Agencies

South Texas Disaster Assistance Deadline Has Passed but Help Still Available

Published: 23 July 2025
Categories: FEMA News

RSS feed source: Federal Emergency Management Agency

AUSTIN, Texas – The July 22 deadline to apply for FEMA disaster assistance has passed, but help is still available for those who sustained loss from the March 26-28 severe storms and floods in South Texas. 

Applicants should stay in touch with FEMA to ensure the disaster assistance process stays on track. Missing or incorrect information could result in delays in receiving assistance. Update contact information, report additional home damage or a delay in insurance claims in the following ways:

Visit DisasterAssistance.govUse the FEMA mobile appCall the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Lines are open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT daily. If you use a relay service, captioned telephone or other service, you can give FEMA your number for that service. Helpline specialists speak many languages. Press 2 for Spanish. Visit any Disaster Recovery Center to receive in-person assistance. No appointment is needed. Recovery centers are open in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties. To find one close to you, use your ZIP code to search FEMA.gov/DRC.To view an accessible video on how to apply, visit What You Need to Know Before Applying for FEMA Assistance.

For the latest information about Texas’ recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4871. Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x.com/FEMARegion6 and at facebook.com/FEMARegion6

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Statement from NSF Chief of Staff Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF Director, on the White House AI Action Plan

Published: 23 July 2025
Categories: National Science Foundation

RSS feed source: Federal Emergency Management Agency

The White House’s AI Action Plan sends a clear message: the United States is all-in on winning the future of artificial intelligence. This road map removes barriers to American innovation and reaffirms our commitment to seizing the opportunities of AI to advance economic competitiveness and national security. At the U.S. National Science Foundation, we’re proud to have a critical role in realizing this future.

Over the coming weeks, NSF will unveil a series of major initiatives that align with this momentum, including:

New NSF AI Research Institutes to accelerate breakthroughs in foundational AI and the application of AI to health, education, chemistry and materials science.A partnership to create a large language model infrastructure to develop cutting-edge capabilities to drive AI for science.AI Testbeds to evaluate real-world AI systems with transparency and rigor.The next phase of the National AI Research Resource to supercharge AI innovation through access to critical computational resources, data, software and training resources.

These investments will help secure U.S. leadership in AI while ensuring the benefits of this powerful technology reach across America and create more jobs. NSF stands ready to work alongside our partners in government, private industry and philanthropy to keep American innovation on the frontier where it belongs.

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NSF Graduate Research Fellow helps turn ‘forever chemicals’ into valuable resource

Published: 22 July 2025
Categories: National Science Foundation

RSS feed source: Federal Emergency Management Agency

“Forever chemicals” are everywhere — from Teflon pans and dental floss to raincoats and microwave popcorn bags. Known as PFAS, these chemicals (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are noted for their resistance to heat, oil and water. That same staying power makes them a growing concern. PFAS have been linked to a range of serious health risks, including increased risk of certain cancers, fertility issues, immune system dysfunction and developmental problems. Because PFAS remain in water, soil and air for a long time (hence the name “forever chemicals”), removing them from the environment has become a public priority.  

Earlier this year, a team of scientists from Rice University (including U.S. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program alum Kevin Wyss) announced the development of a new method to break down PFAS that is not only extremely effective (removing 99.98% of the most common PFAS pollutant), but also creates the valuable manufacturing material graphene, one of the world’s strongest and lightest materials.  

This pioneering method involves combining PFAS with granular activated carbon and salts, then heating it to over 3,000 degrees Celsius in under a second. The intense heat breaks the chemical bonds in PFAS, turning them into harmless fluoride salts. At the same time, the activated carbon in the mixture is turned into graphene, which is used in industries such as manufacturing, electronics

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