Consider This from NPR Science funding was hit in 2025. What does that mean for the future?
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Dec 23, 2025 
Rob Stein and Katia Riddle, NPR health and science correspondents, discuss the significant slashing of federal science funding in 2025. They highlight concerns from scientists about losing the U.S.'s competitive edge and lure for young researchers, who now consider moving abroad for stability. Stein provides insights into the fallout at agencies like NIH, where staff cuts and grant cancellations have demoralized the workforce. Riddle addresses the turmoil faced by NSF, NOAA, and NASA, painting a bleak picture for future scientific innovation.
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Space Inspires Future Scientists
- Fran Baganall describes students excited by space research and how it motivates STEM learning.
- She says opportunities like operating a robot on Mars inspire kids to do their math and physics homework.
U.S. Scientific Leadership At Risk
- Federal science funding cuts risk eroding U.S. leadership in research and innovation.
- Fran Baganall warns young people are leaving because other countries are expanding science investment.
How Postwar Policy Built U.S. Science
- Postwar U.S. policy tied federal science funding to health, economy, and national security.
- Vannevar Bush's recommendations shaped sustained public investment that produced breakthroughs like the Internet and genetic medicine.