NSF in the news as lawmakers push to reshape federal science funding and review; independent grant system under scrutiny. NSF funds basic research across science and engineering in the U.S.
JWST limb-resolved spectroscopy reveals a cloudy morning limb and a clearer evening limb on tidally locked exoplanet WASP-94A b, implying strong day-night circulation and challenging past assumptions about uniform planetary atmospheres.
Since mid May, multiple outlets have reported that the Justice Department has reached a settlement resolving President Trump’s $10bn lawsuit against the IRS, creating a $1.8bn "anti-weaponization" fund and barring existing IRS audits of Trump, his family and affiliates. Critics, courts and lawmakers have raised legal and ethical objections; separate reporting shows Trump is also directing high-profile public-works projects and White House renovations that are drawing criticism over cost and optics.
The European Union has announced a substantial investment in ocean observation, positioning Europe at the forefront of marine monitoring as the United States proceeds with the dismantling of the Ocean Observatories Initiative. The NSF has begun a descope of the OOI, pulling instruments from multiple U.S. sites while the EU commits hundreds of millions to expand global ocean data networks.
The National Science Foundation has begun decommissioning most instruments from the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), a 900+‑sensor system that has tracked ocean climate, currents and hazards for a decade. Lawmakers from both parties have pressed the NSF to halt the plans, arguing the move lacks warning, violates process and could jeopardize coastal safety and weather predictions. Scientists warn the loss will hinder climate monitoring and fishing industries, while officials say the desk keeps advancing priority research.
AI models are delivering faster pattern recognition and higher accuracy for hurricane forecasts, with NOAA citing a 15-30% improvement over traditional methods. DeepMind and other labs are expanding high‑resolution data use to sharpen predictions and enable earlier evacuations.