billions of electronic devices into tiny silicon chips. NIST scientists have now made a major advance toward doing the same with light. To make their new chip, the researchers stacked specialized materials on top of each other, creating a high-tech “layer cake.” Called integrated photonic circuits, these chips can transform light, taking in one laser color and putting out a rainbow of colors. This advancement could lead to profound impacts on major industries, including: Quantum Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Navigation and Research.

(Funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation)
The U.S. National Science Foundation is investing up to $100 million to establish a nationwide network of open-access research facilities for quantum and nanoscale technologies, innovation, and workforce training. Through the new NSF National Quantum and Nanotechnology Infrastructure (NSF NQNI) program, NSF will support up to 16 sites over five years, providing students, researchers, and industry with access to state-of-the-art fabrication and characterization tools, instrumentation, and expertise. Together, the sites will form a shared national resource serving regional innovation ecosystems, including community colleges and small businesses.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced, at the Office of Science Advisory Committee meeting, investments in fundamental scientific research and technology development across a wide range of disciplines in the physical sciences. These awards, totaling over $320 million, will support 217 university and industry projects aimed at expanding the frontiers of knowledge and addressing critical science and technology needs. The awards span materials science, nuclear and particle physics, fusion energy, quantum information science, and chemical molecular sciences to study molecular interfaces.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced funding to advance the Genesis Mission’s efforts to tackle the nation’s most complex science and technology challenges. This includes a $293 million Request for Application (RFA),“The Genesis Mission: Transforming Science and Energy with AI.” Through this RFA, DOE invites interdisciplinary teams to leverage novel AI models and frameworks to address over 20 national challenges spanning advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, critical materials, nuclear energy, and quantum information science. 

Thursday, Feb. 26 at 6:30 p.m. ET. This session will provide an overview of nanomedicine and include a discussion of classroom-ready examples highlighting current and future applications in the field.

(Funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy)
Researchers who discovered a versatile type of two-dimensional conductive nanomaterial, called a MXene, nearly a decade and a half ago, have now reported on a process for producing its one-dimensional cousin: the MXene nanoscroll. The group posits that these materials, which are 100 times thinner than human hair yet more conductive than their two-dimensional counterparts, could be used to improve the performance of energy storage devices, biosensors and wearable technology.

(Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy)
Researchers developed a new drying technique for cellulose nanofibers that uses counter-rotating vortices (“mini tornadoes”) of heated compressed air to rapidly dehydrate a wet cellulose slurry. The innovation of producing these mini tornadoes to dry cellulose nanofibers is more energy efficient, effective and scalable than the current freeze and spray drying methods.

(Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy)
Researchers established a theoretical analysis to define two regions, one where nanoscale interfacial dynamics are critical and another where the flow is accurately modeled by standard continuum theory. By demonstrating the important role of chemistry and molecular-scale interactions on confined fluid flows, the results can help guide future studies on when to apply different modeling approaches. These findings can help enhance the effectiveness of molecular-based simulations for investigating complex confined systems in nanofluidics, biology, and colloidal science, offering a complementary molecular-scale perspective to traditional continuum approaches.