Scientists have long debated how large-scale plant patterns such as the famous "fairy circles" of Namibia form and persist. Now, a new Princeton University-led study suggests that instead of a single overarching cause, large-scale vegetation patterns in arid ecosystems could occasionally stem from millions of local interactions among neighboring plants and animals. The work could explain many patterns throughout the world.

Dean of the Faculty Deborah Prentice will take office as Princeton University's provost on July 1, succeeding Provost David Lee. Lee has decided to return to full-time teaching and research after serving since 2013 as the University's second-ranking officer.

Princeton President Christopher L. Eisgruber and 47 other American college and university presidents today sent a letter to President Trump urging him to "rectify or rescind the recent executive order closing our country's borders to immigrants and others from seven majority-Muslim countries and to refugees from throughout the world." "If left in place," the letters says, "the order threatens both American higher education and the defining principles of our country."

Crowd wisdom tends to favor the most popular information, not necessarily the most correct — mass ignorance can cancel out a knowledgeable minority, resulting in the wrong answer becoming the most accepted. To improve wisdom-of-crowds surveys, Princeton University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers have developed what they call the "surprisingly popular" algorithm, wherein the correct answer is that which is more popular than people predict.

Two Princeton University studies are opening important new windows into understanding an untreatable group of common genetic disorders known as RASopathies that affect approximately one child out of 1,000 and are characterized by distinct facial features, developmental delays, cognitive impairment and heart problems. The findings could help point the way toward personalized precision therapies for these conditions.

Princeton University researchers have drastically shrunk the equipment for producing terahertz — important electromagnetic pulses lasting one millionth of a millionth of a second — to the size of a microchip. The simpler, cheaper generation of terahertz has potential for advances in medical imaging, communications and drug development.

Princeton University and 16 other universities filed a friend-of-the-court brief Monday supporting a legal challenge to the Trump administration's Jan. 27 executive order on immigration.

Princeton University researchers have found that the roundworms Caenorhabditis elegans have a sure-fire method of ensuring a steady supply of a bacteria they eat — they grow their own. The worms carry the bacteria Escherichia coli along with them, and drop bacteria along the way to create thriving new bacterial colonies that the worms later return to "harvest" and eat.

Since the Middle Ages, alchemists have sought to transmute elements, the most famous example being the long quest to turn lead into gold. Now, Princeton University theorists have proposed a different approach to this ancient ambition — just make one material behave like another. The researchers demonstrate that any two systems can be made to look alike, even if just for the smallest fraction of a second.

Theories developed at Princeton University led to the creation of time crystals reported in the journal Nature March 9 by two groups of researchers based at Harvard University and the University of Maryland. Time crystals feature atoms and molecules arranged across space and time and are opening up entirely new ways to think about the nature of matter. They also eventually may help protect information in futuristic devices known as quantum computers.

In many species, mating comes at the steep price of an organism's life, an evolutionary process intended to regulate reproductive competition. But Princeton University researchers report that males of the roundworm species Caenorhabditis elegans have doubled down with two methods of checking out after reproducing — a lethal gene activated after mating, and pheromones released by other males. The findings provide insight into how aging, longevity and population are naturally regulated for different species and sexes.

Princeton University has offered admission to 1,890 students, or 6.1 percent of the record 31,056 applicants for the Class of 2021, in what is the University's most selective admission process to date. Last year, the University's admission rate was 6.46 percent. The class size is expected to be 1,308 students for the Class of 2021.

Princeton University-based researchers have found that machine-learning programs can acquire the cultural biases embedded in the patterns of wording, from a mere preference for flowers over insects, to discriminatory views on race and gender.

Princeton University has made public a preview version of a new design for its main website and is seeking comment from the University community and other visitors to the site. The preview site is at beta.princeton.edu.

Princeton University has reaffirmed a statement it made in 2015 expressing the hope that the then-upcoming U.N. Climate Negotiations in Paris would “lead to significant progress in promoting clean energy and other positive actions to address the environmental impacts of climate change.”

Princeton University awarded degrees to 1,268 undergraduates in the Class of 2017, three from former classes and 520 graduate students at its 270th Commencement Tuesday, June 6.

WASHINGTON (April 27, 2020) — Today, the U.S.

HELENA (April 23, 2020) – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8 Deputy Regional Administrator Deb Thomas recognized students and staff from Capital High School in Helena for winning the ‘See a Bloom, Give It Room’ High School Video Challenge.

WASHINGTON (April 28, 2020) — Today, the U.S.

PHOENIX – Today, the U.S.

WASHINGTON (April 29, 2020) — Today, the U.S.

PHILADELPHIA (April 29, 2020) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that Lea Wang, a sophomore at Council Rock High School in Holland, Pennsylvania, is the 2019 winner of a President’s Environmental Youth Award (PEYA) for EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Region.

PHILADELPHIA (April 29, 2020) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that science teacher Ann Strozyk from the Howard County Public School District in Maryland is a 2019 winner of a Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators (PIAEE).

Louisville, Ky. (April 12, 2019) – The U.S.

Environmental News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DALLAS – (Oct. 23, 2019) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently awarded the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) a grant of $476,539 to support underground storage tank programs.

Environmental News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Environmental News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Environmental News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOSTON – The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding seven local New England organizations with recognition for their work keeping wasted food out of landfills and incinerators and putting it to better use.

DENVER (April 23, 2020)) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized Sprouts Farmers Market Store #305 in Aurora, CO and Sprouts Farmers Market Store #325 in Englewood, CO, with 2019 Food Recovery Challenge Regional Awards.

DALLAS – (April 23, 2020)  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the 2019 winners of the national WasteWise awards.

Environmental News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(PHILADELPHIA, April 28, 2020) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized Towson University in Maryland today with a 2019 Food Recovery Challenge Regional Award.

For Immediate Release No. 20-OPA-042

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that American Samoa was selected to receive a $300,000 grant to assess and clean up contaminated properties under the agency’s Brownfields Program.

DENVER (February 19, 2020) — Today, the U.S.

WASHINGTON (February 19, 2020) — Today, the U.S.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (February 20, 2020) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a $24,867 People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) grant.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (February 20, 2020) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the North Carolina State University in Raleigh with a $25,000 People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) grant.

Environmental NewsFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON (April 20, 2020) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to make COVID-19 issues a top priority. The Agency has been actively supporting response efforts across the country to protect public health.

WASHINGTON (April 28, 2020) —  Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) transmitted its official advice and comments to EPA Administrator Wheeler on the Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science proposed rule.

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – Recently, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator Pete Lopez met with Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. of the U.S.

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO – Recently, U.S.

YELLOW SPRINGS, Ohio (October 17, 2019) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will present the proposed cleanup options for the Vernay Laboratories Inc. site at a public meeting on Thursday, Oct. 24 in Yellow Springs. The information session will run from 5-7 p.m.

Metz, France (May 7, 2019) - Yesterday, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler concluded his visit to Metz, France where he attended the annual G7 Environmental Ministers Meeting.

KARUIZAWA, JAPAN – Yesterday, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler concluded his visit to Karuizawa, Japan where he attended the inaugural G20 Energy and Environmental Ministers Meeting.

(MEXICO CITY) – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler wrapped up trilateral meetings with Canada and Mexico as part of the 25th Anniversary of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) Council meetings in Mexico City.

NOGALES, AZ – Today, the U.S.