Awards

• K-pop group BTS has announced they will not submit any music for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards. • The decision follows the Recording Academy's recent addition of a specific "Asian pop" category to the awards line-up. • This move highlights ongoing tensions regarding how the Grammys recognize K-pop, a genre that maintains a massive global following but has historically been under-celebrated by the institution.

• NASA has announced 18 new awards through its Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program to fund visionary aerospace technology ideas. • The selected projects focus on a broad range of goals, including enhancing the exploration of the solar system and deepening the scientific understanding of the universe. • These awards are critical for fostering high-risk, high-reward research that can lead to breakthroughs in space travel and observation.

• BTS has announced that all seven members will not submit their music for consideration at the 69th Grammy Awards in 2027. • The group is specifically withholding their comeback album, 'ARIRANG', to protest the Recording Academy's new category for Asian pop music performances. • This decision stems from the group's opposition to music being "divided by region or language," challenging the Academy's approach to categorization.

• BTS announced on Wednesday that they will not submit their latest album, ‘Arirang,’ for consideration at the 69th annual Grammy Awards. • The decision comes just one month after the Recording Academy introduced a new category specifically for Asian pop music. • The group's seven members shared the decision via a joint statement written in Korean and posted across their individual social media accounts.

• The National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for STEM Education has announced the first set of awards for the CyberAICorps Scholarship for Service (CyberAI SFS) program. • The initiative focuses on training students to use AI for enhancing cybersecurity operations, specifically in areas such as digital forensics, incident response, and threat detection. • This program is critical for developing AI systems that are secure and resilient against evolving cyber threats while building a specialized workforce for national security.

• The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has discontinued dozens of active research awards after previously slowing the issuance of new grants last year. • Affected researchers, such as physician-scientist Nora Becker from the University of Michigan, have seen funding cut for critical studies, including research on the financial burdens faced by Covid-19 patients. • This sudden withdrawal of support forces scientists to spend significant time "frantically applying" for alternative funding to sustain their ongoing projects.

• Bruce Springsteen performed a musical set after being honored at the ACLU Awards held in Washington, D.C. • The event celebrated the musician's contributions, with the coverage also featuring appearances by other stars such as Charli XCX. • This appearance highlights Springsteen's ongoing commitment to civil liberties and social justice causes through his partnership with the ACLU.