'Impacting Global Climate'

Top Scientists Conclude Human Activity Is Affecting Global Climate

Two of the nation's best-known atmospheric scientists, after reviewing extensive research by their colleagues, say there is no doubt human activities are having measurable-and increasing-impacts on global climate. Results of the study, which appear in the December 5th issue of the journal Science as part of a "State of the Planet" assessment, cite atmospheric observations and multiple computer models to paint a detailed picture of the climate changes likely to buffet Earth in coming decades, including rising temperatures and an increase in extreme weather events such as flooding. Thomas Karl of NOAA's National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C., and Kevin Trenberth, director of the Climate Analysis Section at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colo., conclude that industrial emissions have been the dominant influence behind climate change for the past 50 years, overwhelming natural forces.
More... (posted December 4, 2003)

Image: An example of the genus Arsinoitherium, a large mammal of the Oligocene epoch (approximately 24-34 million years ago), with an average-sized modern man shown for scale. Caption: A new species of Arsinoitherium found in the Chilga region of Ethiopia is both the largest (probably standing ~7 feet at the shoulder) and the youngest (approximately 27 million years old) yet discovered. An average-sized modern man is shown for scale. Credit: Trent Schindler / National Science Foundation

New Fossils from Ethiopia Open a Window on Africa's "Missing Years"

An international team of researchers has announced the discovery of new fossils from the highlands of Ethiopia. The fossils fill a long-standing gap in scientists' understanding of the evolution of African mammals. The results are reported in this week’s issue of the journal Nature. "The work of this team continues to reveal the extremely rich fossil record encased in East Africa’s rocks," says Rich Lane, program director in NSF's division of earth sciences, which funded the research. "It also sheds light on the role pre-modern animals played in establishing the worldwide distribution of mammals today." The dynamics of animal populations from 24 million to 32 million years ago has long stood as one of the most poorly known for all of Africa and Arabian, says John Kappelman, a paleontologist at the University of Texas and the project's leader.
More... (posted December 4, 2003)

Taking Cues from Mother Nature to Foil Cyber Attacks

Taking their cues from Mother Nature and biodiversity, computer scientists at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of New Mexico are collaborating on a National Science Foundation-supported project to study "cyber-diversity" for computer systems as a way to fend off malicious viruses, worms and other cyber attacks. In nature, diseases are most devastating when an infection-causing organism encounters a "monoculture," a vast swath of genetically similar individuals, each susceptible to the organism's method of attack. In the same vein, computer viruses and worms exploit the same flaw on every computer running the same software. "We are looking at computers the way a physician would look at genetically related patients, each susceptible to the same disorder," said Mike Reiter, a professor of electrical and computer engineering and computer science at Carnegie Mellon and associate director of CyLab, a Carnegie Mellon initiative focused on advancing cybersecurity technology and education. "In a more diverse population, one member may fall victim to a pathogen or disorder, while another might not have the same vulnerability."
More... (posted December 4, 2003)

Now Available: FY2004 Guide to Programs

The new edition of the Guide to Programs is available on the web at http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gp. Published each fiscal year, the Guide is a compilation of funding opportunities offered by NSF for research and education in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. The Guide includes broad, general descriptions of programs and activities for each NSF directorate. It also offers links to other information sources, including NSF directorate home pages; to related publications such as program announcements and solicitations that contain additional proposal or eligibility information; and to the E-Bulletin for deadline and target date information. NSF funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering, and it accounts for about one-fourth of all Federal support to academic institutions for basic research.
(posted December 4, 2003)

View the FY 2004 Guide