Diverse group of young people in an auditorium.

Trump administration crackdown halts over 400 NSF research grants tied to equity and studies on misinformation

A wave of cancellations by the National Science Foundation (NSF) has ended hundreds of research grants, many focused on diversity and misinformation, amid a broader push by the Trump administration to reshape federal science funding.

Katrina Miller and Carl Zimmer report for The New York Times.

In short:

The NSF has canceled more than 400 active research grants, many involving diversity, equity, and inclusion (D.E.I.) or studies of misinformation, citing a shift in agency priorities and alignment with constitutional speech protections.
The cuts follow a freeze attempt and an executive order from President Trump targeting D.E.I. programs, and reflect months of political pressure, including a list of “questionable projects” compiled by Senator Ted Cruz.
Critics warn the move jeopardizes public-facing science, particularly work supporting marginalized communities and initiatives designed to diversify STEM fields, and could reverse years of progress in American research.

Key quote:

“It’s shocking to see the government do this. It cedes American leadership in science and technology to China and to other countries. I think it is going to take at least 10 years for American scientific and biomedical research to recover from this.”

— Jon Freeman, psychologist at Columbia University

Why this matters:

The federal government’s abrupt cancellation of hundreds of scientific research grants strikes at the heart of how and for whom science is done in America. Many of the affected projects were designed to make science more inclusive and responsive to real-world problems, like environmental injustice, misinformation, and disparities in STEM education. Pulling support from these efforts sends a clear signal: Research that examines power, equity, or systemic bias is politically vulnerable. That has serious implications not just for academic freedom, but for communities that rely on data and collaboration to hold polluters accountable, respond to health disparities, or advocate for safer neighborhoods. The defunding of such work weakens the scientific infrastructure needed to protect public health, especially in places burdened by environmental and economic inequality.

Learn more: Scientists grapple with funding cuts and political uncertainty

www.nytimes.com

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California mining company turns to solar heat but can’t quit coal just yet

In California’s Mojave Desert, a mining plant is turning to solar thermal energy to replace one of its coal-fired generators, but a second unit may run for years due to the intense heat and 24-hour power it needs.

Ivan Penn reports for The New York Times.

In short:

Searles Valley Minerals, a mining company in Trona, Calif., is replacing one of its two coal plants with a solar thermal system but says the other may need to stay online for the foreseeable future due to operational demands.
The company will use a concentrating solar power system from start-up GlassPoint, which uses mirrors to generate high heat, a solution that works well in hot, sunny areas but requires a large land footprint and remains rare in the U.S.
Despite California’s push to phase out coal and President Trump’s efforts to revive it, economic and geographic constraints continue to complicate full industrial transitions away from fossil fuels.

Key quote:

“We just think coal is going to be a problem. We’re going to have a hard time sourcing it. We need to be ready to pivot.”

— Dennis Cruise, president of Searles Valley Minerals

Why this matters:

Industrial heat — the kind used in mining, chemical production, and heavy manufacturing — accounts for about half of global energy use, yet it’s rarely mentioned in public climate debates. Unlike home heating or car travel, generating this level of heat without fossil fuels is still tough. Most renewable energy technologies don’t deliver the extreme, continuous heat these facilities need. That leaves industries like the one in Trona stuck with coal, even as it becomes harder to source and politically unpopular. As the U.S. attempts to decarbonize, industrial energy needs present one of the biggest hurdles.

Read the Full Article on

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