Funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP) in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce, the NNME initiative addresses the urgent national need for skilled workers in the semiconductor industry, which is experiencing unprecedented growth driven by federal investments through the CHIPS and Science Act, increasing demand for microelectronics across all sectors of the economy. As the lead regional institution, Boise State will coordinate educational programs, industry partnerships, and workforce development initiatives across the Pacific Intermountain region.

Researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) and Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences (CIAC) have developed a novel FeSNC catalyst with axial Fe-S₁N₄ coordination using a dual-precursor CVD strategy. This structural engineering optimizes the adsorption of oxygen intermediates and enhances proton transport, leading to a record-high power density of 1.2 W·cm^-2 in proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

This pilot study explores the effects of NAO robot-assisted classrooms on autistic students’ classroom performance. Results show NAO significantly improves online attention, communication, interaction assessment, and emotional states. Most students exhibit better engagement and stability, supporting NAO as an effective tool for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) group classroom intervention.

A new study is opening a rare acoustic window into the hidden world of underwater predators. Using machine learning and underwater recordings, researchers developed a system that can detect and classify shell-crushing feeding events by whitespotted eagle rays as they prey on clams, oysters and other shellfish. The technology delivers near-deep learning accuracy with far less computing power, paving the way for real-time, large-scale monitoring of predator behavior and the health of coastal ecosystems.

Scientists repeatedly sampled microbes from six sites up to 1.5 kilometers deep across four years inside a former goldmine. Microbial ecosystems appear to be structured around shared functions rather than shared species. Each ecosystem was organized around two broad groups of microbes: a stable group and a responsive group. Ecosystems were very different among sites but largely stable through time. Study could have implications for underground engineering projects, including carbon storage.