Like a propeller, new drone spins too fast for the human eye to see clearly. It’s about 10 times less visually perceptible than a conventional quadcopter. AI designed and optimized the drone, determining ideal placement of each component to make it harder to see.

A comprehensive Cal Poly study examining North American bird population data reveals that environmental change does not affect all species equally. The research, assessing data collected across North America over nearly 30 years, found that no single environmental factor explained bird population changes across all species. Instead, species responded in highly individualized ways because of their interactions with their environment. While human-caused disturbances such as light pollution and air pollution can negatively affect bird populations, ecological traits can help predict species' sensitivity and forecast how well they will respond to ongoing environmental change. The study also highlights the importance of local conservation action. While climate change and regional air pollution require broad policy solutions, many environmental factors affecting birds can be addressed at the level of cities or counties.

Driving an electric current through a molecule can create a magnetic field. Yet in practice, such fields are often too weak to be detected experimentally. Through theoretical modeling, researchers at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) show how quantum effects can turn single molecules into effective magnets—including one shaped like a microscopic soccer ball, just in time for the FIFA World Cup final. The findings were published in Nature Communications.

The US National Science Foundation (NSF) announced it will award $15 million over the next two years to launch the NSF STELLAR Engine in the Rochester/Finger Lakes Region of New York, led by the University of Rochester. The award, matched by $16 million in New York State support over the next six years will establish an internationally competitive technology and innovation cluster in the region focused on laser technologies, education, business expansion and attraction, manufacturing, and workforce development.

The Resilient Energy Technology and Infrastructure Consortium, led by West Virginia University in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University and more than 60 regional partners, will use $321 million in public and private funding to develop the nation’s next leading industrial energy innovation hub in the heart of Appalachia.

Frontiers of Advanced Semiconductor Technology, known as FAST, an Oregon consortium that includes nearly 100 partners from across Oregon, will receive up to $160 million from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) during the next 10 years to grow the state’s semiconductor ecosystem. Oregon State University is the administrative home for FAST.