Showcasing America's most promising young scientists and engineers, the Blavatnik Family Foundation and the New York Academy of Sciences today named 31 finalists for the world's largest unrestricted prize honoring early-career scientists and engineers. Three winners of the Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists – in life sciences, chemistry, and physical sciences and engineering – will be announced on July 20, each receiving $250,000 as a Blavatnik National Awards Laureate. The finalists, culled from 298 nominations by 157 United States research institutions across 38 states, have made trailblazing discoveries in wide-ranging fields, from the neuroscience of addiction to the development of gene-editing technologies, from designing next-generation battery storage to understanding the origins of photosynthesis, from making improvements in computer vision to pioneering new frontiers in polymer chemistry. Descriptions of the honorees' research are listed below. "Each day, young scientists tirelessly seek solutions to humanity's greatest challenges," said Len Blavatnik, founder and chairman of Access Industries, and head of the Blavatnik Family Foundation. "The Blavatnik Awards recognize this scientific brilliance and tenacity as we honor these 31 finalists. We congratulate them on their accomplishments and look forward to their continued, future discoveries and success." President and CEO of the New York Academy of Sciences Nicholas B. Dirks said: "Each year, it is a complete joy to see the very'best of the best' of American science represented by the Blavatnik National Awards Finalists."

The New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) has helped launch a transformational artificial-intelligence-based online learning program to increase the number of Registered Nurses able to handle the explosion of COVID-19 patients in New York City's Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Leveraging its global network of expertise, the NYAS identified a cutting edge online learning company, Sweden's Sana Labs, that was willing to donate its team pro bono to meet New York's need. The world renowned Mount Sinai Health System, one of the largest in New York with eight hospital campuses, jumped at the chance to "upskill" their heroic nurses and provided Sana with curricula drawn from the American Association of Clinical Care Nurses and Mount Sinai itself. In record time, this material was transformed into a 16 hour course that can be taken in short batches during break time or at home on personal computers. So far, about 100 nurses in a pilot program at Mount Sinai Hospital System have used this innovative learning platform.

For many, artificial intelligence, or AI, may seem like a new and possibly overwhelming concept. The reality is that AI is already being applied in industry and, for many of us, in our daily lives as well. A better understanding of AI can help you make informed decisions now that will impact the future of your learners. In Teaching AI, you'll learn what AI is, how it works and how to use it to better prepare students in a world with increased human-computer interaction. Michelle Zimmerman has taught students from ages 3-16.

Vikash Kumar and University of Washington colleagues have developed a simulation model that allows robotic hands to learn from their own experiences, while performing dexterous manipulation. Human direction is not required. A recent study incorporated the model while a robotic hand attempted several tasks, including rotating an elongated object. With each try, the hand became better able to spin the tube. Machine learning algorithms helped it model the basic physics involved, and plan the actions it should take to best complete the task.