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NSF Impacts

Promoting America's Leadership in Science and Engineering
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NSF Impacts

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

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-printed food

3D printing

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

A photograph taken with a fisheye lens, featuring a researcher wearing protective gear and sitting within a chamber of metal, lights and gadgetry.

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.

Rounded abstract cityscape network connection, internet and global connection concept.

The internet

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

A flattened black square on a green background, surrounded by smaller black squares and golden stripes.

Semiconductors

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

An electronic component.

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.

brain emits waves illustration

Artificial intelligence

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

Multicolored lights on front panel of gordon supercomputer

Supercomputers

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

Magnetic resonance image (MRI) of the brain, with a hand holding a pen near the screen.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

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

Illustration of polymer material at microscopic level with many squiggly blue lines

Polymers

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

A close-up of a hand holding a smartphone displaying various data graphs and charts.

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.

Alvin swimmers preparing the sub at the surface for recovery operations.

Deep-ocean exploration

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

two converging black holes

Detecting gravitational waves

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

An image of a black hole at the center of galaxy M87*, outlined by emission from hot gas swirling around it under the influence of strong gravity near its event horizon.

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.

A dark computer monitor displays strings of data.

Cybersecurity

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

Firefighters use global positioning system technology to help combat wildfires in southern California

Extinguishing the threats from wildfires

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

A corn field.

Boosting crops with biotechnology

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

A person holds a smart phone in their lap, which displays the word "RECAPTCHA" on its screen.

CAPTCHA and reCAPTCHA

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

Weather station at the top of a mountain.

Doppler radar

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

Hurricane Ike developing in Gulf of Mexico and making landfall on Texas coast

Advancing hurricane forecasting and readiness

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

Science Matters GIS hero image

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

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.

Surgeons performing surgery

Kidney matching

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

Insulin vials on meal tray with glass vials in background.

rDNA and insulin

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

Close-up of a gloved hand pipetting liquid into small test tubes

DNA amplification

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

Juhasz with device

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.

A 3D model of a protein depicting how its polypeptides cluster to take on the protein's overall shape.

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 is a tool that lets scientists cut and insert small pieces of DNA at precise areas along a DNA strand, enabling scientists to study genes in a targeted way.

CRISPR

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

NSF priority investments

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.

Two workers wearing hard hats

Investing in America's STEM workforce

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

A young girl in a museum laughs as air blowing from a tube whips up her hair.

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.

A woman using the Duolingo app on her smartphone

Duolingo

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

Researchers at Gallaudet University

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.

A row of laboratory vials.

Bolstering small business

From artificial intelligence and energy to medical devices and semiconductors, NSF invests in deep-tech startups and small businesses working across all fields of science and technology.

NSF priority investments

  • Partnerships
    Including cultivating collaboration between academia, industry, and other sectors to pursue transformative research and solve societal problems.
  • Research infrastructure
    Including state-of-the-art research facilities and tools that help researchers achieve groundbreaking discoveries and advance R&D efforts.
  • Research security
    Safeguarding the integrity and security of science while keeping fundamental research open and collaborative.
  • Gold Standard Science
    Ensuring research is rigorous, trustworthy and transparent.

Additional resources

Learn about NSF's ongoing investments and impacts in major areas of research and innovation.

NSF by the Numbers

Explore NSF's investments in science and engineering across the nation and in your state by fiscal year.

NSF Funded Projects (Awards)

Explore our database of funded projects to learn what we're doing across the U.S.

NSF Fact Sheets

Learn about NSF's investments in your state and how the agency is catalyzing innovation in emerging technologies.

NSF Public Repository

Explore NSF-funded scholarly publications and datasets.

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