Hundreds Rally on Boston Common for Science Funding and Research Support

• CERN scientists announced the discovery of the Ξcc⁺ particle, a long-predicted heavy cousin of the proton, resolving a 20-year mystery in particle physics. • The breakthrough marks the first particle discovery with the upgraded LHCb detector, involving over 1,000 researchers from 20 countries, with the UK contributing the most led by University of Manchester's Professor Chris Parkes. • Professor Parkes stated, 'Rutherford's gold-foil experiment in a Manchester basement transformed our understanding of matter, and today's discovery builds on that legacy.'

• NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket for Artemis 2 began rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39B on March 19, targeting first motion at 8 p.m. EDT (0000 GMT March 20) for a 12-hour, 4-mile journey. • The rollout follows repairs for a helium flow issue in the upper stage, battery replacements in the flight termination system, and two prior wet dress rehearsals marred by leaks since the initial January 17 rollout. • The four Artemis 2 astronauts entered quarantine on March 18 at Johnson Space Center, limiting exposure for a week before heading to Kennedy Space Center five days before the planned April 1 launch.

• NERSC, at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, launched an open call for projects using the Perlmutter supercomputer to advance AI in scientific domains like climate, physics, and biology through January 19, 2027. • Proposals require deep learning expertise, scientific domain knowledge, and proof-of-concept; evaluated on innovation, DOE relevance, feasibility, and scale readiness, with submissions rolling until April 30, 2026, for priority. • NERSC supports 11,000 scientists annually, producing 2,000 peer-reviewed papers and aiding seven Nobel winners.

• NSF Center for Oldest Ice Exploration at Oregon State University analyzed Allan Hills ice cores, extending histories of greenhouse gases and ocean temperatures to 3 million years ago. • Led by Julia Marks-Peterson and Sarah Shackleton, studies published in Nature reveal past climate dynamics using East Antarctic ice. • New 6-million-year-old ice discoveries and ongoing drilling will refine CO2 reconstructions and preservation methods.

• DOE's SLAC National Accelerator Lab and collaborators created a generative AI model that rebuilds molecular structures from fragmentation patterns during explosions. • The breakthrough enhances analysis of molecular dynamics using accelerator data, advancing chemistry and materials science research. • Published within the last 8 hours, it promises novel insights into molecular behaviors under extreme conditions.

• Stagwell's Harris Poll found 88% of Republicans and 92% of Democrats view rigorous science as essential for progress, with 80-90% crediting US scientists for quality-of-life improvements. • Only 19% believe US leads China in research, 33% say falling behind; 90%+ across parties want US global leadership role. • If government funding lags, Americans favor businesses (23%) and nonprofits (19%) to fill gaps.

• FASEB hosted its annual Capitol Hill Day on March 18, 2026, bringing 46 biomedical researchers from 19 member societies across 25 states to Washington, D.C., to push for increased NIH and NSF funding. • Advocates met with nearly 90 House and Senate offices, thanking lawmakers for bipartisan FY 2026 appropriations that boosted NIH funding and protected facilities costs from 15% caps. • The effort highlights the role of federal investment in accelerating medical discoveries and delivering state-specific impacts on health outcomes.

• A new study finds that exposure to PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances)—chemicals used in non-stick coatings and water-resistant products—is linked to low bone density in teenagers. • The research, announced by the Endocrine Society, involved collaboration between the CDC, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Simon Fraser University, and George Washington University. • The finding adds to growing evidence that PFAS contamination poses significant health risks, particularly during critical periods of skeletal development in adolescence.

• The U.S. Department of Energy announced $293 million in funding to advance the Genesis Mission's efforts to tackle the nation's most complex science and technology challenges. • The funding represents a significant federal commitment to supporting breakthrough scientific research and innovation across multiple fields.

• The United States saw a record amount of new clean power capacity come online in 2025, according to a report released today by the Environmental Defense Fund. • Despite the record deployment, the renewable energy sector faced significant headwinds including project delays and cancellations that threatened to slow progress. • The achievement underscores continued momentum in U.S. transition toward clean electricity despite policy uncertainties and regulatory challenges.

• A new coalition led by University of Maryland professor John Moult, creator of the Critical Assessment of Structure Prediction (CASP), is launching an initiative to assess the reliability of Alzheimer's literature and identify which experiments can be trusted. • The effort aims to evaluate competing hypotheses about the APOE4 gene's role in Alzheimer's by examining experimental conditions, statistical analyses, and data quality across human, mouse, and cell studies. • The approach leverages large language models to apply objective measuring standards to scientific literature, similar to how CASP's blind challenge methodology validated DeepMind's AlphaFold tool, which contributed to the company's 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.