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Next time you talk on a cell phone, hear a weather report, search the web, or get an MRI, remember the U.S. National Science Foundation helped make that all possible, and more.

Since 1950, NSF has invested in ideas and innovations that have shaped the modern world — pushing the boundaries of what's possible and deepening humanity's understanding of the universe.

More than 75 years after its founding, NSF continues to advance American innovation. Explore some of the agency's major impacts on this page.

On this page

Ensuring American leadership in critical and emerging technologies

Exploring new frontiers

Strengthening American security

Safeguarding American health

Building the STEM workforce of the future

Strengthening America's research ecosystem

Additional resources

Ensuring American leadership in critical and emerging technologies

NSF supports research and development in key technologies, from artificial intelligence to quantum. These investments help fuel American prosperity, improve quality of life and national security, and create high-paying jobs for American workers.

Brought to you by NSF

Explore some of the critical technologies made possible through NSF support.

3D printing

3D printing is spurring a manufacturing revolution in the U.S. thanks to decades of NSF investments.

Fusion energy

NSF's decades-long support for fusion R&D is paving the way toward an abundant, reliable power source to meet the world's growing energy demand.

The internet

Drawing on DARPA's pioneering support for early computer networking projects, NSF funding catalyzed the creation of today's internet.

Semiconductors

NSF–funded research has catalyzed breakthroughs in semiconductors, the chips that enable virtually all modern technology.

Quantum technology

The fruits of NSF's investments in quantum research are everywhere, from technologies that power modern life, like GPS, MRI and lasers, to next-generation computers, materials and sensors.

Lasers

NSF investments have transformed lasers into ubiquitous tools powering the internet, manufacturing, medicine and scientific exploration.

Artificial intelligence

NSF funding built the foundation for technologies Americans use every day, like chatbots, Face ID and image generators.

Supercomputers

NSF's investments in cutting-edge supercomputers have catalyzed scientific breakthroughs and sharpened the nation's competitive edge.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

One of the most widely used medical imaging technologies is rooted in decades of NSF-powered research.

Polymers

NSF-supported polymer research powers innovation across industries and generations, from plastic bottles to artificial organs to protective armor.

Smartphones

Smartphone technology traces its roots to decades of NSF funding, such as touchscreens, lithium-ion batteries and the internet.

NSF priority investments

AI

Fundamental research in AI, AI development, and AI-powered discovery and innovation.

Advanced communications networks

Fundamental research, research testbeds, and spectrum use.

Advanced manufacturing

Manufacturing research advances and research infrastructure for manufacturing.

Energy

Fundamental energy research, development of energy technologies, and energy research infrastructure.

Future computing technologies

Hardware, software, networks and data that underpin today's advanced computing technology.

Semiconductors

Fundamental research, next-generation semiconductors and microelectronics, and access to fabrication facilities.

Quantum

Fundamental quantum information science, technological development, and foundries for building quantum materials and devices.

Exploring new frontiers

NSF supports research that enhances America's ability to observe, understand and predict the forces that shape our world. By pushing the frontiers of knowledge — from the ocean's depths to the vast expanses of space — these investments enhance the nation's economic vitality and national security, contributing to the well-being and prosperity of all Americans.

Brought to you by NSF

Explore some of the major discoveries made possible through NSF support.

Deep-ocean exploration

Decades of NSF-funded deep-sea research and subseafloor ocean drilling reveal fundamental knowledge about the entire Earth system.

Detecting gravitational waves

Opened in 1999, NSF LIGO was the first to detect gravitational waves: ripples in space-time.

Seeing black holes

Thanks to NSF support, international researchers have now captured images of two black holes, including the one at the center of the Milky Way galaxy.

NSF priority investments

Ocean exploration

Exploring all aspects of the global oceans and their interactions with the earth and the atmosphere.

Polar research

Supporting world-class Arctic and Antarctic research, polar facilities and operational support.

Understanding the universe

Supporting advanced research in astronomy and astrophysics and the operation of next-generation telescopes and observatories.

Strengthening American security

NSF invests in research and development that promotes the nation's strategic competitiveness and protects national and personal security.

Brought to you by NSF

Explore some of the ways NSF has bolstered American security.

Cybersecurity

For decades, NSF has funded research to protect national and personal security in today's highly connected, digital world.

Extinguishing the threats from wildfires

From predicting a fire's path to expanding wireless communication, NSF's investments help mitigate wildfire impacts.

Boosting crops with biotechnology

NSF's investments in agricultural biotechnologies are transforming food and fiber production.

CAPTCHA and reCAPTCHA

The tools that keep badly behaving bots from taking over the internet were invented by NSF-funded researchers.

Doppler radar

Decades of NSF–funded research have improved the capabilities of the national Doppler radar network.

Advancing hurricane forecasting and readiness

NSF protects communities by improving hurricane forecasts and enabling storm-resilient infrastructure.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

NSF investments helped chart the course for the technologies that use spatial data to make people's lives more convenient.

NSF priority investments

Cybersecurity

Research focused on maximizing cyber-technology's potential while securing these technologies' safety and privacy.

Disaster preparedness and resilience

Research to understand geohazards and methods to reduce their harmful impacts.

Leadership in the Arctic and Antarctic

World-class Arctic and Antarctic research, polar facilities and operational support.

Supply chains

Including research to facilitate the discovery and extraction of critical minerals.

Safeguarding American health

NSF invests in foundational research to strengthen and safeguard the health and quality of life of individuals, families and communities.

Brought to you by NSF

Explore how NSF's investments created the biotech industry and have improved Americans' health and well-being.

Kidney matching

Decades of NSF funding for economic and algorithm research has facilitated thousands of lifesaving kidney transplants every year.

rDNA and insulin

NSF supported a landmark research project that revolutionized insulin drugs and jump-started the U.S. biotechnology industry.

DNA amplification

Polymerase chain reaction, a lab technique that powers today's biotechnology sector, traces its roots to NSF funding.

LASIK eye surgery

Decades of NSF funding supported the development of bladeless LASIK, which uses a laser instead of a scalpel to reshape a patient's cornea and improve their vision.

Protein Data Bank: Key to the molecules of life

NSF's decades-long support for the open-access database has facilitated pioneering scientific advancements and medical treatments.

CRISPR

NSF-supported research has advanced one of the sharpest tools in gene technology.

NSF priority investments

Agriculture and food

Technologies to strengthen U.S. agricultural resilience and food security.

Biotechnology

Biomanufacturing, biotechnology and biosecurity.

Building the STEM workforce of the future

NSF invests in efforts to provide all Americans with access to high-quality STEM education and workforce development pathways throughout their lifetimes.

Brought to you by NSF

Explore how NSF's investments have nurtured a next-generation workforce of scientists, engineers, technicians and teachers.

Investing in America's STEM workforce

Since the 1950s, NSF's investments in people have fueled scientific progress and strengthened America's innovation engine.

Learning beyond the classroom

Throughout its history, NSF has made the excitement of scientific discovery available to everyone by investing in children's TV programming, movies, museum exhibits and apps.

Duolingo

One of the most popular language-learning tools got its start from NSF funding.

American Sign Language

NSF funding revolutionized education for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in the United States.

NSF priority investments

STEM education

Including the development of technologies to support students and educators.

Workforce development

Including training workers in critical and emerging technologies that will define the global job market.

Strengthening America's research ecosystem

NSF invests in the nation's science and engineering ecosystem to prepare it for the next century of innovation.

Brought to you by NSF

Explore how NSF's investments have fueled innovation across the nation.

Bolstering small business

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