The US National Science Foundation (NSF) has for the first time released figures on the actions it has taken against researchers found to have violated rules on the disclosure of foreign ties. Since 2018, the agency has reassigned, suspended or terminated grants, forced institutions to return funds or barred researchers from applying for future funding in 16–20 cases in which rules weren’t followed, according to Rebecca Keiser, the agency’s first chief of research security strategy and policy.

After sweeping the sky for six months, eROSITA has charted more than one million sources of X-ray radiation, including gigantic black holes, galactic clusters and the remnants of supernova explosions, many of which are new to science.

Sarah McAnulty, a science communicator based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, started Skype a Scientist in 2017 to connect researchers with individuals, classrooms, families and public groups such as scout troops or library groups across the world.

Since it launched, Skype a Scientist has held sessions with more than 27,000 classrooms in 73 countries. As scientists have left their laboratories because of the coronavirus pandemic, and schools have shut worldwide, participation in McAnulty’s science-communication programme has tripled. She describes how her non-profit organization has changed over the past few months.

What is Skype a Scientist?
We connect scientists with any group of adults or kids interested in speaking with a scientist about general categories, such as marine biology, or specific topics, for example sharks.